I don't understand why this series isn't making more buzz. There are all the good elements of a good trilogy: well-constructed characters, extremely well-managed political issues and above all a lot of emotions.

This third and last volume takes us to the home stretch, it's a trilogy inspired by the Second and First World War and we understand very well how an empire can be built and deconstructed in a few minutes. The author does not minimize the psychology aspect either because even a victory never is when you have seen so many atrocities.

For the characters, frankly I love the Ali / Athan duo, they have a very nice dynamic and are so human. Over the entire series, 3 years have passed and our characters have really evolved, they've grown, experienced trauma and we were with them every step of the way. I took great pleasure in reading them, in finding them.

So I really liked this last book which did not disappoint me at all and I even shed my little tear at the end.

The final book in the Glass Alliance series was a worthy end to a great story. I don't usually like war stories but beside all the battles what makes this book and the whole series so great is the characters and the world building. Though I need to read the books again to makes sense of all the political intrigues and alliances among the countries and leaders, overall it shows how complex life and war is. Nothing is really black and white and I think this is the greatest achievemnt of this series.

In this book, the war that was on the horizon from the start has now fully engulfed the world. But here again, proxy wars are being fought over countries that are supposed to turn the tides, people become restless and examples are being made to appease the public. And people are making decisions that will change the outcome of the war completely. Even though some events are - to not make this book double the length - cut short and happen off the page, there is an ending to the book and series that is defenitly worthy of all the details that have been meticuously included throughout.

More than the story though, I think the book lives from the characters. In the end, it's a story about a war so there is predictability to it and how it will be concluded. Though I really did not see the ending happening like this, I think is was extremely well done. I love how Hathaway was able to wrap up the story with the perfect amount of pain, hope and happiness. Thoughout, there are noumerous occasions that show that there are indeed very high stakes in this war and that not everyone survives or gets a happy ending. Arguably though, after everything that happened to each character, I'm not sure any of them really has a happy ending.

Not only do they experience some really horrible situations themselves, I don't think any of the people in this story are innocent, not even the main characters Ali and Athan. As we see the world though their eyes we also see their struggle with what they 'have to' do in order to sway this war in the direction that they want to. It's though their eyes also, that we see other characters. So while in book one, we might know about something horrible the character has done or was involved in, by book three they have so many layers to them, that this first view might not hold truth so much any more. I would love for the author to write about some of those secondary characters (as long as it's not as painful as reading my favourite secondary characters story in this book :))!

There are so many great dialogues that don't just make the characters in the book grow but give the reader an opportunity to reflect on the world as well. But not just in those situiations, for me this holds especially true in the entire last part of the book. This was very hard to read considering real world wars and the consequences that are happening every day but we forget because they don't happen to us...

The atmosphere of the book is also emphasized by the language and writing style. Hathaway has just such a beautifully poetic writing style that goes so well with the story she tells. And with all the inspiration that was taken from real live events, it made reading so much more intense when I figured them out. Espically the parallels to the Bismarck and Tirpitz. Those moments made everything so much more emotional and made a really big impact.

I was torn between reading this book in one sitting and giving myself time because I did not want it to end. Now that I'm done, I can say with the deepest conviction that this series is certainly among the top three books/series I ever read, if not the best. I want everyone to know about these books because they are missing out on a great story if they don't know about them. I'm so grateful I picked them up.

Likes:
*War is horrible and it affects everyone on both sides or every side, in awful ways. This book is the culmination of the war Safire is waging, the precipice where we find out which way the ending will unfold. And it comes with fire, death, and the sheer will to keep going, fighting and surviving. We are at the front lines, we are in the trenches with these characters and it’s grueling.

*We see Aurelia make the most drastic change of all the characters, she becomes the thing she never thought she could be. The reason I love this series is in most fantasies where a girl turns into a killing machine, there is an evil she is fighting. In this series, it is not so black and white ~ there is so much gray and the killing here is realistic. It is people killing people, not people killing fantastical creatures/people. So Aurelia changing from a sheltered Princess into a killer, saddened me. I was hoping someone would keep their innocence in this war but that’s what war does – it robs the young of their innocence.

