I truly love these characters! They are so fascinating and engaging.

However, for the sake of my own sanity, I find myself doing something similar to what was done in the TV version of Game of Thrones.

I'm making the decision to change everyone's ages.

This alteration will allow me to better envision and understand their relationships and the overall story arc.

By adjusting their ages, I can give more depth and complexity to their characters and the situations they find themselves in.

It's like giving them a new lease on life, a fresh perspective that I hope will enhance my enjoyment and connection with the story.

Although it may seem like a bold move, I believe it will be well worth it in the end.

Who knows, maybe this change will lead to some unexpected and exciting developments.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out and how these characters will evolve with their new ages.

This book serves as a good conclusion to the series. However, it is noticeably more violent and sexy than I recalled. In fact, it is probably my least favorite among Pierce's works.

Nonetheless, I still found it enjoyable. The problem lies in my lack of a deep connection with the characters, unlike some of her other series. The age difference between Daine and Numair is a bit off-putting. Although 16 might not be considered young in a medieval/renaissance setting, it still feels that way to me. Additionally, the student/teacher dynamic they had for a while adds to the unease, just a little bit. It's not terrible, but enough to be slightly distracting.

I get the sense that this was one of Pierce's earlier books where she was still in the process of determining the exact style that suits her best. I listened to the Full Cast Audio recording, and as always, Full Cast impressed me with their consistently excellent and enjoyable productions. I had previously read this book at least a couple of times.

First book of the year down!

I'm so excited to have completed my first book of the year. It was an amazing journey filled with new knowledge and experiences.

The book I read was [book title], and it covered a wide range of topics that really opened my eyes.

I learned so much from it, not only about the subject matter but also about myself.

Reading this book has inspired me to continue my reading journey and explore more books.

I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for me.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in [book topic]. It's a great read that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

Overall, I'm very happy with my first book of the year and I'm looking forward to many more to come.

Daine is an undeniably overpowered character, and we are all well aware of that fact. As the daughter of a God, she possesses the remarkable ability to communicate with and, to a certain extent, transform into animals. Given her overwhelming powers, the only thing that keeps her tales interesting is the diverse cast of characters, usually animals, that she befriends and her various enemies.

However, here is where "The Realms of the Gods" nearly makes a fatal misstep. It removes her animal friends and replaces them with gods and beings of near omniscience. This leaves nothing to the imagination as her new friends seem to know everything that is happening (except for Numair, which is my next major concern).

The sudden loss of honor by the noble Numair is completely inexplicable. For three volumes, he has been built up as the kind of man who would never stoop so low as to engage in a relationship with his apprentice/student/magelet. I understand that he has feelings for her, but all that honor is so quickly brushed aside as if it never mattered in the first three books.

Speaking of quick, don't even attempt to get comfortable with any scene or location. This book uses locales like Kleenex, disposing of them almost immediately. In fact, most of the conversations and mind talks are just as disposable.

It is truly regrettable that Daine and Numair's odyssey is reduced to a mediocre, by-the-numbers affair. Instead of being the epic story it should have been, it is a strictly sophomoric tale. Although she may be overpowered, unfortunately for us, this is the weakest tale of Tortall so far.

I don't usually pen reviews. However, this book/series has引发了 me so many thoughts that I must sort them out. These thoughts can be neatly encapsulated as "Rereading your cherished childhood books comes with the significant risk of realizing the perilous romantic messages you internalized."

I recall devouring the Immortals Quartet in my youth and adoring it. During quarantine, already grappling with my younger and teenage selves resurfacing in therapy, I decided to fully embrace my past and immerse myself in my younger mindset. First, I finally read the Lioness Quartet (yes, I had never read it before!). I wanted to embark on a thorough Tamora Pierce reread, so I thought I'd start from the beginning. And I loved it! There were indeed flaws in that series, but overall, it concluded well, feeling like a complete arc had been traversed. Some parts seemed rushed, but that felt like a quirk of the author's. On the whole, it was a top-notch fantasy story, and I'm regretful that I didn't read it earlier. Then, when I moved on to the Immortals Quartet, it seemed like a more profound story! All my favorite characters from the Lioness tales made appearances, and I relished it.

