I feel like I've been awaiting this final installment in "The Nightgale and The Falcon" trilogy forever, and my it did not disappoint. This series is packed with political intrigue, power struggles, rebellion and more and I couldn't get enough.

"The Sorrow of the Sea" ends the series with all we've come to expect from this world. From shifting loyalties and epic battles, to the many layers of resistance and rebellion. The character arcs in this series have been incredible and compelling to read as have the many twists and turns from betrayals and mysterious magic welding figures who manipulate human and world affairs.

If this series even slightly sounds like it may interest you, PLEASE PICK IT UP.

I know it's one I will reread time and time again.

A Grand, Gritty Finale with Moments of Uneven Depth – The Nightingale and the Falcon: Book Three

Stephen Aryan closes out *The Nightingale and the Falcon* trilogy with a sweeping, high-stakes finale full of warfare, shifting loyalties, and a collision of legacies. In this final installment, the world teeters on the brink of an unprecedented war—and Aryan pulls no punches as armies gather, alliances fray, and the true cost of power becomes clear.

Temujin’s arc takes center stage as he steps fully into his role as ruler of the Ilkhanate. His struggle to lead not as his father did, but as his own man, gives the book its emotional backbone. His attempts to walk the line between tradition and compassion are compelling, though at times the narrative could have delved deeper into his internal conflict. His transformation feels earned, but a few more introspective moments would have made it resonate more strongly.

Kaivon and Esme provide much of the book’s forward motion, engaging in tense, tactical missions that keep the pace brisk. Their loyalty to Temujin and growing weariness with endless war lend their sections a grounded, human quality amidst the epic scale of the conflict.

Kokochin’s storyline offers a refreshing, morally grey counterpoint. Her quest for redemption, tinged with darker impulses and haunted by violence, adds real texture to the cast. That said, her arc occasionally feels disconnected from the central momentum, though it thematically reinforces the novel’s concern with power, legacy, and survival.

Aryan’s world remains vivid and brutal—full of spies, magi, and military maneuvering—but occasionally the sheer number of perspectives can undercut emotional payoff. While the action and scope are impressive, some characters could have used more breathing room to fully land their conclusions.

Still, this is an ambitious and satisfying finale, with enough twists, payoffs, and blood-stained triumphs to keep fans of the series gripped until the last page. *The Nightingale and the Falcon* ends as it lived: bold, brutal, and filled with characters trying—often failing—to reshape a world carved by conquest.

What a trilogy! This is the final book in The Nightingale and The Falcon series. If you like gritty and action packed historical fantasy then look no further. This book provides a well wrapped up and detailed narrative, exactly what you need as a reader. It’s an epic conclusion to an amazing story. I was immersed and moved.

Read for -
Mongolian and Persian history
Complex characters (with great arcs)
Detailed battle scenes
Political Intrigue
Magic
Family dynamics
Alliances and betrayals
Captivating prose
A visceral experience


Many thanks to netgalley and angryrobotbooks for this ARC.

Tour stop for "The Sorrow of the Sea" by Stephen Aryan from Angry Robot! The Nightingale and the Falcon Trilogy comes to a close with blood, screams, and a thoughtful end.

Thinks are seriously sideways in the Ilkhanate. Temujin has seized power (via barehanded killing a ton of guards and his siblings), Persia is in danger from the carnage of Timur, the Kozan are on the move. In a world of magi, spies, and conquerors people will form strange alliances to survive.

Reasons to read:
-Questions of the nature of humanity and immortality examined in a way I haven't seen often
-It's a historical fantasy about the Mongolian invasion of Persia and the fallout that caused, I'd bet that is something you haven't checked out recently
-Super satisfied with everyone's arcs
-The asides for random people's povs during the battle, sucks to be that archer
-We see why the Kozan don't come into direct conflict
-The fall
-Threw me back to memories of the end of a certain video game

Cons:
-I'd like a world government (so we can get to the stars) but we are not mature enough to do so in a responsible way and that point was driven home a bit

Last year, The Nightingale and the Falcon was one of my favorite series that I read all year, so I started reading The Sorrow of the Sea with a huge amount of hype.

