Candidate
This is the first time I wrote my review while reading the book. There were just too many precious moments that I want to remember without spoiling the book for those who haven’t read it yet. If I said that Apprentice was like a roller coaster, clearly I was wrong. This was far worst (in a good way) in playing with my emotions.
The third book in the series opens with how I picture Darren and Ryiah’s relationship – intense and challenging. It was one of my favourite scenes in this book because I always loved the connection between the two. No matter how hard they can be with each other, you could see the chemistry.
The characters have changed.
For once, (yes, just once), Blayne had a good side. Or more like one weak moment. This scene where he convinced Ryiah to make amends with Darren tugged my heart.
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because he is my little brother. And as many mistakes as he has made, I want the best for him. Even if that is you.”
That was the ONLY time I SORT OF liked him.
And, the scene after THAT was definitely my favourite.
Two, Ryiah has a dark side. We all know she can be too driven and ambitious, but she also has another monster in her – she’s jealous. (she admitted that herself)
And Darren? I still love him.
He did one thing I never thought he’ll do, at least not openly – he chose Ryiah. Yes, I know, when he said he wanted to marry Ryiah, it already meant him choosing her, but there was this one moment in this book where he chose her despite EVERYTHING.
So, I think the whole book could be summed up to what Derrick told Ryiah back at Ferren’s Keep:
“That’s the thing about enemies. You never know who they could end up being.”
During the battle for candidacy, I was on the edge of my seat. Basically, I wanted to get over that part fast (If only I had known everything falls apart after that), not wanting to find out who will win the black robe. I don’t usually get nervous reading a fight scene, but this one was well-written my heart was pounding fast. I’m going to leave that with this line:
The both of us were our own worst enemies.
The ending is the perfect example of bittersweet. I can’t even find the right words to describe it anymore.
Overall, though it may have torture my Non-Heir loyal heart, I love how amazingly written this book was, with both sweet butterflies-in-my-belly moments and I-need-my-own-blade scenes. I’d love to read the last book but at the same time, I’m also scared to find out the fates of these two soulmates.
5 stars.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1847739852
