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Parents' Guide to

The Beauty of Darkness: The Remnant Chronicles, Book 3

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Strong characters make this overlong finale satisfying.

The Beauty of Darkness: The Remnant Chronicles, Book 3 Poster Image

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Is It Any Good?

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Kids say (3 ):

Yes, it's a very long finale -- with the real battle action not happening until after page 600 (sigh) -- but the growth of the strong characters makes it worth the slog. And author Mary E. Pearson makes you care about all the kingdoms preparing for war and what it will cost them. Readers learned sympathy for the oppressed Vendans in Book 2 and now Morrighan in The Beauty of Darkness, despite how Princess Lia's parents treated her. Pearson carefully weaves in the different perspectives through a number of minor characters' backstories. We finally hear Kaden's story in more detail, making his father a worthy nemesis.

While there's spying and treachery aplenty in Morrighan and Dalbreck to keep the story moving -- mostly -- a few glimpses of life in Venda preparing for the war would add some much-needed climactic tension. Readers are told over and over that the enemy is coming, but that's not the same as showing it -- for example, showing the Komizar rounding up mere kids to fight and preparing his arsenal. We're shown a lot of romantic tension, however, and fans drawn more to the romantic story will do plenty of nail-biting as Lia and Rafe's relationship woes unfold.

Book Details

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