The review of "The Realms of the Gods" in the "Immortals" series starts with a rather lukewarm assessment. The reviewer gives it 2.5 stars, rounded up out of nostalgia and generosity, admitting it likely doesn't deserve it. The review is hidden under a spoiler tag as it's impossible to discuss the disappointing finale without revealing crucial plot points.

The reviewer takes issue with the forced relationship between Daine and Numair. The age difference, with Numair being 30 and Daine 16, is a major concern. The reviewer presents multiple exhibits from the books to support their claim about the ages. Even if the age difference could be overlooked, the relationship feels forced as there were no signs of romantic interest in the previous three books. It plays no real purpose in moving the plot forward and is the reviewer's least favorite part of the Tortall Universe.

Putting aside the relationship issue, there are still other problems with the book. The plot feels rushed, with too much happening in a short period of time. The potential of the story, with Ozorne as a powerful enemy, is not fully realized. The journey through the realm of the gods and the final battle lack depth and emotion. The reviewer also points out that many of the "complications" are easily overcome.

Despite the negative aspects, the reviewer does mention some positive moments. Daine reuniting with her Ma and being forced to choose between her mortal and immortal families are among the few real emotional moments. The Dragonlands and the companions like Broad Foot and Badger are also interesting.

In conclusion, the reviewer is disappointed with the "Immortals" finale. They feel that Pierce wasted time on an unnecessary relationship and not enough on details that would have made the book amazing. They recommend not reading the book, but if readers have read the rest of the series and plan to continue in the Tortall Universe, they should read it quickly and not linger.

2.5 stars rounded up because I'm feeling nostalgic and generous. It certainly doesn't deserve it.

Nooooo, don't WANT it to be over. Want moar Daine!

I have a plethora of mixed thoughts regarding this final volume. However, I relished the entire series to a great extent. I am well aware that I'll be returning to read it all over again in the not-too-distant future. As Leaf would say, Funfunfun.

Spoilery thoughts:

I'm uncertain about my stance on the romance between Daine and Numair. On one hand, it's rather passionate. On the other hand, he's twice her age, which is a bit peculiar. I appreciate that they leave it somewhat ambiguous. There's still time for her to mature and change her mind if she desires, and while I don't envision her doing so, it's beneficial that she has that option.

Speaking of choice, OMG THE DARKINGS, ADORABLE. I adore how Daine wins over an entirely novel kind of creature that has never before existed, simply by rescuing one from injury and then nourishing it. Her instinctive kindness leads to three extremely cute shadow-beings switching sides, which ultimately proves crucial in winning the war for Tortall. Not quite as endearing as Zek the teeny-tiny monkey - I believe book three will always hold a special place in my heart. But still, pretty damn cute.

I wasn't overly enamored with their journey through the Divine Realms. Everything was too strange, and Daine's parents made me uncomfortable with their excessive possessiveness towards her, and in her father's case, being rather a jerk. He is the Lord of the Hunt, though, so I suppose it's just his nature.

I like the themes of nature and choice that permeate this book and the remainder of the series. We all have our inherent natures, but we can all also exercise free will. It sounds rather trite when I express it in that manner, but it's executed well in the book, especially with the Stormwings. I loved their origin story and the fact that Daine recognized their place in the mortal world by the end, even if she personally disliked the majority of them. I also liked that no species was entirely good or entirely evil - even the dragons have internal conflicts and closed-mindedness to contend with.

Gainel was odd, especially since I'm currently re-reading the Sandman series and Morpheus would never be half as kind - at least, not for the vast majority of his existence. Since Gainel is so明显 modeled after Gaiman's Dream, I had difficulty with their personalities being so divergent. (Maybe this is supposed to be Daniel instead - he seemed nicer. I'll go ahead and fanwank that, even though Gainel has dark hair and a dark cloak.)

I was somewhat disappointed that we never discovered the origins of the horrific Skinners, although I have a hunch I wouldn't have wanted to know. I'm also not certain about my feelings regarding the Tauroses being an immortal race that essentially exists to rape women. Even if they are named after a Pokemon.

OHAI POUNCE. SUP.

This one progresses at a somewhat slower pace.

All but three chapters are set in the eponymous Realms of the Gods.

It mainly features Daine and Numair, along with a bit of the badger and Broad Foot.

However, the reduced number of characters is more than compensated for by the Darkings.

The Darkings are a fantastically wonderful little creation of Pierce's.

Not being a teenager anymore, the age difference between Daine and Numair seems a bit creepier.

But ehhhh, I love Numair anyway.

And at least he acknowledges it himself.

Overall, despite the slower pace and the slightly uncomfortable age gap, the story still has its charm with the unique addition of the Darkings and the relationship between Daine and Numair.

It makes for an interesting read that keeps the reader engaged, even if it has a few elements that might give one pause.

