Review: FORGED by Erin Bowman

*WARNING: HERE BE SPOILERS for books 1 and 2* 

Proceed at your own peril. 

Title: Forged
Author: Erin Bowman
Series: Taken #3

Why I read it: To finish the trilogy and find out what happens!

Thoughts: This is my second favorite series conclusion of the year so far.

Forged brings the trilogy full circle in terms of characters and plot, and it was everything I wanted and needed from this conclusion.

As usual, I especially loved Gray. He's different from the usual YA protagonist that I read about. For one, he's a guy, and I normally read from the perspective of girls. But he's also forced to make difficult choices, and he's sometimes selfish. Even so, he goes through some major character development throughout the trilogy, and it's evident here. He's been through so much in the last two books; from his father's death to his strained relationship with Bree, and dealing with the Forgeries of Emma and himself. But he never stops fighting for his friends and family.

I also love his relationship with Bree. She is so strong and abrasive sometimes, and she always has walls up. And I love that the relationship between the two of them isn't easy. It's tense and tenuous, because both of them are so stubborn and headstrong. But that's why I love them so much.

There's not a character I don't enjoy in this series. All of them are very unique and bring their own flair to the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the events of this book. It was action-packed, and I was constantly flipping pages to find out what was going to happen. And it was heart-breaking. I actually cried toward the end, because the journey of our characters is not an easy one. There are deaths that devastated me, and there is lightness and hope that kept me smiling. It's messy and things are never perfect, but I couldn't think of a better conclusion to the story that I've loved since page one.

If you're a fan of complex characters, high-energy action and romantic tension, I highly recommend this dystopian trilogy!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Tell me: have YOU read Forged yet? What were your thoughts on how it ended? Let me know in the comments below!

Waiting on Wednesday (13): VENGEANCE ROAD

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!

Title: Vengeance Road

Author: Erin Bowman

Release date: September 1, 2015

Summary: When her father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers--and justice. In the spirit of True Grit, acclaimed young adult novelist Erin Bowman brings to life the unpredictable and cutthroat days of the Wild West. 

Thoughts: I'm a big fan of Erin Bowman's Taken trilogy, which wraps up with Forged in April. And she's one of the Pub Crawlers I've been following for a long time, so I'm always on the lookout for new projects from my favorite Pub Crawl authors. When she started talking about this Western YA last year, I was hooked! I'm not a huge fan of Westerns in general, but this sounds so awesome. And isn't that cover absolutely beautiful? I can't wait! 

Tell me: what are YOU waiting on this Wednesday? Let me know in the comments below!

Waiting on Wednesday (7): FORGED

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Forged (Taken #3)

Author: Erin Bowman

Release date: April 14, 2015

I won't put the summary here since it is the third book in a trilogy, but I am SO excited for the final installment in the Taken series! I read Taken early this spring, and Frozen this summer and just fell in love with the world and the characters and the intense plot. This is definitely a series that hasn't gotten enough love in my opinion, but I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a fun, original dystopian! 

Tell me: what upcoming release are YOU waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments below!