As ever, I shall attempt to provide a spoiler-free review, but as it is the final book in the trilogy, expect spoilers for books one and two.

Reviews of: The Stone Knife | The Jaguar Path

Perhaps there was no right and just resolution to this war. Perhaps there was only whatever caused the least amount of wrong…

That’s right. All out war is the result of the events at the end of The Jaguar Path, and as you can expect from Anna Stephens, the frontlines aren’t always as obvious as you’d think.

And so we reach the end of The Songs of the Drowned. The Dark Feather‘s events pick up about a month after those of The Jaguar Path, and in that time, the Singing City has been reduced to pockets hiding the rebellion, who are fighting to end the song and win back their homes; whether they were stolen two years ago or two generations ago. If you’re a little hazy on what happened last time, I’d definitely recommend rereading before plunging yourself back into the politics of Ixachipan. Stephens’ writing is as immersive as ever, but if you really want to get the full scope of the schemes and events, I think it’s best all in one.

There’s a real sense, at the start, of a society turned completely upside down, following the utter blindside that was the end of the last book. Many characters are naturally still reeling from that and their confusion is palpable as they learn anew their positions once more. I really felt, in particular, for Lilla and Ilandeh as they had the extra burdens of betrayal to try and wrestle with. Stephens’ character work is always stellar, it’s impossible not to form strong connections with them as Stephens lays bare their turmoil. This is a deeply character-driven trilogy; despite all the plotting and politicking, the cast of characters are the clear focal point. As we flit from perspective to perspective, it’s easy to imagine them continuing to love and hurt whether your attention is on them currently or elsewhere, they continue living away from the page and that’s a true skill. It’s makes all the emotional key-notes hit that much harder when they come, and, fair warning, boy do they come.

There are revelations aplenty in this final chapter as Stephens expertly weaves together the numerous threads gathered; if you thought this was going to be a straightforward battle for freedom you’ve got another thing coming. There is so much more at play here and as pieces started to fall into place I burned through the pages to find out more. However, as much as was going on in the wider picture, my favourite aspect of this final book was the personal journeys the characters went on. I was following the chronicle of the journey you take when someone you love changes into a person you no longer know; the denial, the questioning, the rage and the grief. You hope and hope that they’ll change their ways, that they’ll still be that same person beneath it all; and I know that, when I inevitable return to this book in the future, I’ll blindly keep hoping again. You’ll find yourself hating characters you started off loving, and admiring characters you started off hating. The character growth, whether good or bad, is unlike anything you’ll read elsewhere.

It’s difficult to talk about the last book of a trilogy without repeating yourself from the previous books – the world-building is of course complex and immersive, the critical dialogue on colonialism and cultural identity is vital, the battles visceral and the twists and revelations will floor you. But more than anything you will love every minute of it and never forget it. Stephens really puts her characters and readers through the mill. This is a glorious and fitting finale to what’s been an epic and truly uniquely unforgettable trilogy.

The Dark Feather is due for release 28th March. You can pre-order your copy on Bookshop.org