I have really loved The Waking Land series, by Callie Bates. It has been so imaginative and fun. Plus, this series had the most unusual narrative structure! Each of the three books focuses on one particular character in the story. I have never seen a series organized in this way. The Soul of Power, the final book, is a fine ending to this series.

What I Liked:
Setting:

With the third book, the setting is pretty familiar to the reader by now. But the world-building continues with even more types of magical abilities being shown. I love that many more people have magic, some even as powerful as Elanna.

There is also much more about the treatment of women and refugees in this society. I couldn't help but see the parallels between this book and real life. I love that!

Characters:

Sophy is the main focus in The Soul of Power, and she is a far more complex character than I originally thought.

But Sophy also has personal issues to resolve. Will she marry Allister, her lover, or use a marriage to seal a political alliance? Or does she even need to marry? The issue of marriage illustrates how women are treated in this world's society. Misogyny is alive and well in this world. Seeing women have magic, or any sort of power, is a threat to many of the men.

Sophy also must confront her parentage. As her parents were not married, and her mother seemed more interested in leading a rebellion than in being a parent, Sophy felt like a cast-off. But can she understand that her self-worth should not be tied to anything her parents did?

Story:

While the other books focused on Elanna (The Waking Lands), and Jahan (The Memory of Fire), The Soul of Power is Sophy's story. This is definitely a case of "be careful what you wish for"! Now that she is finally the queen, Sophy realizes governing is harder than it seems. Navigating the various factions vying for power is no easy task, no matter how prepared one seems. For anyone who has started a new job, you will be able to relate to Sophy's frustration and anxiety.

Sophy's story runs parallel to the action in book two, The Memory of Fire. So it would be important for the reader to have read The Memory of Fire just before starting book three.

I also love all the political intrigue and betrayals in this book. Although she knows that she is unpopular as the new queen, Sophy is not prepared for how much opposition there is to her reign. Noblemen who are used to getting kickbacks find ways to force Sophy to appoint their allies to key positions. There are several plots to her life, putting her friends in danger, as well.

Series Ending:

After all the buildup of Sophy's story, the real fun begins when she is finally reunited with Elanna and Jahan. You'd think it would all be smooth sailing once these characters finally find each other. But the jealousy between Elanna and Sophy finally comes to a head.

There is plenty of action as the final battle for the crown gets underway. I loved how each character's strengths are highlighted in the ending. Of course, there are also sacrifices that must be made. No good story is without them. I liked that some of Sophy's choices come with a price. This makes the ending more complex and satisfying.

What I Was Mixed About:

While I love all the plots and close calls Sophy has, I think this went on a few times too many. What's that saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me"? Were there three, or four, attempts on her life? I lost count after a while. I know this serves the plot by creating confrontations between Sophy and certain characters, but this device became tiresome after a while. Don't you think Sophy would be more wary of isolated meetings after the first ambush?

Reading Note: This isn't a criticism of the series, but you really need to read the other two books, The Waking Land, and The Memory of Fire, fairly soon before you read the final book. The stories are so closely tied together, that it would be difficult to follow the action if you haven't recently read those books first.

Love this series and look forward to further work from this author. This conclusion was well done. I would recommend this to others.

#TheSoulOfPower #NetGalley

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC! I was very excited about getting approved for this and anxious to get started reading. Love this series!

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a satisfying conclusion to the Waking Land trilogy. Each of the three books is told from a different character's perspective, and this one is Sophy's story. This is a technique that really works well, especially from the first book (Elanna's perspective) and this one. Their lives intertwined in a number of ways, and it's fascinating to get the different viewpoints of each.

The theme that runs through the entire trilogy, of relationships with one's father, is especially strong in this book. While relationships with mothers are important, they tend to be more straightforward and loving, while the relationships with fathers are more conflicted. Each of the main characters, Elanna, Jahan and Sophy have complicated relationships with their fathers - foster and birth.

