Review: Elysium by Nikole Knight
SYNOPSIS:
Riley and his angels have finally found their Elysium, and together, they will defend it.
After enduring two months in Purgatory at the Seven’s mercy, Riley Shepard emerges alive but forever altered. To protect his angels, he must embrace the powerful darkness inside him, or risk the fate of the realms.
The universe trembles under the feet of Hell’s armies, and it is time for Riley and his angels to fight. They fight for honor and justice, for freedom and family. But most of all, they fight for love. For in the end of all things, it is love that will save them.
Let the final battle begin.
REVIEW:
What a beautiful journey I have been on. Talk about a conclusion of epic proportions, I laughed, I cried, I gasped in shock, and I smiled as it all wrapped up. It feels bittersweet leaving these characters, whom I have grown to love and care for so deeply.
The beginning half of this book is about healing. Riley and his Guardians need to mend their fractured relationships, Riley needs to heal from the traumas the Seven put him through, and finally, Jai and Noel need to figure out their relationship. And all these things happen, some painful and some wonderous. Riley bonding with each of his angels was truly beautiful, each moment was special and had my heart soaring. Even his shared moments with Jai and Noel were healing and further strengthened their love. But my favorite moments were with Gideon, a trip to the Thrones, and tacos, I laughed so hard I had tears stream down my cheeks and then I couldn’t seem to wipe the foolish smile from my face.
This part of the story was healing, but I was also filled with trepidation over what was to come. Lucifer and the final battle was coming to Heaven’s doors. It truly turned into a game of who can you trust, the betrayals seemed endless and tore my heart apart, as did the sacrifices of Jai, Noel, Riley, and Gideon. Over and over these men give everything and then some. My heart was in my throat during the final moments of the battle, I kept having to pause reading because I was crying too hard, and even as things ended, my heart still ached for all that was lost.
Some wonderful characters died and I was left reeling by the surprised deaths, no one is safe. The pain is palpable but so is the hope and I can’t help but want more. After all they went through, I want a little bit longer of them finding their happiness. Or maybe its just simply the fact that this story was so beautiful and as it wrapped up, I wasn’t ready to say by to characters who have so drastically touched my heart.
The epilogue is set 15 years in the future and things aren’t sunny and perfect for all the characters. In fact, I am desperately hoping for novellas or spin off series for Uriel and Xavier, both deserve one. But the epilogue gives me hope, things aren’t perfect but they are on the right path and the endless sacrifices made by the wonderous characters were worth it to see them so d*mn in love.
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