*Athan’s change comes with being a fighter pilot for way too many campaigns. He has killed, shot planes down, it’s become automatic but something has got to give. What gives is his family breaking apart. Athan’s childhood and young adult life has been tragic, but in this final book it takes his tragedy to a new level. Athan could have broken so many times…but he stays strong as best he can, it’s all he can do.

*All the loose ends are tied up nicely in this conclusion. Secrets are revealed and very hard choices are made. The writing is beautiful consistent from the start to the finish of this trilogy.

Random Notes:

Triggers: death, violence, war, PTSD

*Arrin was the one who I wanted to know more about as the books went on and we do find out more about him which I’m happy for but his story is sad. Everyone’s story broke my heart but I was hoping something could turn around for Arrin.

*I’m not sure if it was just me, but there were some spots I had to reread because I felt like I missed something, for example, the General’s secret being revealed. It took me awhile to realize how Athan found out, but minor things like that where I should have been paying more close attention, I think it was because I was so emotionally exhausted (the war scenes are gritty), I just missed a few things because I was trying to look for a happy moment and in this book it is rarely there.

Final Thoughts:
This book is the perfect conclusion to the whole Glass Alliance series. What could I expect of a story of two families mired in war? Heartbreak. Despair. But it was so realistic, I was always hoping so hard for the war in the story to end. I love how this series delves into the changes that happen to the characters and shows how war affects everyone involved in it from the front lines, the masterminds and the people bothering not getting their hands dirty. From start to finish this series was written beautifully. It’s definitely a must read if you are into historical fantasy.

ARC received from Netgalley in exhange for honest review.

<i> "You lied so well. And yet you'll always be one of the truest things I've ever known." </i>

I like the war setting of this book, how everything felt so realistic. The relationship between Ali and Athan is both heartbreaking at moments, but also very lovely. Grief, love, betrayal, companionship... this book has it all. The war and its strategic description is a bit heavy for you who read it for romantic plot, but its perfect for any war-setting book fans!

Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for an earc to read in exchange for a review!

I am not even sure where to start with this review. I have many thoughts and I went through a whirlwind of feelings but I will do my best to type it out and hopefully it makes sense.

In the beginning, there is a prologue and I wasn’t sure how it fit into it all but it does show us the tragedy of war and that is quite fitting for this entire book.

As with the other books, there are two point-of-views: Athan and Aurelia. There is also a surprise one (besides the prologue) that is found much later in the book. I enjoyed being back in Athan’s and Aurelia’s mind. This time it was much different as war has really changed them both, especially Aurelia.

Aurelia aka Ali has seen and been through a lot through the course of the books. I have felt for her so many times but it was hard at times to like her in this one. She did a lot of things that didn’t fit who she was but it also made sense as war changes everyone. She had good intentions, but sometimes good intentions lead to bad results.

Athan is the same old pilot we know and love. He is out there doing his job and I loved reading about the plane fight scenes even if they were brutal at times. Thinking about it now, I would say that he has grown and in a good way. As with Aurelia, he wanted what was best for his people. He did have good intentions as well and again, some led to bad results. It’s easy to see the similarities between them, but at the same time he knew where his loyalty was. I couldn’t always say the same for Aurelia.

The romance between them wasn’t as big as the other two books but it worked well for the plot as it focuses more on their jobs and being away from each other. Aurelia doesn’t always make it easy on Athan to love her but he still sticks by her no matter what. I will say that he is very dedicated because I definitely wouldn’t have been so understanding in a few of the situations. I still can’t deny their love though. It’s one of my favorites.

With war comes violence and tragic losses. I’m trying not to cry just writing this out, ha. I was worried who would head to the grave and I definitely felt the losses. I cried for one and it wasn’t even for the one I was most upset about! This is a very brutal book and it will tug at your heartstrings.

When it came to the pacing, there was a few slow moments but it wasn’t hard to continue on because I needed to know what would happen next.

The ending was not what I expected and had me in tears. Don’t worry it was for a good reason!