We pick up straight from the explosive ending to The Blood Dimmed Tide, and it’s non-stop to the end. Temujin continues to be my favorite character, as we follow his struggle not to become the thing he despised in his father. But really, the entire cast of characters is very strong.

I also love Stephen Aryan’s magical twist (the Kozan) to the historical Mongolian setting, and its presence in the story is at its highest here. Aryan does a great job at closing a lot of threads, though I can see where some folks might feel they were tied up just a little too neatly.

This series is peak historical fantasy and, for me, Stephen Aryan stuck the landing with The Sorrow of the Sea. If you’re into Mongolian history, non-stop action, secret societies, and espionage, then this is an easy must-read.

8.88/10
5/5 ⭐️

What an epic conclusion to one of the best series I've ever read!

First, thank you @stephenaryan_writer and @angryrobotbooks for the opportunity to be on the release tour and for the #gifted ARC!

The Nightengale and the Falcon

Three incredible books set in a world that we rarely get to see in fantasy. The Mongolian and Persian history is front and center and layers of political intrigue are interwoven with deep complex characters. Using sweeping descriptive prose, Stephen gives the reader everything of himself. The reading is immersive and bloody! The battles are some of my fav scenes (of course!) but there is also family dynamics and love to be felt.
This final act is the perfect wrap up.

Please pick up this trilogy, I know you'll love it!

We are at the end of the trilogy now and compared to other books in the series, this has to be weakest ever. The book covers a wide range of events, jumps between many locations and perspectives, and leans strongly into historical-style narrative. For readers who enjoy sweeping, military-political epics with a touch of magic, this may be exactly what they’re looking for. But for me, it felt scattered and hard to connect with emotionally. The pacing also dragged in places, making it a challenge to stay engaged.

That said the character arcs are neatly handled and had a good conclusion to the series overall.

I received an ARC of this from Netgalley.

I liked the end to the trilogy. I think this may have been the weakest one for me though. What I do love about these books is that the author has a recap at the beginning of the book, which should be mandatory I think :). It is so helpful when there has been a while between releases and reads.
Some of the themes in here of legacy and how power corrupts. I also liked the battles in here and how gritty and personal they felt. I think that the author writes a battle scene really well.
There was one section though that I felt cam out of left field and really threw me. I cannot say what it was without spoilers but two of the characters seem to go off on a side quest that I really thought didn't need to happen.
Overall I think the series was great. I liked the fact that the history was of the Mongol empire rather than just a classic knights and kings setting and found it to be really rich and detailed. I will definitely check out more by the author.

I liked this one. The writing is good and the pacing just right. I had good time reading it. Longer review to come.

The Sorrow of the Sea is a powerful and emotionally resonant conclusion to Stephen Aryan’s The Nightingale and the Falcon trilogy. I was completely drawn into this final installment, which masterfully weaves historical intrigue with fantasy in a way that feels both epic and grounded. Aryan has really nailed the balance between richly imagined world-building and character-driven storytelling.
What I loved most was how each of the main characters' journeys came to a head in such different but fitting ways. Temujin’s arc was especially compelling, watching him evolve (or unravel) into the kind of leader he once hated was tragic and fascinating. He wasn’t my favorite character earlier in the series, but by the end, he had one of the most powerful storylines.
Kaivon’s rebellion offered some of the most thrilling moments in the book. The large-scale battle scenes were visceral and immersive, and I loved how his dynamic with Esme added emotional weight to the political stakes. And while Kokochin’s storyline felt more separate from the central plot, her spy missions were exciting and full of tension. I just wish her arc had felt more integrated into the final climax.
What Aryan does incredibly well here is bring together the personal and the political. Themes of power, legacy, and change run throughout the book, and they hit hard without ever feeling forced. The historical influences were blended so seamlessly with fantasy that I often found myself forgetting which parts were fiction.
This wasn’t a perfect book - some parts felt a little scattered or less impactful than I hoped. but overall, I found The Sorrow of the Sea to be a bold, satisfying, and emotionally rich ending to a trilogy that has really stuck with me. If you enjoy historical fantasy with complex characters and big ideas, I can’t recommend this series enough.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a difficult review to write, because while The Sorrow of the Sea is objectively well-written and rich in historical detail, it simply didn’t work for me as a reader—and that’s largely due to a mismatch in expectations.

