New favorite series ever!

I was really hoping that the third book in the Glass Alliance series would meet my high expectations, since the first two books blew me away. And I can tell you: me expectations were exceeded. So much! I can proudly present to you: my new favorite series EVER. This is an extreme honor, as this place was held by Harry Potter for over 20 years.

It also exceeded the capability of my tear ducts. THOSE FEELS. There were so many feels! It was heart breaking and it was perfect. And the themes... this book really shows how there are no winners in war. How it’s a million different facets that no person can entirely comprehend. How it always hurts the civilians and breaks apart families.

And I have to admit, I kinda live for Athan’s air battle scenes. They”re just so good! And the research is amazing, too... it felt so real! Everything felt too real. There were many new characters and I cared for them all, but most of all Bark (a dog adopted by Athan). The full blown war changed Athan, but he continues to be his lovely self and sees more than his own perspective. And his friend Cyar is the best, I love him so much, and the prologue from his point of view is heartbreaking (and yet really quote able). In fact, this entire book is so quotable, Joanna’s writing style is so flowing and poetic, yet not in a way that hinders the story, it enhances it. I can’t help but love Athan, and it hurts to see the toll of war. No will escape unscathed. Or even escape.

And Lia, this was really her book! She’s grown so much, and now she finds herself in the middle of a war, with many secrets of her own - and there’s spying! It is such a thin line she’s walking, and she’s far from the princess she once was, but she’s so strong and plain refuses to give in. She fights not for herself, but for the people without voice, without the power to fight back. And she’s amazing.

All characters are amazing actually, and there are still many suprises and plot twists left after the riveting plot twists from the first books! I love the complexity of the world, yet it doesn’t get boring or political or too complicated to follow. It has so many layers and stories inside it, it’s a masterpiece. It feels like a real world, and it captured the feel of both world wars without actually copying it. I don’t know how she did it, creating an unique world with these vibes, but she did. I bow to the master of worldbuilding, quoteable lines, character development and queen of invoking feels.

The end nearly broke me. But it felt right, and it’s perfect. You’ll be happy and maybe a bit melancholic and the story will stay with you for days or weeks after, like a great story is supposed to do.