Book Review: Monarch (War of the Princes 3) by A.R. Ivanovich

ASIN: B019EH9DJ8
Published: January 5th, 2016 (first published May 25th, 2014)
Publisher: Alloy Entertainment
Read from February 6th to 15th, 2016
Synopsis from Goodreads:

Rune Thayer’s rebellion in Cape Hill has placed all of Breakwater in danger. Now, Katelyn Kestrel and her best friend Kyle must do something that no one in the Western Kingdom has ever attempted: travel North into enemy territory and request aid from none other than Prince Varion himself.
Before they are able to depart, Katelyn is unwillingly brought face-to-face with Prince Raserion. Separated from her friends and enveloped in a dark world of his making, the indomitable Prince of Shadows offers her a deal that she dare not refuse. The accord is struck and Katelyn continues her mission, holding close the secret meeting, and wondering whether she has become a traitor to her own cause. Stalked by unrelenting shadows across enemy lines, she must decide: Trust Prince Varion in hopes to save Breakwater- or trust Prince Raserion to win Rune’s freedom.

Review:

Just like when I reviewed the second book in this series, I want to try to avoid all spoilers even for the first book in this review. Or at least not spoil anything too huge. Because of that, this will most likely be brief. There's so much I could go on and on about in this book, but almost all of it is a spoiler for this book anyway. So much happened, and it was amazing and wonderful and emotional. I still haven't recovered.

I loved this book. With each book in this series, I become increasingly obsessed. This series has continually made me rethink what I thought I knew about where the story was going. These days most of what I read isn't shocking. That isn't to say it's bad. I read a lot of books that I genuinely enjoy even though I figure out pretty early on what's likely to happen. Seeing the specifics play out can still be fun.

With this series though, I never think I have it figured out for long. This book in particular had so many shocking moments that I didn't see coming, and I'm left looking back on it all to see what hints I possibly missed. It's exciting and has me on the edge of my seat the entire time I'm reading.

The world itself is incredible too. That's particularly important considering there are really three separate yet connected worlds in this series. All of them are unique yet increasingly connected within the story, and I think it's done amazingly. It's been a long time since I've felt that the world building of a story was done as well as it is in this series. Everything about the world is well explained and believable. There have been a couple of times here or there where I wondered about something only to have it flawlessly snap into place in the story later.

I would highly recommend this series, and each book keeps getting better and better. I'm so happy I already have the fourth book ready to read.

I received this book for review through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.