I first started reading this series after seeing an online review referring to it as AU FinnPoe, and they’re not exactly wrong. The characters are strongly mapped on the characters from the Star Wars sequel trilogy, but the plot is a lot better, plus we get the boys in love in canon.

There’s lots of scheming on a galactic scale, and even though you know something is going happen (several somethings, actually) the reader isn’t in the know about the plan until it’s done. There are hints so you can piece together the outline of the Big Con, but not the details. So was a betrayal real, or part of the con? How about that one? Or that one? I’m not sure if it’s better or worse that I knew there was a Big Con in play, but even knowing what was likely to happen based on a previous event, I did have to pause my reading for a bit after one of those betrayal scenes. Not only was it painful to read, it basically meant one of the characters was sidelined for several chapters.

Book one was from Ettian’s POV, book two was Gal’s, and there were a lot of Big Misunderstandings due to their lack of communication. In my review of book two, I said I wanted to see alternating POV’s from Gal and Ettian, and that’s pretty much what played out. I also wanted to see inside Wen’s head, and I got that too, though not exactly how I imagined.

While I do love that The Bloodright Trilogy is exactly that, a trilogy, I do wish a little more explanation of what happens next had been delved into beyond an epilogue. The Umber Empire didn’t become a literal backstabbing mess overnight, and even with the events in the book, I’m not sure how the cycle is broken. Even Archon’s more benevolent ideals were tainted by a Bloodright that nearly ended years ago, yet managed to carry on after a fashion. Perhaps future books in the universe are possible though with a different cast of characters to explore how the events of the trilogy played out for others.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A satisfying conclusion to The Bloodright Trilogy. It’s the final adventure with Ettian, Gal, and Wen - and this time they have schemes on a galactic scale that will affect the course of the future for both empires.

Vows of Empire was a quick read full of political scheming and military strategizing. I was engaged from the beginning, happily along for the ride.

This third installment fixed some of the things I didn’t enjoy about book 2. Finally we have chapters written from both Gal and Ettian’s perspectives letting us see what is happening in places across the galaxy from each other. We also have chapters from Wen’s perspective - Which means more of what I loved about book 2 - WEN. I’m not sure when Skrutskie decided to make Wen the star, but at some point she became one of the most fun and interesting characters in the whole trilogy. I love her and Ettian’s close relationship and the support they offer each other.

I did find the epilogue unnecessary and anticlimatic. There were a lot of events that I wanted to be surprised by, but I wasn’t. It seemed predictable and expected. It would have been fun to have a bit more mystery around some the scheming for me as the reader. I felt like I actually knew too much.

Overall, this series was a fun read! I plan to keep an eye out for more from this author.

While I more or less enjoyed Vows of Empire, it's my opinion that it does fall far short of the previous two books in the trilogy. The trilogy follows a very familiar arc in that the scope gets larger and larger with each book, but this fails for two reasons. The first being it was the tight, character-driven aspects of the first book combined with easy-to-follow action on a small scale that made it both loveable and easy to follow. By book 3, the scope is literally intergalactic, and the details about the politics and the world itself start to become unrealistic (both in terms of the sci-fi, but more importantly, in the area of human motivation) and difficult to understand. Important side characters just don't act like humans with human motivation and critical thinking skills would.

I was glad to follow our MCs through one more journey, but it unfortunately wasn't my favorite.

Overall, a vast improvement over the second book, and a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. The story alternates mostly between Gal and Ettian, and we're no longer stuck in Gal's head for chapters of endless thinking and no action - pleased to report that this final book is much more action oriented than the previous one.

At times the story does feel bogged down by all the plotting and plans. I'd rather have had more focus on the romance between Gal and Ettian, and more time with Wen (perhaps a Wen spinoff?).

To quote a sassy prince, "rut me sideways". I just finished this rollercoaster of a book and my mind has been blown to the outskirts of the galaxy so here goes my best attempt at a coherent review for Vows of Empire, the epic finale in The Bloodright Trilogy.

We start in medias res, straight back to the action where Oaths of Legacies ended. Whereas book two has a slower start, Vows of Empire did not waste time. It's nerve-wreckingly detailed action one moment, and impossible scheming the next. Worst of all is, you're never fully in the loop (because, of course, where would be the fun in that) I can here Wen and Hanji cackling from systems away. So it should not come as a surprise that this lack of you being in the loop causes buckets and buckets of cold-sweated stress to poor over you (it's the 2014 ice bucket challenge all over again).

And of course, Emily Skrutskie had me with each plot twist.

