All I'm going to say is that this was a great ending for the series, everything all wrapped up nicely. There's nothing else really to say. Read the series. ( )

3.5/5 stars

This was a satisfying end to this series, yet I think I just grew out of liking it. I took a while to get to this last book, and I wasn't as in love with the story. I still loved the characters, and seeing how their lives intertwined and ended up. The writing was mediocre, I found most of the POVs sounded the same, and half the time I forgot if I was reading from Valek or Yelena. I enjoyed the plot, and I liked how everything wrapped up. It felt very neat, but at the same time, with everything these characters have gone through, I was good with them having their semi-happy ending :). ( )

“Because now the baby was tangible. Not just a concept or a belief. Real. Excitement mixed with fear, and the desire to protect crashed through him like a burning hot wave. He staggered to his knees under the weight.”

Unfortunately I have to say I was disappointed with the final book in one of my most loved series. It did not live up to the exciting, magical, assassin, butt-kicking book I’ve loved in the past.

To start the review, a look at Valek an Yelena. Their voices and mannerisms in the book have changed, but that didn’t bother me much at all. Valek the Assassin is slowly turning into Papa-Valek, and Yelena has when she calls “baby-brain”. Where Valek was more trusting of Yelena to handle herself, he seems to worry more for her safety and doesn’t approve of her putting herself in danger, and vice-versa with Yelena. Out little couple is growing up and worrying about their future as a family.

What really threw this book off was the entire plot line. It seemed to be bouncing around everywhere. In other book in the series, groups would split and every other chapter or so would update on one group or the other. In Dawn Study, however, there were so many separate groups by the time one rolled around the reader would have forgotten what that group was up to in the first place!

There were also more than a believable number of kidnappings/captures in this book, even for a romantic fantasy! Every other chapter one of the characters was in need of rescue, which is disappointing for this series because I loved how the characters were mostly self reliant or always had each other to get out of the tough situations.

I did love that Fisk and his Helper’s Guild had a major roll in this book. His little guild of street kids has almost grown into an army of their own, and they the ins and outs almost as well as any trained man of Valek’s. It’s great is see what started as a insignificant character in one book grow to become so important over the series.

Overall, Dawn Study was good. It defiantly wasn’t what I was hoping for in the last book of the series, but it was good. Now I’m just left with my fingers cross for a Janco/Ari/Onora spinoff. ( )

I got this book to review through NetGalley. I really loved the original Study trilogy but haven’t enjoyed Snyder’s other series all that much. I haven’t been a huge fan of the Soulfinders extension of the Study series either but this book did a decent job of finishing up this series.

The high point of this series has been learning more about Valek. This book doesn’t focus quite as much on Valek as previous books. This book is more balanced between Yelena, Valek, Leif and Onora. Valek is still having some issues damping down his incredibly alpha tendencies (which popped up in the last book in this series). However, him and Yelena have come to the realization that they don’t trust and listen to each other enough. So some of the book focuses on them finding a balance.

I continue to dislike Yelena intensely (she is just so dumb and makes such bad decisions all the time). This book starts out with Yelena doing just that; she ignores everything she knows about Valek and everything he’s said to her and makes a very rash decision with broad-reaching consequences right from the get-go. I just really don’t like how little Yelena uses her brain and past experiences when making decisions. She is just so rash and stupid.

The story ties up the whole deal with the Cartel enthralling those in power and trying eliminate magic. Things are tied up well. My main problem with this story is that it was just plain boring. This just kind of lays out the rest of the story, no huge surprises or anything. I ended up skimming some portions of the book because there are large sections where not much happens. However, it was nice to see the storyline tied up and our characters left in a good spot.

Overall this is an okay book in this series and does a good job of tying things up. If you liked previous books in this series you will probably like this one. I personally won’t be reading any more of Snyder’s books because they have been more miss than hit for me. ( )

I need this book like yesterday!!