It makes sense given where we left things in book two, but in The Ivory Tomb, we open on a hopeless situation. All the demons are officially loose in the world again, a return of the Dark Days. The humans are outgunned no matter their clever alchemy and artificery, their wild vivomancy and powerful but distrusted demon ally. This finale is as fast-paced as the others in the series, the Rookery tumbling from one crisis to the next, constantly on the verge of personal loss and/or the end of the world.

This is a satisfying end to the trilogy on several levels. It celebrates Ryx and gives her room to celebrate herself before all is said and done. She's so long found herself barely worthy of human connection and a full life. Here, she takes a stand not only for everyone else but for herself in particular. She'll go down in history as one of my favorite protagonists for her earnest nature, how deeply she values her friends, and how high her hopes are for humanity. She loves with her whole self, even when it applies to family members who don't love her with the same depth and compassion. She tries again and again, ceaselessly yearning for something better.

The rest of the Rookery gets satisfying conclusions to their character arcs, as well. Severin stands out, and I'll forever be a Kessa and Ash stan. I'm obsessed with Caruso's dedication to having a fully queer team, even with the addition of Hylah in this book-- a trans artificer and religious scholar who has a past with someone in the Rookery. We get some delightful cameos, as well. All hail Ardith and their dedication to a good time. And reaching back deeper into the world's lore, I freaked out to see the Crow Lord back with his games.

This is a series about redemption, found family, and backing yourself. I love the emotional journey I took with these characters, and I sincerely hope they get a full night's rest for once now that their adventures are at a close. Thanks to Orbit for my copy to read and review!

The Ivory Tomb, and the overall Rooks and Ruin series, doesn’t do anything revolutionary, but is quite enjoyable for what it is - straightforward fantasy adventure with found family, a queernormative world, and clear cut villains. There’s little in the way of complexity or moral quandaries, and the main romance falls a bit flat, but I still had a lot of fun following the adventures of these characters. Caruso’s setting of Vaskander and the Witch Lord domains, with their connections to the land and variety of powers, was also quite fun to read about.

For as hyped about this series as I was, I thought it was a fairly strong conclusion to the first two books. The characters especially got continously more complex and realistic in this final book, as the consequences of previous choices--both good and bad--caught up to them. It was a bit hard to keep track of all the jumps between settings and times, but otherwise a great ending to a fantastic series!

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for allowing me to access this book in digital form.***

The pacing felt a bit off and I wasn’t much of a fan of the sheer amount of zipping back and forth from place to place (the settings themselves are very interesting and worth lingering in, but alas we didn’t get much of an opportunity). However, I remain a fan of Ryx’s determination and inherent (or at least vehemently chosen) goodness being constantly at odds with her nature and the power she could wield if she chose. I was also a very big fan of the way Disaster’s memories come into play here - though I wish there were more of them and more often (break up a bit of that travel time back and forth).

Despite having the highest stakes, this story felt the least personal for Ryx, though I think that may just be because it wasn’t nearly as localized as the previous two.

Solid story and a reasonable end to the series. Can’t wait to see what Caruso writes next

This was an excellent conclusion to this trilogy, perfectly matching the tone and pace of the other two books while providing a solid ending that answers all the readers questions. Ryx was a great narrator for this series, her perspective is unique in both her amount of knowledge and her naivety about human connection and relationships. I really love the lore of this magical world, and getting to dig deeper into the Dark Days and the magical history of the story. Also the ensemble cast of characters it the biggest highlight of the books, I adore each of them individually, and they make a wonderful D&D-esque squad for this adventure. While I do think the story itself fall into some typical YA tropes and writing style that I wasn't expecting from an adult fantasy, I still think this is a great example of a fun, diverse, exciting fantasy for anyone just starting out in the genre.

https://lynns-books.com/2023/02/02/the-ivory-tomb-rooks-and-ruin-3-by-melissa-caruso/
4.5 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Superb conclusion to the series

Given recent family events I’m slightly behind with reviews so I’m going to keep this one short and sweet as I attempt to make some headway. This is in no way a reflection of my feelings for this book and the series as a whole which has been a wonderful reading experience packed with action, emotion and character development.