Going into the series, I expected a more classic fantasy experience. While there are indeed magical elements—particularly the Kozan and their powers—they often feel secondary to the story’s core, which is heavily inspired by real-world history, specifically the Mongol invasion of the Persian Empire. In this third book, the supernatural aspects are more prominent than in the previous volumes, especially with the battles between the Kozan—but even so, I never felt fully drawn in by the magical worldbuilding.

The book covers a wide range of events, jumps between many locations and perspectives, and leans strongly into historical-style narrative. For readers who enjoy sweeping, military-political epics with a touch of magic, this may be exactly what they’re looking for. But for me, it felt scattered and hard to connect with emotionally. The pacing also dragged in places, making it a challenge to stay engaged.

That said, I can see the craft behind it. The prose is solid, and the final chapters do provide satisfying closure. It’s clear that Stephen Aryan put great care into this world and its conflicts. Unfortunately, despite these strengths, the book didn’t resonate with me.

Recommended for readers who are drawn to historically grounded stories with subtle fantasy flavor. But if you’re expecting high fantasy with immersive magical systems and character-driven arcs, this may not quite hit the mark.

This dramatic conclusion to Aryan’s epic historical fantasy does not fail to satisfy, with arcs brought to resolution in a way that feels right for the characters but also contains genuine suspense and mysteries. War has come to the Empire, and Temujin’s power is mightier than ever - but can he use it without losing himself? Meanwhile, Kokochin is engaged in a similar struggle as she attempts meaningful action without compromising her morality any further.

Full of battle, spying, assassination and magical conflicts, this is a solidly written book that concludes a tightly plotted and well executed trilogy.

The Sorrow of the Sea is the final book in the Asian historical fantasy trilogy The Nightingale and the Falcon. With his unmatched power, Temujin has usurped his father and determined to hold together his Ikhanate and end the civil war against the Golden Horde as he needs to focus on the new warlord he helped create—Timur—and the other Kozar who either oppose or seek to recruit him. Kaivon has made an alliance with other nations under Mongol rule to oppose Timur, but he isn’t sure how far he can trust the unstable Temujin. Kokochin is still a spy for the Persian spy network but has to keep herself in check as a new mission points her towards Rome and the Pope.

When this trilogy started, I had no idea where the story was actually going, but I don’t think this was how I would have expected or thought it would come to an end. While I don’t think it was bad, I was still disappointed because of how disjointed everything felt. There was no grand stand or culmination of each character working together towards one shared end.

Kaivon probably had the most traditional storyline as a failed leader rising up once again to lead. His plotline is the most action-packed and dealt with the actual rebellion against the Mongol Empire as he has to juggle new alliances and a new enemy. There was one massive action set-piece that was stunning and really visceral as we shift from one random perspective to another on both sides of the war. It was superbly well-written as the brutality, desperation, and stakes really came through.

Temujin, meanwhile, feels like an entirely different character altogether in this book. The transition really could have gone smoother or at least with more internal conflict, but it just felt really abrupt. That said, he had the most interesting storyline and his character is the most complex. His complicated interactions with his father are a highlight as he finds himself turning into Hulagu more and more. The Kozan were written too overpowered so this was always where his and their story was going to end, but as much as I liked the emotionality of it, I had hoped for more.

As for Kokochin, she went on what I could only describe as two side quests that never felt that consequential. In the first half, she builds her own network of informants in a major city in Timur’s path while she distances herself from her more cruel tendencies. I thought that this was going great until she is forced to abandon and give it up to someone else then we never really see what all this amounted to. In the second half, she goes to the Vatican to prevent an Assassin from killing the Pope where she has to work with a warrior Cardinal in the Vatican underbelly. There was a lot of clandestine spy maneuvering going on which I thought was another fun and exciting, but not as part of the finale where one main character is completely removed from the main narrative.

