House of Light and Ether

Gilded City #3

by Leia Stone

The unthinkable has happened, Fallon Bane has gone dark.

As hard as Fallon tries to control her power, it only gets stronger. In a fit of desperation she asks for help from the most unlikely person and is wickedly betrayed in the worst way possible.

But there has always been a bright spot in Fallon’s life, someone who can reach her even when others can’t.
Ariyon Madden must decide just how far he’s willing to go to save the girl he loves and the people he has pledged to protect. For the Nightling War approaches, and it’s more horrifying than anyone could have imagined.

Together Ariyon and Fallon must give all that they are to save the people of The Gilded City.


The final book in the stunning romantic fantasy trilogy by Leia Stone.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fae, Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy Romance

272 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2024

About the author

Leia Stone is the USA Today bestselling author of multiple bestselling series including Matefinder and Wolf Girl. She's sold over two million books and her Fallen Academy series has been optioned for film. Her novels have been translated into five languages and she even dabbles in script writing. Leia writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance with sassy kick-butt heroines and irresistible love interests. She lives in Spokane, WA with her husband and two children.


Follow her on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/leia.stone

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dont know... I guess 3 stars is right?! I liked it but at the same time, I really didnt. And I dont even know how to explain it.
EVERYONE spoke like a teenager. The whole thing was slightly anti-climactic? There were a lot of things left unsaid/unresolved.

So, 2.5-3 stars. But I will not recommend this to anyone, will never read it again, and will probably forget about it immediately.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goddess. It was perfect.

This was a great conclusion to this series! I had such a good book hangover. The author does a great job addressing depression. The pacing is just right and filled with lots of action throughout the book.
The final battle between light and dark is epic and let me tell you, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The secondary characters are lovable, and I'm hoping for a spinoff series. I just love Yanric, and Ariyon. Those two have my heart. Grab a Kleenex because you will need it. Captivating till the last page. If you're looking for a new series to get lost in, with complex and lovable characters be sure to check this series out!

[Amanda Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find yourself someone who is willing to carry some of the darkness you hold. Someone who will dive into the darkness and bring you back to the light. A beautiful story about friendships, family and love that together beat the evil forces of darkness no matter the consequences.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heroes Finale

This was a wonderful series that I can’t imagine how to do a review on without giving away too much of the story. Let’s just say that a girl cursed for her entire life and orphaned, finds out why she was cursed and even who cursed her. She is very loved by wonderful people she becomes very close to, and even some who surprised her by hating her and then liking her anyway. Unfortunately, her curse and circumstances of birth made it hard for people to trust her.

There is a good Queen and an evil Queen and Fallon is caught in the middle, but this was truly a finale of the heroes. I’m giving it five stars for holding my interest with this uniquely beautiful story.

[Rachel Tibitoski · Rating 2 out of 5]

As my final review for this series, I would like to begin by letting everyone know…
I’m usually a high rater. I am such a vibe reader. If the vibes are good, I am happy. I read to escape, not consistently use my brain to its full capability and follow plot lines like it is my job to find holes in them. I can get down with some cheesy shit NO PROBLEM. But alas…. this series just did not give me what I expected it to when I read the summary for the first book. I was hyped for this series and I’ve been disappointed the whole damn time.

My same complaints from the entire series (see previous reviews) stand here, but I still wanted to follow through on finishing the series because apparently I love torturing myself for even the smallest amount of intrigue and romance.

If this series hadn’t had such short books, I think there would have been a lot more room for depth in the writing. I just feel like everything gets glossed over so quickly. Tension and plot points are sped through so quickly they feel unimportant. As soon as something is mentioned that may be a potential problem, you already know not to worry about it because everything will be just fine in less than 3 pages. Plot had potential for some twists, but none were to be found. Turned out to be very predictable. I am so disappointed that this series doesn’t get to live up to the potential that this story could have had if the books weren’t so short. The Ariyon x Fallon love story could have been more epic if we had more time with them. Plus Ayden and Eden needed some more page time now that we are interested 👏🏼

[Hannah Stark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I stand by my reviews for the other books in this series. The overall plot structure and character development has notable entertainment value however the execution is terrible.

