The Obsidian Butterfly

This was an epic story that you'll wonder at being a historical fiction. It's not!
I have loved this story from the moment I found out it was a fantasy novel with Mesoamerican influences and mythology. There have been many series I've read that start well and end in frustration, but this series continued to deliver in so many ways. So, it's no shock that this 3rd and final book to the Age of the Seventh Sun series was no different.
Rightfully so, Mayana goes through more than a few stages of grief after her beloved Ona is left behind to suffer and die, and she's forced to go through them rather quickly as the story opens. She and Ahkin have narrowly escaped the their ordeal from book 2 and have a lot to accomplish in a short period of time. Only problem is, they haven't exactly exited the afterlife into a garden of Eden. They've been spat out in the lands of their enemy and delivered to them on a platter. Much like all their problems, they face it together and they were all the braver and successful for it. In fact, this theme revolves around much of the ties that bind the characters in this book: lovers, friends, enemies, & gods alike. Trust, love, and loyalty become the saviors of the day and no one is the exemption... Well, maybe a winged celestial a few of her skeletal astro cronies. There is also a level of importance on selflessness that should not go unremarked upon. Relationships are hard and the couples that survive beyond this story know the true meaning of being a duality.
This book is packed full of love, friendship, laughter, mythology, hard lessons learned, patience, sacrifice, bravery, trust, and an unexpected happily ever after against mounting odds. I truly felt entertained and an emotional reck by the end of this novel.
There were a few scenes that had a nasty habit of dragging on, and it was a bit a pressure point at how many times Ahkin mentions "the plan" to various people, and I also thought there were turnarounds for characters (*clears throat, Mayana's father) that were a bit too quick to the point of disbelief, even despite their reasoning for said turnaround. BUT all pale in comparison to everything else in the story.
Despite the feeling of a rushed ending (coming to right conclusion in regards to beating the enemy far too swift in a moment of clarity, when the build to it was so lengthy), the author did a tremendous job of wrapping up all aspects of the story.
The epilogue was also divine and felt tailored by The Mother herself.