Karina and Kael’s story has been nothing short of dramatic and complicated so far. Now they must fight for what they really believe in: love. With lies, twists, and revenge all from their closest friends, the two are finding out just how hard fighting will be.

I missed this world so much and I cannot wait for the ending to be out in the world this summer! This is by far my favorite military romance and Anna’s writing is truly something powerful. Yes, I cried at the ending and it was so beautiful to see how the story wraps up.

I absolutely flew through this book, excited to finally get answers to all the questions that had been building up throughout the series.

One thing Anna Todd does so well is writing characters who feel real. They are flawed, messy, and complicated, and that’s what makes her books so engaging. You’re not reading about a picture-perfect couple with a perfect life and a flawless friend group. Instead, she dives into raw and emotional topics, especially PTSD, and it’s clear she put a lot of care into crafting these characters and their struggles. Of course, she is also the queen of drama, secrets, and chaos, and I loved the Phillips, Austin, and Elodie storyline. The tension and fallout were so good, but I really wish it had been fleshed out more. Instead of letting us experience it firsthand, it was wrapped up with a couple of quick sentences, leaving me wanting so much more. That actually became a pattern throughout the book. I appreciate that loose ends were tied up, but I found myself wondering how we even got there. The entire ending felt rushed, especially with two years of details completely skipped over. I don’t mind an open-ended conclusion, but this one left me feeling more confused than satisfied. It honestly didn’t feel like the final book in a series because there were still so many unanswered questions.

I have to say, I was a little disappointed. I adore Kael and Karina’s story, but this book didn’t do them justice. It felt way more focused on Austin and Elodie. I also didn’t love the way Karina’s mom was portrayed. It felt like such an odd choice, especially since the series is named after something she used to say! And after reading the After series, the Landon series, and now this one, I can’t help but notice a pattern. Every couple breaks up, spends time apart, and then comes back together. And can we talk about the reason they broke up? The books built it up to be this huge, unforgivable thing, and then it turned out to be that? I was expecting so much more drama!

One thing I loved was how well Anna captured the emotional toll of war. She didn’t shy away from showing how deeply PTSD affects those who serve, and I thought that aspect of the story was really well done. Phillips’ downward spiral and the chaos he caused were intense, but again, we didn’t see the full impact. The way his storyline was wrapped up felt way too rushed, and I was left wondering what actually happened. The same thing happened with Karina’s father. He was so insistent that she left for Atlanta to avoid a military fallout, but then, nothing ever really came of it. It left me scratching my head.

Overall, I did enjoy parts of this book, but it moved so slowly even with everything that was happening. I honestly think the entire series could have been condensed into one book. There was way too much inner monologue, and so many key moments were told rather than shown. With all the lingering questions I still have, this just didn’t feel like a satisfying ending. I really wanted to love it, but it just didn’t meet my expectations!

I feel like the author encompassed the struggles of returning to civilian life after coming home in this series as a whole. This story was thought provoking and emotional as ever — it had me in tears at multiple points.

The characters were written with such depth that you literally felt the emotions as you read them on the page and that’s why I personally love this author so much. This plot line with all of its highs and lows kept me interested and almost reminded me of the After series — which is equally as good.

Admittedly, I should have read the first two of this series, but I felt like the 3rd book in this series focuses on every other couple but the main one. I didn't know enough about Kael and Karina's relationship, but I didn't necessarily want to after reading this book. It's decent, but feels a lot like After.

This book was just OK for me. It felt like it really dragged on without anything happening. There was a lot of drama between the group of military friends, but I really wanted more out of this book. It felt like we weren’t given a resolution to what happened in the end with all the characters that were so heavily focused on during the book.

This book was emotional and deep, depicting the struggles of people living with trauma. Very well written, in a captivating style!

This is by far my favorite military romance and Anna's writing is truly something powerful. I cried a lot. it was so beautiful to see how the story wraps up.

I adore Anna Todd and the After series is still one of my absolute favorites. This series, however, fell flat for me.

This story is told from both Kael and Karina’s perspective, but there is also a lot of focus on the side characters. I enjoyed Elodie and Austin’s relationship, but found there was a lot of filler.

As a military spouse, Anna did a great job expressing the trials and struggles of those returning home.

Another thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was the ending. I felt it was a little lacking.

Thank you Anna and the publisher for this book in exchange for my honest review.

I fell in love with Karina and Kael during the first book The Falling, and this was the final book in their story. I feel like I still had unanswered questions, but all in all I enjoyed this book.

This is the third and final book of the series. This book picks up after book 2 where Karina and Kael try to make it work but there are problems that arise. This was a fast paced story and a quick read. I have to say that this book was kind of different compared to books 1 & 2. I felt that the author was a bit disconnected with the story in the way that the story didn’t reflect the main characters but the side characters. It was like the author had a story planned out in the beginning but scrapped it and wrote this instead. This book is written from both Kael and Karina’s pov.

In this book, we get more of Kael’s story and learn about his family and PTSD. I liked that we got more information about him. Karina on the other hand didn’t develop and was just there in the story. Now for the side characters, they shined more in this book compared to the MCs. The book was more their book than the MCs. Elodie and Austin are in love and try to navigate it. I loved exploring their romance and seeing them figuire it out. The romance was okay for the most part but I liked Elodie and Austin’s story more.

The ending was okay and not what I was expecting especially for how far these characters came. I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if the book focused on the MCs. I loved the After series and the Spring sisters but this trilogy fell flat for me. I know many will enjoy it but it was not for me.

*this arc was sent to me by the publishing house to give an honest review in return*

Another fantastic book from this awesome author. It was just like reading the After series, btw written by this author too, I could not put it down.
It was an emotionally, heart wrenching read but oh so worth it.

