Damn! That was good. I know there are all kinds of better descriptive words out there I could have used but that is what came to me as I finished the book.

It's a post apocalyptic world. Evie survived the Flash, a solar flare that killed most of the population dried up the world, to discover she has supernatural abilities and is part of a recurring game where she is a character from a deck of Tarot cards playing for her life. The winner is the last one alive.

Throughout the series, Evie has learned the rules of this terrible game and struggled with her powers. She thinks she can find a way to end the game without having to kill all the other players, some with whom she has become friends, but the game doesn't seem to want to play by her rules.

She fell in love with Jack but then thought he died so she fell in love with her former enemy, Aric he Death card. Players are reincarnated every few centuries to play over and over but Death has won the last couple of games so he is centuries old. He has killed the Empress, Evie's card, twice before.

At the end of the last book, she found out that Jack might still be alive. She also found out she was pregnant by Death.

This book began with Evie fuming over being pregnant. She is sure that Paul, Aric's medic/cook/housekeeper slash everything that needs done in the castle guy, lied to her hen giving her her contraceptive injection. She thinks Paul wanted her to get pregnant. Paul, of course, denies this and tells Aric that Evie refused the shot. Evie also thinks Paul accelerated her grandmother's death. Evie won't listen to anyone and wants Paul banished from the castle or worse. Banishment would mean certain death. If the cold didn't kill him, something or someone else will get him like the Bagmen who thirst for blood, the cannibals, the slavers or just plain starvation.

I was not really liking Evie at first because of her insistence on Paul's guilt which seemed a little blood thirsty but also because she didn't tell Aric that the Fool card contacted her telepathically to tell her that Jack was still alive.

I can't tell you what happened without spoiling the book but I can tell you that my feeling warmed towards Evie a tad. She's growing up and isn't so self-centered but she still grates on my nerves sometimes.

The love triangle rages on. I, personally, want Jack and Evie to end up together but would feel bad for Aric since his touch kills anyone his skin comes into contact with except Evie so he would never be able to be with anyone else. But in the end, only one Arcana can live so either Aric or Evie will have to die. If Evie has the baby, would Aric even be able to touch it? Would it be better for Evie to live to raise it? Maybe they'll be able to beat the game and stop it forever.

Who knows?

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Evie and Aric are working to end the game and discover she's pregnant. Evie knows they've been betrayed and things go to hell quickly. New Arcana come on the scene. Evie is on the run from the Hanged Man who has taken control of those in the castle. It started slow but then picked up speed all the way to the end. Great installment but I will be happy for the final book.
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Okay, this book is an improvement on book 4, but the magic of the first three books is still missing. ( )

This is the best book yet in the series. I personally feel like this series keeps getting better. Things are coming together and coming in line with the finale to come. Which if I'm not mistaken is the next (?) book. There were some things that were left hanging before that have been answered. There were more events in this book then should have been possible in the short number of pages of the book. This book felt FULL. Full of chaos, full of conflict, and full of emotions. Real emotions that leave you feeling heartbroken for Death, Evie, and Jack. This book is more than a happily ever after reading like some of the other series by Kresley Cole. The three in this triangle are truly cursed it seems. If anything is going well it's bound to turn. That continues in this segment of the series.

There were so many unpredictable events and maybe one or two things that you come to expect. I don't want to spoil anything from this book because it is very important to the whole series. The alliances of Major Arcana are hit hard by a major TRAITOR. It was one event I did not see coming and wouldn't have imagined it. With the few who are working together to end the games and protect themselves against the Emperor and Lady Luck, you forget that there are other factors out there. Like the Minor Arcana that we heard about. Evie and others finally meet some and it all but confirm that these games are going to be different. That there will be a cataclysmic ending. Most of the Major Arcana are changing, either losing control of their powers or just developing stronger. The Minor Arcana want an end to the games so they can begin the new world. They inform the others that Evie and Death have angered the gods by creating life. Evie is stuck between having no power at all and feeling helpless to stop herself from eventually becoming the red witch.

Plus there are hints in the whole book about the next book. I can't quit this series. Evie can't remember something she thinks is important. I think whatever this part is leading to will be huge in the next book. Plus, we still don't even know if the Fool is on her side or not. Or if his card has reversed. It seems like it may have. Just like some of her allies were hiding their true strength or losing control of their massive powers, you just don't know at this point.

If I am right and the next book is the last book in the series I am going to lose it. I hope that it lives up to my personal hype. ( )

Completed 04/02/18 ( )