However.

As I reread the Immortals Quartet, I found myself confronted with some uncomfortable realizations. I have a relatively good memory for books I adored as a child (and I read and reread these books countless times). I remember the plot points of most of the quartet. And I vividly recalled my younger self, the little shipper, *LOVING* Numair and Daine together. I couldn't fathom why the dynamic was amiss, or predatory, or any of the (entirely accurate) ways others have described it.

This was because I was a young girl who felt (and that's the crucial word here: *felt*) more mature than those around me, *especially* boys. I saw Numair, a grown and mature character, fall in love with someone younger but ostensibly more mature due to the ongoing war, and thought, "Huh, I like that. I, too, am more mature than those around me, and only a man could see that. I don't want to deal with boys." I failed to see all the ways in which taking Numair, who was Daine's guardian (!!!!), and having their relationship turn romantic seemingly overnight was, to put it bluntly, unappealing.

And it's not as if I wasn't aware of what was coming this time! If anything, I was all too cognizant. I reread these books knowing that Numair and Daine would get together and tried to find the build-up I had loved so much in the earlier books. But what build-up? I think there was only one offhand mention of Numair telling Daine she was beautiful in *Emperor Mage* because before then, Daine was *FOURTEEN YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER*. There are moments from Daine's perspective that could be read as romantic when she describes Numair in the later books, but it could also be interpreted as a schoolgirl crush because Daine is *FIFTEEN OR SIXTEEN YEARS OLD*. I remember what I was like at sixteen. I had the emotional processing capacity of a mouse and was about half as eloquent. Unless in Tortall they are miraculously more evolved, Daine is in no way capable of consenting to *anything* that occurs in that relationship. Which just transforms Numair into this extremely creepy predatory character, which *SUCKS* because I love his character so much!

Moreover, it's not as if Tamora Pierce hasn't employed the "older man, younger woman" trope before, as evidenced by the Lioness Quartet. Every man Alanna is involved with is older than her, Jonathan by perhaps two years, and the age gap only widens from there. Alanna ultimately ends up with George (and seriously, how did I not read these books earlier? Their relationship is *SO MUCH BETTER* than Daine and Numair's), who is several years older than her (if I recall correctly, he was 19 or 20 when they met, and Alanna was 13 or 14). Again, it's strange, and again, he begins to hit on her and kisses her when she's 16 or 17 and he's in his mid-twenties. But the most significant differences are: George is not Alanna's guardian, and Alanna is an adult when they choose to be together. Additionally, Alanna was with other people besides George, and we witnessed those relationships unfold *on the page*. The only time we hear Daine mention that she has kissed other people is right *AFTER* Numair kisses her for the first time. We have never seen Numair express any interest in Daine other than parental or sibling-like affection. The sexual aspect of these books is Daine discussing Numair's numerous other lovers with others. It's known that Numair is quite the ladies' man! And Daine teases him about it, not like a jilted schoolgirl with a crush but like a friend or sibling. There were no undercurrents of attraction in the same way as there were in Alanna's quartet. Even after George professes his love for Alanna, she still goes off and has another intimate relationship with another man before (and this is crucial) choosing to be with George. Because George loves and supports Alanna, and they are both ADULTS.

Numair knows he's doing something wrong, too! He kisses Daine and then experiences a crisis of conscience where he lists all the reasons he shouldn't have done that and then allows the *SIXTEEN YEAR OLD that he has cared for for FOUR YEARS* to absolve him of his guilt by letting her take the lead? This man, who is her guardian, friend, and *TRUSTED ADULT*, can't control himself? Seriously? The man has grey hair, and he's letting the child decide that they should be together because what harm could there be? And at the end, he's joking about getting married, and Daine is already like, "My doofus boy, my silly man, what are you talking about marriage? Let's wait on that bit, sir," as if *she's the mature one in charge* when her initial fear is that he'll be disappointed he married a *LITERAL CHILD* instead of a woman???

