Freedom’s Slave audiobook

Beautiful, heartbreaking, and utterly satisfying.***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***Freedom's Slave by Heather DemetriosBook Three of the Dark Caravan Cycle seriesPublisher: Balzer + BrayPublication Date: February 28, 2017Rating: 4 starsSource: eARC from EdelweissSummary (from Goodreads):An Empress Fighting for Her CrownAfter three long years in exile, Nalia is ready to return to her homeland and sit on the throne that is rightfully hers. But the gods might have other plans. Forced to endure untold horrors on the journey to Arjinna, Nalia learns that it will take more than cutting down the tyrant Calar to get her crown.An Army Fighting to SurviveRaif’s return to Arjinna as the commander of the revolution against Calar and her army isn’t as smooth as he’d hoped. Though he has more soldiers than ever before, his love for Nalia is losing him the trust of his comrades...and the war. But little does the resistance know that insurrection is brewing among Calar’s own ranks—and from the one person she trusts the most.A Land Worth Fighting forArjinna is dying—Calar’s evil experiments with dark magic and the strength of her own psychic powers threaten to destroy the land of the jinn. Is Nalia and Raif’s enduring love enough to transform and rescue their homeland? Will they be willing to save the realm, no matter the cost? What I Liked:***SPOILER-FREE REVIEW***This book... this book. I just finished it a few minutes ago and I'm pretty speechless. I liked Exquisite Captive and Blood Passage, but I think this book is Demetrios's best work. I loved this book, and I hated it a little too (you'll understand why, and it'll make you love/hate the book too), in the best of ways. The author took me on quite the emotional roller coaster, but the book was brilliant and stunning because of that roller coaster.In this final novel of the Dark Caravan Cycle series, Nalia and Raif return to Arjinna. Raif must lead the dissenting tavrai, who begin to distrust him because of his faith in Nalia. He and the army of jinn find allies in unexpected places, as all of Arjinna looks to the fall of Calar. Meanwhile, Nalia must learn ways from the old empresses - on her own. She'll need to find her way back to the battle - to Raif - in order to claim her throne and bring peace to Arjinna. No one will be spared, from Calar, or from the gods.I will do my very best to keep things as vague as possible! But bottom line - I really recommend this conclusion novel, especially if you've read Exquisite Captive and Blood Passage (or even just Exquisite Captive). This conclusion is nothing short of intriguing, mind-blowing, heartbreaking, terrifying, sexy, and satisfying. This book had a bigger focus on Raif than it did on Nalia. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that Nalia is not physically present in the first half of the book. It was strange, her not being anywhere significant (in relation to Arjinna, Raif, and the others). BUT, she was somewhere she needed to be. And the story would not have been as complete with her glued to Raif's side (and the others). With Nalia's absence, there are a lot of chapters in the perspectives of other jinn - jinn are somewhat newly introduced in this book but play a very significant role in the story. While Nalia isn't really in the first half of the story at all, she is extremely present in the second half of the story (like, reunited with Raif, etc.). She is every inch the warrior and survivor that we have known her to be - and then some. I love the completeness of her transformation into empress. In this book, she is confident and yet unsure of herself, protective and merciful, compassionate and yet merciless when it comes to the safety of those she loves. While I stand by my original statement (that this book focuses more on Raif than Nalia), Nalia is always the center of the trilogy's story. I loved seeing her reach her full potential and make her claim for the throne.Raif... oh Raif. Raif, to me, is the most important character in this book. With Nalia not being by his side in the first 50% of the book (or thereabout), it's hard on him. He's lost at first, and it's so heartbreaking to see him try to fight a war and be separated from his rohifsa at the same time. I can't say too much about things, but I really, really felt for him. But Raif is the strongest character of this book, and series. He endures so much, and fights through so much pain (not the physical kind), and he is so strong and selfless and every bit the leader he has proven himself to be. Two characters change the course of this story - Taz, the commander of the jinn army, and Kes, Calar's lover. When we're introduced to Kes, it's strange - why is the perspective of the lover of Calar (the story's villain) being presented? But Kes no longer stands with Calar, and wants her deposed. He secretly starts to support and meet with the resistance, and eventually, Raif and the tavrai. Kes's story is so heartbreaking and almost hopeless, and yet he finds his own hope and light. I didn't like him at first (for obvious reasons) but it wasn't before long that I absolutely loved him. I love how Demetrios does that. She takes characters that you think you'll absolutely hate - Kes, Shirin, to an extent, Malek, and makes you feel for them. Well, Malek, no. I didn't like him at all, and never would have. We all read Blood Passage, right? Good riddance. He's not in this book.Taz is the other really important secondary character that gets chapters from his perspective. He is several thousand years old and the commander of the jinn army that came through the Eye with Raif. He becomes a good friend to Raif, and a huge support for Raif when Raif was stuck (I'll leave it at that). Taz is a good man, and it's hard not