5/5 STARS
Wow. That was a ride. This book is absolutely amazing. I really loved this entire series, but I felt like this was the best book out of the four. The first book was so great and the second and third were really good, but man, TJ brought it in this one!
At the end of the previous book Sam had left everyone without a goodbye and went to spend a year in the woods with the Great White to train and become a full fledged wizard. This book starts with Sam returning after 11 months of no contact. He has become a true wizard and now has more power than any wizard before. He has gathered all the dragons required. He is ready to fulfill his Destiny of Dragons. He is also terrified to return to his loved ones because he knows they are Pissed.
I really like how TJ handled the reunion. All his loved ones accepted him back quickly and willingly. Things weren't prefect. They all had some anger to work through still, which is to be expected. But I liked that he didn't dwell on the anger and make it something to keep them apart. On some level they knew Sam did what he had to even if they didn't understand it. And their love for Sam and his safety was more important than their anger. I felt this was a very realistic reaction.
There was a good balance of humor and seriousness. I feel like TJ has mastered the perfect balance in this. He is very, very good at getting emotional reactions out of you. I found myself sobbing at points, laughing hysterically, sometimes both at the same time. It is truly great to read a book that touches you at such a level.
I was really impressed with the ending. I'm not really good at analyzing the text and all the deep messages throughout and the reflection of society into the story stuff. But I liked the internal struggle Sam had at basically being human. We all have a choice in our lives on who we are and how we act and who we become. Everyone has the option to become a good person or a bad person. To intervene into a situation or sit back and let it happen. To love someone or to hate someone. To trust someone or to lean on only yourself.
Sam's struggled with feeling like his choices were truly his one in the face of a Destiny. He didn't want things to be a certain way just because they were foretold. He wanted to be his own person and make his own decision, which he did in the end. He defied his destiny in small ways, he made it his own. I won't go into the details for spoiler reasons (at one part I couldn't believe what was happening! I was so shocked, but great job TJ!). He faced a choice at the end. To take all the power he could, all that he was owed from those who had taken from him. Or to let it go and do the right thing. He really struggled with this to the point of almost going Dark. It was a very close thing. But of course love saved the day.
But what I really found fascinating was that Sam struggled afterwards with what he had almost done. He struggled knowing that he was so close to giving in. That he had enjoyed his small revenge by killing Ruv and Caleb. That he could have, and wanted to, kill all the Darks. That he enjoyed all the power he could have. That he could show all the people who had forsaken him and hated him just how mistaken they were. But isn't that something that everyone struggles with? Not usually on such a grand level, but still. Every day when we choose not to say something nasty to someone who was once nasty to us. Or when we choose to trust someone who once betrayed out trust. When we choose to be a good person over being a bad person. It's human nature to want revenge when something happens to us. Its human nature to want to hate people who aren't always good to us. But most people overcome and make the decision to take the high road and be a good person. Maybe it's just me, but I know I have struggled with some negative and nasty thoughts before. But like Sam, I choose not to act on them for reasons. And I think it was important to see this struggle in Sam. Because all though he is the most power person alive, he still struggles with something so naturally human.
That got a little away from me, but that part really stuck with me. And I may be way off base, but there it is.
Back to happy things, dude. The ending though! I feel at least 1 Justin book coming in the future and I am so ready! I'm really pleased with this book. I was worried, as I always am, about what would happen and if there would be the happy ending I wanted. But I was worried for nothing. TJ delivered and it was beautiful and amazing.
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