The first thing I would mention is this is not the type of book that you should read (in my opinion) as a standalone, the two previous books provide so much groundwork and seeing the characters evolve during the course of their journey is, for me, one of the most memorable parts of the series as a whole, which isn’t a reflection on other elements such as pacing (fast), action (breathtaking) and plot (excellent). The second thing I would also point out, is that if you haven’t yet read this instalment but are planning to do so you might want to be aware that spoilers may be lurking, although I generally try to avoid these.

Well, Caruso certainly delivered a dark and punchy story and an absolutely satisfying conclusion. I cannot tell a lie, the pacing is positively non stop, as is the action and the author mercilessly puts her characters and her world through the wringer. I reached a point quite early where I was literally feeling sorry for them! The world itself is left reeling from the devastation and destruction caused by the unleashing of the demons, it’s like the apocalypse has arrived and it’s running amok leaving bodies in it’s wake.

I really enjoyed the overall plot for the whole series. There’s a lot to take in and I’m not going to try and give an overview here but the scope of this series is very impressive.

And, for the romance lovers out there – and even for those who don’t fall into that bracket (myself usually included) – the relationship between two of the central characters is an absolute must read and was without doubt one of my favourite elements of the book – it’s so easily developed, no instalove here, great banter and an overall steady pace that is lovely to read.

This is an author that I will watch eagerly to see what she comes up with next. Clearly a great talent and unbridled imagination.

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars.

I patiently waited to get The Ivory Tomb before starting The Obsidian Tower and The Quicksilver Court, so this review is for all three. I find series so much more enjoyable when I read them one after the other, and I especially dislike cliffhangers. I was pretty confident that reading this series would be time spent enjoyably, since I really liked Caruso's Tethered Mage series. And it was! The main characters are very nuanced and likeable, even as they make mistakes, act in their own interests, and do things outside the cliched norms for their role. Delightfully entertaining.

An excellent and very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy! I think this may be an underrated fantasy series and would definitely recommend you check it out. It’s adult but has some YA crossover appeal.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ebook arc for review.

The Ivory Tomb, by author Melissa Caruso, is the third and final installment in the authors Rook and Ruin trilogy. This book takes place 150 years after the ending of the authors Swords and Fire series. As the granddaughter of an immortal Witch Lord (Lady of Owls) of Vaskandar and a line of Royal Vivomancers, Exalted Ryxander (Ryx) of Morgrain once was afraid to touch anyone for fear of killing them. Unfortunately, she did just that after protecting herself from a visitor eager to gain access to Gloamingard's Black Door.

Ryx blood accidentally released several of the Nine Demons including Hunter, Carnage, Corruption, Despair, Nightmare, and Madness. Discord had already found a host in one of the immortal Witch Lords. Ryx recently learned that she's also a host to a certain demon that may be the most brutal of all the 9 demons. On a positive note, Ryx has found a home among a group of people who belong to the Rookery - a group of special agents dealing with out-of-bound magical phenomena - including Asheva, Bastian, Foxglove, Kessa, as well as former Shrike Lord Severin.

To make matters worse, The Dark Days have returned. The period 4,000 years ago when the demons roamed free and humanity suffered greatly for it. The Demon of Carnage mercilessly cuts through villagers and armies. The Demon of Corruption rots the land. The Serene Empire and the Witch Lords race towards war, and the only people who are able to stop the destruction of the world may be Ryx and her allies. As a side character, there is a character who appears as a cat throughout this series.

Whisper is the most interesting character in that he tries to be neutral in his dealings with the rest of the Demons even though he is the embodiment of Death. While this is classified as adult, it certainly does have some YA crossover in tone and character maturity. The challenge Ryx and her allies has is how do you defeat immortal extra-dimensional non-corporeal beings of extraordinary power and extraordinary malice, who will immediately jump to a new host if their present one is killed?

