I devoured this book in 3 days I was so engrossed, I didn't take any less time due to being at a book convention. When I finished it I had to tweet my reaction to Vic, how on earth could she end it in that way! But this trilogy is incredible and I loved getting to hear from her how if you change the word magic for money then it shows you how our world is now. This book is not a dystopian as people think, but a representation of how our world has got now. And I appulade Vic for raising this issue and hopefully bringing it to the foreground.

This was probably the weakest book in the trilogy even though it had the most going on in it in terms of action and plot. I went into this not remembering what happened in the second even though I only read that a couple of months ago. The ending was done in a really interesting way however there was one strand that was not dealt with and i wish that was cleared up. The first book is still the best to me but it's a fine series overall.

A fitting conclusion to a decent young adult dystopian fantasy series. Whilst this last book felt a little disjointed at times and went off on some weird tangents, the high body count and slightly darker than usual tone kept me entertained. It was quite refreshingly unpredictable, although I found the ending a bit too rushed and open for my liking, but I guess that leaves potential for more...

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

Oh, Bright Ruin, where do I even start with reviewing this book? This book is the third in the Dark Gifts Trilogy by Vic James (this review will contain spoilers for the first two books, consider yourselves warned). Tarnished City threw every theory I had out of the window, so I went into Bright Ruin with no expectations other than having my soul destroyed, and in that sense, I was not disappointed.

This book gave me so many feels I cannot even. I was still struggling with the ending of Tarnished City when I picked this up. Equals and Commoners alike are still reeling, and like Abi, we're all wondering exactly how we misjudged Jenner so badly. Suddenly, Gavar is seeming like the nicest of the three Jardine brothers, and I don't think any of us expected that. I certainly did not.

Silyen continues to be a fascinating character. I can't help but love him, even when he is being vile. He's my favourite. I spent most of the book (as with the first two) trying to figure out his motives. In Bright Ruin, he is testing the limits of his skill and trying to unravel a mystery, whilst being his usual superior self. At one point he is left trying to fend for himself with no servants to hand, and that is a moment that gave me life. We got to see a completely different side to Silyen in this book and he injected some much needed humour. If there is a more joyous thing in the world than Silyen, Dog and Luke in a car, I am yet to find it. In fact, if someone could just find the three of them, trap them in a car and send them on a long journey whilst filming it, I would be more than okay with that. It would make my life.

There is a brewing romance in this book which I am all here for (with a cherry on top). I was not completely okay with it initially (power dynamics are a thing), but honestly, I grew to love this couple so much. I shed a whole human tear over this. A real one. Out of my eye.

I also loved getting to know Coira more, learning about her history and how she came to be at Crovan Castle (side note: I recently planned an entire day of our family holiday around visiting the inspiration for Crovan Castle, and I highly recommend it).

But, besides these few lovely things, there is a lot of angst and trauma in reading this book. I did not trust a single character. I was not falling for that again after Jenner-gate. No, Ma'am, not me. In fact, the only thing I was certain of was that Bouda would still be a scheming bitch. Also, horrific things happen: there is a moment with things and stuff and spoilers that just broke my heart.

Bright Ruin is a brutally perfect ending to what is probably my favourite trilogy ever. If you haven't read these books yet, you really must.

What a unique trilogy this has been and this final chapter provides a great conclusion. It tells the continuing story of the Hadley siblings and their battle with the Equals of Britain to end the slave days and restore democracy. From the start, this book felt timely in its discussions of equality and the treatment of the people by governmental powers. The narrative is fast paced and varied in its tone, some sections being incredibly magical and others far more muck and bullets rebellion. Some of the characters have interesting arcs in this concluding instalment and James has tied up enough loose ends for the reader to feel satisfied, without explaining every single aspect of every subplot. There will be tears for some who have grown attached to these characters and James has done a remarkable job of crafting a totally plausible outcome. All in all, while I do think some people may be left feeling a little disappointed with the manner in which this trilogy draws to a close, for me personally, it was visceral and authentic and a fitting conclusion to a wonderful series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love this series so much, and the final book did not disappoint. I'm awed by the depth and scope of the world building, especially the re-imagined history of the British isles which parallels our lives today. I adore how the characters are so grey, and so fluid in their morals - I love reading the perspectives of both protagonists and antagonists too - how many books do that?!