The absolute *WORST* part of it all is that, aside from Numair and Daine's illogical relationship, this book could have been so much better. Even considering the rest of the series and Tamora Pierce's writing style, this book is, at best, rushed. The denouement is lacking. There is hardly any resolution. I understand that Tamora Pierce may not enjoy writing about wars or fighting, but seriously. It wraps up in like a chapter? Come on. We reach the epilogue, and I'm like, "Huh? Where's the rest of the book? This can't be the end because what?? That's not an ending!" Can't we get one check-in with every other character? Can we get one offhand comment about how the world looks after this bloody and violent war and what work might be needed to rebuild?

Also, the entire subplot of Uusosae could have *EASILY* made the book ten times longer! How can you have such a cool plot device and not utilize it fully? That was the coolest part of the series! I wish it had been integrated more thoroughly throughout the entire series, let alone this book, rather than being revealed right at the end. Not to mention Daine's parents and that whole subplot because, wow - that could be an entire essay on its own.

There are so many elements of these stories that are truly cool, and reading them reminded me of how much I adored these books when I was younger. But perhaps sometimes, the books we loved as children shouldn't be reread. Because now that I know better, I can see the harm in having this romantic relationship depicted on the page. Especially if you read it immediately after the Lioness Quartet, you can see where the better relationship plotting lies, and it's not in these books.

TL;DR: Sometimes, the relationships we thought were super cool and healthy when we were younger are, in fact, dangerous examples of relationships with significant power imbalances. Also, sometimes, the books we remember reading as kids are better left in the memory part of our brains, where we can enjoy them forever, untainted by the knowledge we gain as we grow up.

SPOILERS

1. Why is a relationship between a 16-year-old girl and a 30-year-old man condoned? This is a rather concerning aspect. The age difference alone is significant and raises questions about the power dynamics at play. A 16-year-old is still in the process of developing emotionally and mentally, while a 30-year-old has more life experience and maturity. It seems inappropriate for such a relationship to be accepted or even promoted.

2. Why the heck did we need to pull a Hercules at the end of the book when Daine gets to return to the realm either way if she dies (well, provided she is requested for by her parents? still). This plot device feels a bit forced and unnecessary. There could have been other, more organic ways to resolve the situation and bring Daine back to the realm. It makes the story seem a bit contrived.

3. Why is a relationship between a 16-year-old girl and a 30-year-old man condoned? It isn't just the age thing (though that bothered me too). It's that he's her mentor, her teacher. Loads of middle school and high school girls have crushes over their teachers. But a relationship between a student and teacher in this kind of context is highly inappropriate. There is a professional boundary that should not be crossed. It sets a bad example and can have negative consequences for both parties.

(also, sorry the romance was mediocre but I guess for a young adult book of this type it was ok but meh. meh). The romance in the book just didn't really grab me. It felt a bit flat and uninteresting. Maybe it was because of the issues with the age difference and the teacher-student dynamic. I was hoping for something more passionate and engaging. But overall, for a young adult book, it was passable. Just not something that I would rave about.

The Realms of the Gods is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite books.

It holds a precarious position on my ever-changing list mainly because it concludes a superb quartet of books. If you're reading this book without having read the three stories that precede it, well, shame on you!

The magic of this story lies in the fact that you already know the characters. By the fourth book, Pierce weaves an incredibly strong bond between the story and the reader, making you view the characters as good friends. (I'm still not sure if this is unhealthy or not...)

Numair and Diane's budding romance, which finally blossoms in this book, is all the sweeter because you've been a part of their relationship from the very beginning and have witnessed their growing closeness.

Not many authors can claim to have crafted such a love story, and that's precisely why The Realms of the Gods has maintained its place on the Favorites List.

With the Immortals Series, Tamora Pierce has achieved something truly special. That's why I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend this entire series. Come on, team, let's read some books!

A solid series!

I have to say that I liked the first books in the series more, I think. They were truly captivating, especially when the story was set in Tortall. The world-building in those initial installments was outstanding, and it really drew me in.

Tamora Pierce is an amazing author, and her talent shines through in this series. The characters are well-developed, and their adventures are both exciting and engaging. I love how she weaves together different storylines and creates a rich and detailed universe.

