ARC Review--Reckoning by Veronica Wolff

IN THE GAME OF EVIL, THERE IS ALWAYS A FINAL RECKONING

Annelise’s slaying of Vampire Dagursson has thrown the Isle of Night - and her own heart - into chaos. Though she shares a bond with the vampire Carden, her connection to Ronan grows deeper as he protects her from those who seek justice for and power from Dagursson's death.

But there's one thing Ronan can't protect her from - his sister, Charlotte, who is alive and sworn to destroy Annelise and everyone she holds dear. Now Annelise must decide who she trusts as she embarks on a suicide mission to rescue the most important woman she’s never met: her mother.

Trapped in a deadly game against an ancient evil, not everyone will be left standing as Annelise faces the final reckoning.

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.


Nothing, repeat nothing, makes me happier when a beloved series finally gets its conclusion! And this really applies to the series that get canceled or waylaid due to whatever reason. And when Veronica asked me if I would like a review copy of this one, I couldn't type fast enough to respond! I LOOOOOVED The Watchers series! It's been almost three years since we last got to see everyone, so there was that hesitancy that comes with returning, but it wasn't long before I was back into everything. Sure I couldn't remember everyone or all the past events, but Annelise and Veronica are a marvel together at getting you back on track with where things are at and where they are about to go!

Reckoning is the long awaited final book in the The Watchers series by Veronica Wolff and it was definitely worth the wait! Annelise is keeping it a secret that she was the one to kill Dagursson, and it's definitely noted that he's missing. No one but Ronan knows what happened, and she can't even bring herself to tell Carden. It's a very dangerous secret, plus she still has the very powerful, very coveted weapon that killed him. Or Ronan does, but same thing! ;)

Ann is more determined than ever to leave the Isle of Night and find her mother who she now knows is alive, being held prisoner somewhere. Though Charlotte, Ronan's sister who is alive and very much a vampire is set to make her life miserable. She unleashes plenty of terrors all too soon, and promises to basically kill everyone Ann loves. But naturally, Ann won't let that happen.

Ann plans to use everything she's got to find her mother. She will rescue her from whatever hellish prison she's being held in. But naturally, a little trouble happens along the way, and even before her journey!

Reckoning was one action packed thrill ride! There's sooo many fight scenes, and pretty much since the beginning I have marveled at Ann's strength. She was more brain than brawn, but she has come a looong way! She's incredibly brave and even when she gets knocked down a hundred times, this girl gets back up again and again!! She's the perfect heroine to have in a YA novel, because she came from nothing (in a way) and while she was smart, she wasn't Buffy strong. But now, I'd say she could give Buffy a run for her money! Or they're at least on even footing! I've loved watching her character grow!

And I have loved the romance in this one! It's always kind of been in the background of whatever has been going on, which was awesome! While we've pretty much had a love triangle since the earlier days, I was always team Ronan! Probably because he came along first and yeah...swoon! But Carden is something else! He's a vampire, but he genuinely cares for Ann. He agrees to help her with her quest, despite having divided loyalties when it comes to her and the vampires. He's totally swoon-worthy as well! It has been an impossible challenge to figure out who Ann would choose in the end and I won't say a word about it anymore!

There's a bit of vampire politics in this one as well. Had I had time for a series re-read, I might have been able to follow it better. But since I didn't, I can say that it wasn't too hard to follow along. There's just a bit of history behind some of the leaders that I didn't quite grasp to fully understand what was happening in the moment. But regardless, I was pretty much able to follow along with the general gist of things!

Reckoning has everything one can want from a series finale, there's action, humor, sprinkles of romance, heartache, tears, and an ending that leaves you entirely satisfied with where the characters are at! I was happy with where everyone I cared about ended up. I probably had one lingering question as to one's character's fate, but I'm pretty much playing out that fate in my end...and it's well deserved!! LOL! Not telling anything about what I'm thinking either!

If you haven't read Veronica's Watchers series yet, well now is the time!! You can binge the entire thing without my painful wait that I suffered! And don't forget the novella, Dark Craving that was a bit of saving grace for me in between and plus, you get to get inside Ronan's head!! EEP!! I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this series and I can't recommend it enough to you all!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars



Reckoning releases April 6, 2016