Shin Lina is caged within her own mind, and chaos sweeps across the Three Kingdoms. Haneul Rui continues to fight against the serpentine Imugi, fighting against the prophecy filled with death and destruction. The Prophecy has a life of its own, using the red thread of fate to tie them all together; wounding one is to wound them all. To kill the Child of Venom is to kill them all.

This is the conclusion of the trilogy begun in Last of the Talons and Wrath of the Talon. The Korean underworld and the dangerous gangs of Shin Lina's world play a central role to this trilogy. Caught by grief and pulled in different directions by her alliances, Lina had let the voice in the back of her mind take control, and now she's a passenger helplessly watching terrible things unfold. She's caught by her guilt, a literal demon using her worst thoughts against her, and the prophecy wanting to keep her contained. Rui still hopes to save her, especially once he discovers that there are actually two red threads: one of love tying him to Lina and one of hate to the prophecy. Even those who should have been close to them can see there are differences, though they don't initially know what that means.

War isn't pretty, and the war in these three kingdoms kills humans, dokkaebi and imugi alike. The gods themselves eventually take notice, as the prophecy is large enough to have taken on a life of its own with Lina trapped. Some hidden truths come out; nothing that rocks the plot, but it shifts the foundations for the characters and helps them make different decisions over time. There are challenges Lina must undertake to get her body back, and Rui works hard to try holding off the warriors intent on killing her body or him to get to her. They both strive to be together again, to limit the bloodshed around them, and thwart the prophecy. But they usually don't mean what others think they do, so the final third of the novel contains twists and then a bittersweet denouement that fits the story and all of the characters involved. It's a beautiful way to close out the trilogy.

Sophie have you ever considered... not hurting me? no? okay :(

this was one hell of a conclusion to this series WOW i am suffering but thanks !!

Jumping back into the world of The Talons was like coming home to arearranged house.
Shin Lina has now been fully taken over by The Prophecy who has Lina locked away in a dark cell in the farthest reaches of her mindscape.
Rui is trying to find ways to rid Lina's body of The Prophecy before the prophecy reaches fullfilment and the Queen of Wrath rules the Three Kingdoms. Rui never stops trying to find Lina within her own mind and one day he does. He can feel a tug on the string of fate between them and follows that to a door within The Prophecies mind. Here he finds his Lina who is so traumatized she can't even speak.

Rui will stop at nothing knowing that his Lina is still there. Risking the wrath of the Gods and those that fight for him he will protect The Prophecy if it means giving Shin Lina a chance to take her body back. With the Help of the Goddess of Fate Shin Lina must reach the top of her mindscape but first there are many things she must face and learn before having the strength to push The Prophecy out of her body.

The war to end all wars has begun and there is no telling if Lina and Rui will come out alive at the other end.

I want to thank #Netgalley for the chance to read #ReignoftheTalon by #SophieKim in return for a fair and honest review.

I loved this so much and am so sad that Rui and Shina's story has come to an end but I can't wait to read more by #SophieKim

This is the final book in the trilogy. Shin Lina's body is inhabited by The Prophesy. Her body and the Imugi, along with the Gumiho Song Iseul, is fighting Emperor Haneul Rui and the Dokkaebi along with Empress Moon Dahee and some of the Gods, for dominance of all three worlds.

Much of the plot is written where The Prophesy (as Lina) "cannot kill the emperor without killing herself, and the pair seems to be stuck in some strange duet, where they dance around each other yet cannot harm."

Lina is caught inside her mind as a prisoner, chased by a Dalgyal Gwisin, and must self reflect, face her own demons, and come to terms with who she has become and how she got there. There is a lot of character development for Lina throughout the series, but this book is truly a huge character growth for her as she must forgive and love herself in order to heal and face her own fears disguised as levels to the prison, in order to break free.

Rui is loyal to a fault, and his love for Lina shows just how devoted and soul-stitched they truly are. He never gives up on her and continues to fight for their love and against the Prophesy.

Iseul also learns the truth about the Fox Hunt and must come to terms with who she truly wants to be, if she can be more than just her rage. She must also confront her feelings for Ryu Seojin.

It seems one of the biggest morals to this ending in the trilogy is learning to forgive and love, which is such an important lesson in life. Sophie Kim does such a wonderful job writing this beautiful story, and I'm a little sad it's ending.

4.25 stars!!

Considering how Wrath of the Talon ended, I knew I had to immediately jump into Reign of the Talon. I loved how it ended as Kim develops Lina as a character and her relationship with Rui. In Reign of the Talon, Lina faces her own imprisonment and her grief. We can become so overcome with grief, we allow ourselves and our actions to go against who we are. Reign of the Talon is about confronting our mistakes and our guilt to come back to who we are. To reclaim Lina's agency and face her ghosts.

