95 points/100 (5 stars/5)

Ava and Malachi are back together. Malachi still doesn't have all his memories, Ava still isn't fully trained. They still don't know where Ava came from, or why the Fallen Angels seem to be all hovering around her. The Irina elders want to return to their position of power and lead the race again. And the Grigori are harboring a secret that has to be told.

Why did Ava and Malachi's arc have to end? Now I have to read about other characters I don't currently care about but will as soon as their books start!

This is so hard to talk about without revealing the spoilers, because the spoilers are what make this book so good. And, I wouldn't do that to anyone on purpose. The mystery was so worth the buildup in these three books. I loved each step of the reveal process and was hooked for more. It is a crime I wasn't able to read each of these three books one after the other in a crying filled, tissue laden, binge of day. The world is a cruel place.

In The Scribe and The Singer, the Grigori were pushed off as just "the bad guys", meant to be killed. They were inconsequential because the good guys were so good, right? I mean, we got hints that this wasn't the case. But the Irin still believed it, the Irina still hunted them with a fury. What do the Grigori matter, when the Irin matter so much more? Well, In The Secret, the Grigori finally tell their secrets. They now have a full, rich background of a history they have to tell. Okay, maybe not that rich because after all, they haven't been their own people like the Irin have. But, rich for them, rich for a throwaway race that just was there to be killed. I'm so happy Hunter filled these guys out, because they were something that dragged this series down a bit.

I didn't possibly anticipate the Fallen Angel arc in this one, either. I'm still left in awe with what happened in this book regarding the Fallen Angels. All of it is under the cone of spoilers, too. I can't reveal anything without harming people! I can say that it was the best I could have possibly hoped for. It didn't disappoint me at all. I know this isn't the end of it - it can't really be the end of it. But, it feels that way for now. I'm curious where the rest of the series is going to take me.

Ava and Malachi's romance is... it is so pure and heartfelt. And energetic. Very energetic. It is also broken. Neither of them are whole at the start of this book. They have had a long, hard road together, and they haven't even been together all that long. Then, they have even more to get through before this book is over. Some fights, some contentment and happiness and.. love. Lots and lots of love. The end of their arc is incredibly predictable, but it is still great, it is exactly what you expected. It was a long road, and hopefully we can leave them in peace now. As long as I get to see them again in the next book!

I was still broken when I started The Secret. I feel whole again. ( )

I have been anticipating the end of Ava & Malachi's story for awhile. It did not disappoint! Strong storyline and deliverence. A trilogy must read! ( )

4.5/5
What a lovely ending to this series! Irin Chronicles always had a captivating, vivid world-building as a background to the unique story of scribes, angels & Grigori. As a plus it's set in Europe not in North America or UK, and the reader can enjoy hopping on a train and travelling from Istanbul to Italy to Vienna and many other locations without feeling like he is crossing big cultural and territorial borders. Europe is compact, cosy and utterly charming, and the author passes that charm onto us amazingly well.

I was relieved that Ava & Malachi finally found each other and rediscovered their deep soul bond. It was lovely to see it click back into place as soon as the scribe regained all his memories.

The Secret was also a book of many revelations. Not only Ava finally met her grandmother and learnt about her roots, the whole Irin race had to re-evaluate what it knew about the Fallen and their children. And I am glad. I love that Elizabeth never separates her characters into black and white when she can blur the borders between heroes and villains and leave us reeling. *grins*

Now, Vienna. It was my favourite part of the book and it was magnificent! While I was secretly hoping for more descriptions of the pastries and coffee (if it's anything like Budapest, they should be absolutely delicious), it's the Council headquarters which grabbed my attention straight away as they were described lavishly. Throughout the whole book we were also slowly discovering the extent of angelic intrigues and the reasons behind them, until it all boiled down to a one brutal and epic battle.

Overall, while The Secret starts slowly, it gains momentum pretty fast until at some point you realise that you can't stop reading until the very end. I'm also extremely relieved to know that the story will continue in various spin-offs as I was not ready to say goodbye to such a beautiful world, and to its many familiar characters. Definitely recommended, enjoy! ( )

The Secret by Elizabeth Hunter
Book #3: The Irin Chronicles
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 5/5 stars
My Review:

By the end of book two, The Singer, I found myself a bit lost and a lot frustrated. There were a great number of balls in the air and so many crazy loose ends . . . . . I honestly had no idea how everything would settle out in the end. Boy, did things settle!

From the moment The Secret opens, it is non-stop action hurtling you toward the end. Ava and Malachi are still a bit wonky what with the losing all his memories and such and her refusing to use her power but they are working their way back toward normal. Though Ava would be perfectly content to stay hidden away with Malachi there is trouble brewing and if she doesn’t face her issues soon, a lot of good people – both Irin and Irina alike – are going to die. The big bads are on the move toward Vienna, there’s more than one Archangel intensely involved in the outcome of the final showdown and, Ava is closer than ever to finding out who and what she really is.

Turns out, discovering Ava’s origins isn’t just important to her but to her people as a whole. Even the eldest among the Irin and Irina don’t know exactly what Ava is and her power is something that has rarely, if ever been seen. When Ava sings, she projects more than just song and her abilities are as frightening as they are beautiful. When she and Malachi finally right themselves, Ava doesn’t just heal Malachi, she fortifies him. Their shared power is tremendous and something of an inspiration to the younger generations of Irin. If Ava and Malachi can overcome the darkness they have endured then maybe, just maybe the Irina will return.

The Irina are the true highlight of the read. They are some seriously bad ass women and when they decide it is time to return to their rightful place within their world, their return is a spectacle to behold!! Seriously, the scene when their desks are literally pulled by force back into the center of the Vienna library is chilling. The Secret is the Irina’s turn to shine and when those women make their voices heard, even the archangel’s stop and take notice. When the moment comes for the Irin and the Irina to stand side-by-side and defend themselves, they stand not just side-by-side but back-to-back and defend their own. The final, tumultuous battle is ugly and awful but with a little unexpected help from some totally unexpected sources, all works out in the end.

The Bottom Line: Thank you, thank you to everything holy for this book, Elizabeth Hunter!! The Secret is everything I love about Elizabeth Hunter and the crazy, engaging worlds she creates. I thoroughly enjoyed finding out about Ava’s heritage and exactly what she is, I thoroughly enjoyed Malachi and Ava getting back on track but I FREAKING LOVED the reemergence of the Irina. There are so many fascinating, funny, seriously determined, kind, and sexy women among the Irina that is clear Hunter isn’t done with this world. From the elder Irina right on down to the youngest among them, there is a whole series of stories just waiting to be written. Add into the mix, the Irin who are locked, loaded and ready to have their women back and you have a recipe for a really excellent, long-term series. ( )