So….it looks like I’m on fire! The #reveriefantasyworld readathon is ending, and I don’t want to miss out on recommending all the awesome books I’ve read, so I’m speed-reviewing (sort of) 😊
Immortal Fire, the third and final book in the Red Winter series by Annette Marie needs no more introduction after all the gushing I’ve done in my reviews of the first book, Red Winter and the second, Dark Tempest.
So without further ado, I’ll get to it…
About the book:
Immortal Fire is the conclusion of the Red Winter trilogy, a super-awesome fantasy series based on Japanese mythology written by the amazing Annette Marie.
It follows the adventures of Emi, the kamigakari of the goddess Amaterasu. In the first book, she had set out to find the truth of her fate and discovered some heart-breaking truths about her life and uncovered a betrayal.
In the second, she set out to fulfil the mission Amaterasu had given her – a mission that, if she failed, would mean the end of the world as she knew it. During her adventures, her poor heart is subjected to one shock after another.
But her quest isn’t over yet. In the third book her journey to save her world from the traitorous deities continues. She is faced with one challenge after another, each one leading up to her final fate as the kamigakari of a goddess.
She has undefeatable enemies to face and she, a mere human, feels helpless in the face of the gigantic challenge looming in front of her.
Meanwhile, her romance with Shiro blossoms even though it’s a distraction and she can’t afford to love him with everything that’s going on…
I’ve tried to describe this as clearly as possible without revealing spoilers for either book. It was difficult, but I think I succeeded. Anywho…I can’t tell anything more about this book because spoilers.
So let’s get to…
My take on the book:
This was the perfect conclusion to a beautiful series.
The author had a lot of questions to answer in this book; a lot of holes to fill, and I think she did an admirable job of it.
Unlike the first two books, this doesn’t maintain the air of mystery around it. All the mysteries have already been uncovered and all that’s left for Emi to do is carry out her duty. Her mission didn’t end in the second book, so the sense of adventure isn’t gone. But the shocks, for the most part, are over.
The emotional roller-coaster is not over, though. Emi has to work through a lot of inner conflicts before facing her fate. She loves Shiro, but she needs the utmost focus to become Amaterasu’s vessel. And Shiro is changing right in front of her, from the weak fox she rescued, to a yokai she doesn’t recognise anymore.
Anyway…what I mean is that though the air of mystery is gone, the book is as thrilling and as intriguing as ever. I was right there with Emi, watching her risk her life to save the world… feeling her confusion when she couldn’t make the decision between Shiro and the world…watching her grow and overcome her fears …
It was a beautiful journey. I loved every joyful, heart-breaking, thrilling moment of it.
But perhaps what I loved most here was the fact that the nuances of Emi’s emotions and the tiny, happy moments she has with Shiro and her friends are interspersed seamlessly with the big, earth-shattering fights and the life-or-death adventures. The sweet, romantic scene where Emi and Shiro spend the day together doesn’t seem out of place with their adventures.
It takes talent to intertwine simple pleasures with big adventures, and as usual, Annette Marie has proved herself superior.
I loved the book. It was absolutely perfect. I enjoyed every minute of the journey.
What I loved:
The vivid language, the intrigue, Japanese mythology. Yes, the same things I enjoyed about the first two books apply here as well. No brainer!
The small moments. Emi is facing scary, immortal enemies. The world might end if something goes wrong. But through all this, small moments still count. The simple pleasure of going to a beach in the summer with a loved one, the happiness of having dinner with friends, the wonder of watching fireworks after years…many times, when these moments are interspersed with the big picture, it looks flippant and wrong. But the author has managed to make those moments bittersweet; just as they should be.
You should read it if:
You read and liked the first two books.
Verdict:
It was a breathtaking conclusion to the series. I had high hopes from this book because the first two had set the stage for it, and it exceeded all my expectations! I recommend the entire series to anyone who’s interested in fantasy or mythology. It’s simply amazing.
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