to love him. My heart broke for him like my heart broke for Kes. But, like Kes, I loved how Taz found his hope and light.As with the other books, I love the world-building of this book and series. The Middle Eastern touch, all of the jinn lore and myths and magic, and the Arjinnan setting of this book - Demetrios did an amazing job in crafting this world. Clearly she did her research, with all of the italicized words, the settings, the tales and lore. This is easily the best written and most researched jinn story/series in YA literature that I've ever read!Okay fine, I'll talk about the romance. I mentioned that Raif and Nalia are separated for about 50% of the book. Let me (sort of) discuss that first. This separation - it's necessary on several levels, but it's something that you don't really realize is necessary until the story starts to move. Like at first you're like WHAT? Because the separation happens immediately as the story begins. But you will see how necessary it is (in my opinion). I hate separations like that (what is worse is the separations in which they don't know the state of the other). But I get why the author did it, AND in some ways it was good, because it opened the story to focus more on Raif, and give way to chapters from Taz's and Kes's perspectives.But the romance is so strong, in this book. Even in the first half of the book, with them being separated, you can practically feel the strength of Raif and Nalia's love. Their bond is so strong and unshakable, and the distance doesn't hurt them at all. Their reunion, around the 50% mark, was so beautiful. And from that point on, the romance is sweet, sexy, and so heartwarming. I loved seeing Raif and Nalia back together! Like any couple, they have their arguments, their moments of doubt, and their slip-ups. Raif was definitely dealt the harsher end of the stick, in terms of, well, everything. But I love how powerful and unshakable the romance was. They endured quite a bit and yet they never stopped loving each other.Yes, there are plenty of sexy times in this book. Demetrios does some fade-to-black but she also doesn't leave everything up to the imagination. Which I applaud!One thing that I was a huge fan of - so I mentioned that Raif is more of the focus, in this book. And yet, it's really all about the empress (Nalia). I LOVE how Raif is so willing to cede everything to Nalia (all of his power and influence over the tavrai, for example). But what I love even more? Nalia does the same; she brings Raif to be her equal, at her side, and not behind her. If she is empress, she is emperor - that kind of thing. I love this. I don't want to say anything about the battles and Calar and the ending, but I will say - this book is a whirlwind of action and death and scheming. There was never a dull moment in the book. I should also follow up on my comment about this book taking me on an emotional roller coaster. Um, yes, Demetrios really takes readers through every single emotion possible, in this book. And she does it so well. For example, Raif's defeat and anguish was so palpable, or Shirin's frustration, or Nalia's desperation, or Kes's disgust, or Taz's pain. Everything was so amplified, and I truly felt the characters' pain and joy and hope like it was my own. In the end, this book was incredibly satisfying. It's full of nonstop action, life-or-death craziness, plagues, magic, heartbreak, hope, sexy romance, and love. Not every character gets a HEA (which is so sad!), but Raif and Nalia get a nice ending (yes, I will say that much, spoiler or not). After everything that Raif (Raif and Nalia, but Raif more so) was put through, he'd better get a nice ending with her! I think Demetrios wrapped up the series perfectly, and ended the story in a way that really fit and made things work. I loved this book, with all of its heartbreak and despair, its hopefulness and passion and love.What I Did Not Like:I already talked this to death, but my sole complaint would be something that is and isn't a complaint. I always hate long separations between the main couple, and the separation between Raif and Nalia was brutal. It was tough more so because it was so long (the duration of time, I won't say specifically), and they don't know how the other is doing, during this separation.BUT AGAIN. I think the separation was necessary, in the end. When it first, errr, happened, it definitely didn't feel that way. But the story couldn't have gone in the direction that it did, without the separation. Still, I hate separations!Would I Recommend It:I highly recommend this book, if you're already somewhere in the series! This is an excellent and highly engrossing conclusion novel that will take you for a ride, make you feel every emotion possible, and keep you on your toes until the epilogue. In general, I recommend the series. It started off looking like there would be a crappy love triangle, but that wasn't the case. I love the culture and magic and lore behind this series, and the sweet and sexy romance between Raif and Nalia, and the gritty, bloody battle to reclaim Arjinna. Demetrios has masterfully written a powerful, epic fantasy series here! Rating:4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. I'm rounded down but I really enjoyed this book. Demetrios makes up for all of the separation and heartbreak in the second half of the book, I promise. This is such a great conclusion novel! I wish more YA trilogies ended as well as this book - with a HEA, but also a realistic ending that doesn't have all of the problems magically fixed or gone. I'm excited to read more by this author, whether series or standalone! Bad Romance is next for me.Pre-read squees:Finished with Blood Passage . While it didn't on a cliffhanger (YAY!), I'm going to need Freedom's Slave RIGHT NOW. :D

