I am so glad that I finally read this book! I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of this book near its release date but it fell through the cracks somehow. As more time passed, I realized that I would need to refresh my memory of the first two books in the trilogy before I could review the book properly so I put off reading it. I decided to push this book to the top of my list recently and it was a very good decision. I thoroughly enjoyed my re-read of the first two books in the trilogy and was eager to experience this book for the first time. I really had a good time with this one.

This is a trilogy that really needs to be read in order. Things have been building to the events in this book for the entire trilogy and I was excited to see how things would work out. Victor Draconi has been working towards a plan to eliminate the other Families and take control of everything himself. Lila and the other Sinclairs are aware of his plan and they are working to do whatever they can to stop him.

This story was exciting and there were a few scenes that were incredibly action-packed. There were a few scenes where I was really worried about how things would work out for this group of characters that I have grown to care for and some scenes that broke my heart. I loved the way that the monsters and magical abilities were such a vital part of the story. It was great to see Lila really become a trusted member of the Sinclair Family as they came together with the other Families to fight a common threat.

Brittany Pressley did a fantastic job with the narration once again. I looked forward to putting my headphones on and escaping into Lila's world for a few hours. I really felt like she brought this story to life. She did a fantastic job with all of the character voices and brought a lot of emotion into her reading. I believe that her narration added to my enjoyment of this story.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a wonderful trilogy set in a very interesting world. I had a great time going on this adventure with Lila, Devon, Felix, Oscar, and the rest of the characters. I cannot wait to read more of Jennifer Estep's work.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley and purchased a copy of the audiobook. ( )

Magical treachery and dangerous territory!

Lila Merriweather, ex thief and seeker of secrets, is in for the fight of her life. Lila had been on the streets of Cloudburst Falls until becoming part of the Sinclair Family with more than a proprietal interest in Devon Sinclair.
Now it seems Victor Draconi, diabolical pathological head of the Draconi Family, has decided that it's time for him to submerge the other Families of Cloudburst Falls into his organization. A little death, or many deaths is not going to bother him. He has been storing up black blades, magical swords made from blood iron, that will rip the magic out of whomever or whatever they impale. That will get the job done and make Victor's takeover so much sweeter--for him.
The story opens with Lila, Felix and Devon sneaking into the Draconi family compound to take those weapons and substitute them for something a little less lethal.
The opening line grabbed me and the story didn't let me go until the very end.
The different types of magic are fascinating. Lila has 'soulsight' and 'transference'. Both very powerful.
I was struck by Lila's small rituals she used when encountering monsters and on entering the lochness monster's space under the bridge she repeated the necessary toll. I loved that there seems to be some sort of relationship developing here between Lila and the lochness monster. A tender moment of hope really.
Seleste Draconi does say to Lila, 'Monsters are your friends. Never forget that.'
Lila has learned from her Mom to pay their tolls. She always does--and that care for the rituals of magic will prove to be a boon in more ways than one.
Magics battle it out in 'Bright Blade' and Lila comes into a new realm of being. Very satisfying!

A NetGalley ARC ( )

What a finale! BRIGHT BLAZE OF MAGIC was a great ending to a great series.

Lila has gone from a loner to part of a huge family that she never imagined she would enjoy being part of. Her growth as a character from COLD BURN OF MAGIC until the end of BRIGHT BLAZE OF MAGIC is quite magical. Even better is the fact that her new family enjoys having her as part of their lives as well.

Even though she is no longer with Lila, her mother still had a decent role to play in BRIGHT BLAZE OF MAGIC. I enjoyed the ways that she was present in the final book of the series and I really felt that Lila felt her mother in every thing that she did.

Get ready for some action. There are very few down times in BRIGHT BLAZE OF MAGIC. The mafia war is here and it's time for the final showdown. There was a lot of loss and I wasn't totally expecting that, but I didn't feel like it was an unreasonable amount with the events that took place.