The world building is continued in this, with the continued development of the land itself and the growth of magic through the people of the land. It's a satisfying and complete world, and the third book of the trilogy solidifies it.

Regardless of themes and such, though, it's just a good story. Mostly likable characters, satisfyingly awful villains, characters who do grow and develop throughout. It's well worth reading!

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

Since the first book, I have been craving Callie Bates' writing and The Soul of Power was just what I needed. I love the way she writes. It is beautiful, full, and imaginative.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Net Galley for providing me an eARC of this book!
I loved the Waking Land, and while I did not emnoy its second book, The Memory of Fire, I wanted to give the final book in the series an opportunity!
Honestly, I'm glad I did. while Sophy's point of view tended to be more political and focused a lot on the difficulty of being pregnant as a queen out of wedlock, I feel like the second half of the book really upped the story line. We backtracked a lot to reach the same timeline as Elanna and Jahan, but once we matched it, Sophy's storyline seemed to pick-up. I won't post any spoilers, but I think what really own this book over and gave me some sense of redemption was the ending. Everything you want to happen happens, and the ending is as it should be. While I did not enjoy it as much as the first book, it waas a great redemption and am uch better perspective than the second! If you aren'ts sure if you want to ocmplete the series, please give this one a chance, I'm glad I did!

This is the third book in the series, and it is told from the point of view of another character, queen Sophy. I still like the world, but this story made less sense than the previous ones and I enjoyed it less. There was a lot of action and magic, but also quite a lot of teenage angst type of writing, which is kind of boring for an adult to read. On the other hand, my teen swallowed the book in no time at all, and said it was good, so there the target audience speaking.

Once again, I find myself thoroughly immersed in Bate’s storytelling and reluctant to leave, though, since we must, this ending was a conclusion true to the heart of the reader. With an incredible world vividly illustrated in poetic language and guided by fearless heroines, readers will find themselves utterly satisfied with the final book in the Waking Land trilogy.

I was excited when I saw that the final installment in The Waking Land series was available for review. I had reviewed the first two books and enjoyed them. I had high expectations for The Soul of Power. And guess what? It didn’t let me down.

I do want to give everyone a heads up about the timeline of the book. The Soul of Power starts after Jahan is sent to Paladis. Elanna’s capture and torture by the witch hunters are going on during the events of The Soul of Power. So keep that in mind while reading this book.

The Soul of Power is Sophy’s story. Crowned queen at the end of The Waking Land, Sophy desperately wants a united country. But, with a court that hates and questions her and a country that is at the point of imploding, it looks like that isn’t going to happen. On top of all that, Sophy has a secret. A secret that could cost her the throne.

I can’t even begin to express how excited I was when I got the ARC for The Soul of Power. I had been hoping that this book was going to be Sophy’s story. When I read the blurb and saw that it was Sophy’s story, I did a happy dance. I couldn’t wait to read this book.

The amount of stress that Sophy was under was insane. I know that I wouldn’t have been able to function under that amount of stress. Plus, not knowing who to trust. I would have said, “Here’s the throne, see ya” and left. But, she stayed and I admired her for that.

I enjoyed watching Sophy grow as a character in this book. She started unsure and resentful of Elanna’s popularity. She wanted to do the right thing but kept getting lousy advice from her council. But, as the book went on, she blossomed. She found her backbone. She overcame her insecurities about Elanna. By the end of the book, she became the queen she needed to be. I loved it.

The plotline regarding Sophy’s father was interesting. I was curious to see how it was going to play out. I wasn’t expecting it to go the way it did. I was shocked. I was also shocked at what Sophy did at the end of the book. I think she was too lenient. After what her father did to her and Rhia, I expected something more. But, thinking about it, what she did was a more fitting punishment.

The author didn’t hide Sophy’s secret. During the first chapter, it was mentioned a few times. How Teofila didn’t notice it when they were together was beyond me. But she did have other things on her mind.