And, how to you deal with one of your own who has been hosting a Demon for years without their knowledge until recent events were revealed? One of my questions, and I do hope someone reads this and can fill me in; Is Lady Amalia Cornaro the same character from the authors Swords and Fire series? Ryx is a character who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. I found it interesting that there was a brief crossover which is where Ryx meets Lady Cornaro. As I said, I'd like to know if this was the mother, or the daughter?

A wild ride concluding this trilogy! I was absolutely enthralled by the twists and turns along the way, and perfectly satisfied with the ending.

For those who have been reading it, the Rooks & Ruin trilogy has a fun and satisfying conclusion. If anyone was waiting to pick it up, wait no more.

In many ways this trilogy has the feel of a D&D campaign (which makes sense, because Caruso is a dedicated RPG aficionado). The assorted members of the Rookery - unofficially including Ryx and, to a lesser extent, Severin - all have the feel of characters born out of dice rolls, player classes, chosen feats, and carefully crafted backstories. This is not a criticism; well-done RPG campaigns are great exercises in creativity and wonderful starting points for a fun adventure. Mostly I’m just emphasizing this to give the feel for the kind of story this is.

The challenge the Rookery faces is the extension of the same one from *The Quicksilver Court*: namely, how do you defeat immortal extra-dimensional non-corporeal beings of extraordinary power and extraordinary malice, who will immediately jump to a new host if their present one is killed? And how do you deal with the fact that ||Ryx herself is one of them||?

Along the way we learn a great deal about the Dark Days, the period 4,000 years previously when the demons roamed free and humanity suffered greatly for it. We get nice development of the relationship between Ryx and Severin. Mostly we get a fun story with lots of clever scheming and swashbuckling adventure.

Highly recommended if you’re looking to curl up under a blanket with something fun and forget the world for a few hours.

Firstly, thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for an early copy of this finale.

This was a great ending, and a solid finale to this series. I really enjoyed the group of characters that we followed throughout the series and although Ryx isn't my favorite character overall (I'm very partial to Ash and Severin's stab first ask questions later mentality), it was still enticing enough that I was happy to keep reading. I do love when Demons or Gods come down and are characters in books, it's one of my favorite tropes, and this aspect of it, didn't disappoint.

Although written for adults it does have some young adult tendencies, but I think that mostly has to do with Ryx as a character. Also I would recommend reading the physically because after listening to the series in audibook format, I don;t know if my disdain for the audiobooks is because of the character Ryx or the narrator.

Either way, it was a very solid finale, and if you liked the first two books, I don't think you'll be disappointed with this conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I encourage you to check this one out! Really solid read.

An amazing finale to the trilogy, THE IVORY TOMB is a page-turner with epic worldbuilding and characters learning to be themselves even as they shoulder the burdens of power.

Delightful series! Her other series is also excellent. This one was a preorder for me because her books are a ton of fun but I got to read an ARC and didn’t have to wait!
They’re fun adventures and would be older teen appropriate too, Read if you want a fair fast paced fantasy trilogy and try her other trilogy too.

A beautiful end to the fantastic trilogy filled with magic, secrets, and a bit of romance. Picking up where the last two books left off Ryx must fight to defeat the demons that have been set loose yet she soon discovers that not all demons are actually demonic and some of learned to master their nature. The book picks jup with the worst of the demons being released from the Nine Hells and Ryx and her friend sin the Rookery must curb the monsters plaguing the human worlds. Yet a greater danger is here too as Ryx becomes the target and she’ll have to fight along side her friends to save everything she holds dear. The friendship and relationships in this book were beautiful. I adored the relationship between Severin and Ryx, it’s a glorious slow burn filled with tension and just the right amount of love. Their ending was everything I could want for them, I’ve been rooting for them since book one and this book did not disappoint. This book trilogy was a fun one and I definitely think for fans of political drama, monsters and demons and magic, and just a tiny bit of romance will definitely enjoy it!