The number of times I yelled, “WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK” is, in hindsight, slightly embarrassing because I realize that I am a gullible fool and believe everything I read while I'm well aware that I should know better. I wanted to throw my phone across the room so many times but I’m a poor student so I had to refrain from doing so and instead opt for screaming with my fist in my mouth because WOW this book was one hell of a banger. The scheming. THE SCHEMING!!! I cannot. I'm actually out of breath after speed-reading the ending of this book and I feel like I've been punched in the gut one too many times. There is so much going on both inside and outside the jurisdiction of your loop that you just do not know who you can completely trust. There's betrayal after betrayal and you sit there with a gaping mouth, hailing bugs home, wondering whether this betrayal was scripted or actually like "for realsies". And you pray to all the system gods that it was the former because Rutting Hell the latter will just crush your heart and soul (trust me, I speak from personal experience).

Anyway, this book was absolutely fantastic. My favorite of the trilogy for sure! Can't recommend this gay space opera enough! It's got diversity on all levels and I am a Fan

Where to even start? I’ve been an Advance Reviewer on all three books in this series, and I’m a little sad to see it end. Receiving the emails inviting me to review the new book has been one of the highlights of the past couple years. And, of course, reading the books.

I was a little nervous starting Vows of Empire after being a little disappointed by Oaths of Legacy, but I was delighted to find that I didn’t have to be.

Fun. This book brought back the element of fun that made me love the first book so much and I felt was lost in book 2. It didn’t have the same “Wild Ride” feel as the first book, but it didn’t have to. I mostly have the Wraiths to thank for this.

If Skrutskie is known for anything as a writer, it’s plot twists, hiding things from the reader, and dramatic reveals. All of which were used in this book to the extreme. At one particularly memorable moment, I literally said out loud “Wait, what?” Though, if I have to be a little honest, it started to get annoying by the end. Yes, I know there’s a secret grand plan that the characters all know and you don’t, and the characters all have to play their roles and that’s the plot of the book, but too much of this book was the characters looking the reader dead in the eye and saying “you’re being lied to.”

I loved seeing ruthless Wen. I’m almost sad that the real ruthless things she does are an act. Here is someone willing to do whatever it takes and has the brains to do some truly amazing things. Honestly, if the last two books were rewritten from Wen and Hanji’s POVs, I would be okay with that.

In conclusion, I had a lot of fun reading this book and I am very excited to see what Skrutskie thinks up next.

I like that in this book multiple characters get to be the narrator through out. It was a satisfying ending to the series.

I adored the first two books in the Bloodright trilogy and I'm so happy the finale was just as incredible. Such a satisfying end to the story- although I would love a sequel or prequel!

I think this was a really great end to the trilogy. I really missed Wen and Ettian and Gal so much. They really are the finnpoe we never got huh. I do think it was a little rushed in some parts and there is definitely a lot of political and strategic talk in this book which isn’t something that really suits my fancy, but overall I really liked it. The epilogue did makes me cry a bit I’m not gonna lie. But yeah, if you haven’t read the rest of this trilogy yet and you like star wars and wanted finnpoe to be canon, I definitely recommend catching up in time for the release of the last book!

This arc was provided to me through Netgalley for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for this book. I first learned of this trilogy while browsing on NetGalley, and I am so glad I stumbled into it because it has been a ride. This was a great end to this story and while I'm sad it is over I enjoyed the ride.

Based on how book 2 ended, I wasn't sure what to expect going into this one. Told mostly in a dual pov switching between Gal and Ettian as what at first seems like separate plot lines come together as the two plan something big. While both coming at it from different views, the pair realize the bloodright system is flawed and needs to be fixed, while also realizing they need a way to thwart the Umber Empire's bloodthirsty ways. They enlist the help of Wen, who is probably the most competent person in this series, and Gal's Wraith squadron (led by Hanji, also an incredibly smart and interesting character). There's a main plan involving all of them that is largely kept secret, even as it begins unfolding, and seemingly unexpected roadblocks pop up that make it seem like there's more scheming going on than just what Gal and Ettian have cooked up. I felt like keeping such a huge, driving plot point under wraps, even until the last chapter practically, made it difficult to follow at times. There weren't enough hints at what the endgame was, and that made the plot seem messy at times. I also found it strange that (view spoiler) While I wasn't wholly satisfied with how it ended, I did think it suited the story and brought some character arcs to a good end. And while I wish a lot of my understanding of the plot wasn't in hindsight, the actual plot was solid and interesting.

Thank you, Del Rey, for allowing me to read Vows of Empire early!

I had such high expectations for the conclusion of the trilogy, but this book disappointed me so much and I am so sad. And it's not like there is a specific reason for it. It was everything.

This is the third and last book of a trilogy, featuring political intrigue, both brutal and caring rulers, a surprise marriage, daring escapes and rescues, and much more. Get ready for a wild ride! I found myself getting surprised over and over again.