Fantasy books can often feel repetitive, the same tropes adhered to time and again, but what Vic James has done here is create something really special, flipping those tropes on their head, leaving the reader reeling.

SERIES REVIEW:

Before going into Gilded Cage, I had heard SO much about this series. I had met the author Vic James and had the opportunity to see her talk on several panels in the last two years at YALC. All of this meant that I went into the series with SUCH high expectations. Luckily for me, the trilogy did not disappoint!

The Dark Gifts trilogy is fantastic. It is crammed full of plot twists and turns, steering you right away from the path you think you’re taking right at the last minute. I’m keeping this general as it’s a whole trilogy review but let me just say that the plot twists carry on right until the end of the final book. Every time I thought I could predict what would happen I ended up being wrong and thrown in a different direction. I loved the dystopian world that Vic James has created. I originally thought this was going to be a lot more fantasy than it actually is. In reality, this trilogy is a true dystopia. It’s set in the UK as we know it, with lots of shout out to familiar towns and cities, but there is a magic system and with that comes a powerful and dangerous hierarchy.

There is no doubt that these books are absolutely vicious. I would be happily reading a page and then BAM a character death would happen in a sentence. But don’t let me mislead you – some of the deaths are very short and sharp but they are absolutely gruesome and I can see them pretty vividly even having read the trilogy nearly a month ago. With the deaths comes some sadness but I didn’t find myself getting too teary when reading the trilogy.

These books have a whole host of incredible characters to fall in love (or hate) with. I can’t say much without spoiling things so let me say this: some of my favourites are Luke, Abi, Silyen and Renie whilst I thoroughly enjoyed hating Crovan. The plot twists provide many pivotal moments for the characters and some of those I loved early on became people I eventually loathed and vice versa. I loved that I didn’t know who I could trust, just as Luke and Abi didn’t know who they could trust. It made for a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.

I read the trilogy within a week – that really goes to show just how quick it is to access and read. I couldn’t stop myself flipping the pages but Vic James certainly does know how to end a chapter and keep the reader wanting more! A fantastic trilogy full of excitement, darkness and a compelling look into the injustice of society using a dystopian world. I loved it!

4.5 stars
Oh. My. God. These books. They're so good I'm actually struggling to form sentences!

The Dark Gifts trilogy; Gilded Cage, Tarnished City, and Bright Ruin by @drvictoriajames, just get better and better with each book, and considering how good the first book is that is certainly saying something!

This trilogy tells of a modern day, alternate Britain where the ruling class are 'Equals', or people with magic. Those without magic, or 'Skill', are known as 'Commoners'. Every commoner in Britain must, between the ages of 10 and 55, submit themselves for 10 years of slave labour in one of the many slave towns across the nation.

Each chapter is told from a different point of view, either that of Abi or Luke Hadley, two commoner teens serving their slavedays, or of one of the many Equals who are fighting to either keep the status quo or abolish it.

I won't say any more because I loathe spoilers, but trust me, this trilogy is amazing!

Thank you so much to @panmacmillan for sending me all three books in this trilogy (plus a handwritten note from the author!)

It's been a long time since the end of a book has had me so gripped I've nearly missed my stop on the train, and had to sit on a bench at the station to finish those last few climactic pages. (Probably the last one was Steven Erikson's The Crippled God, which had me walking into the office in floods of tears one morning.) But Bright Ruin (review copy from Pan Macmillan), the triumphant finale to Vic James's Dark Gifts trilogy, did exactly that.