*Thanks Netgalley and Orbit Books, Orbit for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This settles it. This woman, in my opinion, can not write a bad ending. I mean, I know this is only the second trilogy she’s finished but it gave me everything I wanted and then some. One of the most satisfying endings I have ever read.

But it was more than just the ending. It was everything that got them there. This book had me on the edge of my seat with worry for Ryx and the Rookery on more than one occasion along with all of the twists and turns that Caruso is so good at giving us.

If you haven’t read this amazing series, then I highly encourage to do so now that it’s finished. It’ll be the perfect series binge read; I promise you.

The Ivory Tomb is due to be released on December 6, 2022. I’d like to give a warm thank you to Orbit books, Melissa Caruso, and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved the first two books in this series, and I was eager to read the final book - and it definitely did not disappoint!

One of the things I have loved about this series is that, for the most part, the characters are just not simple, good v. evil. The good characters have their issues, and are not perfect. And, my feelings about most of the bad characters are also ambivalent (not all, but many). Almost everyone has a reason for what they do, and this makes the whole thing far more interesting to read about. There is also growth throughout the series, in which you can see the characters developing through their experiences.

The intriguing world building has also continued. The idea that the human characters are now fighting some of the 9 demons adds another dimension to the story, along with the fact that some of the demons want to stay in this realm, but without being destructive to humans. It's a complete book, and a satisfying end to the trilogy. But, if Ms. Caruso chooses to return, I can think of many plot lines that could develop from here!

Just one thing - I strongly would recommend that you not jump into this series with #3. Reading 1 and 2 first would make this book make more sense - and why deprive yourself of the pleasure of reading books 1 and 2!

Now that this second trilogy from author Melissa Caruso has reached its end it’s become clear to me that she likes to deliver her maximum narrative impact with the final book: the first two volumes in the Rooks & Ruin series set the playing field and shaped the main characters, and were certainly supported by a good dose of dramatic moments and momentous revelations, but The Ivory Tomb brings all those elements toward such a harrowing climax that at times I felt emotionally drained - and I say this in the most complimentary way possible.

Please be aware that this review will contain spoilers for the first two books in the series, so if you have not read them yet, you risk learning about important details that you had better discover on you own…

When we first met Ryx, the protagonist of the story, she led a forcibly sequestered life because her “tainted” magic made her touch deadly for any living thing, and it was only her meeting with the Rookery - a group of special agents dealing with out-of-bound magical phenomena - that she was allowed to interact with others in a normal way thanks to a jess (a sort of controlling bracelet) that muted her powers. Not long after she became part of the Rookery, Ryx could not enjoy her period of grace for long, because the escape of several demons, held captive in the prison to which her castle guarded the portal, threw the world into renewed turmoil, further weighted by the double revelation that Ryx had long been the host for the demon of Disaster and that her beloved grandmother was now hosting the demon of Discord.

The freed demons - particularly Carnage, Corruption and Hunger - are on a rampage in The Ivory Tomb, laying waste to everything and everyone they encounter on their path and doing their worst to compound such devastation by setting the Raverran and Vaskandar empires on the warpath through misinformation and the skillful rekindling of old grudges. Poor Ryx finds herself torn in more than one direction as she tries to help her friends defuse the situation, capture the escaped demons and save the people she loves from becoming victims of the ravages of war. Not to mention avoid being imprisoned (or worse) herself because of the demon to which she has long been a vessel…

My sympathy for Ryx was born in the first volume of the series as I discovered how despite the harsh circumstances of her existence she managed to forge a character that was both kind and resilient, compassionate and determined, but here she truly shines brightly because she is faced with such odds that would have defeated the strongest of personalities, and yet she still finds the courage and the strength to move forward, to face whatever hurdle circumstances set on her path, while struggling with the dreadful revelation about her true nature and with the danger of being subsumed by Disaster and the avalanche of memories collected by the demon during its time through other hosts.

