by Jennifer Estep
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publish Date: 26th of April 2016
Title: Bright Blaze of Magic
Author: Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Book: #3 of Black Blades
Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy
Found: Netgalley/ Series Continuation
Rating: 4 Voodoos
Bad Things Always Come In Threes…
As a thief, I’m good at three things: hiding in the shadows, getting in and out unseen, and uncovering secrets. I put these skills to work for the Sinclair Family, one of the magical mobs that run the tourist town of Cloudburst Falls.
Everyone knows Victor Draconi wants to take over all the other Families–and kill every last Sinclair. What they don’t know is that I’m on to him, and no way will I let the man who murdered my mom get away with hurting all the other people I care about. Especially when I’ve got places to break into, stuff to steal, and Devon Sinclair fighting right by my side…
- Goodreads
How is it all over already? I sat down a couple of nights ago to read this final part and it has consumed my thoughts ever since. Unlike books one and two, book three has that unenviable task of bringing everything together. Who will stop the Draconi family from killing everyone and taking over? How will they stop them? How will Lila get revenge on Victor for the murder of her mother? Will Lila and Devon live happily ever after? HOW SPECIAL IS LILA ANYWAY??? So many questions, such a short book to squeeze it all into… and oh how Jennifer Estep rises to the challenge. Bright Blaze of Magic answered all these questions and more! It had the perfect blend of horrifying, nail-biting angst and satisfactory, pleasure-inducing revenge that was necessary to pull of this entertaining finale and I loved every minute of it!
I can’t really summarise what happened in this book without giving away the ending but be assured that it’s just what you want at the end of a dramatic trilogy! Action-packed, heart-breaking, heart-stopping and just clever, oh so clever. Lila continues to be the head-strong, independent, and heart-warming main character that she has been the whole way through. She holds onto her snarky attitude to the very end which I love, and even in times of crisis she still found time to eat bacon… love you girl, just, love you!
I was happy to see more of Deah. There was something really special about the friendship that grew between Lila and Deah. It helped me to really understand that Lila was really special, because, lets be honest, if you can make someone who hates you, trust you, then you can pretty much do anything!
It was really refreshing how this story concentrated more on friendship and family than the romance between Lila and Devon. So many YA’s now fill the void with on-again-off-again nonsense but this trilogy doesn’t do that. It stays true the the characters personalities and just lets it run its course. It makes me smile just thinking about it!
I would have liked to see more of Devon and Felix. I felt they got a little lost in all the action and adventure but I suppose that can’t be helped when the story is focused on Lila. I was happy to see the return of the magical monsters though, especially the tree trolls. It was these wonderful creatures that really made this fantasy world come alive.
I do hope that Jennifer Estep returns to this world in the future. I know this story is over but, with such a wonderful fantasy environment and lovable characters, there could be a different adventure just around the corner perhaps?? All in all, a great YA urban fantasy series that I will be recommending to anyone who will listen.
My Reviews of Books One and Two can be found using the links below:
Cold Burn of Magic
Dark Heart of Magic
PS. To readers who love it when the author mentions the title in the story… this series is for you 
