Thanks again to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me this eARC. Well, I survived the harrowing adventures of the Equals and their Skills. This final volume in the trilogy was action-packed and quite a few characters had some interesting arcs. Any reader will be well rewarded if they decide to delve into this trilogy. Highly recommended.

Thank you so much to the publisher for approving me. This was a DNF for me, I suppose since I never got back into it and I’m just updating this to move this off my shelf.

This book is the conclusion to Vic James' Dark Gifts trilogy. I put off these books for so long, but I'm glad I finally got around to reading them. In their society, those with magic oppress those without - but a rebellion is coming. I really liked following the different characters and how everything wove together. All-in-all, a satisfying conclusion to this story.

I will simply say I love, love, love this trilogy, and this final entry does not disappoint! Although much is resolved, there are still question marks, and I would be happy if somehow a spinoff series appeared. But this is a satisfying conclusion with brilliant characterization and really imaginative world building on the author's part. I will be re-reading and recommending this series and look forward to whatever comes next from Vic James..

Bright Ruin is the end of the Dark Gifts Trilogy which I have greatly enjoyed! All the magic and powers are ready to fight! This dark fantasy will bring you to a satisfying conclusion.

What an ending! Be warned, when you pick up the third and final book in the series, you better have time to read it start to finish. Bright Ruin picks up right where the previous book left off and is told in the same format where each chapter focuses on one character. The book does not bounce around too much and I really felt completely connected to the characters and their journeys. And not to give too much away but the ending was both satisfying and frustrating. I would love a whole second series about what happens next.

What a fantastic way to wrap up this trilogy.
I've always said this series has that special something that makes it stand out from other dystopian YA books and this book kept that feeling alive for me.
I love the darkness of this series and how the author does not shy away from this darkness.
Thank you so much to the publisher for allowing me to review this entire series. It was a true pleasure!

Probably my favorite book of the trilogy. Many things are revealed, many things change: relationships, society, understandings! As with the previous books, the plot was sometimes confusing and I had some trouble distinguishing between different character voices, and the "Equal" character (people with magic) tended to be more complex and better written than the "Skilless" (everyone else). But overall I think there was improvement on those counts, especially as the barriers started to erode.

The Wonder King reveal was quite well done. Makes me wonder what Vic James would do with historical or high fantasy. In any case, I will be sure to check out whatever she writes next. But whatever it is... could it still have Silyen Jardine in it please? :)

The third in an interesting series about magic rulers tyrannically ruling Britain and the burgeoning revolutionary resistance set on unseating them.

The book shows points from both magic users and non-magic characters, and the suffering they're put through. In this series, non magic-users have to complete a period of servitude to the magic users. It's basically state sanctioned slavery. Forces from within the non-magic users (and within the nobility as well) seek to abolish the slave days--and possibly return to the non-magic rule they lost generations ago.

It's a nifty trilogy--the characters are compelling, the world is thoroughly built, and it keeps you turning pages. I really liked the trilogy.

The conclusion to the story of Luke and his family and their last chance at freedom.

A wonderful finish, this wraps up (almost) all the loose ends and ties it together nicely. The characters and their changing relationships were well developed and the storyline complete concrete. Everything worked out to make sense in the end, even if things didn't quite end the way I thought they would. This is a great look at how things are not always black and white, but how thousands of shades of gray play a part in our lives. People may not always be as good or as bad as they seem, and there is always a chance at redemption and a time to become the person you always hoped to be.

Beautifully written with dynamic characters and a unique and thrilling world. Bright Ruin is the third book in the Dark Gifts trilogy. I'll admit I got lost from time to time having not read the earlier installments in the series but that didn't detract from the draw the characters had or the high stakes they were fighting against. Full of twists and turns, Bright Ruin definitely kept me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. Fans of Young Adult fiction will love this series. And the conclusion is both compelling and triumphant.

What an ending to a great series. I finished it last night and I am still mulling over the ending. I am hoping that there will be a series after this one so that I can find the closure. I understand what happened, I just want to know what happens next.

This is the third book in a series and they have to be read in order. The basis is that the ruling class in England have powers that allow them to keep a choke hold on the people without "skill". They devote years of their lives as slaves in order to provide free labor to those who are already wealthy. This book is the final of an uprising.