Overall, I loved this book! It’s hard to put into words what I feel for it. As the finale for a trilogy, it’s hard to say goodbye to the characters and the journey they have taken to get here. I have loved each book dearly. I know these books will remain on my shelf for many, many years and I also know I will revisit them one day down the road.

Southern Sun, Northern Star is the incredible finale to the Glass Alliance trilogy. I absolutely could not put this book down! Ali has joined the resistance, taking on dangerous missions to attempt to stop the approaching war. Meanwhile, Athan is forced to lead his squadron into increasingly dangerous air battles. Ali and Athan must decide what to do when they discover dangerous secrets that could save or doom the lives of many. The choices they make will either bring them closer to peace or permanently shatter their love.

With real historical details woven in, this story is one that will capture the hearts of history buffs and YA romance readers alike. The writing is beautifully descriptive and immersive. You feel like you’re there on the ground as planes fly overhead and sweat drips down your spine. Hathaway expertly shows how much all the characters have changed from their first meeting in Dark of the West and how their choices had consequences. I loved watching Ali and Athan reach for each other over insurmountable obstacles. They have such a breathtaking and heartfelt love story that made me smile and cry equally hard as it concluded. The supporting characters are extremely compelling, all with an important role to play in the politics of war where there are no simple choices.

Southern Sun, Northern Star is written with hauntingly gorgeous prose. This is a book that forces you to look at war from every side, see the effect that it has on humanity, and reflect on the past. If you like reading action-packed war stories filled with love and extraordinary characters- then you need to read this series! The Glass Alliance is one of my favorite trilogies and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Southern Sun, Northern Star releases April 20, 2021. Thank you so very much to Joanna Hathaway, Tor Teen, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on the publication date and I will publish it on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble etc.

First of all, please only read this review if you've read the previous books, Dark of the West and Storm from the East. There might be spoilers from them.

How can one put into words the immense love one has for a book, for the characters, for a world?

Going in, I knew - or sort of knew - what to expect. Heartbreak - because still, it's a fantasy trilogy based on the two World Wars and, as I said, if you've read the first two books, you're already familiar with the author's way of writing it all. As in, no sugarcoating it. You can tell much research has been done, in order for the reader to feel like they're right there, in the middle of bombs dropping and people fleeing for their lives. You're right in the middle of the utter chaos that war is.

I wanted to know how we get to the scene described in the prologue of Dark of the West. A tired pilot who's seen more than he had ever thought he would while in the Academy and a princess-turned-rebel. Because these two... oh, man do I love them! Yes, there were times I wanted to shake them both - mostly Ali - but, as it all unfolded and things started to make sense, I thought, "Yes, now I get it." Because, as the author made sure to show us, we're all people, no matter the rank or status and we can and do make mistakes. Some are bigger than others, having a larger impact, on a whole other level. But we also have the means of making things right. We don't always know what that right is or how to do it, but we can do our best.

It was a whirlwind, a roller coaster of emotions and, after reaching the half point, I couldn't put it down and stayed up way too late - or early? - to finish it. Because it just couldn't be.

Did my heart break into itty-bitty pieces? Nope, it was shattered. Not once, but many times. I was sure I couldn't take anymore of it, but then Ms. Hathaway would come to the rescue with a cute scene or a swoon-worthy one.

The relationships and the dynamics are, just like in the other two - amazing. Given the hardships and, well, war, some characters distance themselves from one another, while others get closer, i.e. Athan and Arrin. The latter I've come to love with my shattered heart and I hope other readers will feel the same. He was never the bad guy, he just had to do bad things. It'll make sense once you've read the book, believe me.

Will I ever reread it? Yes. Not in the near future because I'm still not okay from everything that happened. Do I recommend it? YES. A thousand times YES! I can't wait to get a hardcover of this beauty.

P.S. I thought the author would kill me with the prologues. The last nail was actually the epilogue. Which also cupped the shattered pieces of my heart and put them back together.

I voluntarily agreed to read an early copy via Netgalley. Many thanks to Tor for giving me this opportunity. My rating is 5+ stars.

I receievd a digital copy of this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh My Heart! 💔

The third and final book in the Glass Alliance series by Joanna Hathaway @spitfirewriter completes Ali and Athan’s story as they make their way through war torn countries on ground and in the sky.