While this is a YA series it was overwhelmingly juvenile in its dialogue and character design. The romance was painful and the character relationships resembled those of middle school girls.

Overall it was an interesting way to pass the time and had some entertaining merit that made the few hours reading it enjoyable.

[Spoopy · Rating 3 out of 5]

bland

A bland conclusion to the series. The first book was fantastic, an edge-of-your-seat gripper that I couldn't put down. Book 2 was fine. Book 3 made me not care about any of these people.

They were told they'd win. That Fallon would die, not stay dead. A predictable ride with no high stakes. Meh.

[Kimberly Zedaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters were likable however given the apocalyptic theme they seemed very immature. The ending seemed very anticlimactic and rushed with many unanswered questions. This is not something that I will fondly think of reading again. And won’t recommend it.

[Aiko Boni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why is this the last bookkkk😢

[Mumen Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

I genuinely forgot this was coming out. I have no words to describe how badly the page space was managed: we had three different plots (training with Clarke, city defence and school trip) and we managed to ditch all of them for a climax that's shorter and less complicated that the resolution of it's consequences.


15%
That's all it takes for the story to revert back to what it had been the last two books: a conversation with Clarke, a short ride, a conversation with Marissa and an action scene followed by a vow of...essentially marriage, since Ariyon and Fallon will be sharing powers and states of mind, all peppered with random dialogue with Yanric

That is how much we hate conflict in this story.


Then we come back to the city and we're like: "wow she left so many people without telling them anything, how will she explain all of this? Will any of them be mad?" And...

“I’m not sure I want your help, if I’m being honest. I thought we had trust. You assured me you weren’t going to go dark. You promised if you did, you would tell me. I don’t have room for anyone in my Brigade whom I feel I have to watch my back around,”

Absolutely based queen Solana, you gave the kid all the trust and space she could ever wanted, despite how dangerous and controversial that move was, and she still managed to fuck up. I think that...

“All right, well…I guess we’re on the same team again?”

Never fucking mind.

But hey, that's ONE character, let's see how the others react

Her eyes grew misty, and all of my apprehension fled. Of course she would be amazing about this.

I left her shop relieved that Avis understood everything.

Of course.

But come on, that was her "mother figure" (sure she was), of course she would welcome her with open arms. Dont be disingenuous, her sworn enemy will surely give her a harder time....right?

“When my mother tried to find where you were, she had a completely different vision about you in the future, and well…she said we would be friends…ish. I mean, she said I was going to help you.”

This shit CANNOT be real. Knowing your future is already bad enough in a story (you can make it work, but it's tricky) but making it happen on no other basis than because you were told of it, is absolutely insane.

"I asked Blair if your hair could be touched.” Was that why Blair had grabbed my bun that day? Maybe it was innocent, and she hadn’t known it would hurt me.

Oh my god. Anything bad that has ever happened to us needs to be recontextualized.

it had me wondering how Blair had turned into such a bully. But even as I thought it, I knew it was from having an eccentric mother who depended on her help with daily tasks and a father who hid her mother in the backyard, away from society.

I am beginning to think the author read my complains about the back pedaling on Hayes last book and said "You know what? I can do even worse"


After we get to the city, we switch to planning our defences and helping people. This will serve absolutely no purpose from Marissa's side of the story (since she's gathering ten thousand Nightlings anyway, so...why?) while on ours it's all just to set up the portal thing, even thought, as we will see later, Eden doesn't actually need anyone to help her, so...? It could have served to re-enstablish trust between the people and Fallon, trust that was apparently lost when she ran away, you know, she's marrying the crown prince, MAYBE we'd want a positive relationship with our subjects, but no, the thing with the citizens is mentioned and fixed with an insignia that's a set up without a pay off (the only other time it's mentioned after it's given to her is when going to the war room), nothing comes of it

I would praise how Ariyon takes an evening to get over being mad at Fallon when she tells Marissa she's willing to die to kill her, but i'm pretty sure it wasn't because of built in trust, but rather because we couldn't bear to have a single conflict last more than five pages



Last plot line is the (useless) summer camp. With evil teenagers and an epic magic tournament, let me first acknowledge how we forgot who our characters are:

“And how in the name of the Light do you know so much about Helmsdale?”
Eden chuckled. “It’s called reading."

