Paths of Alir (A Pattern of Shadow & Light Book 3)

A well crafted, and suspenseful journey into a realm that is complete, in, and of, itself. The author exhibits superb character development, and quite capably transports the reader into a realm that it rife with good and evil, in all their shapes and forms.

Fans of The Wheel of Time, EPCS, will feel immediately, at home.

I will be anxiously awaiting book four.

Mellissa wrote well I felt Avery gambit of emotion,I love some and love to hate some of her characters, and some I'm supposed to forgive but can't I still hate Raine, he would not be someone I trusted in life.Point is she wrote well, made me hate, love even made me hate the ones I loved and in the end love them again,,,I would like more detail about shall tho he is to much I of a mystery to give feeling to,, point is I'm not so scared of him for other characters, builds on shall, screw it I hate him anyway

There is something gripping to me, about the battle between freedom and oppression. I feel this book encapsulated that struggle valiantly, while maintaining that triple A blockbuster action feel that grabs a readers attention.

In the World of a thousand Fantasy novels, I really enjoy the Magic that the writer uses. its also quite cool to feel the sacrifice that some of the characters push through. She takes a fantasy world and centralizes it around real human emotion and hardships that all of us sometimes has to go through.

Wraps up many loose ends and leaves you eagerly awaiting the next book. The series in general is great, characters feel real, compelling, and unique; the plot itself is interesting and engaging; and the magic system is fun and innovative. Can't ask for anything more.

Occasionally, I come across a book that has me so conflicted I have a really hard time trying to review it. It's usually because it's a beautiful book, but the contents are just so disturbing you feel a little singed at the soul by reading it.

This for me this was like Gone Girl, you get it, but do you have to agree to like it? Or do you just agree that even though you like it, you can't possibly enjoy it? Or you enjoyed it, but do you actually like it? It's all quite confusing, and that's why this is quite hard to write.

I openly admit to outright loving the first two novels of A Pattern of Shadow and Light. In fact I think I said something to the tune of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. But this was... Not. I don't think.

Here's the beef: McPhail writes Paths of Alir as fantastically as the first two books, but the content is just beyond my ability to deduce what things are needed to drive a story and what is so utterly perverse it just makes me want to put the book down and shudder.

Why? Well, you can't say to much without spoiling the plot, but the gist of it is, let's gather most of the main characters, put them through some type of rape, sexual torture or sexual degradation to see how they rise above it. And I am not talking one character, I am talking the majority. Or make them do these things and then show how they can rise above it. Turn torture into love, or love into torture, pain into love or love into pain. Let's just f*$& everybody over, and then see how they deal with being turned into sexual playthings.

I am no prude. I love a bit of fantasy sex, however McPhail skips over the consensual bits in a few sentences, but drags on and on for chapters over chapters about various sexual torture techniques used to break and mould the characters or how "it's my path, I must endure". I understand it's purpose and I am not saying it's not valid, I am just intimating it need not be the sole driving force of what this book or the series is about. And if it is, why the hell am I reading it? There is nothing about it that makes me feel good about this whole adventure. And fantasy should be an adventure, not a drag through the muddiest fields of soul rendering depravities. At least not linger on them so long the majority of the book is focused on them. And I understand, it is called the Paths of Alir and those paths of the light or the dark. So ,yes, this is about exploring those paths and what they mean within the realm and to the characters. I just fail to understand how it got to this place. Yes there was some aspects of it in the first two books, but not to this level.

(I keep thinking of the Malazaan Empire books as I write this, not sure why, and especially a certain avenue of crucifixion. I was revolted by the result, nauseous even, but even that to me was less disturbing than some things presented in PoA. I think I am connecting the two because Malazaan was brutal, and gritty to the point of a migraine, and some of the images in my head I'll probably take to the grave, but I didn't object to it as I did to PoA and I am trying to figure out why. Surely I should be more outraged by the happenings in ME books, but I'm not.. Is it because of the different stylisations? Is it because PoA tries to wield some sort of compassion for the perpetrators? Maybe it's simply because I think sexual violence is the most heinous offence, and I think it was shrugged off too lightly here because it was deemed necessary to make the players? This is something I must explore further within myself methinks!)