One of the most intriguing narrative elements in this series, and in particular in this final book, is the revelation that not all demons are… well, demonic, and that some of them are - or have been - capable of mastering their nature thanks to the people they interacted with: this is very true for Disaster’s past history which is revealed in a series of flashbacks as the barriers between the demon and Ryx become more permeable. Intriguing as they are, these flashbacks ended up being a little distracting for me, taking me away from the dire situation that was developing in the ‘present’, as Ryx and the Rookery tried to stay abreast of the havoc meted out by the other demons: it’s not the book’s fault, I want that to be clear, but simply my reaction at having to set aside for a moment what for me was the main - and more important - narrative thread.

The other element that bothered me a little was the lessened focus on the Rookery members, whose characterization and interactions had always been very enjoyable for me: again, I understand how it was necessary for the story to concentrate on other narrative paths, and I can rationally see the reason for this choice, but emotionally I felt a little… cheated, for want of a better word, for not being able to see them as much as I wanted.

On the other hand, I have to acknowledge Melissa Caruso’s wonderful skill in weaving a romantic thread in her narrative without making me roll my eyes in annoyance: she might very well be one of the few authors who are able to present a developing romantic relationship in their stories and to make me appreciate it despite my usual aversion to the theme. Ryx and Severin make a delightful couple and their slow-burn romance feels appealing and true, their interactions are always consistent with their characters and the situations in which they develop, so that - let’s admit it - I was rooting for them all the time and hoping that they would enjoy a happy end. Well done, Ms. Caruso, indeed…. ;-)

The Ivory Tomb is not only the magnificent conclusion to a well-crafted saga, it’s above all a breathless, heart-stopping marathon through a series of events whose increasing stakes will compel you to turn the pages as quickly as you can. As for myself, I can only look forward to seeing what Melissa Caruso will have in store for her readers in the future: one thing is certain, it will be another great ride.


**4 & 1/2 STARS**

The Ivory Tomb is the final book in the Rooks and Ruin trilogy and is literally the only thing that kept me sane during the many queues for rollercoasters during our recentf vacation. I read 75% of this book while surrounded by noisy, fidgety people and it was able to totally transport me, which I think is quite complementary to Melissa Caruso’s storytelling ability. Be forewarned, the rest of this review will contain spoilers for all the books in this series, including this one!

This picks up right after the worst of the demons were released from the Nine Hells. Carnage is slaughtering her way through the Raverran countryside while Corruption is rotting Vaskandar one village at a time. Ryx and her friends in the Rookery are trying their best to curb the monsters plaguing the human world, but some simply cannot be reasoned with. The artificers developed a device that can theoretically trap the demons when they leave their host and of course some idiot from Raverra decides that Ryx is the perfect demon to test this on. You know, the same demon that thought she was a human until recently and has been trying to help stop the others. Poor Ryx spends the entire book either watching out for potential treachery from the Raverrans, looking out for Hunger or Carnage (who both want her blood), and running from location to location trying to stay one step ahead. Rather stressful.

I thought the friendships and relationships in this series were handled really well and had nice, believable development. I am totally a sucker for the aethlings, so Ryxander, Severin, and the lovely tension between them might have been my favorite part. I also love that the Rookery totally stands behind Ryx, even when outside forces are trying to shoehorn her into the role of monster and it puts them at risk by association. I do think things with the demons wrapped up very quickly. I could have sworn I had a hundred pages left (those darn previews for others books at the end tricked me) and suddenly the nasty demons are back in the Nine Hells and the reformable demons are doing fifty years of penance to make up for their crimes. Including Ryx, which was totally unfair but hey, at least she gets visitors and gets to remain the Warden of Gloamingard and the epilogue was heartwarming. 

Overall, I thought this was a solid wrap up to the series, though I think the second book might be my favorite because it was absolutely fraught with revelations and drama. These books are a great mix of political drama, magical throw down, and slow burn romance (just a bit, not too much). I think they can easily appeal to readers across a wide range of ages and they’re really fun while also handling some pretty serious topics/issues in a fantasy setting.