The story basically revolves around two families: the Hadleys and the Jardines. The Hadleys are oppressed and the Jardines are the rulers of the country. There are some unexpected developments between the two families that made me feel good and uncomfortable. It is a complicated relationship. One of hate, respect, betrayal, and romance.

Vic James does not pull any punches in this story. It is brutal and fascinating at the same time. I can't help but compare it to some modern-day governments. It is really a commentary on the abuse of power and the resiliency of the oppressed. If you are looking for a light and easy read, this series is not for you. This is a book that makes you think. It is violent and contains innuendo. Some of the main characters are masterminds of evil, there is a lot of coarse language including the "f" bomb.

I usually stay with the light and fluffy books, but I enjoyed my time with this trilogy. I would definitely read more from Vic James. She paints a picture that is fascinating.

Source: I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

In a world dominated by the Skilled, those with extraordinary powers, those who are unSkilled are subject to the slave days. There had been revolts, which were ruthlessly crushed. Caught up within the movement, siblings Abigail and Luke Hadley work separate paths to try to bring an end to this terrible system.

I had missed the second book in the trilogy, Tarnished City, and this book picks right up where the second one left off. I missed a number of characters being introduced in that one, as well as the introduction of the Wonder King, who had apparently been seen in Luke's mindscape. I was still able to jump in and go running right along with Abi and Luke and figure out what was happening. There is a lot of action as well as political intrigue, and the continued investigation into what Skill is and how it works. Silyen had always been more focused on that, which apparently is why he had allowed Luke to be tortured in book 2. Luke's resulting PTSD symptoms from the trauma are dealt with sympathetically and rather realistically. In spite of what he had suffered, he still retains empathy for others and feels terrible about some of the atrocities committed around him. He is very much the heart that the Wonder King calls him, as Silyen is the mind with all of his logic.

Abi's story thread is more tightly woven with that of the rebels, who are mostly unSkilled and rather idealistic. They plan to use protests and marches, and only the occasional fire and "house party" in empty estates to make their point. That allows them to be manipulated by the media under Jardine control. It's emotionally wrenching and frustrating for me as a reader to know more than the characters do about what's happening and to sit back and watch as events unfold. It shows how well Ms. James had written these characters that I care so much about them, and that I can easily slide back into the story despite missing an important middle chunk of it!

The close of this trilogy is not without losses, just like the earlier books in the series. The ending feels open to interpretation, and I can easily see another trilogy (or more) taking place after this one as England is left to rebuild and recover. If it does happen, I would be just as invested in seeing how it's done.

Epic conclusion to this series. I kept finding myself near panicked trying to figure out how the author was going to tie all her loose ends. At the halfway mark it just all so overwhelming and I didn't see how it was going to be possible, but she pulled it off grandly. This book too many turns I didn't expect and gave me a couple I didn't realize I'd support, but here we are. All in all a great fantasy series I'd recommend to anyone. Really enjoyed the politics that were incorporated that felt current with issues going on right now as well. I'm secretly hoping for a fourth book, though! I still need some answers!

This is the final book of a fantasy trilogy about a group of young people fighting for freedom in a reimagined England in which Equals with magical Skills have supplanted royalty and the government. People who are not Equals are required to serve as slaves for a ten year period. It cannot be read as a standalone since there is no recap of the prior books. I have to be more strict with myself with respect to getting involved with trilogies. The later books are almost never as good as the first book, and unfortunately that is the case with this trilogy. While I wanted to find out how everything turned out after reading the first book, it was really a slog through books 2 and 3. Too much of our world was built into the fantasy world in this book in a ham-handed fashion, including child deportation and resentment of the elite. This book had a lot of rescue operations and I got tired of them. Eventually, I think the author got tired of them too because the societal problems got resolved pretty abruptly. In the final chapters, people were killed off, a romance came out of nowhere, two of the protagonists underwent a character change and some convenient magic was newly introduced and unexplained. Ultimately, the series held my interest but it was just ok.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

3.5*
In this conclusion to the Dark Gifts series, readers re-visit the dystopian world set in the United Kingdom. There are two classes of society – the Equals who have special powers or Skills and the ordinary people who are forced into a ten-year servitude to the superior Equals. The focus is on the Hadleys, an unSkilled family, and the Jardines, the powerful Equal family.