This is the powerful conclusion to the trilogy. Karina and Kael’s journey is both heart-wrenching and hopeful as they grapple with Kael's PTSD and Karina's anxiety while striving to hold onto their love. The return of a disruptive figure from their past adds tension, forcing them to confront their deepest fears. Todd masterfully portrays the challenges of military life and trauma, bringing authenticity to their struggles. The ending, while leaving some questions unanswered, is thought-provoking and true to the series' emotional depth. Fans of the series will find this final installment compelling and a fitting tribute to Karina and Kael’s resilient love story.

I didn't realize, when requesting, that this was a military based novel & I don't prefer those.

Otherwise, this book had all the classic Anna Todd angst, drama, and lust.

🫶🏼

It’s been a year in the making and now we have the conclusion to the Brightest stars trilogy. Each book of this trilogy I have devoured. Now that it’s over - I will probably have a book hangover. I absolutely loved the story & characters. As a veteran spouse- Anna nailed what military life can be like & the struggle’s.

Expect another roller coaster of emotions with Karina and Karl. I knew going into it our hearts would be put through the wringer. Anna wraps up the story beautifully. I’m honestly sad it’s only a trilogy - I could totally read more from these characters!

Thank you Anna & NetGalley for the early copy!

This book was sooooo so good. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions and I definitely cried a little.

The Brightest Stars series is the first series I have read from Anna Todd and I have fallen in love with her writing. There was so much drama and emotions and I just loved it.

I became very hooked on Kael and Karina's story from book one. I am a military wife and I love reading military romance because I feel like I can really relate to the characters due to some of the shared life experiences. Anna did an amazing job portraying some of the struggles that military many families face. This was so beautifully written and I loved the reliability of it all.

I was hoping for more of an HEA for Karina and Kael. A big part of me wishes that we got to see them finally have their happy ending, and this is where it fell short for me. I found myself wanting more from the ending.

I did love the fact that the ending tied in the beginning of book 1. As I was reading I stopped and was like "this sounds so familiar?" which was actually a very nice experience.

I am really sad that this series is over, and I think it will always hold a special place in my heart. I can't wait to read more from Anna Todd!

I have always been a huge fan of Anna Todd ever since her After series got me back into reading so I flew through these three books. The Infinite Light of Dust is the third and final book in this series and I couldn’t wait to read it. Anna is the queen of cliffhangers and The Burning ended with a big one.

The books are focus mostly on the relationship between Kael (a solider in the Army awaiting medical discharge) and Karina (the daughter of an officer) but also include other characters such as Austin, Karina’s twin brother and Elodie, her best friend. I definitely recommend reading all three books in order since there is no time gap in between and they tend to end on a very suspenseful moment and you aren't going to want to wait to read the next one. There is so much to these stories - relationships, drama, longing, anxiety, PTSD, family secrets, and love. Kael and Kariana’s relationship has endured all three books, and I couldn’t wait to see how the series ended. I was also completely invested with Austin and Elodie, especially after the book two cliffhanger. This series is not like the After series, it has a more grown-up feel and the characters are dealing with more mature problems which Anna handles with care in such an authentic way.

All three books are so beautifully written, and I loved the found family aspect because it really made me connect to the story. The way Anna interweaves so many storylines and relationships is unmatched, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

I really wanted to say I loved this series and this conclusion to the trilogy. I adored the After series and was hoping to feel those same emotions. Unfortunately, I didn’t. Overall, the plot and story was good, but I didn’t feel the connection between Karina and Kael. Honestly, I would have enjoyed reading more about Elodie and Austin. I also felt like this book and the two others in the series were very slow to get into and had a lot of filler content.

The Infinite Light of Dust is book three in the Brightest Stars series by Anna Todd.
The Brightest Stars trilogy has been such a phenomenal set of stories!
I’m a major fan of Todd and each time I pick up a book she keeps so enthralled and captivated by her phenomenal storytelling and amazing characters.
A beautiful, inspiring and captivating romance book.

Thank You NetGalley and Frayed Pages x Wattpad Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I was so excited for this book after the last two. I couldn’t wait to find out what would become of Karina and Kael. To say that I was disappointed with the last installment is an understatement.

This book had a whole different vibe than the other two. Not only that, it was barely about Karina and Kael, although it was still told from their points of view. This book was more about Austin and Elodie, and it still wasn’t fully about them either.

I can understand the need to address difficult topics like mental illness and PTSD, and I’m sure there is no easy or “entertaining” way to do that. And frankly, there shouldn’t be. I appreciate that Todd worked those topics into this series in a variety of ways. However, the delivery in this book felt chaotic and disjointed. Maybe it was supposed to be that way because that is what those who have a severe mental illness and/or PTSD deal with daily. As a reader, it felt difficult to follow. I will say, though, that some scenes really had my blood pumping waiting to find out what was going to happen, so delivery in that sense was great.

Overall, this was my least favorite book of the series. I wanted more focus on Karina and Kael and some type of resolve for their tumultuous relationship. It left off as a cliffhanger of sorts, which is disappointing because this is the last book in the trio. The story was fine, I wasn’t as into it as the other two and had a hard time connecting with the characters this time around.

3 stars.

"The Infinite Light of Dust" by Anna Todd is a compelling exploration of love, loss, and resilience. Todd's evocative prose captures the raw emotions of her characters, drawing readers into a deeply personal narrative. This series is my favorite, and I loved reading this one; it made me fall in love with Anna Todd's writing, and I've loved every book since. While some plot points may feel predictable, the heartfelt storytelling more than compensates. I definitely recommend this series—it's a poignant read that leaves a lasting impression.