Today’s review is about A STORM OF WRATH AND RUIN by Kristin Ward. It’s the third book in the Daughter of Erabel series. As such, this review contains some spoilers for THE GIRL OF DORCHA WOOD and BLOOD OF THE LOST KINGDOM.

Author: Kristin Ward
Series: Daughter of Erabel, #3
Age Category: Young Adult
Publisher: Self-Published
Publish Date: February 22, 2022
Print Length: 326

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Official Synopsis

Bloodlust. Power. Vengeance. War is coming. And all must be ready.

The drums of war are beating, their echoes filling Dorcha Wood as Fiadh, and those who stand with her, ready themselves for what is coming. Beyond the forest’s borders, Aos Sí armies march, exacting a terrible vengeance on mankind as they fulfill the dark wishes of Rygeil-a ruler who has forsaken the Great Mother, Danu. But, vanquishing the children of men will take more than the magic flowing through Aos Sí veins. Rygeil covets Fiadh, believing she is the key to unlocking a power so vast none could stand against him.

As destruction sweeps across the landscape, armies of men are amassing, flocking to a corrupt ruler who seeks more than the defeat of the elven army. Like Rygeil, Lord Darragh hunts Fiadh. Her power. Her blood. His dark purpose, twisted by the malevolence of an evil woman. And, at his side stands Gideon, a man who vowed to see his people avenged whatever the cost.

Erabel is under siege. All that stands between its downfall or salvation is one young woman whose blood sings with the power of the earth itself.

My Review

I received a free, digital reading copy of this book from the author. My review is my own and reflects my honest opinion about this book. This review contains spoilers for the first two books in the series.

First, I want to thank Kristin Ward for gifting me a copy of this book after I participated in blog tours for books one and two. I received it months ago, but was drowning in NetGalley ARCs at the time. My goal then was to knock down my large ARC list born from overzealous requesting at the end of 2021. I have breathing room now and devoted October to mood reads. And wow, A STORM OF WRATH AND RUIN did not disappoint. Like the previous two, I inhaled this installment of the Daughter of Erabel series.

Fiadh, now aware of her heritage, prepares to confront Rygeil, who wants her power for his own. But he isn’t the only one grappling for it. There are those who are ancient and evil; others who are contemporary, but power hungry just the same; and some who seek to harness Fiadh’s power to serve their people’s own prophecies. Fiadh must learn who to trust while also staying true to herself.

The title of this third installment holds true to the events. Ward lets the wrath and fury loose on her characters. No one is safe. There’s betrayal, death, battle scenes, and creatures of legend who join the fray. I have a lot of respect for authors who aren’t afraid to make difficult choices with their characters, no matter how much they or their readers might love them. I was particularly upset at one turn of events and equally surprised by others.

There are a lot of moving pieces in this book, including a couple of new plot lines that come into play. Though these are seamlessly introduced, I found myself, at times, wishing that a bit more time had been spent on some events to flesh them out a little more. The story moves at a relatively fast clip, so there were a few things that I felt were glossed over. (Unless the next book offers further explanations.) However, there is still plenty of character development, particularly with Gideon.

As Gideon carries out Rygeil’s orders, he begins to question whether he’s doing the right thing, or being driven by prejudice and anger. Fiadh, initially open and trusting, is now familiar with the ugly side of humanity. Despite this and the danger she faces, she remains adamant that she and her Aos Sí followers avoid killing. Fiadh has always had an affinity for nature, and engaging in such heinous acts would only thin their connection with the Great Mother. But this connection becomes strained when Fiadh finds another power source and her loved ones are threatened.

I wish I could describe more of the events in the book, but it’s nearly impossible to do so without spoilers. But suffice it to say that readers who enjoyed the first two books will definitely love this one. Emotions will run high in A STORM OF WRATH AND RUIN. There’s even more Irish mythology introduced. I can’t wait to see what the fourth book has in store for Fiadh. If you’re looking for a new self-published series to start, I highly recommend this one!

Rating: 4.25
Content warnings: death, gore, battle scenes, sex
Reading format: Kindle e-book