Flames of the Dark Crystal

Wow, I really did fly through The Dark Crystal: the Age of Resistance series!  I had to buy Flames of the Dark Crystal, the final book, on my Kindle because I couldn't wait to read it!

Flames of the Dark Crystal once again returns to Naia's point of view. Three of the seven flames of resistance have already been lit; now Naia and company just need to light the Stonewood, Grottan, Drenchen, and Spriton flames. After escaping SkekSa's ship, the Gelfling decide to split up, with Tavra (still controlling Tae's body because the Sifan was quite badly hurt in the fight against SkekSa at the end of Tides of the Dark Crystal) and Onica agreeing to go light the Stonewood and Grottan flames, while Naia, Gurjin,  Kylan, and Amri going south to light the Spriton and Drenchen flames. (Amri was given the choice of whether to go with Tavra and Onica to light his home flame, but chose instead to continue with Naia). Returning to Sami Thicket, Naia and company discover that the Spriton and Drenchen are on the verge of war between their clans, as the Drenchen want to march on the Skeksis at the castle but the Spriton under their maudra want to remain loyal to the Skeksis in an attempt to save their clan from the Skeksis' wrath. 

Naia also knows that getting the Spriton maudra to agree to light the flames of resistance will be tough. Maudra Mera made it clear from the original book that she was doing only what she thought was best for her clan. Even with Kylan's help, the group knows changing her mind won't be easy. Plus Naia's mother is pretty strong-willed, ready to go up against the Skeksis with only her clan. So getting her to back down and find another way won't be easy either. 

Knowing that the Mystics are linked to the Skeksis also makes Naia question whether violence is the answer, as killing a Skeksis means an innocent urRu will perish as well.

But in the middle of everything, Naia and company receive news that the Stonewood clan has been shattered by the Skeksis. Their maudra, Fara, tried to lead the clan against the Skeksis and was horribly beaten, and their home, Stone-in-the-Wood, was destroyed. 

After successfully stopping a war between the clans, losing her mother in a fight against SkekSa in the Swamp of Sog (though they succeeded in trapping skekSa rather than killing her), and lighting their two fires (plus knowing that the Grottan fire was also lit), the Drenchen and Spritons set out for Stone-in-the-Wood to help the remaining ragtag Stonewood Gelfling light the final fire. Unfortunately when they succeed in lighting it, they discover the Skeksis emperor, skekSo, can also speak through the crystal to the Gelfling rebellion. When the Gelfling do not give in to his demand that they stop this rebellion, he takes his Skeksis to forcibly crush the Gelfling in Stone-in-the-Wood. What follows is the epic battle for the spirit of the Gelfling rebellion!

As you can probably tell from my synopsis, like Tides of the Dark Crystal, a lot happens in Flames of the Dark Crystal.  The book is very fast-paced, which at times was detrimental because it made the story feel rushed. It was okay for the ending, but before that, everything felt a lot like Tides of the Dark Crystal: convenient and rushed. Like right off the bat, when Gurjin is magically there with Naia on skekSa's ship to rescue everyone else who was captive. He gave an explanation for being there, but it didn't really make sense. How was he even on the ship? I honestly thought he was going to be evil or something, but nope, he honestly just was there and tagged along with the group for the rest of the book.

I was also sad that we were back with Naia. I know it made sense with the narrative to be back under her pov, but she bothered me a lot, especially after being with Kylan and Amri during the last few books. I think I was really worried about how much she was doubting everything after the rescue of the group from skekSa - she felt alone, like people were moving away from her, and even like her brother had taken her healing powers. After everything she had gone through with these people to this point, those fears seemed silly. It made way more sense to be worried about the impossible task Thra and Aughra had given her, rather than the bonds she had with her friends.

I did like how things were handled when her mother died though. Having lost a parent myself, I both empathized with Naia and thought that sequence was well done. That was really brave of her to be able to put aside her grief and lead the Drenchen to Stone-in-the-Wood just after her mother died as well.

I also was glad that Naia and Amri got closer in this book. When I first started reading the series, I thought her and Kylan would end up a couple, but as the story unfolded, it seemed more likely that it would be Amri she ended up with, and I was glad.

The Garthim never do make an appearance in this series, which honestly was probably for the best. The series is about the Gelfling ultimately uniting to resist the Skeksis and take back their world; had the Garthim entered the narrative, even at the end, it would have drastically changed things.

So overall, I enjoyed reading The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance book series. I'm glad to have read it, and I am looking forward to watching the show!