It's hilarious because 1) Ariyon was enstablished as the only character who reads as much as Eden. 2) He's the heir to the throne.
Therefore he should know all about cases like these.

Then we have our wonderful magic school tournament...in the last book of the serie...while time is litterally slipping through our fingers. But let's not talk about that, who thought making Eden the leader was a good idea?

“Fallon is easily the most powerful member among us. We have her go out and try to steal other teams’ crystals"

Absolutely ass plan, get her off leadership. Ariyon has the exact same powers as her, has actual battle experience, is physically stronger and most of all he won't drop to the ground as soon as anyone touches his hair. In this test they're not allowed to draw blood, so they will have to contain their attacks, but nobody said anything about not touching Fallon, so they can just touch her and completely incapacitate her. If anything, she's the only one here who they're allowed to actually hurt, since dealing similar amounts of pain to anyone else would lead to disqualification. She's litterally the worst pick. Yes, tecnically she has the most fire power, but she also is the most fragile. You don’t put artillery in the front lines. And you don't even need said fire power, all you need is to touch the crystal. This is a mission of stealth and speed, not power. You need someone physically capable and who is accostumed to rely on themselves only. How is it possible to fail on this many levels?

Oh sorry, the tournament we spend a third of the last book of the serie didn't actually matter at all, since:

Garrison and his team had won the overall tournament and the six gold coins, but we all agreed it was well deserved.

OFF SCREEN.

Even the students from Helmsdale were clapping and joining in. It felt like we’d finally found a way for everyone to get along.

Garrison and his crew stayed away from Ariyon and our group, but they seemed to be friendly with the other students from The Academy

Aaaand suddenly they're all friends. Where is this coming from? There was no mention of this, we were sworn enemies and then we weren’t.

And of course we have to mention the only reason we were in the summer camp in the first place: the Shadow Blade. An interesting piece of absolute bullshit power that nobody ever bothered to search for (and what was the craftwoman even thinking? "Ah yes, a member of Ash and Shadow will be able to purge all of HER PEOPLE from existence, at the cost of her own life"...why?). And I don't even wanna talk about the discovery of it, I'm just gonna leave this gem here:

"I think I found the cave that holds the Shadow Blade."

"They’re excited you might have found the Shadow Blade."

'Inside this case is the Shadow Blade'

I don’t think I need to explain how tension works in a story or why it's good to have it and how this is the exact opposite of it.

But what would a summer camp be without breaking a couple of rules, right? We've all been there, you know how it goes....

Clarke was in on everything and knew about the Shadow Blade, so he was covering for us with the staff.

Jesus we can't even have the teenagers sneak out the summer camp. Everything has to always be safe.

It seems this was "Eden's part of the story", since she gets her romance in here, if you can call it that. Reading the double confession of Ayden and Hayes was what I imagine is it to be to have a rake pass through your brain. Ah yes, both boys really liked Eden (why tho?) and both of them...didn't do anything about it up until now, even thought both of them are the opposite of shy about their feelings. So...??

Ah but you see, we also have sneaky hints relating to the overall plot expertly dropped in

The moment we stepped in, Master Hart was there, yelping at the sight of us and grasping his chest. “Oh l-l-l-light. I thought it was m-m-m-y cabin.”
Master Clarke frowned. “You’re next door,” he said.
Hart eyed me nervously and apologized profusely before leaving.
“I feel so bad for what Marissa did to him."

We passed Master Hart on the porch of the cabin next door reading a book.

Aw jee, this character who had essentially no screen time is here shown being weird, while we wonder who the traitor will be...man this foreshadowing is so subdle.

And of course we end it with the big raid on the camp, one of the most condensely packed string of bad writing ever put to page:

The students simply stood, eyes wide and chests heaving, as they pulled for their magic and got into a battle formation. This training we’d been doing had certainly helped.