A writer friend of mine has the motto that Misery Builds Character. And Bright Ruin, with its twisty-turny shocks and a body count George R R Martin would be proud of, delivers a thrilling finale to this series. It has everything you would expect and hope for, with a hefty dose of comment about bread-and-circuses contemporary British politics to go along with the roller-coaster plot.

You can't help but admire the ruthless Bouda Matravers as she plots her way to power and the destruction of her rivals. You can't help but root for Abi, shorn of the naive romaticism of the first book, as she seeks to topple the Equals. And Luke, trying to unravel the mysteries of the Equals historic rule of Britain. And Daisy, steadfast in her loyalty to Gavar Jardine.

And then there's Silyen. A mess of contradictions. So amoral and self-interested, but oh, so interesting, intoxicating and compelling. Oh, Silyen ...

If you haven't read the first two books in this series, then this review isn't going to persuade you. Not least as it's impossible to write one without massively spoilering the earlier books. Go and read my reviews of The Gilded Cage and Tarnished City, both available elsewhere on this site. Then go and buy all three books, lock yourself away for the weekend and read them all in one sitting. You can thank me later.

Goodreads rating: 5*

Bright Ruin picks up where Tarnished City left off - within minutes, in fact - and focuses ever closer on the Hadleys as they change in response to the harrowing events occurring to them. The worst part of this tale is how credible so many elements are: this is a magical dystopia, but the Jardine playbook, the media manipulation and the popular response all continue to hit close to home.

Meanwhile Gavar is put in an untenable position; Midsummer rises to prominence as inspirational leader of the resistance; Silyen devotes himself to changing all the rules; and Bouda continues to disbelieve anybody is ever in it for anything other than their own benefit. Bouda makes me sad; she can't understand her own feelings, let alone those of others - she's almost wilful in her refusal to consider other perspectives, and so awfully lonely. Of course, this mostly makes her a monster, but I'd be here for a redemption story as she grapples with her unexpected future.

Her best point is her understanding of spectacle - between her efforts and Midsummer's, Bright Ruin is visually spectacular (at least in this reader's imagination) as well as a gripping tale of rebellion. Thanks to the Hadleys and Gavar, it's also an emotional rollercoaster and a fitting finale for a solid debut series.

I have really enjoyed the Dark Gifts from the beginning - it's definitely intended to be read back to back, and Bright Ruin is one of those books I think will work even better when reread on that basis. Vic James has woven in elements from the beginning that pay off in the end - reading Bright Ruin many months after Tarnished City (let alone Gilded Cage), the mythical subplot felt a little out of left-field - but I know that it was seeded at the start (I just got distracted by the dystopia) and I look forward to a reread that let's me appreciate it now I know how it plays out. I do love a series that grows in the retelling!

An amazing finale to a riveting trilogy.

The events of the first two wonderful books, Gilded Cage and Tarnished City, have led up to this stunning grand finale.

While kind equals work with brave slaves to overthrow the cruel regime, the majority of the remaining commoners are swept up in the deceptive rhetoric of the ruling tyrants. Loyalties are tested and broken, new alliances made. It seems no one can be trusted, but trust must be placed for plans to be put into action.

Siblings Luke and Abi are tested more than ever before. I admired both characters through the first two books, and even more so with the conclusion of their stories. There’s also fascinating exploration of other more morally-grey characters. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so invested in the fates of characters. There’s plenty of sadness and loss, but always hope.

With so much action and intrigue, I didn’t want the book to end. But all good things must come to an end. And what a perfect ending.

Thrilling conclusion to one of my all time favourite YA series. Such a lot to say about the state of society as a whole, and love these characters so much.

Outstanding conclusion to the Dark Gifts trilogy. I found myself thrilled and on the edge of my seat throughout. All loose ends are tied up. This world was such a joy to be in for the three books that I'd actually really like if the author wrote a spinoff series with one or a few of the characters. Highly recommended to anyone looking for something original in fantasy novels. This series is entertaining through and through!