As much as the age gap of fourteen years really freaks me out, at its core, this is a friends to lovers story which I, of course, absolutely adore. Daine and Numair are just darling together. However, I just wish they had gotten together when she was older and they had met when she was older and Numair was younger. Ugh. Alanna and George are easier to accept because of how much time passes in her books.

This book had a slightly weirder pacing than the last few. They were stuck in a different place than most of their friends and had to journey back while everyone else was at war. So, that was kind of strange. (There was also less racism in this one than the last one, but that was more because of the setting than anything else.)

I also think this series is the most focused on the romantic relationship compared to any of the other series I have read by Pierce. It really delves deep into the emotions and development of the romantic connection between the characters, which makes it quite unique and engaging.

After the brilliance of books 1 and 2, I was a little disappointed in this one. However, it wasn't exactly bad.

The final battle was interesting, yet in certain ways, it felt almost like a Seanan McGuire approach. It had its own unique charm and kept me on the edge of my seat.

The romance in the story made me "ick" a little. But I understand that it is what it is, and the author handled it as well as she could have. Still, it didn't quite appeal to me.

Despite these minor drawbacks, I'm looking forward to continuing in the Tortall world of books. There's something about this fictional universe that keeps drawing me in, and I can't wait to see what adventures and characters await me in the next installments.

I'm sure there will be more excitement, more challenges, and more opportunities for growth and discovery. The Tortall world has so much to offer, and I'm eager to explore it further.

The malevolent emperor mage from book three had become even more potent. He formed an alliance with the evil immortals, consumed by a thirst for revenge and his ambition of world domination. As a result, he wreaked havoc and caused extensive damage.

Daine and Numair found themselves trapped in the immortal realm, while a fierce battle raged on in their own world. The journey back to the mortal realm was an adventure in itself. Along the way, they encountered and won over formidable allies. These allies proved to be crucial in the end, as they ultimately assisted Daine and Numair in winning the battle and ridding the world of evil.

It has been some time since I was so enthralled by a series that does not center around romance. This particular series has reignited my fundamental love for reading. I truly had an amazing time delving into this captivating story.

Reread 2020

I truly did enjoy this reread, although I must admit that the journey through the Realms of the Gods seemed to drag a bit. I think this pandemic is having an impact on how I perceive the books I'm reading. For some reason, I wasn't as fixated on Daine and Numair's relationship as I recalled being during my previous reread and when I first read this book. I still adore them as a couple and believe they are a perfect fit, but I just remember being a lot more excited and squealing more when I was younger. Maybe that's just me being strange.

***

OH. MY. GOD. When I first read Immortals, I remember liking it, but not loving it to the same extent as Protector of the Small. Reading it again almost 10 years later, all I can say is WOW. It's so incredibly good! I literally can't remember the last time I was this obsessed with a book! I absolutely adored Song of the Lioness, but there's something different about Immortals. The writing, the plot, the character development... it's all so much more detailed, well thought out, and realistic! I remember after reading Tamora Pierce for the first time, I sat down with my friend (who had also read the books) and we discussed how Tamora Pierce's characters feel so real - almost as if you could encounter them on the street. These characters made me feel pain and sadness inside, and they also made me smile, laugh, and squeal. These emotions are what I cherish when it comes to reading. It's what makes reading such an adventure.

I literally can't wait for Numair's book to be released!!! I need more Numair in my life right now!

Being the final book of The Immortals series, I truly expected more. Honestly, it was evident that the book was very well written. The characters were not only familiar but also interesting. However, I have to say that the theatrics could have been enhanced a bit more. Overall, the book left me feeling rather underwhelmed.

I have this feeling that if I had read this when I was 12 years old, I would have been completely amazed. But the current me is not overly impressed. Additionally, that significant age gap between Daine and Numair is really rather sketchy. If their ages were closer, I might have understood better. But there is a full 14-year difference between them, and that just doesn't give off the right vibe, no matter how much chemistry they might have. (I wonder if the Straights are okay with this?)

I still loved the series and really liked how it ended. I just think that there could have been a bit more ~flavour~, you know? Maybe some more exciting plot twists or more in-depth character development. Nevertheless, it was still an enjoyable read, and I'm glad I got to experience the world of The Immortals.

Overall, this is a great series. I have to say that books 1 and 3 were my absolute favorites. While her journey through the divine realms had its moments, especially the dragon stuff, I didn't enjoy it as much as the other parts. I felt that there was a pressing need for her to be back on earth, and all these other adventures seemed to be delaying the inevitable. I also had the same feeling as her friend about the inkblot characters. At first, I was completely disgusted by them, but by the end of the book, I actually wanted one. That's the mark of a good writer, I suppose.