The disparity of the chapters and pov was also jolting. One minute we are seeing a a teenage boy falling in love giggly girly style and the next is about having a characters body being torn apart through sexual intercourse (literally bone breaking sex!). "Of course, the paths!" I should be saying to myself, but what I am actually saying is "wtf?"

The paths of Ean and Tanis were still flawless however. I almost found myself looking for their chapters to skip to, though I stayed my kindle finger and let it flow as it should. Onwards and upwards for those two! I was a mite flustered at Ean's disappearance from the book however.. He sort of got lost in the clamour of the last quarter..

The cracker is, I still feel for the characters and that's why I still liked the book even though I was disappointed for it at the same time. It kind of makes me feel dirty. *A sort of spoiler here* And don't even get me started on the last chapters of the book where a character loves another so much he binds himself to said character, even after the things said character has done to HIS MOTHER! And the reader should feel said character should be vindicated by this binding?! Now there's something to explore. What will he do when he finds out? Will he just accept it, "naw it wasn't his fault, he was compelled", or does the relationship get explored in more depth than that? Please let there be some type of conflict within it, or I will just chuck a hissy and walk away. *end of ranting spoiler*

I can't rate it. I just can't. My inner conflict is denying me the ability to make the decision. And maybe, like Gone Girl, that's why it is relevant, because it stirs you up to a point of confliction that you start to doubt what should and should not be considered really good works of fiction. And maybe that is the real kicker. Does the content of the book discount it's ability to capture one's imagination? I am still undecided.

(OK Ok, I rated it, but I still don't know that it was the right one.)

Occasionally, I come across a book that has me so conflicted I have a really hard time trying to review it. It's usually because it's a beautiful book, but the contents are just so disturbing you feel a little singed at the soul by reading it.

This for me this was like Gone Girl, you get it, but do you have to agree to like it? Or do you just agree that even though you like it, you can't possibly enjoy it? Or you enjoyed it, but do you actually like it? It's all quite confusing, and that's why this is quite hard to write.

I openly admit to outright loving the first two novels of A Pattern of Shadow and Light. In fact I think I said something to the tune of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. But this was... Not. I don't think.

Here's the beef: McPhail writes Paths of Alir as fantastically as the first two books, but the content is just beyond my ability to deduce what things are needed to drive a story and what is so utterly perverse it just makes me want to put the book down and shudder.

Why? Well, you can't say to much without spoiling the plot, but the gist of it is, let's gather most of the main characters, put them through some type of rape, sexual torture or sexual degradation to see how they rise above it. And I am not talking one character, I am talking the majority. Or make them do these things and then show how they can rise above it. Turn torture into love, or love into torture, pain into love or love into pain. Let's just f*$& everybody over, and then see how they deal with being turned into sexual playthings.

I am no prude. I love a bit of fantasy sex, however McPhail skips over the consensual bits in a few sentences, but drags on and on for chapters over chapters about various sexual torture techniques used to break and mould the characters or how "it's my path, I must endure". I understand it's purpose and I am not saying it's not valid, I am just intimating it need not be the sole driving force of what this book or the series is about. And if it is, why the hell am I reading it? There is nothing about it that makes me feel good about this whole adventure. And fantasy should be an adventure, not a drag through the muddiest fields of soul rendering depravities. At least not linger on them so long the majority of the book is focused on them. And I understand, it is called the Paths of Alir and those paths of the light or the dark. So ,yes, this is about exploring those paths and what they mean within the realm and to the characters. I just fail to understand how it got to this place. Yes there was some aspects of it in the first two books, but not to this level.

