Why yes, I do still actually read books for my own pleasure that are not for Book Club! Funnily enough though, I can't remember what to put into posts that are about books from a series. *quickly goes are reads some past posts from this series* Okay, I think I know what I'm doing now!
I mentioned in my last Green Rider series post on The High King's Tomb that I like to take breaks between these books... and boy was there a break between --- almost three years since I read the last one! Anyways, to catch up on what I've written so far on this series check out the links:
Green Rider - - - - - - - First Rider's Call - - - - - - - The High King's Tomb
Blackveil takes place about 9 months (I think) after the events in HKT. Karigan, our continuously sassy heroine has taken a quick trip home to see her father in Corsa. Cue the confrontation with her father about the brothel from the last book! I found his explanation satisfactory and that it revealed some other details about her deceased mother in the process! There is quite a bit about Karigan's mother that is revealed in the book but as it has to do with some MAJOR plot points, I will not discuss because SPOILERS.
This book continues the glimpses into other characters lives, thoughts and actions that started in FCR. I really enjoyed learning more about the D'Yer Wall and what Alton and Dale have been up to! Even Karigan's best friend, Estora, comes back in this one to become a staple reoccurring character. Honestly, coming back to all these characters feels like home. *Ahem* There is also more carry over with the Grandmother and The Second Empire too. They actually have a large part to play in the action of this one because Karigan is chosen (of course) to go on an expedition into Blackveil, the sickly magical forest that was tainted by Mornhaven's corrupt magic use centuries ago. The Eletians also send a delegation as well! Adventure, danger and chaos ensue, obviously.
There is also an interwoven plot line following Lord Amberhill in BV; a character that first appears in HKT. At first I didn't get why it was a thing, BUT it has very specific implications on the plot of the fifth book in the series, Mirror Sight. (A post on that one is also coming very soon. I read them back-to-back because of the way this one ends.)
Blackveil deals with more mature subject matter than the previous books as well. It contains the first out-right sex scene between characters in the series, rather than just insinuating it. The books are tackling grittier stuff as we progress and as Karigan gets older in the series too. I like that. We're growing with Karigan's character and as Kristen Britain's writing evolves and matures with her as well.
I do have to say though, that I did not like the ending of this book. It made no sense whatsoever at the time, that is until I started to read the fifth book right away. It explains the ending, but it was also such a strange ending that it forced me to start the next one immediately. I prefer a little wrap up at the end of my books. I get the effect of cliffhangers and abrupt endings, but the mini wrap-ups in this series were an aspect that I really liked and got me ready for the next one to come. Again though, the fifth books explains it, but I just wanted to complain a little.
I have quite a few blog posts to catch up on, but starting grad school and my first master's class has been eating up a lot of my free time because: HOMEWORK. I love it though. So, stay tuned! I have still Book Club stuff and my TBR and all my partially finished series to keep reading!