This book contains the same beautiful, lyrical writing as the first two bookts and set my soul afire. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy to finish my collection.

I had to take several breaks while reading last night as I finished the last third of the book, to take deep breaths and process the heartbreak that is so intensely written and portrayed throughout the pages. But that’s what war is; love, anger, despair and hope. Always hope.

Because as Ali reminds us, “Even in the most broken and wounded places, something beautiful grows.”-Southern SUN Northern STAR.


#southernsunnorthernstar #glassallianceseries #joannahathaway #spitfirewriter #netgalley #ARC #athanandali #bookreviews #bookstagram #readmorebooks #eyesonthehorizon

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series so I was so excited to continue the story. I really connected with the main characters and the authors plots really pull your heart strings. I love books that have action and adventure and this book did not disappoint. Great read!

We are finally to the end, and every shed tear, every smile of joy and gasp of shock has paid off. This is far and beyond, one of the best stories I’ve ever read – beautifully told in all of its haunting glory – and I just want to recommend it across the world to all who will listen. “This one, right here!” I’ll point and say. “This is the one you need to read.”

From the very first page, of the first book, the Glass Alliance series is a soul-stirring and passionately written story of love, war, family and sacrifice. Athan and Ali are twin stars hurtling across the universe for each other, always on the razor’s edge, their journey inevitable.

I long to see Ali and Athan’s story shared amongst readers like me, who look at our world – our past, our present and our future – and think of all who have been lost and those they’ve left behind. Those who have crawled and fought their way for something better and those who look out to the horizon and wonder, “What if?” For that is this story at its heart. And it will forever live in my heart of hearts.

This series starts with a naive Princess who believes herself untouchable and a pilot that’s a General’s son who wants nothing to do with his father’s war. But as we know, war is waged by the old, but it is the youth who most suffer. Despite their undying love for each other, the Princess and pilot find themselves on opposite ends of a world war and conflicts decades in the making. Over seas and mountains and crumbling cities, they fight to hold on to each other and their vision for a better future. But with that fight comes the sting of betrayal and the pulling of countless triggers.

If there’s one thing that has always called to me, it’s the stories of the people who experienced the World Wars. The people who would otherwise be forgotten, had their stories not been recorded for generations to come. The Glass Alliance series is a fantasy that is clearly inspired by the stories of those people and it’s clear how sincerely Hathaway strove to put them to page and give a voice to those forgotten by history. From the refugees, to the resistance fighters, to the soldiers and sailors and pilots who only wish to go home, it’s all here and it’s profound in its account.

When I reviewed the first book, I mentioned how it reminded me of Atonement – and this series still does (albeit with a different kind of ending 😉). We are first introduced to the story with a prologue that clearly takes place in the future and we know that the characters have experienced immense pain and loss to get to that point. We finally reach that prologue scene in this book and damn if I didn’t have a sob in my throat throughout the whole thing.

But there is also SO much love in this book as well. It’s a desperate, wild sort of love, that knows the world would rather crush it under its heel, but it’s a love that still sprouts and grows and spreads under that weight. I love Athan and Ali’s story so much, but also the stories of all the other characters in this series: Cyar, Kalt, Tirza, Elan, Leannya, Reni, Fenn, Lark, Trigg, Mati, Arrin and so many others.

Needless to say, I see kindred hearts in the characters within these pages and am so glad Hathaway brought us their stories. I hope that others will find them and come to love them as much as I do.

Eyes on the horizon, always.

This novel is the last book of a trilogy that I’ve greatly loved, so of course, I couldn’t wait to read it! I was ready to return to the Glass Alliance world and see what becomes of the characters. Southern Sun, Northern Star was a thrilling finale, with amazing character development and a sprawling plot.

This review contains spoilers for book one and book two.

After her mother’s death, Aurelia has turned to her mother’s past, becoming a rebel in the South and spying on a Northern general. Meanwhile, Athan continues in his father and brother’s war efforts, following their orders but growing more and more uncertain of this war. When he arrives in the city Ali is based in on leave, they rekindle their romance until Ali uses information she’s gleaned from him against him. War unfolds, and their love is caught in the middle of it, yet again.