(I keep thinking of the Malazaan Empire books as I write this, not sure why, and especially a certain avenue of crucifixion. I was revolted by the result, nauseous even, but even that to me was less disturbing than some things presented in PoA. I think I am connecting the two because Malazaan was brutal, and gritty to the point of a migraine, and some of the images in my head I'll probably take to the grave, but I didn't object to it as I did to PoA and I am trying to figure out why. Surely I should be more outraged by the happenings in ME books, but I'm not.. Is it because of the different stylisations? Is it because PoA tries to wield some sort of compassion for the perpetrators? Maybe it's simply because I think sexual violence is the most heinous offence, and I think it was shrugged off too lightly here because it was deemed necessary to make the players? This is something I must explore further within myself methinks!)

The disparity of the chapters and pov was also jolting. One minute we are seeing a a teenage boy falling in love giggly girly style and the next is about having a characters body being torn apart through sexual intercourse (literally bone breaking sex!). "Of course, the paths!" I should be saying to myself, but what I am actually saying is "wtf?"

The paths of Ean and Tanis were still flawless however. I almost found myself looking for their chapters to skip to, though I stayed my kindle finger and let it flow as it should. Onwards and upwards for those two! I was a mite flustered at Ean's disappearance from the book however.. He sort of got lost in the clamour of the last quarter..

The cracker is, I still feel for the characters and that's why I still liked the book even though I was disappointed for it at the same time. It kind of makes me feel dirty. *A sort of spoiler here* And don't even get me started on the last chapters of the book where a character loves another so much he binds himself to said character, even after the things said character has done to HIS MOTHER! And the reader should feel said character should be vindicated by this binding?! Now there's something to explore. What will he do when he finds out? Will he just accept it, "naw it wasn't his fault, he was compelled", or does the relationship get explored in more depth than that? Please let there be some type of conflict within it, or I will just chuck a hissy and walk away. *end of ranting spoiler*

I can't rate it. I just can't. My inner conflict is denying me the ability to make the decision. And maybe, like Gone Girl, that's why it is relevant, because it stirs you up to a point of confliction that you start to doubt what should and should not be considered really good works of fiction. And maybe that is the real kicker. Does the content of the book discount it's ability to capture one's imagination? I am still undecided.

(OK Ok, I rated it, but I still don't know that it was the right one.)

My positive review applies to the first two books as well. This series has been unique and enjoyable. It has excellent character development and a magic system that is on par with what I'm seeing in Brandon Sanderson's works. I am definitely glad I found the books at such a bargain price, I would likely have paid more for the e-book version on the second and third book.

The author deserves attention for work like this.

Characters: 5*
Universe/World Building: 5*
Plot: 5*

First, let me get this out of the way. I absolutely loved this book and I love this series. I only wish I had realized that only three of the five books were published when I started. I am going to hate waiting for this in the same way that I hate waiting for the Patrick Rothfuss or Michael J. Sullivan.

Think of this author as a cross between George RR Martin and Michael J Sullivan. Very high praise coming from me. The characters have the sense of joy and wit about them that you get from reading Michael J Sullivan as well as the depth of the world development common to both of those authors. However, the world and antagonists also have the darkness in them that you find in the The Game of Thrones. I'm not kidding. Do NOT read this series if you get too queasy about torture of all sorts.

Characters: 5*
The characters are complex and the develop throughout the book. They are not infallible. They do not spring into being fully made. They grow. They develop. They are good. They are evil. They are complex. The characters continue to develop consistently throughout the series. They develop depth. They learn. They grow.

World/Universe: 5*
This world is fabulous. It directly impacts the story in so many ways. Ways that I do not yet see. That is my only nitpick. I want to absorb every piece of this universe. Now. I want to know the behind the scenes. I want to understand how it really works.

Plot: 5*
I love the plot of this story. It unfolds slowly and in directions you do not anticipate. It is extremely complex, but yet straightforward in how it unfolds. The author must have flowcharts covering the entire wall of her writing room to keep this straight. Plots start out separately, then come together, then branch out. They weave together seamlessly into a tapestry of a story.

