Review: Risen (Rise of The Iliri Series Book 10) by Auryn Hadley

Risen: A Reverse Harem Epic Fantasy by Auryn Hadley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant Resolution

This is the final episode in The Rise of the Iliri Series, well kind of, because there is another book coming out and it’s a full length epilogue. I am SOOOOO pleased there is another book because the ending of this was kind of abrupt after a massive 10 book saga. Slowly building tension over the course of 10 books means that when it ends it can feel a bit sudden, no matter how well done it is.

The book starts with a lot emotion after Sal is lost. Because of all the emotional turmoil it feels like the book is slow to start, but once it does, the pace of the book picks up, slowly gathering more and more momentum.

Without Sal around, the slack has to be picked up by her mates. Jase in particular as first mate has to step up and lead for the first time. He is supported by the other three mates as they feel the need to draw close without Sal.

There is not as much about Ryali in this book, which is a shame because I love her character, but having her in place to support Dom back in Anglia means that the army can concentrate on moving forward without worrying about being stabbed in the back at home.

It’s in this book that Shade finally comes into her own, being let off the leash to keep the Terrans at bay whilst the army recovers from Sal’s loss. Having the love and support of her two mates gives her confidence and being allowed to use her ability to protect those she loves is a relief.

There are some mighty plot twists in this book, which make it really hard to talk about it in much depth. Whilst this makes it frustrating to review, it does mean the book is great to read. You keep getting surprised and dragged along to the next chapter to find out what happens next.

This whole series has turned out to be one of my favourite ever fantasy reads. It is written so well that the world lives on in my mind even after the final page is read. In my mind all of the characters are all still living their lives, having adventures, falling in love, raising their families and living free from fear. Auryn Hadley created a wonderful world filled with wondrous creatures with magical abilities and breathed life into characters that you wished were real.

Woven into the whole saga are stories about relationships between families, friends and lovers. There is so much written about the way different cultures interact and different races can relate to each other. The series debates the nature of political systems, searching for a way to create one that is fair for all. All these things, on their own, are captivating to read, together they create a wonderful reading experience.

There is so much in this series that I know I will read it over and over again. I’m so pleased there is going to be a full length epilogue novel, because I’m far from ready to say goodbye to this world.

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