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The War Eternal series by Rob J. Hayes has been such a delight to read from beginning to heart-stopping end. The fact that all three volumes of this trilogy were released within a month of each other only added to my enjoyment because there wasn't a lot of refresher needed as I progressed through each new book. When I first delved into this series I had an hunch that it would be one of my very favorites, but I didn't understand just how much so until I got further entrenched in Rob's intoxicating new world. I've said before that I don't understand how Rob Hayes doesn't seem to slip when it comes to putting out a brand new series, and I stand by that statement wholeheartedly after reading the final entry FROM COLD ASHES RISEN.
The book picks up pretty much immediately following the events that concluded book 2, and there is a great deal of turmoil and uncertainty when we join Eska and her friends once again. She has faced about as much pain and adversity as any main character I've ever encountered and yet she is still standing and determined to accomplish her goal of paying back those who have taken so much from her. And make no mistake, they have taken a lot. Fueled by a rage that can only come from someone who has experienced the worst of treatment and imprisonment, freedom has allowed Eska the opportunity to hatch her plan as she recruits a few supernatural beings to help her along the way.
She is also still beleaguered by the mysterious entity that converses with her internally known as Serrakis. Serrakis often plays upon the vulnerable parts of Eska and brings all of Eska's darkest thoughts to the forefront, never letting Eska forget her tragedies. It's bad enough dealing with the pain that you've already experienced in your life without also having an internal voice reminding you every second. And yet they also share a special bond that ties them together. The full nature of that relationship gets revealed in this book by the way and the result is stunning. In the end I was left exhausted and exhilarated by the finale. As the blurb states so tantalizingly: The Corpse Queen Comes.
I really wasn't prepared for that ending, wow! So many outstanding plot lines that come together beautifully and so many darkly magical elements to rejoice at. I just loved this entire series and this one most of all. While FROM COLD ASHES RISEN started out fairly slow, the book had this feeling of a gradual build until all hell broke loose. And when it did, I couldn't get enough and finished the last half of the book in less than 24 hours.
The world-building is just as you would expect from a Rob J. Hayes book, simply brilliant and with lots of layers. I don't exactly know how he thinks up these beautiful creations but I hope he doesn't stop doing it. Floating cities, deep underground prisons, dark parallel "other" worlds where hideous monsters reside, I mean he just doesn't falter when it comes to building these amazing settings. As someone who really enjoys great world-building, Rob is one of the best, if not the best in this area.
I've also mentioned in my previous reviews for this series that the magic is so wonderfully handled and original. If you are in need of a unique magic system, then this is the series for you. No lazy standard forms of magic here, it is all terrifically complex and artfully constructed, often leaving the characters who wield it the worse for wear. The boundaries are certainly stretched and this book especially shows how masterful Hayes is as a creator of off the charts twisted sorcery.
Finally I'd like to mention the main character Eska, who matures about as much as any character can in the span of three books. We first meet her as a young, confused, and angry teenager but we part knowing her to be a strong, determined, and unflinching heroine. All the while her flaws are still there and quite visible yet rather than shrink from them, she embraces and uses them to become the person she was always meant to be. No apologies, no regrets, Eska truly is the Corpse Queen in every aspect.
If you haven't read any Rob J. Hayes before, this series is an excellent starting point. It has all of the elements that make you want to turn each page feverishly to find out what happens next. FROM COLD ASHES RISEN concludes The War Eternal series with a tremendous flourish. I can't praise it enough for being one hell of a rousing adventure. This is epic fantasy the way it should be written, with the type of appeal that will make any reader swoon with excitement. I can't wait to see what Rob J. Hayes has in store for us next. I'm sure whatever it is will be well worth the wait.
Rating: 9.5/10
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