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A review by write_of_passages
Only Unity Will Spare Us by Michele Notaro
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I'm writing this review after my second read of this finale, (and third read of the rest of the series). What a perfect ending to the Magi Accounts. I cannot begin to describe how worth the wait this book was. We have non-stop action, high-emotion, high-stakes, gloriously beautiful moments amongst all of our characters, dual-POV again (so we don't miss anything!), and one of the most insane, heart-wrenching, cathartic climactic endings I've read.
Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Already have! And I'm sure I will again! This is one of my favorite series.
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: What more is there to say at this point? Every character is golden and their own. Mads and Cos really shine and in this book we get even more of the characters we've come to know and love throughout the rest of the series. There are no strange out of character moments. In many ways, we get to see their relationship level-up even more, both within the main arc, and the epilogue as well. If you've loved them so far, you'll continue to love them.
PLOT: This book takes the darkest and most intense turn of all the books, which is saying something, considering Michele isn't afraid to dig deep into the psyche and hit us hard with so many sucker punch moments. The "battle" is hard-fought and isn't easily won, which is something that I rarely find (personally) in the books I read. Here, everything has been built up into that finale that truly feels epic. Be aware of triggers and content warnings, of course, as we do have a couple of flashback moments. We have nearly non-stop action and intensity, perfectly balanced with moments of pure sweetness and a chance to breathe and remember exactly what we (and they) are all fighting for.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
5/5: high. This book put me through the wringer. And yet it did so in a way that I knew my heart would be protected and taken care of by the end of reading. A very safe emotional intensity.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
100%. Again, this is such a rare rating for me. But the climactic event is BIG, it makes sense to the build up from the rest of the story, and the aftermath is actually there. We don't have a "fade to black" or "cut to months later" moment in this one. Almost everything I needed I received, and I am eternally grateful for that.
Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Already have! And I'm sure I will again! This is one of my favorite series.
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: What more is there to say at this point? Every character is golden and their own. Mads and Cos really shine and in this book we get even more of the characters we've come to know and love throughout the rest of the series. There are no strange out of character moments. In many ways, we get to see their relationship level-up even more, both within the main arc, and the epilogue as well. If you've loved them so far, you'll continue to love them.
PLOT: This book takes the darkest and most intense turn of all the books, which is saying something, considering Michele isn't afraid to dig deep into the psyche and hit us hard with so many sucker punch moments. The "battle" is hard-fought and isn't easily won, which is something that I rarely find (personally) in the books I read. Here, everything has been built up into that finale that truly feels epic. Be aware of triggers and content warnings, of course, as we do have a couple of flashback moments. We have nearly non-stop action and intensity, perfectly balanced with moments of pure sweetness and a chance to breathe and remember exactly what we (and they) are all fighting for.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
5/5: high. This book put me through the wringer. And yet it did so in a way that I knew my heart would be protected and taken care of by the end of reading. A very safe emotional intensity.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
100%. Again, this is such a rare rating for me. But the climactic event is BIG, it makes sense to the build up from the rest of the story, and the aftermath is actually there. We don't have a "fade to black" or "cut to months later" moment in this one. Almost everything I needed I received, and I am eternally grateful for that.