If you enjoyed the political intrigue and war-torn plot of the past two books, you’ll definitely enjoy this one. I will say that at times, I think some of the descriptions of the battles could have been condensed; the depth that Hathaway goes into might be more appreciated in an adult audience, but as it is, the first half gets a little tedious at times. Looking back, though, I suppose the length of time we spend reading about battles and planning is probably more realistic, as it emphasizes the war raging around Athan and Ali.

As in the first two books, I really liked Ali and Athan’s dynamic. The tables have turned here though; now it’s Ali keeping secrets while Athan is none the wiser. Even when they’re at odds, you can still feel the love between them. They spend much of the book separate, on their own journeys, but I really loved their scenes together.

Also, as I said in my review of the second book, I'm a sucker for messed-up sibling relationships, which the Dakar siblings certainly provide. I was relishing every single scene with Arrin, who's ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes, but also completely unwilling to let his siblings come into harm's way. His scenes with Athan made me tear up honestly. I also liked that we got to see a bit more of Leannya; she proves to be an interesting character throughout the book.

I can’t really say much about the plot without spoiling it. Both Athan’s and Ali’s chapters follow the war, although Athan has a front-row seat to the battles and Ali is operating from the sidelines as a part of the rebellion. Like I said above, some parts do drag a little, but I also think there are other scenes interspersed that make up for them.

The ending was particularly poetic; it all wraps up neatly, but not too neatly if that makes sense. This is where I think the length and pacing of the book proved to be a good choice because nothing is too sudden or random. We build up to events properly, which made the events of the whole series feel paid off. The last quarter of this book really put me through the wringer though; I was almost in tears by the last chapter.

Southern Sun, Northern Star ended on a beautiful note and reaffirmed the series’s message that war always has its consequences. I really enjoyed the series as a whole, particularly the character development. If you haven’t picked this series up yet, I definitely recommend it, especially now that Southern Sun, Northern Star is (almost) out!

I felt like this book was so slow. I didn't feel hooked into the book and just took everything I had in me to finish. However, I did love the character development and felt like the characters' stories were told and there were no lose endings, All in all, this was an average book.

Overall stars: 3.4, but it DRAGGED. If it wasn't so masterfully done, it would be a 3 star.

In the third and final installment of The Glass Alliance series, Aurelia and Athan fight daily for the things they believe in (honestly, I still am not fully sure what that is, though). "Storm from the East" brings betrayals to their head. See my review for "Dark of the West" to talk about the basics.

For me, this book had such potential. The first one set up the rest of the series so well and I enjoyed the read. The second book dragged through the first half, but then picked up and enchanted me all over again. They BOTH let me mull over the prologue to see if I could figure out where it would come in. But, dang, "Southern Sun, Northern Star." I'm a little disappointed. They came together, then separated, then betrayed, then came together, rinse, repeat. It dragged so hard in the middle that I considered DNF'ing it altogether. Everything is so wonderful, but could have absolutely been condensed.

Characters: 4.
Plot and pacing: 2....dragggggg
Worldbuilding: 4. SORRY, am I an idiot? I sometimes feel like I can't figure out the politics for the life of me. I even laid in bed last night trying to do a "politics for dummies" rundown to myself. Ah, well....I'll figure it out.
“Wow”-factor: 3
Likelihood of recommending: 4


My Star Rating Guide:
5 – This book absolutely “wow”-ed me in all five aspects. I am likely to recommend this to many of my friends or students. I will also likely follow this author’s career and read their future books.
4 – This was a better than solid read. Excelled in most categories but did not leave me desperate to pick it back up. I am still likely to recommend this to a friend in conversation.
3 – This was a solid read. I enjoyed the time I spent reading it and I don’t regret it. I wouldn’t purchase this myself, but if asked for a recommendation in this genre, I might mention it.
2 – This book did not rank well in the five chosen aspects. I will likely not recommend this book, but it probably had one to two redeeming qualities.
1 – None of this story appealed to me personally, I will not recommend this book.