What training????? You hiked up a mountain and rowed across a lake. How does any of this traslate to military tactics?

“You need to do this alone. I can’t help you this time, E. I need to fight with the others"
"I can’t. It takes years to learn⁠—”
“That’s total crap, Eden! That’s what they tell you so you won’t feel bad if it takes you decades. But you’re so strong. I’ve seen your energy. You need to get past this block you have, this fear of failure. You can do it alone.”

Whatttt???? Where is any of this coming from? Why would the teachers outright lie to her? And how does Fallon know any of this?

“Marissa is shielding herself from me! I can’t hurt her!”

Oh, she can do that? So why didn't she do it the first time?

Apparently the Nightling can turn to shadows and pass through the fire wall, but don't worry, the professors who did nothing until now can hold them off...with fire...????

Ans what was the point of Pax? He's there and he's like "yay friends", then he has a paddle and he dies.

???????

He didn't do anything, he didn't provide any insight, he had no relationship with anyone outside of Ariyon and even then, Ariyon doesn't do anything with him when he's alive. Why was he the last one to jump into the portal before Eden? And why did Marissa's familiar kill him rather than anyone else? Expecially Eden herself? We could create a situation for him to be there (for example he really likes Eden and tries constantly to charm her, so of course he wants to stay on the other side for as long as she stays) but no, he was just there.

Then we jump back home and Solana is like: "Oh yeah, by the way, the final battle won't actually happen, let's just cut to the hug party and then be done with the story, I just overheard all we need to know and do"

I have to say, the ONLY part that worked was the hug party itself. It was nice to see Fallon finally touching her loved ones, thought even then we couldn't escape the goo that is the rest of the serie:

Sorrel was next. We hugged, pulled back to look at each other, and hugged again. No words were needed with my oldest friend. Our relationship transcended words.

Ah yes, Sorrel, the forgotten character. We didn't say anything about her because she effectively did not exist past chapter 1 of book 1.

Then finale happens and everything goes exactly as planned and as soon as Solana seems to be in trouble Ariyon comes in for the rescue and we're off to save Fallon

“Okay, let’s try,” I announced.
With Queen Solana’s coaching and Ariyon’s energy-beacon guidance, I managed to open a portal to a scary realm with dry, crusted earth and dark skies.

Oh, Eden just...does it? She went from months of only opening a coin sized portal six feet away, without being able to move, to just doing the big one alone and moving, to straight up going into another realm, in four days.

Aaand i called it

“The Grim’s not taking you from me.” And then the smile was wiped from his face and replaced with a warrior’s glare. He turned back to face the Grim

By the way, Ariyon will fight the Grim for her of course, she won't actually die. (from my review of book two). Yeah I know i'm stroking my ego, but then again i was right so...



Overall, I would like our Young (and Not So Young) Adults to read books actually worth their time and not "Hey look, if you're perfect and everyone is perfect, you get to be friends with everyone and everything is always good" parts 1, 2 and 3.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I was afraid I wasn’t going to get approved for this, and then right before pub date I got the notice of approval on Edelweiss for the e-galley. This is a series that the first book, House of Ash and Shadow, blew me away! The second was good, and this one was probably on par with the second one for me. The beginning of this one seemed like they solved the issue really quickly, even though obviously it wasn’t the solution or the end to the sort of war that was coming. I still like how the powers work in this story, and how they can kind of trade, or some people can. I like how enemies can become allies or even friends, and the author shows the reason people become like they do, and can create sympathy even as you know someone is just going to be evil. It was a quick read and a satisfying end to this series.

[Lauriel Adamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly, in all seriousness, fell in love with this series so freaking hard!! I just want so much more story and adventure from these characters, reading the words in the pages made all the characters come alive and I felt like I was living the story alongside them. This has become one of my favorite series. I’m making everyone read this at bookclub lol

[Jessy Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this trilogy, devoured it in less than a week. New adult romantasy. Fascinated to hear the author speak about her writing inspiration, and how the idea for the curse was those experiencing fibromyalgia.

