Endure (Defy, #3)

by Sara B. Larson

[ladygrey]

1% into this book and I know it’s going to end badly. That’s not cool.

To be fair, I’ve gotten terrible about third books since I started reading in binges. Any problems the first or second book had just get compounded if they’re not fixed and I end up with only critical things to say. Mostly.

That being said, I would not call this a great book because the plot isn’t engaging and there’s glaring plot holes (glaring enough to annoy me - and normally I don’t care about plot holes). And also it’s almost as repetitious as the first two books recounting for us things that JUST happened. I know, I was there.

Plot hole 1: Why wasn’t Damien in the whole conversation with Eljin? He’s Blevonese and a sorcerer. Isn’t he entitled to the information without Eljin breaking his vows? Also it would have been a more interesting scene.

Plot lack of engagement: Why oh why do YA authors feel the need to separate their hero couple? Your heroine is not as interesting running around by herself. This is just as true for Alexa as it is for alllllll the others. Of all the moments I liked, I noticed that Alexa and Damian’s big reunion wasn’t one of them. For all the heartfelt words and emphatic hugs, I didn’t feel anything. Because it didn’t feel like any sort of victory. It had felt inevitable 50 pages ago and so I spent way to much of the story wondering when they’d finally get around to it. So, I guess I did feel something - relief that the long stretch of Alexa by herself was coming to and end and the story would get interesting again.

At least Larson tries to mitigate it by taking Eljin with her... for a while. And then Akio actually works pretty well to offset the isolation.

But there are so many bigger things going on with Armando and Blevon and General Tinso that there isn’t time to go while away pages riding horses and walking in the dark. And riding horses... There’s so many other elements at play that the story could have been about instead of Alexa doing stupid stuff for no purpose. Like, get to the story that’s actually interesting.

And the characters are what got me to read all three books. Damian, Deron, Rylan, Asher and even Alexa. They’re fun when they’re together and interacting. This wasn’t much fun.

Plot hole 2: Alexa is all brave and “I’ll never do what you want” but we all know it’s a lie. Honey, he’s got two of your friends. You’ve already come to Dansii on a foolhardy mission to save one of them, endangering the man you love and sacrificing yourself. You’re going to do exactly what Armando wants.

Tiny annoying character flaw 3: Dude. Alexa know Akio is in danger - The Summoner suspects him. He’s been there too long. In an unfamiliar place. On the night he’s going to help you escape. And she makes him stay to answer her questions?

In some ways, it felt a little like The Blue Sword with all the sand and horses and how it all ended in one fell swoop. But it lacked the heart of The Blue Sword. .... everything is resolved but it’s pretty much exactly as bad as I expected. And there’s so little satisfaction in the resolution. I did like the characters well enough to read all three books. And not regret it. But that’s not a great way to end a trilogy. It’s the best way Larson left herself, but it still wasn’t great.