With Callipolis newly fallen to Ixion Stormscourge, can the Guardians save what is left of their home and create something better for everyone? Picking up midaction immediately where Flamefall (2021) ended, we find our heroes separated and facing a losing battle. While Annie was busy sparking a revolution in New Pythos, Lee has remained in Callipolis. Now he's trying to play the part of returning lord long enough to figure out what to do. There are limited options thanks to Ixion's violent crackdowns on dissenters and Princess Freyda's circling the city with her goliathan dragon to maintain order. However, when Freyda approaches Lee in secret with a plan to overthrow Ixion and take power for themselves, he has difficult choices to make. Will he marry Freyda and become the leader he was born to be or throw himself into exile with Annie and the other Guardians and brace for a war they are woefully unprepared for? The strong pacing balances aerial dragon battles and political machinations. The characters are well developed, growing as they face war's moral dilemmas. The love stories (one straight, one gay) are complex and believable, woven seamlessly into the story. Point-of-view chapters from several characters allow readers to see different perspectives and become invested in multiple characters (and their dragons). The text includes some reminders to help readers track the cast and their various complex relationships. A satisfying, high-stakes trilogy closer. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Munda establishes herself as a master storyteller with this stunning finale to her Aurelian Cycle, which begins at Flamefall 's (2021) suspenseful conclusion and plunges into a spiraling, breathtaking ride. Annie, Lee, Delo, and Griff narrate in short, breathlessly paced chapters that illuminate the horrors of war and the hopeful idealism of building a better world. In New Pythos, Griff's impending public execution is the perfect staging ground for the Norcians' revolt against their dragonborn invaders--if Annie and Delo come through. Busy with the Norcians, Annie isn't there to protect Callipolis when it falls to Ixion Stormscourge and his foreign princess, Freyda; and the new rulers proceed to place Annie in exile. As Ixion reinstates the brutal triarchy, Lee must walk a dangerous line between placating his vengeful dragonborn kin and looking to free the imprisoned Guardians and dragons. This task is further complicated by an offer from Princess Freyda that tests his loyalties. Meanwhile, Delo faces a similar conflict of interest in New Pythos: stay true to his dragonborn family or follow his conscience--and his heart. Like in previous books, Munda effortlessly balances riveting aerial battles with nuanced political intrigue and poignant drama. With heart-wrenching deaths, heart-pounding thrills, and heartwarming relationships, this is a bold conclusion to one of fantasy's best series.

Gr 8 Up--With inspiration from classical Greek epics, Munda has crafted an exquisite fantasy world with high stakes, strong characters, hard questions--and, of course, dragons. Griff is facing execution, Lee is forced into diplomacy, and Annie has the fate of Callipolis on her shoulders. Socioeconomics play a key role in the character conflict, and this novel takes the aerial battles, political machinations, and a back burner romance of the second book and brings them to a roaring finish. Munda's emphasis on the characters means that every choice they make has consequences--some expected, some devastating. VERDICT A highly underrated YA fantasy trilogy worth having on library shelves. Readers will devour this finale.