[Lillian B (Kaladin Stormblessed version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Not as good as the original or book two, but I liked it.
Ariyon was kind of all over the place... And I wasn't his biggest fan the entire time, but what he did at the end is so sweet.
I don't really have any other thoughts on this book tbh...
Frtc (possibly)

[Aimée · Rating 4 out of 5]

crazy

[Ninoshka · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful ending to this trilogy.

[nein · Rating 1 out of 5]

The more I think about this series, the angrier I get.

[Nessa’s Book Reviews]

Title: House of Light and Ether by Leia Stone

Release Date: June, 4th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

"House of Light and Ether" by Leia Stone is the thrilling conclusion to a romantic fantasy trilogy that has captivated readers with its richly woven world, complex characters, and the eternal battle between light and dark.

This final instalment does not disappoint, delivering a story that is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating, leaving readers with a satisfying sense of closure and a longing for more.

Fallon Bane, the protagonist whose struggle with her growing powers has been a central theme throughout the series, reaches a breaking point. In a desperate attempt to control her abilities, she seeks help from an unexpected source, only to be betrayed in the most devastating way. This betrayal pushes Fallon to the edge, threatening to extinguish the light within her.

Enter Ariyon Madden, Fallon's beacon of hope and the one person who can reach her when others cannot. Ariyon is faced with an impossible decision: how far will he go to save the girl he loves and the people he has sworn to protect? As the Nightling War looms, more terrifying than anyone could have anticipated, Ariyon and Fallon must unite their strength and sacrifice everything to save the inhabitants of The Gilded City.

Leia Stone's storytelling shines in this final book, with a pacing that is impeccable and filled with non-stop action. The final battle between the forces of light and dark is nothing short of epic, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The secondary characters, who have grown and evolved alongside Fallon and Ariyon, add depth and richness to the narrative, making the stakes even higher.

The book is a masterful blend of romance, fantasy, and adventure, perfectly suited for fans of young adult fiction. The conclusion is both unexpected and satisfying, leaving room for the possibility of future stories set in this enchanting world.

"House of Light and Ether" is a fitting end to a series that has enchanted me with its depth, complexity, and the enduring love between Fallon and Ariyon.

Leia Stone has crafted a tale that is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, reminding us of the power of love, friendship, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a story that combines heart-pounding action with moments of tender romance, all set against the backdrop of a richly imagined fantasy world.


Thank you to The Publisher SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books ,The Author Leia Stone & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

[Victoria ~ Tea with a Book Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This trilogy is nothing super intense, it isn’t something that is heart pounding or gut wrenching. It’s what I consider a light read, but it doesn’t fall into cozy fantasy, it’s almost epic lite. I really enjoyed how short these books are, they are all under 300 pages, and reading them feels like a breeze. The whole series is a solid 3.75/5⭐️

Most of this book was very similar to the other books, being that they were very YA, but in the best way. I honestly don’t know how else to describe it. It’s like if you listened to real teens talk with all of their slang and drama, that would be this. They acted their age. There also isn’t heavy violence or cursing which is kind of refreshing considering there are still massive battles taking place. Even with the one closed door moment, it’s still surprisingly age appropriate. We even have one character talk about how she doesn’t want to do the deed before marriage, and no one judged her, it was very refreshing! It’s like the perfect balance between younger YA and NA.

In this final book, we really see Fallon’s little found family become established and even apparent rivals become allies. The “hug party” at the end, while SUPER cheesy, was also super heart wrenching. I did not think I would cry reading these books, but that did me in. Not to mention when Yanric dies with her at the end, my heart almost stopped too! I thought the way everything was wrapped up felt a little bit too tidy. Our heroine doesn’t really end up making any big sacrifices because she gets everything back, even a longer life with Ariyon. I felt it would have been a bit more impactful if she actually did give up something, not just almost losing her life.

There were a number of things that felt just thrown in without a ton of thought, like Fallon going dark side and being saved in the first 30 pages, or the random school from another city we’ve never heard of, but it honestly made the book that much more charming.

