Book: Dawn of Chaos and Fury by Melissa K. Roehrich
Reviewed by plotdrunk
Rating: 4/5
Dawn of Chaos and Fury was a solid four-star read for me, though it did not fully land the way I hoped after the buildup of the earlier books.
This is a very long installment, and the pacing definitely wobbled. At times it felt like we were chasing threads across different locations without much actually happening. Tessa was often off on her own path or not communicating her plans with anyone else, which created distance from the larger plot and slowed the emotional momentum.
What worked best for me was Axel and Kat. Their dynamic continued to be a highlight, and I enjoyed their scenes the most. The why choose element was fun and well written, especially for my first experience with the trope. That said, I wanted more tension once it finally came together. After so much buildup across the series, the shift felt too quick and a little too smooth. I would have loved more yearning, adjustment, or imbalance as they figured out how their relationship actually worked.
My biggest struggle was with the resolutions. Major conflicts that had been building for multiple books were wrapped up way too easily. Rordan, Bree, Achaz, even the long awaited parent reveals all felt emotionally undercooked. None of it hit with the weight I expected, and the payoffs did not feel earned compared to how much space they occupied earlier in the series.
There were still strong moments, compelling characters, and pieces of the story I genuinely enjoyed. Overall, this book worked for me on a plot level more than an emotional one. Good, but not as powerful as it could have been given the scope and setup.