What a stunning ending to the series

Content Warnings:

Graphic: Death of a Parent, Death, War, Blood, Injury Detail
Moderate: Death of a Child, Sexual Assault, Depersonalisation, Fantasy/Old Medical Scenes



Thank you the publisher, Entangled Teen, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I'll be upfront, I don't think this is as strong as the first 2 books. The mental health aspect felt a little surface level, the romance was wildly just so "why is this the main priority right now".

The characters where the same as before, not too much here to say. They didn't really change too much over this book, and Lina x Rui where even more obsessed with each other than before lmao. Lina does try and grow throughout this book, and it's kinda the point of her plot actually - but with such a short time trying to go through each part it feels very surface level and like she doesn't *actually* learn anything more than just "huh I should think about this a lil more".
There was also just far too many characters. It's a multi-POV book and I genuinely lost count of how many POVs there were. Some of the POVs were only around for like 1 or 2 chapters and kinda just.. didn't add that much.

The plot was pretty straightforward and what you'd expect after the first books. War and fighting, rebellion and reflection. A mostly direct continuation from the end of the last book - war has started but it's a little bit into it. The characters kinda play like how you'd expect them to in this situation. The kinda surface level mental health aspect of Lina in the mind I felt could really have had fewer sections and each one had a longer time. Cause rn it feels like it mostly just boils down to "I gotta have a harder think about some things and let myself remember some stuff" which is great, it is a step forward, but I feel like just way too much tries to be done especially when something like this takes a lot more time to fully sink in.

The ending is pretty good though, I did quite enjoy the "final act" of sorts. Very good ending for the story and a really nice wrap up :)

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Reign of the Talon is the third and final installment in the Talons series, which follows assassin Shin Lina as she struggles to save her world from the prophecy that she unleashed.

Sophie Kim was one of those authors, when the first Talons book came out, who I was intrigued by and interested in keeping an eye on, because it was clear to me that there was demonstrable storytelling skill and oodles of writing potential there. Now, at the end of the Talons series, Sophie Kim has become an author I will instantly reach for any time a new book comes out. Reign of the Talon was everything a reader could want out of a series finale -- high stakes, well-paced, emotionally rich, and with the kind of ending that leaves you feeling both full of sorrow and full of joy. It was a finale that honored the story and the characters that were constructed across the first two books and wrapped everything up in a way that felt organic, interesting, and deeply satisfying. It's the kind of finale that makes the preceding books sparkle that much more.

Seriously, if you're in the market for a remarkably solid YA fantasy series that only gets better, Talons is that series, and Reign of the Talon is one of the best series finales I've read in recent memory. I can't wait to see what Sophie Kim will do next!

I read the first two books prior to reading this one so I would be caught up. This is easily one of the best trilogies I have read. The characters had great arcs, I felt so many emotions while reading this conclusion, and the foreshadowing since book 1 was incredible. I would recommend this series for anyone looking for a fantasy series to read.

Due to personal issues cannot write a proper review now
A more extensive review will follow. Many thanks to the publisher

Sophie what you did to me?! What sorcery is this? Yes, I read Reign of the Talon… I finished the series. There is no more Talons and I’m emotionally destroyed. When I remember where this started, I would never, never, in my life would guess where this series was going. A clue for you all sleeping in this series: it was INCREDIBLE.

After one of the biggest twists and heartbreaking cliffhangers ever, I was so afraid and so excited for this book. It was nothing of what I expected, by the way… it was so much better. This last book was an action packed emotional ride, let me tell you. Kim took her world to the highest levels, turning it an epic tale of love, revenge and redemption. And I love it with all my heart, even if I sobbed all the tears I had. It was such an unexpected final but, at the same time, so perfect.

Shin Lina is one of the best main characters you can ever read. Everything she goes through this book, her losses and her vulnerability, just made me love and respect her even more. I’m so proud of her path! And her relationship with Rui, goals, just goals. They’re such good characters, both of them, and their love and chemistry is inspirational.

I’m so sad this series came to an end and so happy I read it because I love it so so much. The old myth vibes, the angst, the starcrossed lovers, the sassiness of it… Perfection. Sophie’s first series couldn’t be better.

I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S OVER!!! These characters have grown on me so much in the last couple years and my ending with them is bittersweet. While I appreciate and agree with the ending after one heck of a journey(!), I am sad that my time with these characters has come to an end.

