Ethera Grave was the conclusion to one of the most unique sci-fi trilogies I have ever read and has firmly earned its place amongst my shelves and favourites. In addition to being exquisitely paced and plotted, Ethera Grave undertakes a lot of my favourite themes with fresh insight and compelling concepts. Transhumanism, queerness, neurodivergence, bodily autonomy, disability, and of course interpersonal relationships all take center stage in an expansive multiverse packed with action and characters you want to root for. I laughed, I cried, I highlighted so many lines, and I think about it every time sci-fi books come up in discussion. I cannot recommend this trilogy highly enough and consider it deeply underrated.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

If you're the type to wait until a series is finished to start it (but really, who does that??), then this is your cue to go pick up the Graven Trilogy NOW. The first book was intense fast action with a little bit of almost-horror thrown in. The second book was mind-blowingly creative with wild sci fi possibilities. And the final book was a satisfying, heartbreaking, and brilliant conclusion. Prepare to have your concept of science fiction blown out of the water. No cliches here, all three books skirt the edge of reality with extreme physics and vivid imagery. They're solidly hard sci fi; no giving your brain a vacation, these books make you think and feel in equal measure. If you want to fully dive into an intense universe (several, actually), then do not miss the Graven trilogy.

Essa Hansen concludes her far, far future tale in which people with god-like powers, modified to break the universe into bubble universes, each with separate physics. Genetically modified Caiden and his family were sent to die by the Nophek Gloss (paper) creatures, but escaped with a hidden starship powered by the Graven Azura Ghost (paper). Ten years later he gets involved with the brother and sister rulers of Unity, Unity is not only the largest bubble universe but under the leadership of Abriss is trying to observe the other bubbles and return to a single universe. Caiden has the potential to become as powerful as the ancient Graven, and he is helped by Abriss’s brother Threi who is trying to prevent the destruction Unity is causing. Unknown to both siblings, Caiden is the spirit of Ethera Grave (paper from Orbit) who is using Unity to create a universe large enough to support her potentially living body. This is a complicated and fascinating universe. It maybe too complicated for some but I enjoyed stretching my mind.

Thanks to Orbit Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

"Memories of the Graven past carried to her like book pages flipped in fast motion. Accumulated selves living in communal bodies. Luminiferous consciousnesses built from layers of time."

The blurb on the book says "a sucker punch to the senses" well this finale was a sucker punch to my feelings!! Nine crimes!! Essa brings this amazing series to a phenomenal conclusion with a story full of action, heart, sacrifice, love, loss and mind bending trips through luminiferous time.

"Dust cascaded, starlight bent, and space attuned to the stillness of aftermath."

**SPOILERS FOR BOOKS 1&2**

A story that began with a boy learning his life was a lie and fighting for his future and his family to a tale spanning the entire multiverse, while weaving together threads of the past, present and future in an outstanding conclusion to the trilogy. Caiden, Threi, and Leta have formed a precarious alliance to bring Abriss down along with her Graven companion to save the multiverse. As events unfold we learn more about Azura and her relationship to the Graven and how all of these disparate people have been maneuvered together for a larger purpose. Essa deftly brings all the threads together with fantastic action scenes as well as introducing some new characters into the fold. The story builds tension throughout as you know the final conflict will not leave your favorite characters unscathed. Threi is a favorite and I love that he got his own POV, and his relationship with Feran is EVERYTHING!!! Honestly, I love them so much.
It's brilliantly written and the final 25% just hit me in the feels so much more than expected, it is all so satisfying in how it wraps up. This is an outstanding science fiction series that deserves so much more buzz!! You need to read this and convince everyone else to as well!!!

Essa Hansen’s Ethera Grave may be the conclusion of her Graven trilogy (following Nophek Gloss and Azura Ghost), but it does far more than bring to an exciting and powerful conclusion a complex story. The novel expands its multiverse in dazzling ways and probes numerous questions of moral choice, diversity, transformation, time, the power of found family and the idea of death itself. Along the way, there are exciting combat scenes between humans and the supra-physical, near god-like entities known as the Graven and compelling personal stories. All of this is told in Hansen’s signature prose of rich and explosive imagery of light, color, sound and touch, a sensory abundance that is unique to her imagination and adds depth to every scene.
........
Abriss Cetre, ruler of Unity and inheritor of Graven genes that enable her to command loyalty, is intent on collapsing the multiverse, with its varying physics and sentient species, into a single universe. She believes she is doing good by eliminating conflict, poverty and environmental disaster. Yet the costs she refuses to see are clear from the outset. In the first chapter, we find Caiden, who possesses a similar genetic inheritance, trying to convince the beings of one planet about to be destroyed by impending collapse of its bubble in the multiverse that they must abandon their home. He does not want to compel their agreement with his will, through the power of his Graven influence, because he believes intensely in their right to make a free choice. They refuse because their spiritual beliefs are so strong that they think they can overcome the disaster on their own. But they are wrong, and, as Caiden leaves, their planet is engulfed in destruction.

