Ratings and Reviews by Shadowcutie

I loved the first book a lot! I enjoyed the second book too, but looking back, there were some issues I initially overlooked in book two that feel much harder to ignore in book three since they're also there and amplified. And I don't say this lightly as someone who loves to like things and is very forgiving of issues like this.

By the time the ending screen popped up, it felt like the story was just getting started. We (Spoiler - click to show)had learned a little about the resistance and (Spoiler - click to show)the dragon cities and now we were ready to put things into motion, then—'the end'. I know this is a multi-part series, but this didn’t feel like one complete installment in a series; more like the first third or half of the book (hence the review title). In contrast book one felt like a complete experience, that while you knew there was more to the main story and some unresolved threads, the major arcs and events of that book were completed. In book three you spend the entire game (Spoiler - click to show)in one of the few areas within the resistance hideout, across three days and two nights, with minimal progression—even the (Spoiler - click to show)heist lacked momentum in my opinion.

I live and breathe romance, and I like it to be dramatic and sappy but somehow, the schmaltz felt almost too turned up here—even for me. I didn't outright dislike it I guess, but something just didn’t quite click this time—I'm notoriously uninterested in romance stories once the relationship is built and committed (I much prefer the build up and wooing stage) so perhaps I've just hit the natural 'not interested anymore' phase for me.

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy what was there and I'm invested in the characters which is perhaps why my rating may seem more generous than what I have to say about my criticisms.

The Wayhaven Chronicles continues to deliver on the supernatural, sweet, and steamy. The writing, romance, characters are all as wonderful as previous books. Book 3 has lots of sweet and steamy scenes and I could not be happier, they're the star of the show, completely outshining the main plot which to me felt a little lackluster.

Personally, there is a certain slow burn romance that is turning out to be a little too angsty for me to love it completely, it's kind of heavyhanded in the "I like you but we can't" department. The main issue I have however is that there is a lot of side characters, and there's seemingly always more introduced (and quickly forgotten). There were also a few times when despite everything going well the characters acted as if my character was on the brink of death, but I'm here for the theatrics so play on!

Upon a few replays, Book 3 is the weakest of the series so far--while the romance is stellar, no surprise there, it is where all the attention has gone it appears. The main plot surrounding the 'antagonist' felt like a whole lot of nothing, a minor annoyance rather than a big threat. The final mission felt very rushed and deserved a lot more.

Stumbled upon the Book 3 review without playing the previous games?

If you're not a fan of plot armor, 'chosen one's, 'perfect at everything (except for when the plot says so)', or dramatic characters then the series might not be for you. TWC leans heavily towards more story than game, and so far there are few (if any) consequences for messing up, which makes it a good stress-free play.