Top Ten Tuesday #1: Top Ten Best/Worst Series Enders

Hi! This is my first Top Ten Tuesday post. The bookish meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today's question is my top ten best/worst series enders.

Best 5:

1. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

It's as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. I'm still hurting over what is inevitable and the new happiness that Tessa gains. There are no words to explain how much I love the ending of The Infernal Devices.

2. Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Another one of those endings that have you grinning broadly for at least an hour after reading the ending. And it wraps up perfectly.

3. Light by Michael Grant

A very impressive ending. Stunning, dynamic and very brutal. The perfect ending for a series as crazy and terrifying as Gone series.

4. Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Unlike many readers out there, I actually like the ending. It leaves space for imagination of the world after the success of the resistance. (Spoiler!) I mean, you can't just have Lena diving for one of the two guys at the end of the book (or diving for both). It will be unfair to both Alex and Julian (End of spoiler)

5. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Okay I must say this is an ending of HEA and I'm familiar with HEA endings. I'd say the plot itself is better than the ending, but the ending fits because Ash and Meghan are just too adorable to not to be together :)

***

Worst 5 Endings:

1. Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Sorry, the ending is just way too predictable. I mean, BEAUTIFUL REDEMPTION? You are practically saying Ethan and Lena are having a HEA together and... to be honest, I'm not a shipper of Ethan and Lena.

2. Everlasting by Alyson Noel

Okay seriously this is one of the most disappointing endings ever. What the heck is going on in this novel? Honestly, I have no idea.

3. Destined by Aprilynne Pike

Nope, I just can't. (Confession: I actually like David more than Tamani. And not only the fact that Laurel is rooting for Tamani annoys the hell out of me, I think the ending is just so typical)

4. Ceaseless by Abbi Glines

Look, I actually like this book. But for some reason the ending just doesn't do it for me.

5. Rapture by Lauren Kate

All I can say is the ending is not what I imagine and I'm quite pissed off by the ending.

Which series has the best or the worst ending in your opinion? Sound off in the comments!

The Iron Knight: Review

In less than one week, I read the whole Iron Fey series and I can finally be able to write the review of the epic conclusion of The Iron Fey series, The Iron Knight.

Check out the summary below:

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

***

Well, this is definitely the best of all books in The Iron Fey series. Mainly because it's no longer tell the story in Meghan's point of vies, but rather Ash's. Ash's point of view is always interesting and sometimes heartbreaking. Many books are written in multiple point of view, from many characters' perspective. So one of the things I really like about the book is that except the epilogue of The Iron Knight, the whole book is written in Ash's point of view. A single point of view is sometimes better than multiple point of views.

Despite the fact the book has a perfect ending, for quite a time that I actually think that Ash can't make to the End of the World, and he would be another person. A cruel, merciless, and loveless person/faery (whatever). Journeys are always amazing, and The Iron Fey series is mainly about journeys. That's the one think I really like. Determination sounds good, but journeys are just better. 

The journey on that river is not as horrible/exciting as I thought at first. I thought there will be scarier beasts, weirder people, and deadlier threat. I actually think that the journey on that river should be placed more threat and danger. The journey will be way more interesting. And perhaps it's not the main point of the journey to the End of Nevernever, I can't even remember most of the features except the part on that Forbidden place. 

Ariella's appearance is really a shock. Never once I thought that she is out there, alive and waiting for Meghan's appearance. There's not much about Ariella in the previous three books, so it's hard to pick up clues (picking up clues AGAIN) that can prove that she is alive. Despite the fact that her sacrifice for Ash at the end of the book is very touching, I think of her as Ash's ex-girlfriend. Even though Meghan is not Ash's first love, and Ariella doesn't interfere them, I think she shouldn't be jealous of Meghan. It's not Meghan's fault that Ash's fallen in love with her. But she is a Winter fey anyway, and I admire her strength and selfless.

The battle in the Temple is one of the best parts in the book. Especially the one that they have to face their dark side. Probably they never think that their figure of their darkest side in the mirror will suddenly jump out of that freaking glass and strangle them. That's definitely not something you will encounter every day, not even the regular faeries. I wonder what that means if they defeat their dark figure of themselves? It's just some kind of illusion, I know. But maybe that means something about their heart.

The trials are the most heartbreaking part of the book, especially that Ash has to face his crime and murder that he made in his past. I worry that he will never get over his guilt and try to get to the final trial, which is the one that he will have to face his own death with no one else can join him when his mortal life is over. Lucky that Ariella's sacrifices makes him mortal and immortal at the same time, or I will probably zap something after I read the book.

I am damn sure I will miss the characters even though I haven't read Iron's Prophecy. They are cool and they are nothing like what I've seen before. I am also certain I will continue to The Iron Fey: Call of The Forgotten which features Meghan's brother, Ethan Chase. Maybe the FORGOTTEN means the forgotten people that Ash and his friends encounters in The Iron Knight.

Rating: 9/10