Overall, I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels. It's a great read that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Whether you're a fan of Tamora Pierce or just looking for a new series to explore, this one is definitely worth checking out.

This was truly incredible and so distinct from the first three!

I absolutely adored learning about the diverse realms and witnessing the gods in their natural habitats. Daine is simply amazing - constantly learning yet self-assured, always looking out for her friends (both two-legged and four-legged alike), and overall being super awesome.

And I was completely in love with the darkings!!!!! Every book in this series introduces some new and adorable creature. The last chapter had me welling up with emotion and HELLOOOOOOOO SHIP! HELLO! HI! I'VE BEEN WAITING. And it was definitely worth the wait. The ending gave me a Flynn/Rapunzel but reversed vibe, hehe.

The afterword by Tamora Pierce was SO interesting as well. I really enjoyed reading about her influences, including the Carpet from Aladdin! Ahhhh. This series was truly great. I can't wait to reread it and Alanna someday. They are so captivating, with such wonderful emotion, action, and dialogue, that you overlook the slight choppiness and shortness of the books. It's just compact awesomeness. I'm not sure how the other series will even measure up ;)

I would rate this book zero stars due to the highly inappropriate and sexualized relationship between Numair, an older mage who is a guidance figure to Daina, and a younger girl character. In the last book, she was only 14 years old. Even though some time has passed, she is still quite young.

What the hell, Tamora Pierce! She has completely ruined this story and any future interest I might have had in reading her works. The moment I came across this disturbing relationship, I simply put the book down and took it back to the library. This kind of writing shows a lack of care and consideration for the readers, especially when it involves such sensitive and inappropriate themes. It is truly a disappointment and a major turn-off.

I cannot recommend this book or any other works by this author to anyone, especially those who are sensitive to such content. There are many other great books out there that can provide a more enjoyable and fulfilling reading experience without having to deal with such inappropriate and uncomfortable storylines.

I truly love this world that has been created, and I have a deep affection for all of these characters. They are so vivid and real in my mind. However, there is one thing that I can't help but hate, and that is their age difference.

When I reread this story at Numair's age, it is a rather rough experience. The way the characters interact and the situations they find themselves in sometimes seem so different from what I can understand or relate to at this stage of my life.

But perhaps that is also part of the beauty of this story. It allows me to see the world from different perspectives and to try to understand the emotions and thoughts of characters who are at different stages of their lives. Despite the roughness, I still find myself drawn back to this world and these characters, eager to explore their stories once again.

Reviewed by Candace Cunard for TeensReadToo.com

It has been a full year since the wild mage Daine, now sixteen years old, played a crucial role in toppling Emperor Orzone of Carthak. However, at that time, his consciousness was imprisoned within the body of a stormwing, an immortal flesh-eating bird, and thus his presence remains essential to the story. In fact, Orzone has joined forces with Uusoae, the goddess of chaos, and together their combined power poses a significant threat that could potentially destroy everything Daine holds dear and knows.

Daine may be young, but she and those around her all recognize that she has a vital part to play in this battle. She is determined to defend the kingdom of Tortall, which has become her home over the past four years.

This final book in Tamora Pierce's THE IMMORTALS series is truly out of this world. Daine and Numair spend the majority of the narrative in the titular realms of the gods. They are transported there by benevolent forces seeking to ensure their safety and remove them from their world when they are on the verge of death.

Although many of the mysteries surrounding Daine's past begin to unfold due to the information she gathers, both she and Numair long to return home to their own world and contribute to the battles raging between Tortall and the forces of chaos. To achieve this, they must embark on a journey through the immortal realms to the land of the dragons. Since Daine has a friendship with the dragon Kitten, they are the only immortals who might have the ability to send Daine back to her world.

While this book may not be my favorite volume in the series (that honor goes to EMPEROR MAGE, the third book), it does an excellent job of concluding the quartet. Many of the major questions left unanswered by the earlier books are finally resolved, and the development of Daine's character continues to present her as a well-rounded individual with both strengths and weaknesses. She must learn to utilize these qualities to her advantage.

In this series, Pierce introduces another strong young woman whose life and adventures make for an exciting read and a genuine inspiration at any age.