Once you embrace the book for what it is, it’s a good, fun, yet emotional read. I highly recommend this trilogy!

[Shubhangi · Rating 4 out of 5]

house of light and ether by leia stone✨⁣
⁣
If I had to describe this series in three words, I’d say fun, fast-paced, and dramatic! (that’s four words??)🙈👀🌟⁣
⁣
From the very beginning, Fallon has been told that she would not be able to resist her dark powers and would one day become evil just like her mother, and it has happened now. Despite all her determination, Fallon has gone dark, and no matter how much she tries, her power only continues to get out of hand. A great war is looming, one that will test her loyalty and her morals, and Fallon must decide which side she’ll be on sooner than later, the side of her family and friends or the one where her mother is hell bent on taking over the kingdom.⁣
⁣
There’s just something about finishing a trilogy, or just a series in general! Every concluding book feels like a goodbye to a world I've spent so much time in and with the characters I've grown to care for. This was a similar experience ngl. Having read this trilogy in the span of a few weeks was truly a journey. I went through a plethora of emotions, starting with uncertainty, and ending with a deep fondness for these characters.🥹💖⁣
⁣
My favourite thing about this book, other than the magic system, was that the characters acted their age. They were teenagers and acted like that, a rarity in YA fantasy, especially romantasy. The world would be on the edge of a war, and Fallon and her friends would be worried about winning a game against the rival school. They had their priorities straight, and I respected them for it lol. Do I think that with how high the stakes were, the conclusion could have been more epic? Yes, but I just had so much fun throughout the series that I can overlook it.🙈⁣
⁣
Overall, this was a bingeable trilogy with short, fast-paced books with a fascinating magic system and some sometimes annoying yet endearing characters whom you will root for. If it sounds like something you may enjoy, definitely pick this one up!😚✨⁣
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Thank you so much @penguinindia for the books!🫶🏻⁣
⁣

[Anna Nenci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terzo ed ultimo capitolo della trilogia Gilded City. Un crescendo di tensione, brivido ed emozione. Fallon è così determinata, forte, coraggiosa, pronta a sacrificarsi per amore di Ariyon e di tutta la popolazione di Gilded City.
Colpi di scena, verità di un passato oscuro.
L' oscurità sembra prendere il sopravvento su Fallon, un duro lavoro l'attende per controllare la sua magia ed energia che sprigiona, ereditata dai suoi antenati.
Poteri di cui farebbe volentieri a meno se servisse a mettere fine alle tenebre e alla guerra sempre più vicina dei Nightling. Fallon è la chiave di un’antica profezia, da lei dipendono le sorti di quella lotta costante tra luce e tenebra.
La magia ha un costo; quanto e cosa Fallon è disposta a mettere in gioco???
L' amore unico, sincero, oltre ogni confine sarà la scintilla, l'arma vincente. Una delle più belle serie lette.
Ricca d'azione, ti tiene con il fiato sospeso fino alla fine. Nonostante la componente romance sia molto ridotta, ho amato tantissimo la dolcezza e sensibilità di Fallon e Ariyon.
La scrittura della Stone è fantastica, ti cattura, ti coinvolge e ti fa vivere avventure indimenticabili ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[LondonPrincess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this book quickly for two reasons: It was only 261 pages and the book was so predictable that I really needed to be done with it. The series started out as very promising with book one, but went downhill from there. The Heroine is a bit over the top obnoxious (Miss goodie two-shoes) and I really just wanted to smack her. She reminds me of someone I went to school with and couldn’t stand. Also she seems to keep discovering new powers every time she needs them to the point that she has more powers than anyone and they all come to light at a convenient time with no explanation.

I’ve never rated anything as a 2 star, but this was the most saccharine read and so predictable that I pretty much yawned through it all. The only reason I finished the book even though the ending was entirely predictable is because I paid for it and that pissed me off. Definitely not worth the money.