What I loved:
1. I loved all the strategy, conniving, and double-crossing that took place! This book definitely took war and battle to the next level, complete with sabotages, rebellions, and many, many deaths. It was gritty, but oh so realistic and a perfect environment for the final book in this series.

2. I loved that this book had so much more fantasy within it. We met so many Gods who played so many parts, good and bad. From Rui’s ancestors to the Goddess of Fate, to the God of Death, the Gods were brought in at a pace and frequency to add to the overall lore but not distract with too much information. I also found some of their…interactions in the grand scheme of things very surprising, which I loved! It was perfect.

3. I loved Lina’s battles within her own mind while she fought to regain control of her body. Without giving away too much, she essentially had these 7 tasks that she had to complete, but they were not tasks of skill but tasks of letting go, accepting her flaws and past mistakes, and moving on. To me, this was the most powerful message of the book; to me, someone who has taken a long time to accept myself and my past mistakes, this was everything I needed to read.

4. Sweet, loyal Rui. If I didn’t love you before this book, I definitely do now. Despite battling the Prophecy every step of the way, he could never, and would never, go all the way to killing it with it in Lina’s body. He could tell, as Lina’s husband and the man on the other side of the red thread, that she was still buried deep inside and fought with literally every ounce of his being to save her and bring her back.

5. Finally, what I loved most of all was how much of Iseul and Seojin we got and what we got of them. I definitely am not spoiling anything here, but let’s just say, I’m very happy with the development of these characters both individually and as a team 😊

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and Sophie Kim for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

“Rise to your feet, Shin Lina. One last time.”
Oh. My. Heart. @sophiekimwrites has officially ruined me in the best way possible.

Reign of the Talon is the kind of finale that doesn’t just wrap up a story—it rips you apart, stitches you back together, and leaves you gasping for air.

This book picks up right where the second left off, plunging us into a whirlwind of war, prophecy, and impossible choices.

Lina? A prisoner in her own body.
Rui? Leading armies with a shattered heart.
The Prophecy? Playing the long game like a master manipulator.
And the stakes? Life, death, and the wrath of the gods themselves.

✨ What made this book absolutely unforgettable?

💔 The ANGST. Lina and Rui’s connection is a tangled mess of love, pain, and destiny, and every moment between them was deliciously agonizing. The red thread of fate? Yeah, it’s working overtime in this book.
🔥 The Battle Scenes. Every fight, every strategy, every holy crap what just happened moment was cinematic perfection. The tension was so high I had to take breaks just to breathe.
🖤 Morally Grey Goodness. Lina’s journey through self-loathing, acceptance, and healing? Chef’s kiss. Rui’s struggle between duty and love? Torturously perfect. And the Prophecy? Villain or victim? You decide.

💔And the ENDING. OH. THE. ENDING. It shattered me, healed me, and left me staring at the wall in existential crisis. I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters, but wow—what a way to go.

If you love epic finales, enemies-to-lovers slow burn, heart-wrenching sacrifices, and fantasy that feels personal, do yourself a favor and pick up this series. You won’t regret it.

✨A flawless, soul-crushing, breathtaking finale. Thank you, Sophie Kim, for this emotional rollercoaster. Now, excuse me while I cry into my tea.🖤

Love tests you beyond the visible wounds and broken hearts. Reign of Talon trilogy putting an end to the elating saga of love, war and prophecy. A lover or manipulator, only Rui has the red thread to their connection.

A world immaculately curated to dive into the politics of God, the saga of Red threads, pure love and a parasite which ruins the serenity of their lives.

The writing is meticulously leaving you with a premonition of uncertainty. The moments of Rui and Lina are extirpating leaving you for more. The battle scenes and the second characters have such chemistry that I was equally invested in them.

The journey of lost love, self-loathing, embracing and healing was reparative. Choices between morals, duty and loved ones are always the tough ones, and they nailed it.

The world-building was the perfect blend of Chinese and Korean drama vibes; I could visualize it perfectly, making it an ethereal experience for me. The ending was the soothing balm on my heartburn.

If you love enemies to lovers, slow-burn royal romance, morally gay characters, high fantasy, and sacrifices this is the perfect romantic escapade for you!!!

The final book is an emotional rollercoaster. Lina is at her lowest, trapped inside her own mind and forced to confront everything she’s done. The character growth? Amazing. The action? Absolutely epic. The story shifts between different perspectives, keeping things fresh and intense. It’s a satisfying, emotional, and powerful conclusion that ties everything together beautifully. The ending had me sobbing, I cried over fictional characters after a long long time.

What a spectacular ending to this series. As we see the Prophecy taking over Lina, we see Rui and everyone else around her fighting to try and save her. She's somewhere inside, but isn't able to surface and take back over. The red thread of fate tells Rui that all hope isnt lost, but he's finding it difficult to hold onto that.