From the opening scene, then, Hansen focuses on moral choice – that of Caiden to refuse the use of his special power to compel agreement, that of sentient species to choose their own future, that of Abriss to destroy diversity in the name of a higher good. At first the conflict about saving the multiverse is played out on a human level. Caiden works with Abriss’s brother Threi, who was once his enemy. They are joined by Leta, saved by Caiden in her childhood and later taken in by Abriss with whom she has since broken. All three prepare to battle Abriss and the forces she has bent to her power. Threi has catalogued the loss of vast numbers of species and irreplaceable environments as a result of Abriss’s campaign, yet even he is forced to admit that the world of Unity seems a great improvement and has to keep reminding himself and others that the cost of that seeming utopia is a brutal catastrophe. Every character has to weigh the costs of the battle they are engaged in. There are no simple answers.
........
The novel is enriched not only by the complexity of the choices facing the characters but also by an abundance of strange and endearing xenid species. There is C, the nophek – an omnivorous beast as big as a human who was tamed by Caiden as a pup but who can become a savage attacker when needed. There are the members of Caiden’s found family: Endirion Day, who started as human but added so many enhancements that they can change shape and gender to suit their mood; Ksine, an Andalvian, who is a scientist forever concocting new potions and cures; Panca, a saisn pilot, a tall, lean humanoid who can take in a vast amount of sensory data through a special organ in their brain. And there is a great variety more xenid species, each realized with precise physical detail and mannerisms. No matter how strange their physical form may be, they all express their feelings and concern for each other in moving ways.
........
Like the entire Graven trilogy, Ethera Grave is a richly envisioned epic of multiversal conflict and of life unmade and remade in brilliant strokes of light and energy. For me, this third and final novel is the most powerful and moving in the series, as its heroes not only do battle but struggle to accept who they are and find homes amid found family and physical forms that match their spirit. This series is a great achievement.

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. My review will be based on the physical ARC I read (if I qualify)

If you loved books 1 and 2, you will definitely love book 3! Ethera Grave brings to a stunning conclusion the conflicts, alliances, plans, loves, and fears developed in Nophek Gloss and Azura Ghost.

As usual, the action scenes are immersive, and the story is complex but not convoluted. It's gritty, dark, unafraid, and intimate. The characters we love from the first two are all present. You feel as if you're part of their multiverse, almost part of the crew. No one in this series is simple or an archetype. The characters are as complex as the world-building; they aren't so much morally gray as incredibly multi-faceted, and this continues to grow in the third book. There is also a ton of normalized queer, disability, and neurodiversity rep and an alien monster that is somehow adorable. We have a small love story, a found family, a badass spaceship, sibling rivalry (to put it mildly), a villain you understand and definitely can’t hate, and a collection of humanoid alien species. It has so many of the great tropes of the genre while remaining fresh and most certainly not “tropey.”

Overall, while I don't have much to say about the book itself (because it would be all spoilers and likely nonsensical with my outpouring of love), I can't recommend the series enough!

By far, one of the most complex and involved book series I have ever read...

But it was worth every minute, and I couldn't have asked for more in the final installment!

I only wish it wasn't the end, and we'd have more opportunities to follow Caiden and his friends in their next adventure.

Nice trilogy and good book. This author has a good imagination and it shows here. The characters created here are well-crafted and developed, which was one of my favorite aspects.

Thanks very much for the free copy for review!!

As a privileged reader granted early access to Ethera Grave, the highly anticipated final chapter of Essa Hansen's Graven Trilogy, I am delighted to emphasize the remarkable theme of character growth that permeates this captivating narrative.

In Ethera Grave, Hansen weaves a tapestry of captivating transformations within our cherished characters, while preserving the essence of their true selves. Each decision they make showcases a profound evolution that is both awe-inspiring and firmly rooted in their core identities. Throughout the series, we have witnessed the complexity and depth of these characters, and in Ethera Grave, Hansen propels them to even greater heights. Their journey of self-discovery feels organic and believable, honoring the integrity of their established traits. Their metamorphosis is a natural progression, a result of the challenges they face and the lessons they learn.

Hansen's skill lies in delicately balancing the consistency of her characters with their evolution. She demonstrates a deep understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and innermost desires. Their choices, while transformative, remain aligned with their values and motivations, maintaining a sense of authenticity and ensuring their actions are genuine extensions of who they are. Essa Hansen's ability to capture the nuances of character evolution while honoring their unwavering nature is truly commendable. Her meticulous attention to detail and profound understanding of human nature creates a deeply gratifying reading experience that celebrates the growth of these characters, highlighting the richness of their arcs and the profound impact of their choices.

In conclusion, Ethera Grave stands as a captivating testament to the theme of character evolution, where our beloved protagonists undergo remarkable transformations. Essa Hansen's keen understanding of her characters and their unwavering consistency throughout their transformative journeys solidifies this novel as a profound exploration of growth, identity, and the enduring essence of who we are. I wholeheartedly recommend Ethera Grave to any reader seeking an immersive narrative that beautifully encapsulates the complexities of human nature and the power of personal growth.