Emotional ending to a jinn rebellion / revolution series.

Great finale to a series I have really enjoyed.

If you want a trilogy where everyone fucking dies. I don't know why I love it so much after my heart being broken multiple times. Oh right, because it's beautiful. The world and characters are so vivid. Highly underrated trilogy, which is a real tragedy.

This book was a stunning conclusion to an equally stunning series. Nalia was so regal and had such an empress like quality, and she had really grown up. Her stint in the Eye was almost necessary in proving how much love Raif and Nalia had for each other. This is one of my favorite series of all time and I hope you love it as much as I do.

When I heard that I’d get to review FREEDOM’S SLAVE by Heather Demetrios, I was ecstatic! FREEDOM’S SLAVE is the final book in the Dark Caravan Cycle. I read the first book ages ago on a whim, and devoured it. I read an ARC of BLOOD PASSAGE in 2015, when it was supposed to come out that October, but got pushed back to Spring 2016. As a result, I ended up reading it almost two years before FREEDOM’S SLAVE came out, which was quite a wait!I had to wait a while for FREEDOM’S SLAVE, but boy, was it worth it. It was 500+ pages of awesome. Admittedly, the beginning was slow at times, but it was worth it.I was so excited to see what happened with Nalia and Raif in FREEDOM’S SLAVE, and the book did not disappoint. As always, the romance was amazing. I "ship" Nalia and Raif to the ends of the earth and back. No matter what stood in their way, Nalia and Raif could always be counted on to stick together.We were also better acquainted with characters introduced in BLOOD CAPTIVE, as well as introduced to new characters. And trust me when I say there is a new romance that you do not want to miss!While some books are more predictable than others, I did not see the end of FREEDOM’S SLAVE coming. The hits just kept coming, but somehow Nalia managed to roll with the punches. While Nalia had her supporters from the Brass Army, no one within Arjinna liked her very much. And so Nalia had to save her world, without the help of its people --- a little hard, to say the least.The world building was amazing. Up until this point, the series has taken place in our world, with a few adjustments, of course. But Arjinna is a whole new place. Heather Demetrios expertly weaves a dazzling world that will leave readers wanting to explore it more.This book, and series as a whole, is definitely for more mature readers. While never truly explicit, there are scenes that aren’t for a younger audience.I highly recommend this series to anyone who’s a fan of THE WRATH AND THE DAWN by Renee Ahdieh or A THOUSAND NIGHTS by E.K. Johnston!Reviewed by Isabel C., Teen Board Member

Great end to a fantastic series. The first part of the book was a tad boring, especially Nalia's time in the Eye. But, after she left the Eye, the book came alive. ROMANCEAt the heart of this series is the love story between Nalia and Raif, the empress and the revolutionary. Two people who would never have come together, the Ghan Aisouri and the Djan who would never have met each other before the war but whose love story would allow Arjinna to rise again. Their love story broke the traditions, the customs, the norms and everything that had been the bedrock of Arjinna and rewrote everything. I loved it. How Nalia and Raif balanced each other other. How they loved each other and with this love changed their country for the better. And some of the prose, especially in the romance scenes, is terrific. The characters A whole new set of characters are introduced to us, including Taz (who did appear in book 2), Kes and Shirin (whom we hear from for the first time). I loved the differing perspectives and the ability to look into the heads of everyone to see how they felt and what they were thinking. It was intriguing and made the story greater.And so, magic and adventure combined with the above-mentioned elements to create an unforgettable story, one I know that I will likely keep returning to.

This was an amazing series. The first book I was skeptical until about half way through the book and then the second and third book I was not able to put the book down. This book was majestically written in a way in which I was captivated, Nalia was in the Eye and lost in the darkness, found and became a warrior a leader and a wife, and then reborn into a slave of freedom and royalty. She is a true heroine and a feminist. This book has underlying messages and awareness of race, oppression, and human trafficking. Also has messages woven into the story of environmental crisis and repairing the land. This message was made clear in the land of lava and ash as well as the Godsnight events.The moral of the story is to be just and fair, nonjudgmental, and respect the land beautifully interwoven into a tale of warriors and undying love.

This was an amazingly whimsical, sensual and enthralling series. It was reminiscent of Alladin in how it incorporated the magical jinni elements and my notion of them, but it never became too stereotypical or expected so as to steer clear from becoming a ridiculous representation of jinni fiction. It was well written, action-packed, and I love how the main character and her love interest had this star-crossed lovers feel to them, ever since the beginning of this series. The message was also a very wholesome one: that good/love always prevails. It's a little too PG and I would have appreciated a more adult perspective on everything, but it was still a very solid read. I think it's also interesting how the refugee situation in the book now finds it parallel in our world.

Yep. I loved it. All because of the reconciliation and the beauty of it all. Arjinna is amazing and the fantastic end was all I could think of for days. I love it. Highly recommend the series despite its shortcomings and infuriating plot twists.

** spoiler alert ** This was a really long read. Although it was exhausting, I'm not gonna lie, I loved every minute of it. The only reason why I gave it 4 stars in stead of 5, aside from the long length, was because this book had yet another love triangle and I am getting tired of those.

I really liked the way that ended! In spite of it taking me literally weeks to get through it. I really did love this world and the characters. It was a slower, quieter series which may have contributed to me taking forever to read it, but mostly I think I've just been busy. Sigh.

I’m so.............I don’t-There are no words.