The Sorrow of the Sea does give us a good ending but not in the way I would have wanted it to.

*Thank you Angry Robot Books for the eARC via NetGalley

An epic final installation to The Judas Blossom trilogy! This historical fantasy wraps up in epic conclusion! You will feel like everything is just snapped into place! Every twist and turn has led to this point!

This historical fantasy shifts the line a little more into the fantasy world than historical as the magic becomes a large part of the story. You may loose a little bit of the historical aspects to these displays of magic but I think the balance is still there!

Aryans writing is very interesting to me as it started off nice but as I’ve learned there writing style I’ve seen a change that has made me truly enjoy the style of writing and chosen phrases for the characters!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.25⭐. Thank you NetGalley & Angry Robot for the ARC.

It's always disappointing when the conclusion to a trilogy does not quite hit the mark, especially with such a strong beginning and middle. The Sorrow of the Sea's biggest issue is that everything was SO anticlimactic. Stephen Aryan's strengths that I've come to expect from this series were surprising twists & turns and impressive political maneuvering. I didn't get either here.

Kokochin is one of the most interesting characters because we've followed the growth of her raw determination and cunning, yet it felt lacking in this one. Once she was forced to abandon the network that she built up in the first third of the novel, her subplot feels flat because once more she falls into the role of following the House of Grace's orders, which was to thwart an assassination. I was expecting the natural development of her getting to LEAD her own initiated scheme, but instead we got her being a follower once more. I deign to say this but as much as I root for the only sapphic relationship in this series, Layla's return didn't add much to Kokochin's arc.

Temujin and Melchior... Easily the biggest disappointments of the novel. How do you hype up such powerful individuals with such unfathomable power for two books and then decide to handle their endings in the most absurd way. Melchior's final confrontation felt like it came out of nowhere. I was not surprised at Temujin's ultimate fate, but the WAY it was done felt ridiculous because in earlier chapters, we're shown how he could capably handle such a situation without batting an eye. Temujin's final descent into becoming like Hulagu also felt rushed.

This part is definitely a matter of preference but if you enjoy drawn out military battle scenes, this one's for you.

Ultimately, not a satisfying finale for me.

Temujin has usurped his father as Khan of the Ilkhanate, but his work is not done. He is still at war with his father's brother, Berke and leader of the Golden Horde. Timur's army grows ever bigger and more dangerous as he continues his march to destroy the other Khans and become the ultimate ruler. And the other Kozans are watching him from the shadows, content to leave him alone for now but ready to kill him if he interferes with their plans. One wrong move could ruin all of Temujin's plans for peace.
However, he is not alone. General Kaivon stands with a group of kings and soldiers, ready to fight Timur for their freedom. And without knowing it, the Twelve are grudgingly helping him, women with a vast spy network. Everyone is watching Temujin, ally and foe, waiting for him to make a wrong move. Can he keep one step ahead and finally bring peace to the region?
Seas of Sorrow is the high-energy climax to Aryan's immensely powerful The Falcon and The Nightingale series, which follows the Mongolian Empire after the death of Genghis Khan and the power struggle between his descendants. The book starts with a very handy recap of previous events, but if you haven't read The Judas Blossom and The Blood Dimmed Tide, I highly recommend starting there first. Seas of Sorrow is not a book read without knowing the previous works. The action begins with Temujin meeting David, King of Georgia, to create an uneasy alliance in exchange for Georgia's independence.
Temujin has always been my favourite character as his development is nuanced, and each step forward has been hard-won. He is certainly not the plump scholar we met at the start of the series. His development continues throughout the book as he is now in power and must learn how far he is willing to go for his ideals, what he is willing to sacrifice, and what is a hard no for him. He came full circle in Seas of Sorrow, which was very satisfying, and he has still retained some of the sensitivity that made him a standout character for me. I also felt that Kokochin and Kaivon had the development they deserved. Kaivon leads the army against Timur, and Kokochin uses her skills to protect people like her. Without going into too much detail, both have the chance to fix their past mistakes and find redemption in their future.
This isn't the same for every character. The Kozan are a group of six semi-immortals with magic and a desire to manipulate the course of humanity for their own ends. They are formidable opponents, and throughout The Blood Dimmed Tide, they are shown to be calculating, powerful, and beyond human understanding. Again, without giving away any spoilers, I didn't feel the reputation built up over the series deserved the ending each of the six got. It lessened their threat and made me question if they were really as dangerous as we had been led to believe. However, in any story with a cast as large as this one, giving every character a detailed, satisfying ending isn't easy. In some cases, the characters just vanished, with the others wondering if they would ever see them again, which, while certainly realistic, did give the impression of the ending being a little too rushed for the magnitude of the preceding events.
However, none of that stops The Falcon and The Nightingale from being one of my favourite series from the past few years and Seas of Sorrow a must-read 2025, even with my minor niggles. It is action-packed, full of twists and turns, character deaths, and impossible survival against all odds. The fight scene when Kaivon and Timur finally meet is visceral, a full-blooded battle, expertly told in snippets of different characters' points of view as they fight for their lives. I was out of breath just reading it and was emotionally exhausted by the end.
If you've already read the first two books, then Seas of Sorrow deserves a place on your bookshelf, and if you haven't, then I highly recommend visiting your local bookshop today and buying the series in its entirety. You won't be disappointed.