Overall? 5*. I can't wait to keep reading.

I love this series. I read almost nothing but fantasy, and as some of the other commenters have said, YES there are some similarities between other stories and names and such. But seriously, with the thousands, if not tens of thousands of fantasy novels out there, how on Earth can you expect there not to be bleed-over or slight similarities in stories? Honestly none of the ones I noticed hampered the story for me in the slightest. I also listened to them on audio (HIGHLY recommended...the narrator, Nick Podehl is FANTASTIC!) which I think really helped bring the series to life. The story is complex, the characters are awesome, and for me it was very hard to turn off/put down. There are places in this book that are not for the faint of heart, and I appreciated that. It's not childish or light-hearted fantasy like so much is these days. The ending of this book was so satisfying, too! No spoilers but....I KNEW it!!! You'll see what I mean when you get there....cause seriously, just go read the series. I didn't regret my decision to purchase them and thing they are well worth the time to any fantasy lover.

Avid fan of this series.
Started with Cephrael's Hand, read it 3 times over the course of a year...
On to Daggers of Adendigath ... Again, rereads while waiting for book 3
Paths of Alir -- Just turned on the kindle to begin (another attempt) at rereading (Grandie care takes priority).

An incredible series; a well thought out complex fantasy world populated by so many interesting, sometimes wonderful characters. It's not an easy read; it requires concentration, thought, and often page flips backward. Having said that, the effort is so well worth it. I'm the reader who gets so immersed that I often gloss-over in my race of words - and I must go back because I've missed key items, events. I practice pace-yourself-dummy in reading this series. Having read SOT and WOT series a couple of times over the last decade, I find this series to be quite similar - but totally different, if you know what I mean. Similar with well built worlds and Personae; Different in the style, complexity and story. Perhaps even superior.

Books I like are often re-read for the enjoyment of it, and discovery of overlooked twists, hints, stories, events - great enjoyment and the pleasure of finding what I passed over before.

The author has created a wonderful fantasy world; a world I visit, immerse my self in. Strongly recommended reading for fans of serious, complex fantasy.

Mellisa outdid herself with another excellent novel! The characters have depth and struggle with conflict in heart-tearing ways. The plot-lines of the main characters intertwine and weave a world you can't help but be pulled into. If you want to immerse yourself in a world where you follow several characters in their own internal journeys that weave into the story of the realm I would highly recommend this novel and the rest of this series.

This third installment finally makes it clear how all of the complex plots created in the earlier books fit together into one cohesive story. The metaphor of a tapestry that is frequently referenced is an apt one, as McPhail has taken characters and story lines that are interesting on their own and woven them into something far greater than the sum of its parts.

I loved the first two books in this series, this one blows them out of the water. I can't wait to see what comes next!

I very rarely write reviews, but Melissa's books are some of the best I have ever read!

I devoured her first book Cephrael's hand and quickly moved onto the second one! I started stalking (I mean following) Melissa on social media, and bugged her frequently about how anxious I was to get the 3rd book, "Could you please hurry and finish it?"

Without going into details, Melissa creates a world through this series that is unique and draws you into it's folds quickly. I became invested deeply in the characters and had to know what would happen next. If you love Epic Fantasy, like the Wheel of Time, the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, or some of the other great Epic Fantasy series... You will LOVE this one and the preceding books!

The tale becomes more convoluted and creates more unfinished storylines than it resolves, but it is masterfully crafted. Even though the plot continues to thicken, the reader is left wanting for more. The maturation of characters is a warm welcome, and we see the heroes in moments of vulnerability and believable danger. If you haven't read previous books, this story will not make sense to you, but previous books are well worth the read. I hope that Melissa McPhail continues writing in a long and prosperous career.

Another amazing book in the series! Incredibly likeable and despisable characters, fast-pacing action, heartwarming scenes of friendship and love, and so much more. Once you start reading, you can‘t stop, and this book is merely outdone in its brilliancy by the fourth book of this series, Kingdom Blades. Pure magic