Since I haven’t finished a book in over a week, I’m going to talk about the Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole. I loved and still love these books so much.
It all started with a picture that Charlie Bowater drew. Like everything she draws, I fell right in love.
Arcana Rising had just recently been released when Charlie posted this picture to her Instagram, so I downloaded the first audiobook and inhaled it. I was under the impression that Arcana Rising was the final book in the series, so imagine my surprise and anguish when I get to the end of the book, and it’s left open FOR THE FINAL BOOK.
I inhaled four of the five of the books in less than a week. I was so wrapped up in this world that when I found out that I would have to wait a year for the next one, my heart screamed.
Just look at this image of Death and Evie. I could just scream about how much I loved these books, the characters, the world, but I won’t. Now, it’s been about a year and a half since I listened to the first five, so my memory is a little hazy on the specifics, so for this review, it’s going to be more of a comprehensive one of the first five books, rather than individual reviews.
Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles #1)
She could save the world–or destroy it.Sixteen year old Evangeline”Evie” Greene leads a charmed life–until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, killing everyone she loves, Evie realizes her hallucinati
ons were actually visions of the future–and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.
But she can’t do either alone.
With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally trust Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?
Who can Evie trust?
As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side…
I wasn’t too sure when I started the first book. I never fully got invested in Evie’s pre-apocalyptic life, but soon the story picked up and I was completely involved with the story.
When I read I usually get completely drawn into the story, but there is something about audiobooks, where I legitimately feel transported into the story. Especially for these books, it was so easy to get into the world. All the characters felt unique and the story progressed at a good pace, not too fast, not to slow, and everything had a purpose. I don’t remember the characters ever acting outside of their character. I really loved how even the characters that were deemed “good”, or that we (the reader) perceive as “good” are full of faults. No one is completely good or completely bad. This is a post apocalyptic war with one survivor – eventually people will turn on one another.
Endless Knight (The Arcana Chronicles #2)
Evie has fully come into her powers as the tarot Empress. And Jack was there to see it all. In the aftermath of killing Arthur, Evie realizes that there is a war brewing between the teens who’ve been given powers following the apocalypse, and it’s kill or be killed. When Evie meets Death, the gorgeous and dangerous Endless Knight, things get even more complicated. Somehow the Empress and Death share a romantic history. One that Evie can’t remember, but Death can’t forget. Evie is drawn to Death, but in love with Jack. She is determined to discover why she’s been granted these powers, and in the process, struggles to accept her place in the prophecy that will either save the world, or destroy it.
Who knew Death could be so enticing? Evie meets Death in this book, and their relationship – I don’t want to call it a romance – yet – had me hooked from the very beginning. But I’m also a sucker for eternal romances, reincarnations and love that lasts forever. As soon as Death entered the picture, I didn’t care about Jack anymore. I didn’t really care for him from the start, but he was definitely chopped liver after Death.
By this point I was fully invested in this story, these characters. It didn’t feel like anything I had read/listened to before. Who knew Tarot Cards could be tied with a post apocalyptic battle? I didn’t. But Kresley Cole has done it, and it’s amazing.
Dead of Winter (The Arcana Chronicles #3)
Heartbreaking decisions
Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, the Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.
Uncertain victory
Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on the Lovers. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.
Two heroes returned
There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first…?
*screeching noise* By this time, I was utterly involved, and definitely didn’t care about Jack and Evie. So much happens in these books, the elicit so many different emotions. I was definitely on the edge of my seat pretty much the whole time. I wasn’t super into the whole love triangle thing. I could understand the draw of Jack, since he was part of her pre-apocalyptic life he was a tether to everything she left behind and lost. But I often found myself not caring about Jack.
Day Zero (The Arcana Chronicles #4)
Ashes to ashes . . .
Evie Greene’s story of the Flash is just one of many. All over the world, those connected in some way to the lethal Arcana game–like Death, Jack, and Fortune–must first survive a horrifying night of blood and screams.
We all fall down.
Some will have to grapple with new powers; all will be damned to a hellish new existence of plague, brutality, desolation, and cannibalism. Find out who they lost, why they endure, and what they sacrificed in order to live past Day Zero. . . .
….I just realized. I never actually read this one. It wasn’t available on Audible. I remember telling myself to purchase the physical copy, but I never did. I guess I need to. I kind of want to reread the whole series before reading the final book, so maybe that will be my excuse to purchase this one.
Arcana Rising (The Arcana Chronicles #5)
When the battle is done . . . 
The Emperor unleashes hell and annihilates an army, jeopardizing the future of mankind–but Circe strikes back. The epic clash between them devastates the Arcana world and nearly kills Evie, separating her from her allies.
And all hope is lost . . .
With Aric missing and no sign that Jack and Selena escaped Richter’s reach, Evie turns more and more to the darkness lurking inside her. Two Arcana emerge as game changers: one who could be her salvation, the other her worst nightmare.
Vengeance becomes everything.
To take on Richter, Evie must reunite with Death and mend their broken bond. But as she learns more about her role in the future–and her chilling past–will she become a monster like the Emperor? Or can Evie and her allies rise up from Richter’s ashes, stronger than ever before?
I thought this was the end of the series, and got really excited that I found a series that was *complete*, and I would be able to binge it all while at work…and then it wasn’t. So much happened in this book. I was on an emotional roller coaster that kept throwing me for a loop. I want Evie to choose Aric (Death). They are endgame. If either Jack or Aric dies, then her choice is made for her.
The Dark Calling (The Arcana Chronicles #6)
In a world teetering on the edge . . .
When Evie receives life-changing—and possibly game-changing—news, she has trouble believing it. Why doesn’t she feel any different? Is it possible someone she trusts might be lying?
With enemies at every turn . . .
Tensions seethe inside the castle of lost time as Evie starts to doubt her own sanity. Answers can be found outside their stronghold, but will Death help her find them—or prevent her from learning the truth about her future and Jack’s possible survival?
Darkness beckons.
A mysterious, sinister power begins to affect the Arcana in its path. Forced out into the wasteland alone, Evie must depend on unexpected allies. But as a battle with Richter looms, can her new alliance defeat the Dark Calling before hell reigns on earth?
This is hopefully a book I will get to soon, IF I EVER GET OVER THIS READING SLUMP. I’ve been waiting a long freaking time to find out how it all ends, and if this post is any idea, I need to reread the series before picking up this final installment. But I won’t complain with having to reread them. I’m so curious as to how this will all conclude. So much has happened so far, characters have died, and fought, and struggled, I can only assume someone I love is going to end up six feet under.
I promise I will have a book read soon! I think I’m going to hit pause on what I’m currently trying (and failing) to read The Heart of the Empire by Carrie Summers and read Artemis by Andy Weir since that’s my Book Club’s book, and I have yet to touch it….we meet this Friday to talk about it. Ooops.
Tomorrow I plan on reading, writing, and editing, and hopefully fitting in a workout somewhere. We’ll see if it all gets done.
I can’t wait to get back into reading. *Fingers crossed*
Writing The Universe 
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