The Descent by Alma Katsu

The Descent is the third and final installment of The Taker trilogy. In this episode, through a series of nightmares Lanore learns that Jonathan. the love of her life, is being held captive by the Queen of the Underworld. If she's going to save him, she's going to need Adair's help. The problem is that she's been on the run from him for hundreds of years. Their last encounter was 4 years ago and even though he's really dangerous, she has to find him. As it turns out, Adair has retreated to an mysterious island and when Lanore finds him she learns that his help comes at a cost. (Would Adair have it any other way?)

I don't read much fantasy, but for some reason this series has been captivating. I've enjoyed it immensely. I just couldn't wait to find out what happened to Lanore, Jonathan and Adair in this "epic story of love and loss, magic and destiny".

This book was an extremely fitting end to the trilogy. However, it was my least favourite of the three. Like the previous books, the story jumps back and forth between the present and the past, giving the reader even more insight into the characters' pasts. While I enjoyed the story, I wasn't particularly enamored by the nightmare sequences that Lanore had about Jonathan. In general, I'm not a fan of dreams as a way to get information across in a story.

I liked the characters in this book, but Adair seemed really different. I guess he was supposed to a "changed man" after spending years repenting in seclusion for his past sins. He seemed to have been tamed to the point where he was almost unrecognizable and didn't really seem to be doing much on the island except moping and waiting. I really liked the dangerous, passionate character in the previous books. I wanted him to unleash his famous fury. Oh, well.

I found a couple of quotes that I liked from the book. They are:

Sometimes a weed turns into a beautiful flower or a helpful herb but you'll never know if you pull it too soon. (page 227)

Only a fool would underestimate the power of lust. Kingdoms have been won and lost, men and beasts have battled to the death over it. (page 227)

I read and really enjoyed the first two books in the series. Here are the links to my reviews on The Taker and The Reckoning. 

Recommended. If this series is new to you, start at the beginning. I don't think it makes much sense to read this one before the first two.

For more information about this book, please visit Simon & Schuster's website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Alma Katsu's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at Simon & Schuster for this review copy.

The Descent by Alma Katsu, Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster) ©2014. ISBN 9781451651829(Advance Uncorrected Proof), 331p.