Arcana Rising by Kresley Cole Book Review

 

Title: Arcana Rising (The Arcana Chronicles #5)
Author: Kresley Cole
Publish Date: August 15th, 2016
Publisher: Valkyrie Press
Source: I purchased my own copy

Losses mount and deadly new threats converge in this next action-packed tale of the Arcana Chronicles by #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole.

When the battle is done . . .

The Emperor unleashes hell and annihilates an army, jeopardizing the future of mankind--but Circe strikes back. The epic clash between them devastates the Arcana world and nearly kills Evie, separating her from her allies.

And all hope is lost . . .

With Aric missing and no sign that Jack and Selena escaped Richter's reach, Evie turns more and more to the darkness lurking inside her. Two Arcana emerge as game changers: one who could be her salvation, the other her worst nightmare.

Vengeance becomes everything.

To take on Richter, Evie must reunite with Death and mend their broken bond. But as she learns more about her role in the future--and her chilling past--will she become a monster like the Emperor? Or can Evie and her allies rise up from Richter's ashes, stronger than ever before?

Penelope's Review

I live for this series. Seriously. The feels it invokes... I can't even. After that soul crushing cliffhanger in Dead of Winter, I didn't know if I could go on. While Death still tugs at my heartstrings, I am Team Jack. This will likely come as no surprise, but spoiler alert: Jack isn't dead. Thank. The. Lord. Phew I don't even know what I would've done. 

Anyway - Evie doesn't know that Jack is alive so she is an absolute mess. I mean, she had just decided (finally) to pick Jack and then BOOM. Dead. But Death is there for her, which makes my loyalty to Jack so hard to hold on to! Death can be so sweet... ugh. Kresley why do you do this to me? 

The book alternates between Evie's and Jack's perspectives and I absolutely love reading from Jackson's point of view. We learn so much more about the Arcana and the game in this book. It's crazy how much is revealed here, and adds so much substance to the book. Evie has some badass moments which were awesome - she has really come into her own as a character throughout this series, relationship drama aside. 

And Aric... Death.. my oh my. I've never been so torn in a love triangle before. I am always VERY firmly one side. While I have decided that I am Team Jack, Death holds a certain allure. I wouldn't be completely upset if this series ended with him and Evie together...

Overall this was an action packed, fantastic addition to this series. Kresley is the queen of cliffhangers and she didn't disappoint with this one. Hot damn I did NOT see that one coming. See you for the next book!

Rating: 5/5 Devils!