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Emberfall is crumbling, torn between those who are loyal to Rhen and those who are eager to see Grey, the true heir, on the throne. Grey has agreed to wait two months before bringing war and challenging Rhen for the Emberfall throne, but the more time passes, the more Rhen turns away from everyone — even Harper, who is desperate to find a path to peace … for everyone.
Meanwhile, in Syhl Shallow, Lia Mara struggles to be a better, less cruel, ruler than her mother, but some in her kingdom are still loyal to her sister, who should have been queen instead, and are not eager to let go of the old ways. Syhl Shallow enjoyed peace once when magic was driven out of it. Now, Grey and his magic threaten to bring war upon its inhabitants again.
As the conflict draws closer, both brothers fear peace will have to be won through broken bonds and bloodshed.
With the threat of imminent war and broken trusts, emotions are high in this conclusion to the Cursebreakers series — for the characters and the reader. And if you’re hoping for the perfect happily ever after — like I did — you may be in for a surprise.
A Vow So Bold and Deadly has an even darker, grittier feel than its predecessors. Rhen and Grey have proven to be complex characters who have evolved a long way from A Curse So Dark and Lonely (but not necessarily in a good way). Horrible things have been done and said, and along the way, the line between right and wrong has been blurred. While that murkiness of morals adds a sense of realism to the story and the struggles the characters face, it made me respect some of the characters less, and, at times, it even caused me to detach from the story.
However, I also believe the writing has gotten better as the stories progressed, and the second half of this book definitely kept me up late plowing toward the final pages and an ending that has left some fans hoping for a spinoff series.
Rated: Moderate, for violence, magical torture, blood, and some gory descriptions. Quite a lot of sexual content makes an appearance, including at least two makeout sessions that lead to more. One such scene features partial undressing, caressing, and fade-to-black sex with characters chatting about their lack of inexperience in the bedroom. Another scene leads to a little more detail before, once again, fading to black. A character becomes pregnant out of wedlock. Characters drink and get tipsy. There are 12 uses of mild language and around 2 uses of moderate language.
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