Destroy the Day Review

Book Information:

Title: Destroy the Day by Brigid Kemmerer

Genre: YA, fantasy, romance, a little dystopia

Published: 2024

Kindle Unlimited: no :(

Series: trilogy, 3rd in the series

some spoilers from Destroy the Day ahead

Destroy the Day was one of the most anticipated books for me this year and I finally got my hands on a copy to read. I had some really high expectations and hopes coming into this book, especially upon learning that this book would be the last in the trilogy. This book delivered in almost every way and turned into my favorite book in the series!

It was really engaging, and I ended up finishing this book in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. And bonus points for having such a gorgeous cover! The cover was especially fun after getting to the ending because there were many references there back to the cover.

Characters wise, this was the best book. The characters really grew and developed, almost everybody got a happy ending (I wouldn’t have it any other way!) and we got introduced to some new characters as well. The story was told from Tessa, Corrick, and Harristan’s perspectives, and the author did a great job with multiple povs. I never wanted to skip one, and even though there were some cliffhanger chapters, I was invested in all equally. Both old and new characters, all of them were fun to go on this journey with, and I’m sad it ended, but also happy with the way that everything turned out.

I loved seeing the friendship that developed (while out of necessity) between Corrick and Lochlan, and their never-ending banter. After two books of animosity, I loved seeing the bond and unspoken trust that formed between them.

I have been waiting for this entire series to see Corrick and Tessa’s happy ending, and it finally happened! I am not sure how I feel about them being King and Queen, as that’s not something I ever had in my mind for them. I always thought of them as the daring wall-scaling duo, not stoically sitting on thrones, swamped with meetings all day long. I’m sure it’ll turn out okay, but still… 😊

Harristan and Quint make the perfect unexpected (at least for me) couple! For me, I was a little torn about their ending. On the one hand, I can just imagine Harristan running a stable and Quint a flour mill, living in a cottage out in the middle of the Wilds (especially after getting to know them better in this book)! But I think I’ve always thought of Harristan as King and Quint as the Palace Master, and I feel like they would’ve been great at running a kingdom together, so it took me a little while to come to terms with the fact that they wouldn’t have the endings that I’ve always thought they’d be perfect for, but once I did, I kind of liked the idea. What does make me sad is that they had to change their names, because even though Harristan has used Sullivan before, in my mind, the names Harristan and Quint will never be replaceable.

I did have some slight struggles with this book. Most of all I felt like the war with Oren Crane was this huge source of drama and danger and struggle for the main characters and he and his people caused so much destruction, yet his death felt a little too easy and too built up, for a war that was so difficult and dramatic. Another thing, I felt like some of that earlier spark between Tessa and Corrick seemed to fade away a little bit in this book. I loved them at the ending, and I rejoiced at having them back together after so many struggles throughout the book, so I can’t complain, but I still had this nagging feeling that they weren’t as amazing together in this book as they had been previously, and I do think that one of the reasons was that we got to see so little of them together in this book, a lot of Corrick on his own adventure and Tessa on her own, but not much of the two of them together battling against the world that was more prominent in the other books.

So even though I can’t say this book checked every single box for me, I still really loved it and enjoyed reading. I couldn’t put it down, had so much fun on this journey with the characters, and love this series – and book, with all my heart!

My Review of Destroy the Day

Rating: 4/5

Review Updated: 5/26/2024

Synopsis:

spoilers from Defy the Night and Defend the Dawn

Tessa and Corrick are separated on an island full of enemies with no means to reach home, while Kandala is descending into danger and political chaos.

Corrick is held captive at the hands of the cruel Oren Crane, trapped with his enemy, rebel Lochlan. While they can’t find many things to agree upon, escaping, and getting home, is on both Corrick and Lochlan’s minds. At the other end of Ostiary, Tessa is the unwilling guest of Rian Blakemore, better known as King Galen Redstone. With no means to return home, and struggling with the overwhelming grief of losing Corrick, her only bright spot is the loyal Erik Rocco at her side. Over the seas in the kingdom of Kandala, Harristan and the few loyal to him face enemies on all sides while on the run in their own country. Will the three fierce main characters manage to find a way back to each other, and to peace?