There are three Jardine brothers who continue to surprise. They act contrary to what their characters first presented themselves to be. James is expert at creating characters who are impossible to categorize. They are multi-faceted and intriguing. The commoner family who are put in danger by association with the Equals, are more straightforward and have a clearer motivation for their actions. The mystery of the powerful brothers will keep readers guessing about what they will do throughout the book.

Besides the brothers and the Hadleys, there are some outstanding villains who are remarkable examples of people consumed by a need for power. They are perfect foils for the admirable Hadleys who are totally at their mercy.

While Silyen is one of the most creative characters of the book, he also has a storyline that is a bit convoluted and strange. Fortunately he does have a great role in the ending that saves the book. Despite the strangeness of Silyen’s obsession, the book wraps everything up nicely and finishes the trilogy with a flourish.

Gilded Cage, Tarnished City, Bright Ruin. The Dark Gifts Series. Author Victoria James has created a trilogy that will be counted among the classics. I loved all three books. There was never a slow spot or a dip in the action. All three books were at full throttle from the first page to the last.

I do not want to spoil the series ending for anyone who has not read it yet. (A piece of advice? Read the series.) The characters who the reader has come to care for continuing their stories. Each storyline builds to a stunning conclusion. I never even imagined the events at the end of The Dark Gifts trilogy.

As with the first two books, I purchased print copies as well as audiobooks. In the future, the print books are going to be passed on to a young person so I can share my love of the series with a new generation.

NetGalley provided a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Bright Ruin is the ending of the Dark Gifts trilogy, and what an ending it is! This series has everything necessary for a great dystopian world, and the political parallels are very relevant in our world. Although I would caution anyone recommending this to the true YA audience (the darkness of plot combined with some very violent parts) this was a great adult read. I loved the characters and the open ending lets you piece together your own epilogue.

4 stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the final book in the Dark Gifts trilogy. The story picks up right after the last book left off. Abi has escaped the Blood Fair and continues to fight with the rebels to take down the Equals. A new Equal with an astounding gift aids the rebel's cause and they plot one of the biggest protests yet.

Luke has combined forces with Silyen to discover more about the Skill and the mysterious Wonder King. This part of the book was a bit off-base for me and didn't really seem to fit in the story. It almost seemed like the author decided she needed one more random storyline to fill out the book and added this one. That being said, the storyline definitely left open the possibility for a second trilogy based on it.

Abi and Luke travel throughout England on their separate quests. Meanwhile Gavar has finally been pushed too far by his father and must decide if he will remain loyal to the Equals or join the rebel's cause.

This book has good character development. Each one faces serious moral dilemmas and are tested to see if they have the courage of their convictions. There is a lot of political intrigue and maneuvering in this story. Unfortunately there are also several deaths - no one is safe in this book! There are also some really cool, imaginative fight scenes that will delight and entertain the reader.

I'm conflicted about the ending. The story wraps up, but there are definitely some questions left hanging and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book series that I highly recommend you read.

I wish I had never started this series. I loved the first book and was very excited about this series. In fact it’s one of the few books I chose to re-read so it was fresh in my mind for the second book. I was very disappointed in the second book and unfortunately the series only gets worse in this conclusion. This book is slow and dull. I could barely get through a chapter before putting it down and it took forever because I never wanted to pick it up again. If you disliked the second book don’t bother starting this one.

There is no reminder of the characters or the story when this book opens which made it harder to get into. In the first book the characters were compelling but in this book they are very whiny. This book is a lot of talk with very little action. Most of this book is about a rise against the Equals but very little involves anything happening.

I always found Silyen to be the most interesting and well written of the characters in this trilogy. About halfway through this book Silyen finally comes into the story in a way that gave me hope that this story and series could be saved, but I was wrong. His chapters were far more interesting than the others but very limited.

I don’t have a problem with ambiguous or even bittersweet endings, if you do it’s another reason not to start this book, but I do have a big problem with suddenly ignoring previous character motivations and arcs. This ending completely does that to Luke. It is also very unsatisfying to have a clear villain triumph. There are some big questions and elements of the story left unresolved. For a finale the choices here do not make sense.