As Lina tries desperately to find her way out and back in control of her body, the Prophecy causes destruction all around her. Will she be able to face her own mind and find her way back to herself, or will she be trapped forever? Will Rui be able to help save her?

This was such a fun and fast paced series of events to close out the series!

4.5

"Rise to your feet, Shin Lina. One last time."

this book sent me on a rollercoaster. it made me cry, made me hate, made me question life at times, and towards the very end, even made me happy. i welcomed all the emotions this book had to offer (some more than others, haha); sophie kim truly has such an amazing talent with story writing, because everything about this story is so well crafted. the plot twist at the end made me lose all hope in life NOT GONNA LIE AHAHAHA MISS SOPHIE JUST LETTING YOU KNOW I HAVEN'T HEALED!!

we got to explore so many new pov's in this book and there was truly not a single on that i did not like!! i loved iseul's character so much and her and seojin's interaction were so <33 I LOVE THEM!! there definitely were some characters that i hated A LOT in this book they deserve what they go through at the end they can go rot in a ditch for all i care oh i hate them

honestly this whole book was like it gets worse before it gets better. but it got worse a lot. like it was worse, worse, worse, slightly better, worse, WORSE, worse, then better again. the ending really does heal something within you. my heart was actually aching as i read the last few chapters. those last couple of chapters were so freaking good to read i absolutely love how she takes on a full journey that truly connects the previous two books. this book, i think, at it's core, is about learning to accept yourself. it's about forgiving, understanding, love (all types, romantic, platonic, familial), and most importantly, loving yourself. that whole maze we go through (if you know, you know) was probably one of my favourite parts of this book.

also, i just want to talk about rui. this is the type of loyalty and trust we need in real life. this man is truly something else. the faith he has in lina, the way even if the entire world says that he needs to kill her body he tries his hardest to avoid it? the love he has for lina???? oh my god please he is just. just too good for this world. my poor boy went through so freaking much this book i'm hoping he takes the time to heal (and based on the ending, i think he has/is :))

i'm going to avoid talking about each character individually because it is very difficult to do without spoiling, so i'm just going to say that this is truly a fantastic conclusion; sophie kim i cannot wait for you to write more.

Reign of the Talon was such a satisfying ending to a fantastic series!

I cannot rave enough about this series and it deserves so much recognition: I loved the first books but this finale was just… perfection. It’s everything anyone would want and Sophie Kim has just become an auto buy author for me.

Enemies to lovers and morally grey characters (the REAL thing!) with a story that instantly becomes intricately tied to your emotions and imagination. I hate that I’m so good at seeing through plots and guessing twists… but not in this book! I’m obsessed with Sophie Kim’s ability to spin tales of trauma, love, redemption and lots of gods and magic while giving the BEST twists and surprises. I mean, what more could a fantasy lover ask for?

I regularly get attached to characters throughout series and this was not an exception. I will miss them but I’m so grateful that I can pick up and reread this series as often as I want.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, I was ecstatic to receive it!

What an ending to a wonderful series! Culminating a series the way that Sophie Kim has done is chef's kiss! This book was the perfect example of self discovery and following Lina's journey after book two has me desiring to be a better version of myself! I am so sad this series is over!

5✰ // Reign of the Talon took me on such an emotional, heartfelt journey. Having followed this series since Last of the Talons, it feels like I’ve had this story engraved in my heart for so long now. This conclusion to the series was everything I could’ve asked for and then some that I couldn’t have even imagined. Reign of the Talon features Kim’s trademark evocative and engaging storytelling and writing abilities that have captivated me since I first discovered her work. My heart feels so tender at this moment but I loved every moment of reading this series and following these characters and this world that Kim has woven and I will continue to cherish it for years to come. For those that have been here since the first book in the Talons series, you absolutely need to read this as soon as you can; and to those just hearing of this series, this is your sign to start the Talons series and let Lin and Rui’s story captivate you as well.

Thank you so much to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

in this conclusion to the talons trilogy, lina, trapped inside her own mind, can do nothing but watch as chaos reigns in the three kingdoms. rui refuses to surrender and leads the armies against the imugi. the red thread of fate ties rui, lina, and the prophecy together, and only gets tighter the harder lina fights against her destiny.

something i commented on in my review of book two, wrath of the talon, was the angst. i wish i could go back in time and warn myself that the angst in that book was nothing compared to this one😭 not complaining at all, because i love books that make me emotional, but oh man…this book destroyed me in the best way.

i highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the previous two books! stock up on tissues!