The Soul of Power was also violent. I lost count of how many times Sophy was attacked. Along with the violence, there was also death. Some people deserved it. But there were some deaths that surprised me. And there was one death that broke my heart. I wasn’t expecting it.

The magic angle of the book was well written. I liked that people were starting to experience magic. I loved that the magic didn’t pick and choose who it wanted. I did feel that Sophy’s magical awakening was drawn out. It got to a point where I felt like saying “Just get it over with!!“.

Rape was brought up in the book. I thought that the author explained what happened to Sophy’s mother in a tactful way. She left just enough unsaid that I understood exactly what Mag went through.

The end of The Soul of Power kept me enthralled with the book. So much happened that I almost couldn’t keep it straight. But, it was the last chapter that closed the book for me. Loved it!!

I would give The Soul of Power an Adult rating. There is mention of sexual situations. There is violence. There is no language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread The Soul of Power. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Soul of Power.

All opinions stated in this review of The Soul of Power are mine.

Have you read The Soul of Power?

What are your thoughts?

Have you ever hidden something from someone?

Let me know!!

“The Soul of Power” is a strong conclusion in The Waking Land trilogy. While the first book focused on Elanna (El) and the second on Jahan, this third book is all about Sophy Dunbarron, now the queen of Eren and Caeris. This book requires the context of the first two to really get into and thus does not work as a stand-alone. Eren and Caeris were countries once together but have separated becoming enemies and having one conquer the other. They were both under the power of Paladis, and sorcery has been outlawed/thought to be evil.

El, the Caveadear or steward of the land, has awakened the land and participated in the rebellion of the people against the then rulers. Now, installing Sophy and fighting against neighboring kingdoms, she is captured by Paladis and their Witch Hunters. Sophy has already sent Jahan to Paladis as ambassador, and her hold on the people is tenuous with hatred between Ereni and Caerisians still lying under the surface. As Sophy tries to navigate the political landscape, she must worry about other rebellions and dissatisfactions- and the secret she carries.

As tensions continue to rise, Sophy is increasingly aware of the difficulties of ruling. She must decide not only what is best for the people but also for herself as she fills the role she was raised to fill. While the characters from previous books are present here, there are many new characters and/or old characters who are now given larger roles, that are completely enchanting. This whole series is filled with extraordinarily well-crafted people who leap off the page in their descriptions and mannerisms. Each book has completely brought me into this realm.

This book has less romance than in the past, as Sophy is already with Alistair. Her main objectives are career-related (if we can call ruling the country as such), and this is always refreshing in the YA literature. The world is so well-crafted that it is easy to imagine and completely enthralling, much in the way of high fantasy books like Lord of the Rings. This whole series has been such a fascinating and engaging ride that I highly recommend for people who like YA or adult fantasy, and especially for fans of The Girl of Fire and Thorns series.

Overall, this is a great finale in a fantastic series, and I highly recommend you read it from start to finish. With beautifully crafted characters and amazing world-building, The Waking Land trilogy is a wonderfully enthralling journey. I would add warnings for rape (past/not in detail), sexism, torture (not described in detail), and gruesome deaths.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A rich, captivating end to a epic fantasy. Ms. Bate's, once again, does a wonderful job creating characters with complexity and emotions that went the reader. Her world-building throughout the series has the right amount of detail and description, without bogging the plot down in wordage. So glad to be able to get read about Sophy's story - a story of sweeping romance and majestic magic. A must read.
**I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.**

I loved Bates' first two books in the trilogy so was very excited to have an early read on this one from NetGalley and Del Rey. I was a bit sad at first to see that the book didn't shift POV back to Elanna, who I loved so much from the first book, but I was quickly converted to the power that Sophy wields, or learns to wield as she comes into her own as a ruler. Bates is a wonderful world-builder and a master at diving deep into the political intrigue of her creation. The Soul of Power is a fantastic finish to a riveting fantasy trilogy. I can't wait to see what Bates will do next!