And so The Dark Gifts trilogy concludes with an epic finale.

Vic James has created such a rich, dystopian world, run by the Equals who rule over the commoners using their Skill, an innate magic that allows them to control the world around them.

It's YA but dark, and given the way the world is at the moment, it doesn't feel too far away from where we are now, minus the magic of course.

Politics is a huge theme of this trilogy, especially the politics of equality, and those fighting within it to make the system more fair for all. But sometimes the system can't be changed. It has to be broken, and a new system put in place.

Throughout the trilogy, I couldn't guess where things were going, how Abi and Luke were going to bring down the government, who was good, who was bad, who was on what side. It was all woven in and out of the stories of each character.

And I fell in love with all of them, even those on evil side. Silyen and Luke especially really come into their own in this novel, and their scenes are fabulous.

The ending was also great, as it wasn't neat and tidy, making it seem all the more real somehow.

I'm so sad to leave this world, and think I'll have to go back and visit sometime soon.

Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy :)

Bright Ruin is the final book in Vic James' YA trilogy, but I would be more than happy to read future books set in the cruel, magical version of England she created. Spoilers ahoy!
The positives:
James' world-building is exquisite- Midsummer's family estate looks, sounds and feels amazing. If anyone every asks me "which super-power would you most like to have?", I will answer "the power to bring ancient statues from Roman mythology to life". I almost sobbed out loud when Midsummer- injured and exhausted from over-stretching her Skill- was forced to leave some of her marble companions behind at the prison.
Bouda- a genuine female anti-hero in a genre that is often criticised for giving it's male villains far too many excuses. Bouda is utterly ruthless and largely unlikable. Her proposals are deplorable and her schemes (when they come off) are essentially acts of state-endorsed terrorism. But- and this is the frightening part!- her internal logic often *makes perfect sense*. She has been raised to uphold the status quo that benefited generations of Matravers. She exceeds them all. Her observations about her male peers are timely and depressing- why do her colleagues feel it's alright to touch her, on the back or shoulder or arm, when they would never touch another man in the same way? By the end of the novel, Bouda has lost a lot less than many of the other Skilled. She remains one of the highest-ranking members of the political elite. Somehow she manages to buy "her people" time. She should have been ruined! I want to see the Skilless eat her alive; I also want to hail Queen Bouda. Is this how fans of Game of Thrones feel every Monday night?
The negatives:
The "Kill Your Gays" trope is employed here. I was VERY disappointed that James brought one queer relationship to a horrific end, only to tease another one at the very end of the trilogy. I had formerly praised the series for its queer representation, but this felt like James (or her publishers) couldn't bear to have TWO queer couples present throughout a YA series. I enjoyed Luke and Silyen's flirting as much as everyone else but Luke's 180 turn felt like something James tacked onto the end of her book because she felt guilt over Midsummer's death. Given Luke's previous crush on a girl, James could have chosen to portray Luke as a bisexual character. But his sisters' family reaction to 'that kiss' with Silyen felt so....final. HOLY CRAP OUR BROTHER IS GAY NOW!! rather than "our brother likes a boy right now, that's cool".
Why was the women-led plot cut short and a male-led plot introduced at the very last minute? Both queer relationships featured one Skilled and one Unskilled partner. It was far more interesting to me to watch Midsummer successfully navigate her partner's world, than it was to watch Luke stumble around the homes and events hosted by the other Skilled. But I'm fed up of cute, snarky teen boys getting a happy ending when older, 'boring' queer women have to suffer to be seen as interesting. Perhaps there was publisher involvement, I don't know. I know that I will struggle to recommend the series to queer teens without a caveat.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me this book to review.

Bright Ruin is the really good final book of the Dark Gifts trilogy. It has lots of twists and I would not have expected half of the things that happened in this series when I started reading Gilded Cage. This book has politics, action and a small amount of romance. One thing I have always liked about this series is that the POVs are not only from the non-skilled people but also from the equals, even those who believe that slavery should not abolished. This shows how layered and complex the characters are.

