The Singer of All Songs: The Tenth Power by Kate Constable

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Kate Constable's magnificent musical trilogy reaches its high note as Calwyn returns to Antaris and discovers the true Singer of All Songs.

At the beginning of THE SINGER OF ALL SONGS, Calwyn fled Antaris with Darrow to defeat the ambitious chanter Samis. In THE TENTH POWER, she comes back to the mountains in hopes of rejuvenating her lost powers of chantment. But Samis's magic left terrible scars on Antaris, so Calwyn finds only conflict rather than the peace she craved. Meanwhile, Darrow suffers from a sickness that has sapped his magic as well as his strength--and Samis has returned to continue his quest for the Singer of All Songs. All of Tremaris seems to be dying. How can Calwyn save the land, and finally save them all?

Jillian’s Review:

I LOVED this book! So many things happen that you think will work out and then it all goes to pot. And then you think it’s all worked out again, and again, until it does finally get resolved with a mostly happy ending.

When I saw the title of this last book in the series, I wondered excitedly what the tenth power could be. I was a bit disappointed when I found out what it was and hadn’t even realized these people didn’t have it to begin with. But it worked, I guess. I was just hoping for something more magical.

I loved the growth from the main characters and that I finally get some of that romance, but it's still really clean. I’m not at all happy that Calwyn kisses another, very nasty guy, but I get why she does it. I’m just glad that she ends up with the right guy.

A perfect ending to a great trilogy. Thank you Constable!

The Singer of All Songs by Kate Constable

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Kate Constable's lyrical, acclaimed fantasy debut--now in paperback Calwyn has never been beyond the high ice-wall that guards the sisters of Antaris from the world of Tremaris. She knows only the rounds of her life as a novice ice priestess, tending her bees, singing her ice chantments, and dreaming.

But then Calwyn befriends Darrow, a mysterious Outlander who appears inside the Wall and warns of an approaching danger. To help Darrow, to see the world, and perhaps to save it, Calwyn will leave the safety of the Wall for a journey with a man she barely knows--and an adventure as beautiful and dangerous as the music of chantment itself.

Jillian’s Review:

This book kind of felt longer to read than is should have. It’s one of those travel adventure fantasies where a lot of things happen and you get a handful of heroes (like Lord of the Rings minus all the Elves and Dwarves). I did like Calwyn, though I wish she discovered her special abilities sooner so we could watch her develop more throughout the story. Darrow is a nice guy, but there isn’t nearly the chemistry that I like to see between love interests, which I guess makes this a better read for the older Middle Grade reader. Don't expect any romance, it barely has any and it's only at the very end.

I have books two and three on my nightstand just waiting for me to read. Hopefully they won’t take me as long to get through and I’m really hoping for more romance.