Fury by Rachel Vincent
Menagerie #3
Urban Fantasy
October 30, 2018 by MIRA

Favorite Quote:

“I love you. I have always loved you. And when I die, it will be with your name on my lips.”

Reviewed by Angela

Wow. I’ve anxiously awaited the conclusion to the Menagerie series for some time, but now that I’ve read it I’m kind of at a loss. I don’t know exactly how I feel. Maybe it’s because this series has been so sad and terrible at times, the treatment of the cryptids so horrific, the world building and overall story arc a dark and twisted look into the worst parts of humanity. I don’t really know. I was okay with the ending to this trilogy, not thrilled, but content with the way it all wrapped up.

This series follows the main protagonist Delilah Marlow from the moment her status as a cryptid and changeling is revealed and her rights as a human are stripped away, right up until she discovers what her fate ultimate fate. She is first sold to Metzger’s Menagerie, a traveling carnival with a zoo/circus like feel. She learns about her true self, forms alliances with other cryptids held in captivity, and ultimately frees them all. The second book starts out with Delilah and her allies enjoying their newfound freedom, but only a few pages later all their hard won peace is ripped away and they are taken to a new hell on Earth, The Savage Spectacle. I thought I was prepared for the brutality of the second book in the series, but I really wasn’t. This book is absolutely merciless in the treatment of its characters.

Here are my reviews on Goodreads for the previous two books in the series.

Menagerie

Spectacle

The third book doesn’t pick up immediately after the events of Spectacle, but rather a short time later when Delilah, Gallagher, Eryx, Rommily, Claudio, Genni, Lenore, and Zyanya have found a remote place to hide and lie low while Delilah, already in her tenth month of pregnancy, waits for the birth of her and Gallagher’s child. With her made family surrounding her, and the desire to find the loved ones missing since the harrowing escape from The Savage Spectacle, Delilah discovers that the Furiae inside her isn’t done meting out justice. With her child soon to arrive, and world in turmoil, will she and her friends ever find peace?

This book is actually told in two alternate timelines. The present being Delilah and her allies, and the past  starting at the moment the Reaping began and then following a young woman named Rebecca Essig. These two timelines slowly but surely meander along, telling two stories that will eventually collide in one big moment of pain and sacrifice. Its’ complex and often times slightly confusing to the reader, but worth it in the end when all the plot threads of this series finally come together in one big selfless moment. I won’t get into specific details, but this story was always about Delilah and I think regardless of my feelings on the matter, that the ending to this series was always going to happen. I don’t think it could have happened any other way.

After the informative, yet enthralling, events in Menagerie, and the brutal, overwhelmingly horrific events of Spectacle, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Fury. I didn’t really have any expectations going in other than I hoped to see happy resolutions for Delilah and all the characters I had come to care about. I can honestly say that I kind of, mostly anyway, got what I wanted. The pacing felt different in this book. Less adrenalin pumping action, more a slow, but steady, coming together of plot threads to a big ‘aha’ moment. I can honestly say this urban fantasy series gave me all the feels. Wonder, anguish, overwhelming anger, and then ultimately a sort of grudging acceptance of the end.  I could see this author staying in this world, but telling a few side stories that weren’t really resolved fully. I would love that.

I highly recommend this series, but be forewarned that it is extremely dark and readers should read many, and varied, reviews before one-clicking.

Final Grade- B

Author’s Website * Series List 

GR * AMZ * BN