SPOILER AHEAD FOR EMPIRE OF THE DAWN
Jay Kristoff warned us that we weren't ready for this ending, and he was absolutely right.
I know a few people who, like me, read the book as soon as it was released. It was a bit of a struggle since English isn't my native language, but we make do with what we have. The struggles of anxious readers, I suppose.
First of all, I want to say that this story has been extraordinary from the very beginning. However, the ending delivers something completely different from what you think you're getting. Perhaps that's exactly why it has divided readers so strongly. I've seen people who loved it, others who felt indifferent, and some who outright hated it.
But this post is about my own experience reading the final installment of this masterpiece.
I was completely deceived from start to finish, and that alone convinced me that I need to reread the entire series to figure out exactly where I became such a fool. Gabriel de León is a master performer, and Celene plays her part in supporting that narrative brilliantly.
I have to admit that I expected more from Jean-François, perhaps because I had grown attached to his character. Still, everyone reaps what they sow, and in the end, he was no exception.
Celene's point of view was absolutely crucial to the story. At times, her chapters felt a little slow, but they were essential in revealing Dior's journey. The battles, tension, and suspense retained the weight and intensity that have always defined this series. However, as the narrative moved toward its conclusion, I felt some of that dramatic intensity inevitably softened.
In the end, this is a book that demands you truly know its characters if you want to understand the reality behind their fates. Yet even then, the twists, manipulations, and schemes woven throughout the story constantly challenge your assumptions and force you to rethink everything you thought you knew.
What a journey. What a beautiful, devastating, and unforgettable ending.
Art by : Gonzalo Mendiverry and Bon Orthwick
