Darken the Stars by Amy A. Bartol

Author: Amy A.Bartol

Published: September 8, 2015 by 47North

Genre: Sci-fi, Romance, Fantasy, YA

Stars: 3 Content Rating:5

Cover: Kyon Ensin finally has what he’s always wanted: possession of Kricket Hollowell, the priestess who foresees the future. Together, their combined power will be unrivaled. Kricket, however, doesn’t crave the crown of Ethar—she has an unbreakable desire to live life on her own terms, a life that she desperately wants to share with her love, Trey Allairis.

As conspiracies rage in the war for Ethar, Kricket’s so-called allies want to use her as a spy. Even those held closest cannot be trusted—including Astrid, her sister, and Giffen, a member of a mysterious order with a hidden agenda. But Kricket’s resolve will not allow her to be used as anyone’s pawn, even as the Brotherhood sharpens its plans to cut out her heart.

As the destiny prophesied by her mother approaches, Kricket will backtrack through her fiery future to reshape it. For she knows one thing above all else: the only person she can truly count on is herself.

I’m truly at a loss for words. The first 80 percent of this book is just as fantastic as the first 2 books. I can’t believe the ending was written by the same author. There are so many directions this story could have gone in. Let me see if I can get through this without getting too upset. (insert crying laughing smiling face)

**SPOILERS**

The last book left us with Giffen trading Kricket for her sister Astrid. Kyon finally has Kricket. We also find out that Kricket’s father is still alive and creating an army of rebels out of all the males that Alameeda would have otherwise killed for their gifts. Trey and the Cavars are now outlaws of Rafe so end up joining the rebels. We find out more about the prophecy in this book. The rebels are demanding that Kricket spys for them and in return they don’t kill Trey. Kyon doesn’t know Trey is still alive. There are so many things that I feel like don’t make sense or are unfinished. I couldn’t believe I was almost done and there was still so much to do. Kricket is supposed to find a way to kill Excelsior Ensin. She has no idea how. She doesn’t full trust Kyon. She still loves Trey. Everything is a mess. Then all of a sudden she comes up with a plan. She kills him. She gets out. Runs back to earth and leaves a letter. This part is so out of character for ALL of the characters. The whole ending was so bizarre. Almost like the author couldn’t decide on an ending. She doesn’t have closure with Trey or Kyon.. or her FAMILY. She runs away?? Kricket doesn’t run away. She can see the future and change it. She would have a whole Alameeda ARMY. Trey stops fighting for her? I don’t believe it. Not for one second. No way do they go through all that they have been through and then he asks her to die for his family. Like he doesn’t care anymore. Like Rafe is more important. Then there is Kyon. He spent the whole of the first 2 books chasing her. He is going to wake up from his coma and keep chasing her. He didn’t need revenge. He needed love and he is not going to give up. Her family is not going to be satisfied that she is still alive. The whole ending I felt like was a cop out. Especially when there could have been so many ways to make the ending better. or even keep the series going! I felt like there could have been 2 more books! That letter just trying sum up everything all perfectly felt like the biggest betrayal of all. These CHARACTERS need their ending! A real one.