Another tremendous book by Stephen Aryan. He has completely mastered the balance of Historical Fiction and Fantasy here.

There were many plotlines and character journeys to conclude here, and it would be very difficult for anyone to make each and every one satisfactory. But Aryan manages to do it here! Not only was every plotline interesting throughout (something even the first two books didn't manage),but the conclusion for each plotline felt like it fit the story perfectly, even the ones that had...sorrowful...endings.

My favorite plotline in this book was Temujin's, which was interesting as he was not my favorite previously. His power moves with the various Mongol factions was fascinating.

Kaivon's moves in this book were interesting, and I found myself wondering if he had truly changed his heart towards the Mongolian Empire. I also just really like his dynamic with Esme.

Kokochin had an interesting story here, although not as good as her story in book 1. But Kokochin's story at the end of the book in Rome I thought was very well written.

The book continues excellent explorations of themes regarding war, power, and empires. But the best part of the book really is how it infuses elements of history. Obviously, there is a lot of made up history here, but I will say that Aryan has the perfect blend of historical accuracy while also changing enough that I didn't know if certain characters would actually make it.

By the way, I will say that this book pulls something off that shocked me. It tries to do something that Game of Thrones Season 8 tried (and miserably failed at), and here it fits the themes and ideas of the story perfectlly!

Overall, this is a superb book. I think it is on the level of books 1 and 2 excellence. Stephen Aryan has turned in a terrific trilogy that I hope many more people will give a chance. 9.3 out of 10!

The Sorrow of the Sea is a great ending to the series. I have very much enjoyed this Historical fantasy and I don’t often enjoy Historical fantasies.

Everything comes together in a very satisfying conclusion. I thought how every character ended their story was fitting. After acting like a power mad dictator in the second book, Kokochin is trying to make amends and that leads her to Rome to prevent the assassination of the Pope and back to Layla. I wasn’t that fond of her in book two but she brought me round in this book and I started rooting for her again. Kaivon is probably my favourite character in the whole series and I continued to love him in this book. Temujin is an interesting character. I liked how his story ended.

Not to mention the plot to avoid spoilers, but I really liked how it ended. There were parts I didn’t expect and parts that I was glad happened so, all in all, it was a very satisfying ending.

I always enjoy Aryan’s books. I like the way he writes and he always manages to tell an interesting story and he creates an evocative world that feels well-realised and lived in. I have very much enjoyed reading this series. It is very different than his previous series but it is just as good.

Absolutely LOVED the recap in the beginning of the book, so beyond helpful.

Very nice to have a book not based in European or Western ideology, but Persian and Mongolian was fun to learn about with the magic system twist.

Received as an arc. Thank you!!

What an amazing conclusion to this story. It was gripping and fast pased. It was so satisfying to see all the aspects of the storyline concluded so well. The magic system in the series was always so interesting and it was in full display. I loved this whole series and cannot wait for what the author will do next