Consume (Clann, #3)

by Melissa Darnell

[Raven]

Tristan has survived the change, and with it, created a new bond to Savannah. As he struggles to regain his memories and get used to his new vampire abilities, not all is well at home. Tensions and fears within the Clann are growing, and before long, an all out war erupts. When tragedy strikes, Savannah and Tristan’s relationship is tested to it’s limits when revenge becomes a welcomed thought. Can they find a compromise and save their people, or will everything they love be destroyed in the crossfire?
I actually found the story this time around to be a bit dull. It’s a very simple premise and it is almost like the author didn’t know how to continue to perfect blend of angst in the story. The angst was still there, but it didn’t have the same depth to it. The majority of the book had Savannah, Tristan, and their families on the run, dealing with internal conflicts within their group. The tension of living together, getting used to Tristan as a vampire, wanting to return and set things right but not being able to agree upon a course of action. I felt like this story was more of a second in the trilogy than a completion. Yes, the story was meant to end, but the interactions and the way things came about, it didn’t feel like the epic completion needed for the end of a trilogy.

That aside, everything did wrap up really well. The connections, while they took eons to appear, were clean and easy. The climax was nice, though the build up to it wasn’t intense enough. While I was glued to every word, I didn’t feel as invested or emotionally moved at everything that happened. When heartstrings were meant to be tugged, mine barely vibrated.

The characters remained the same for the most part. We got to see a darker side of Tristan, which while I understand why Savannah disagreed and how it could make for a couple’s spat, it didn’t hold the weight it should’ve. Much more is learnt about Savannah’s mother, in a way. We see more of her, and get an idea of how she operates, but even as a character she was rather dull.

For the completion of this series, I was disappointed with this book. I felt like it needed more build up and tension and to go out with a bang instead of a pop. As a series though, I enjoyed the Clann novels very much. The series was strong and ended nicely so long as you look at the trilogy as a whole and not book to book.

Read this and other reviews at my blog.