I’m writing this on Litha, which feels apt, as it’s Lorcan’s strongest night of the year, Grave’s weakest. The pivotal moment when everything changes. A lot like this book.
I received an ARC of this book, and finished it with well over a week to spare leading up to the release… and other than screaming into the internet I’ve had a hard time figuring out how to get the words out to write a review. A lot like the gold dress from book two that I am still attempting to figure out how to make which I wanted done by release day (listen Kierse and I are obviously not the same cup size so structure has been a thing) it is both intimidating and something I didn’t want to finish thinking about. Long story short, was it was everything I was hoping for, and more. And now I’m having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that book four is AN. ENTIRE. YEAR. AWAY.
To tell you how excited I was for this book and how serious I was about finishing it in the second sitting of reading it, I got a call from my airline as I was driving back down to fly home after visiting family. They said that my plane was switched due to mechanical issues and they were looking for folks to take a different option, but it meant more flight time and getting home later. Which in my brain meant… I’ll have enough time to finish the book before I get home. So, I for the first time enthusiastically took the offer. Listen we never said my hyper-fixations were healthy. And this series has me in a chokehold.
When I said this was everything and more. I really meant more. More Kierse/Graves/Lorcan bickering. More fun banter. More Celtic folklore. More heists, so many more, we literally start off page one mid-heist. More gorgeous gowns to add to my “to make” pile. More interesting characters added to the mix—including some very fun cameos. More Team Holly. And yes more cliff hangers. The end of the book literally makes it so Kyla can make anything happen in book four and I have a broad idea of where she might go, but at the same time ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA. So here I am volunteering to fall off cliffs, chasing red herrings, and be surprised by plot twists and love every single moment of it. I literally turned on my wifi mid flight to go scream at Kyla.
This book is for the Lorcan lovers. It is. I can admit when I was not the target, and was swept along anyway and enjoyed the heck out of it (don’t worry Graves babes, he’s not lost his edge and I’m still gunning for him). The messy triangle dynamic was so fun, so messy, and so hot. Yes I would 100% take a non cannon ficlet of the triangle deciding to be a triad, but alas we know it won’t ever be cannon. But there will be moments for everyone in this book. I’m just saying feral is a good look on readers.
The character growth was huge, the plot was immense. The possibilities for what comes next are endless. Kyla has said that in her quintuplets she loves to break the world in book three… and lord did she. I am being ooooh so vague, because I will not have spoilers in this review. BUT I am considering doing a good old fashioned Tumblr styled fan-crash out in the near future. If anyone wants that. (It’s me I’m anyone).
I was so delighted when I was able to drive up to one of Kyla’s stops on her book tour. I truly had such a great time, and the fact that Reads & Company hosted it at a local bar was perfect, we grabbed dinner and were able to sip a cocktail and fangirl! I was able to meet up with a friend that picked up the series after I was raving, and I then got to be there for her crash out after she finished the book this week. It was delightful. Mai Corland was a wonderful host and the deep diving into how Kyla writes (roughly 1,000 words an hour for four hours a day) and completes most of her books in approximately 6 weeks had my brain exploding. Them diving into their backgrounds of arts and political science and how it impacted their books, as well as Kyla’s favorite Irish folktale was so wonderful. They also teased out the projects they are working on next and I am so excited, and hope that the publishers snap those stories up ASAP.
So here I am several hundred words of screaming, and asking everyone to please please please go read this series. Then come yell at me. I would delight in a cacophony of theories. Also, I have been told that one of the new characters has a very sexy voice and cannot wait to go listen to this one as a reread at some point this year. Because we know I missed things on my first read because I was feral. So join me in the chaos of this series, I promise it’s a good time and book three meets and exceeds expectations (I truly can’t pick which book is my favorite yet…).
Looking to find The Raven at the Ash Door? Here you go:
Bookshop.org ~ Libro.fm ~ Goodreads ~ Storygraph
This book was provided to me as an advanced readers copy. All thoughts are my own. As a side note, some of the links to Bookshop.org or Libro.fm will either provide me or an indie bookshop I support a portion of the affiliate sales if you use them to buy a book I recommend!
my way by Starlight 
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