Ethera Grave ends the Graven trilogy and I’m a bit sad to see it completed. This trilogy has been great. What Essa Hansen has made feels unique and special, and no part of this story has been a let down. Found family and love within that group has been present with all three books, but Ethera Grave really focuses on it. That focus made the end of the trilogy strangely comforting amid all the action and sacrifices that was going on. If you haven’t checked out this trilogy yet, please do! It’s well worth it.

Note: arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for honest review

“Overhead, the Cartographer and passager fleet streaked the sky. On the opposite horizon, the encroaching rind flux hit the exosphere. Arcs of simmering luminosity coiled across the view. The salthuin entreated their heavens, billowing diaphonus bodies in synchrony, oceanic and serene.”

Ethera Grave is a wildly imaginative and thought-provoking conclusion to the unforgettable Graven trilogy. I pored over its prose, chewed on its theories and conflicts, and allowed myself to walk in the shoes of all its main characters. It is a richly-drawn story that I connected with, hard. Hansen has an incredible talent for drawing the reader into her unique and colorful multiverse, populated with ideas that stretch the mind while still reflecting on our current society’s cultural values. It raises philosophical debates while addressing identity, responsibility, and influence, and above all, is an incredibly fun read. Every time I started a new chapter, I never knew what to expect, and it kept surprising me over and over again.

This story focuses on the pros and cons of choice versus unity on an immeasurable scale. But one of the themes that particularly stood out was how refreshing it was to have platonic love and found family as the strongest and most visible relationships in the story. While Ethera Grave contains more romance than the first two books combined, it doesn’t lose focus on the most powerful bonds forged within its wide cast of characters. I felt most connected to the tender moments shared between characters that weren’t overtly sexual in nature.

Character development is one of the book’s strongest assets. Every supporting character has their own distinct journey, but for the purposes of this review, I’ll focus on four major viewpoints.

Abriss is creating a utopia by collapsing universes into her own, but doesn’t seem to mind that you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelette. Unfortunately, these cracked eggs are acts of genocide, as entire civilizations and histories are wiped out if they cannot adjust to their new universal physics. Abriss has been steadily influenced by a Graven consciousness for entire life, so it is difficult for her to determine where her motivations stem from, nor how to control them.

Leta is uncomfortable in her own skin. Although her consciousness has drifted from body to construct, she has never quite felt like she belongs in any of the forms she’s been tied to, either in her service to Abriss, or her human origins. She longs for peace in her physical and mental space, but sacrifices so much of what she wants to help her companions when she can. She sacrifices love and a chance at happiness due to her deep empathy with those she is close to. Her arc is heartbreaking and hopeful, and is one of my favorite characters of the trilogy.

Threi is obsessed with control. For most of his life, he has much of the multiverse under his thumb due to his innate Graven abilities. Although that has affected the way he builds organic relationships with his peers, he takes advantage of his role and tries to build practical solutions to some of the universe’s biggest problems. But his sister Abriss is even more powerful, and stopping her plan of unifying the multiverse becomes his new obsession. Seeing how he deals with the ever-changing scope of his campaign, especially with loved ones at stake, is new territory for Threi. How does he react when he’s not the most powerful Graven-fueled human in the room? It’s time for Threi to assess what’s truly important, and what must be sacrificed along the way.

Caiden has come a long way since his days as a mechanic, but some things never change: he is a born fixer, and is willing to put aside his own needs and desires to achieve results. Caiden’s whole life has been about serving the greater good. Will there ever be a moment when he can focus on living his own life, on his own terms? Can he ever escape the clutches of his Graven influence? Is there a line he wouldn’t cross to stop Unity, to preserve a part of himself?

Beautiful, descriptive, and imaginative prose flows out of every page. It’s hard to choose which passages to share, since I highlighted so many, but here are a few of my favorites:

“The rind membrane splintered, and Unity paved into the other universe in a vicious front of conversion. Space expanded, allowing light to break its limits. Mathematics rioted. Music tangled into dissonance as it transposed into Unity, restringing space to play new chords.”

“Leta was too exhausted to carry hope. The shape of it had carved into her over all this time. One day it’d cut right through.”

“The chalarii was sensitive to the group’s scent information. He towered over the gathering but was viciously thin, body gelatinous and water-drop smooth over transparent, spongy bones. An oily sheen that migrated across him betrayed his irritations.”

“Pressure rolled in the air like thunder slowed. Electricity effervesced through the orrery as Ethera poured into physical space. The projected stars bent and rays crumpled, space bulged and contracted, huge folds of unnameable mass: coils and waves and scales and arms and roots. The light of heavens slicked over strange curves, helping define the Graven for her mortal vision.”

The Graven trilogy is one of the very best trilogies I’ve read — science-fiction, or otherwise. It is packed with emotion, discovery, allegory, and speaks volumes about our current cultural climate. Plus, it’s just so darn cool. It was a joy to read and I cannot recommend this series enough.