Abi is hardened and emotionally scarred by the events of the last book which has left her with tough decisions to make. I loved the banter between Luke and Silyen which added so much in this book. Luke is still all heart and wants to help and protect people, while Silyen is amoral and enigmatic but we get to see his humour and flirty side.

I liked that the ending was not too neat and that some people did not get the fate that they deserve. While I liked the ending, there was so much more left to discover that I hope we get more books from this world, especially following a couple of characters whose story I don’t feel has finished. I would recommend Bright Ruin to fans of the first two books of this series Gilded Cage and Tarnished City.

A thrilling conclusion to a brilliantly gripping series. I'm still reeling from this and cannot stop thinking about it.

The third instalment to this rich and bloody alternate reality is sadly at a close. Whilst I have enjoyed this entire trilogy, with this instalment being no different, this left me feeling a little let-down due to the lack of closure the ending gave me with. Such a complex magic system deserved more of an explanation and I was anticipating this throughout the entire novel, without one ever being garnered. I was pleased to see all my previous favourite characters return, however, and the outcome of the more unsavoury was unpleasant if authentic.

What a fantastic finale.

I love the Dark Gifts trilogy, to the point where I'd possibly declare this as my favourite YA fantasy.

The premise is very simple, political, and, in our current political climate, just a tiny bit terrifying. This is a world, an alternative modern-day Britain, where commoners are required to serve as slaves for ten years during which they lose all basic human rights. The protagonists set out to serve at the beginning of the first book, and I expected it to be mostly about their struggle for freedom with a healthy dose of rebellion...

Vic James, however, doesn't just write from the point of view of the ones suffering. Instead, we get to see the story from the perspective of the ruling Equals as well, and they're not all bad. Some are in favour of the slavery, some are downright cruel, others are fighting to abolish the slavery. There's lots of politics in these books, and I think that was one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much.

The characters are layered, well developed and the writing is enjoyable. The world building is not just your average dystopia but innovative and captivating.

The plot took a few turns I didn't expect, and I slowly grew to like all characters, even love some of them, and increasingly worried about their safety. What I thought was going to be a mildly annoying romance in the first book, turned out to be an interesting plot point, that I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, the entire Dark Gifts trilogy is not your average YA fantasy; it's original and surprising. The first book has a hopeful tone, but the second book turns much darker, and the mood is sombre. The third book finds the balance between the two.

All in all, it's a wild ride. I was never quite sure how things were going to turn out. I worried everyone I loved would be dead by the end, and I must admit my heart was a tiny bit broken when I reached the last page of Bright Ruin.

I met Vic James at a convention in London, and she kindly signed my copy of Tarnished City. She asked me which character is my favourite, and I did not know what to answer, and may have flailed a little bit. Hours later, I realised, what I should have said: politics! Because the political aspect is what I enjoy most about these books.

Besides the politics, there's Silyen, and surprisingly enough Gavar. And, of course, Luke and Abi.

The ending does not disappoint. Vic James ties all loose ends together, and, just like in the real world, not everyone gets what they deserve.

I highly recommend the Dark Gifts trilogy to YA fantasy fans, who are looking for a book with lots of politics.

Vic James' Dark Gifts series has been a favourite of mine since I picked up the first book over a year ago. However, coming in to the final installment, I was a bit nervous as I wasn't sure how everything could be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. There were a lot of things still to tie up and explain

I loved this book and am so sad that it is over! Although all of the loose ends were tied up at the end of Bright Ruin, I still want to know what happens beyond the final page. I was so invested in these characters that I want to know what will happen to them.

If you are a fan of the rest of the series then you will not be disappointed by this finale. If you haven't started to read this series and are a fan of well thought out alternate universes with a dark twist - then pick up Gilded Cage now!