I honestly didn't have any complaints after finishing BRIGHT BLAZE OF MAGIC. I will miss Lila and her crew, but I'm very satisfied with the ending of the Black Blade series.

* This book was provided free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Jennifer Estep Bright Blaze of Magic is enchanting and full of thrills. Lila Merriweather is back in the third book of the Black Blade Series. Bright Blaze of Magic takes place after book two, Dark Heart of Magic. After discovering Victor Draconi is stocking up on black swords with magic stolen from the monsters; Lila, Devon Sinclair, and Felix Morales attempt the steal the blades and replace them with fakes with the help of Victor’s daughter, Deah. This urban fantasy takes place in the magical town of Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia. It is suitable for young adults.

I LOVED this book. Jennifer Estep did a great job incorporating things from the previous books. It was full of excitement and unexpected twists. Her descriptions and imagination are compelling.

Lila is a charming heroine. Her parents were murdered by Victor, and she became a thief to survive. Then in book one, she became part of the Sinclair family tasked as Devon’s bodyguard. She has grown a lot in the three books. She has interesting talents. She is strong. She cares about others, and is selfless. I love her compassion for the monsters, especially the Lochness. I like her relationship with Devon. I appreciate that he respects her and knows she can hold her own.

The plot was well executed and full of non-stop action. It was mysterious and magical. I told my thirteen-year-old son, and his friends that they need to put this book on their to read list. I’m sure they will love it. I think people that enjoy the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson Series would enjoy these books. They have a lot of the same elements: likeable characters, magic, mystery, good versus evil, visions of the future, and humor among a few. The story had an amazing ending that felt well resolved.

Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Lila has worked with the Sinclairs to disarm the Draconis, doing their utmost to sabotage the rival family’s master plan to take over Cloudburst Falls

And it works – but not enough – when the Draconis move it only leaves them with a few slim bargaining chips to try and stave off destruction – and for Lila to finally have a reckoning with the murderer of her mother.

I love this series and I really like this book – or I tried to. I tried really hard, because there are a lot of elements of the book I really love. But there’s also a major issue – the plot.

My issue with this book is the plot requires just a little bit of unreasonable character stupidity.

The whole big dramatic moment of this book is that the Draconis are planning an attack against the other families – and we know from the very beginning of the book that the attack is imminent.

We also know that all the families are apparently going to gather with minimal guards and no weapons. All conveniently in one place and unarmed. When do we think the Draconis will attack?

Why, after this of course! I mean he’ll show up to the UNARMED GATHERING and play nice and then wait a few weeks and then attack. When everyone’s in their own secure compound with armed guards… right?

Surprising the whole cast, the Draconis attack during the unarmed party. That doesn’t even count as a spoiler because anyone with a slight ounce of intelligence should have realised this. Really really should have realised this.

And then, after this attack in which Victor Draconi announces his nefarious plan to kill ALL THE FAMILIES it’s still not until the end of the book that the Sterling family decides to turn to the Itos and the Salazars. For that matter, the Itos and the Salazars decide to go along with business as usual (oh they’re tense but keep going as usual) rather than planning to do something about the family that just declared genocidal intent towards them. “Tense” is not the appropriate reaction to this

For that matter, can we look at security? This book opens with Lila, Devon and Felix sneaking past both Draconi and Sinclair guides repeatedly, at night with Lila repeatedly mocking Felix’s non-existent stealth abilities, How come no-one turned around and thought “hey, maybe we need to address our shitty security here”?

The problem is the general shape of the plot is, in itself, not all that great anyway, resting on a lot of implausible elements. Like the Draconi’s deciding to take a whole lot of prisoners rather than just killing most of them, for example. They’re convenient to stopping the plot ending in tragedy or defeat but, at the same time, they’re implausible. Even the big bad ending confrontation ultimately comes down not to skill or plotting or planning or anything any of the characters actually DO – just super shiny super power is conveniently super. They literally show up to the last confrontation and HOPE

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