[Gina Marie (OMG_look_at_her_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Pros:
💚HEA
💚Fast Paced
💚The main love interest
💚The friendships
💚Yanric🐦‍⬛

Cons:
❤️Anti-climactic battle scenes
❤️Confusing Transitions
❤️Not very detailed/descriptive


I really enjoyed this fast paced romantasy series! This book definitely reads as a young adult, and I would say it is appropriate for readers as young as 12. The romance was toe curling good, and I was so happy we got a happily ever after in the end.!🥹

The battle scenes definitely needed some work, there was a lot left to be desired after reading those scenes!😂 Without spoiling anything, there was just so much buildup for this big final battle, and it was very anticlimactic; coming from someone who prefers more romance than action.

Overall, this was such a fun buddy read I did with two of my book besties. I will read more of this author’s books as I enjoyed the writing style! I would recommend this series, especially if you enjoyed The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson!🥰

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

House of Light and Ether è l’ennesima conferma del talento narrativo di Leia Stone. Con una trama che intreccia il paranormale, l’azione e un romance elettrizzante, il libro si legge tutto d’un fiato. La protagonista è carismatica, combattiva e incredibilmente umana, con un arco evolutivo potente che ti fa affezionare a ogni sua scelta, dubbio e trionfo! La Stone ha la capacità di farti sentire dentro la storia, di farti tremare quando la posta in gioco si alza e sorridere nei momenti più teneri o ironici.
I personaggi secondari non sono mai di contorno: ognuno ha una propria voce, dei segreti, delle motivazioni che arricchiscono la narrazione e rendono il mondo ancora più vivo. E quando pensi di aver capito dove stia andando tutto...arriva un twist che ti lascia con il fiato sospeso. Una lettura perfetta per chi ama le saghe fantasy con magia, amore proibito, destini intrecciati e un pizzico di oscurità.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this series and I am very happy with how Leia Stone ended it. I laughed. I cried. I cheered. It was fast-paced and action packed for a YA Fantasy. For a minute I thought it was going to end on a completely different note but was pleasantly surprised. I live all the main characters, lots of growth throughout the series. I would definitely recommend this series and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a conclusion to a fantastic trilogy! I absolutely loved these books, I was literally hooked right from the start.

Genuinely really liked the characters, I enjoyed the story and the pace of the plot, and I definitely cried AND laughed all in the one book.

Still was a little put off by the writing style, it's very juvenile, but after reading other books by this author, I'm realising that it's just the way she writes - Love it or leave it.

Overall a fantastic trilogy and I loved it.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

”You’ve got me, Fallon. Forever. Always. I’m yours.”

4.75 stars rounded up

Screaming. Crying. Wow.

This one was phenomenal. It was beautifully written and I was entranced the entire time. All of the books in this series were short and manageable, yet packed with action.

The only reason I took 0.25 stars off is because one of the characters said “I would’ve offed myself” and I started laughing and had to take a minuscule break.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an emotional rollercoaster. I cried so much, you had me emotionally invested in the story and characters that I felt the grief.
Loved how the series ended, it was beautifully written, I wouldn't mind a novella of the future to see how the twins do ruling along with the changes they make for the better.
Fallons growth as a strong FMC in this book and selflessness break my heart a little for her. To see all the characters relationships grow over the three books has been an amazing.

[Marco capoverso92 Capi · Rating 4 out of 5]

E con questo libro termina la trilogia. Leia Stone ha puntato molto sull’azione e sull’uso della magia nel capitolo finale, tenendo sempre alta l’attenzione del lettore grazie anche a colpi di scena. Scorrevole come i precedenti, la Casa della Luce e dell’Etere si colloca al primo posto, per quanto mi riguarda, fra i tre che compongono la serie di Gilded City. Personaggi ben strutturati, anche se a tratti banali e già visti, e trama semplice ma interessante.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy series to get into and the fact I read all the books in a few days when I've been struggling finishing most books says a lot. I enjoyed the characters and the found family aspects despite this book feeling like it was made for a much younger audience. However, everything about this book felt slightly underwhelming and the ending felt rushed and incomplete. I wish I could rate it higher because I did enjoy many aspects of this series but I hate when a book leaves me feeling like "was that it?". Overall I have very mixed feelings having now finished this series.