I received an ARC of the first book in this series otherwise I probably would have never read it. I thought book one was so-so and wasn't sure I would be reading any more in the series. Then I saw the second book at the library and thought maybe I should give it a second chance. I enjoyed the second so much more than the first (although there were still aspects of the writing of which I was not a fan). I came into this third and final entry with mixed expectations. In the end, I would give this book somewhere between 2.5 and 3 stars - it's not terrible, but I just feel like it could have been better.

For the first half of the book I was bored with the political intrigue. For someone who was raised to be a leader Sophy doesn't seem to understand how to play the power game. She's meek and doesn't seem to understand how to unite the different groups of people in the countries she now "rules" over. It was worth muddling through all that to see Sophy finally grow a backbone and stand up for herself. However, that ended up being short lived as Sophy continued to be underprepared for the task of being a leader. She's constantly outmanuevered by her enemies and if she had gotten kidnapped/found herself in mortal peril one more time I was going to scream. I understand what the author is trying to say about showing mercy to your enemies, but instead she just gives the message that no one is ever really held responsible for their bad actions.

I wasn't a big fan of El in the first book, but she won me over in book 2. I thought when she returned in book 3 things would turn around, but she just seemed to be there to point out how much better Sophy was at just about everything. It didn't really make sense that El would come back and try to take over rather than being part of the team, especially since she knew her powers were reduced.

I was a little disappointed that Sophy had to use her magic to win over the people rather than coming to them as a uniting force. It was manipulative and again reminded you that she is not the great leader she thinks herself to be. Also, it was fine to bring one character back to life, but two was pushing it. If a writer has no intention of killing any of the main characters they shouldn't manipulate their readers by pretending they do.

But this book was very good. I like Sophy as a character, I wasn't entirely sure how old her character was supposed to be. This is a YA book, but she's pregnant... (you can see that by the cover and you learn this very early on in the book so it's not exactly a spoiler.) So I wasn't sure if this book was going to make a teen being pregnant just a casual thing, I know it's a fantasy world, but still. I later figured out that she's at least 19.

That aside, I really liked how she used her head. Well, most of the time. She used her head but there was still a level of naivete with her thinking. She was just a little too trusting and confident in the wrong people to not betray her. She didn't listen to her suspicions when she should have.

This book was mostly focused on political espionage, with some magic sprinkled in there. At times, it almost felt like there was too much going on. She's new to the throne, she's hiding a secret (that's not really a secret, you can see what it is on the cover), she's trying to earn and maintain the trust of her country as it's newly reunited with another. Her friend, and pseudo-sister, Elanna has been kidnapped by Witchhunters, there's a threat of attack from another country, half the people in the country don't like that she's allowing magic-using refugees to enter the country. There's a lot going on, and for the most part, it all flowed together pretty well.

Until the last chapter.

The last chapter, a whole lot happens, very fast. Some of it felt like it had loose ends that were never tied together. I have a couple questions that I felt were left unanswered. And while I did like this book, I still would have preferred all three books to be told from Elanna's POV. She was the character that started this series, and while reading that book, I didn't feel that either Jahan or Sophy were that important, or as important, as she was. I could never get invested in either character the way I got invested in Elanna.

That being said, I honestly did enjoy reading this book. I think this series is worth reading, despite my hangups. It has a great world, great characters and the magic system is interesting.

The Soul of Power is Callie Bates final novel of her Walking Land trilogy. This book follows the story of Sophy Dunbarron. Sophy is now the ruler of the land. Filled with magical realism, evil villains and the heroine we've always wished for you don't want to miss this conclusion. Well done!

Overall I found the final book to this trilogy quite good. It wrapped up all the loose ends nicely. I only wish that the story had focused more on Elanna since she was the main character in the first book and somewhat the second book. I don't think I've read a series where the focus of what I thought was the main character moves onto another character so completely. Other than that I thought the storyline was fantastic and I found myself mentally rooting for the heroes of the story. Makes me wish someone would "wake the land" in the real world. Definitely worth reading.