Book: The End Unseen by Ariel N. Anderson
Reviewed by Karina's Magical Reads
Rating: 4/5
The End UNSEEN is the perfect title for this book because I was not prepared for what happened. I knew this book had a Non-HEA, but the ending I thought would happen... did not. This story finished me and shattered my heart into a million pieces. This book is Political Fantasy, Non-HEA, Romantic Tragedy. Told in 3rd person POV, which gives you more insight into the characters and what is happening. Please go into it with the understanding that there are some hard topics and you will be left with your heart on the floor. This is also closed door romance, which I felt belonged to this story and the characters...It felt right.
The story follows Jesenia our FMC who is driven from her land/home by Val-Oros, the destructive and unkind one of the two Angel King brothers. The war is devastating and brutal. Jesenia and what is left of her people seek refuge in Val-Theris's (MMC's) Kingdom, the other Angel King who is the opposite of his tyrant brother. Val-Theris shelters her people, but his own kingdom you find isn't as kind as Val-Theris. This is where you start to see the Political strain within the story. Jesenia and her people are shunned to a specific quarter of the city and are given very little to survive, despite Val-Theris's want to help them. He feels the strain of his city council and advisors who warn him the dangers of giving too much and angering his own realm. You see how much of a governing imbalance there truly is and it hits home for how it relates to our own real lives. Jesenia is one of the most kind and selfless FMC's and through everything they had and currently endure, she gives up what she can for her people, even going without food if need be. Val-Theris and Jesenia find connection throughout the struggle of her people and he tries to do the right thing, but is constantly torn by his own advisors and fear of becoming like his tyrant brother.
This story feels so much more than about world building and romance. It showed that things aren't always easy and tied up in a pretty little box when it comes to life and love. The people are complicated, harsh and unforgiving. But then you have the main characters and a few side characters through it all who want to do good but are tied down to the politics of everything, until they decide to allow themselves some happiness in all the chaos. The King didn't have any friends or people he could trust truly except for his right-hand guard "Angelicus Prime" Rohannes. This man surprised me a few times with the absolute devotion and love he had for his King, but also the man behind the crown. Their story felt important to me and I really appreciated that part of it. Rohannes also cared for the people of their city and grew to care for Jesenia and her people as well.
I read this book in 2 days because I simply couldn't put it down. By the end I was emotionally destroyed. While I was fully expecting the NON-HEA, you just never expected THAT. Ariel wrote a beautiful and tragic story of a cruel world with injustices, but through all of that two people who were never meant to be together, found a way even if it wasn't easy. I will never forget this story or it's characters & message.
Thank you, Ariel, for allowing me to receive and early e-ARC of this book. I was so thrilled to be part of your ARC team. This is my honest opinion and review. 🖤✨️