My favorite aspect of this series was Daine's interaction with the different animals and how they came to her aid in times of need. I truly believe that a child could really identify with that. Additionally, I have to agree with some of the critics, albeit not as severely, regarding the romance. Throughout most of the book, Daine seemed like a child with no indication whatsoever that she was maturing, except for the mention of her age. And then, all of a sudden, she has a feeling or two, and boom! She's in a relationship. It was rather abrupt and almost felt like a last-minute decision on Pierce's part.

However, despite the lack of buildup, I have to admit that it was a perfect pairing, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just think that with a bit more thought, the author could have prepared us for it and included some foreshadowing in the earlier books. This would also shift the books from being more geared towards middle school age to high school age. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing, but it definitely expands the scope of interest to a wider range of ages. In the end, I really enjoyed these series and would highly recommend them.

Here's the thing.

What really gets on my nerves is this. When I was a kid, I was completely obsessed with Tamora Pierce's books. As a 15-year-old who had a huge crush on one of my teachers, I thought pairing Numair and Daine was a stroke of literary genius. However, after rereading this series as an adult, I have to question what on earth Pierce was thinking.

Depicting a relationship between a 16-year-old girl and a man in his 30s as sweet and romantic rather than predatory is already bad enough. But it's made even worse by the fact that Numair is Daine's mentor/teacher/guardian, and they met when she was only 12 or 13. Marketing this series to young girls as a story of female empowerment is well beyond the realm of "maybe not a good idea" and is bordering on "totally irresponsible" and "completely unforgivable."

The part that really drives me crazy is that Pierce didn't have to do this. She could have either made the two closer in age or simply kept their relationship platonic, and the story wouldn't have been affected. Instead, she seemed to think "this book will be trash unless I include a pedophile in it," and now here I am, ranting into the void.

In this, the final installment of the Immortals series, Diane spends a significant portion of the book in the divine realms. She was saved from certain death by her parents, who happen to be gods. Apparently, the Greater Gods decided that their pantheon wasn't quite full enough, so they made Diane's mother, Sarra, into the Green Lady, a goddess of midwifery known only to the people in the village where she lived. Just imagine that at a high school reunion: "Uh, yeah, so you know I dated the quarterback for a while and then I became a god. So, what have you been doing?"

Diane once again endures numerous trials and tribulations, beset upon by the vengeful Stormwing, Orzone. The love that was budding between her and Numair is finally realized after she takes a perilous fall off a cliff and he believes she's dead. (One wonders if she had hoped her near-death experience would draw out his true feelings. Otherwise, she might have transformed into a bird and gently floated to the bottom of the cliff or a monkey and grabbed a branch. Instead, she chose the dramatic route and survived a fall that would have shattered every bone and most likely been fatal to any ordinary human. Fortunately, Diane is a god.)

The battle rages on as various Immortals, such as Hurroks (bat-winged horses), Flying Apes, and Spidrens (humongous spiders with human heads), all join forces with Orzone. The reason for this alliance seems rather odd, especially since the Hurroks were previously known to be controlled against their will by Orzone's forces. Why would they willingly submit to his control again? It would have made more sense for them to attack him, as the Darkings (a newly born race of sentient inkblots) did.

However, despite Diane's discovery that not all stormwings are evil, mindless killing machines, that label still unfortunately applies to every other creature on Orzone's team.

It has been a somewhat arduous journey to complete all of these books this time around. I initially thought I would breeze through them without any issues, but it seems they haven't quite withstood the test of time for me. I can't recall if I had any of these questions when I first read them, but it's perhaps telling that I never revisited them, even when I would re-read the Alanna series from time to time. Nevertheless, I'm glad to have finally reached the end.

Graded By: Stephanie

Cover Story: Exotic

The cover of this book immediately catches the eye with its exotic and alluring imagery. It sets the stage for a story that is sure to transport readers to a world of wonder and adventure.

BFF Charm: Yay to Platinum

The characters in this book have a charm that is truly captivating. They are well-developed and relatable, making it easy for readers to form a connection with them. The bond between the main characters is especially heartwarming and adds an extra layer of depth to the story.

Swoonworthy Scale: 10

This book is filled with moments that will make your heart skip a beat. The romance is sweet and swoonworthy, and the chemistry between the characters is palpable. It's the kind of romance that will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart.

Talky Talk: Well-Rounded

The dialogue in this book is well-written and engaging. The characters have distinct voices and personalities, and their conversations flow naturally. It adds to the overall authenticity of the story and makes it a pleasure to read.

Bonus Factors: The Darkings, Stormwings, Apocalypse Imagery

In addition to the great characters and romance, this book also has some really cool bonus factors. The Darkings and Stormwings add an element of danger and mystery to the story, while the apocalypse imagery creates a sense of urgency and excitement. It all comes together to make a truly unforgettable reading experience.

Relationship Status: Take Me With You

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good romance with a touch of adventure. It's a book that will transport you to another world and make you fall in love with its characters. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a copy and get ready to be swept away!




Read the full book report here.