Cloudless Horizon (Strands of Existence 4), by Aino Lahteva

Welcome back to Rainy Day Reviews.

Today, I’m reviewing Cloudless Horizon, book 4 in the Strands of Existence fantasy quadrilogy, by Aino Lahteva.

About:

This instalment was a tale of waxing and waning love, of endings and new beginnings, darkness and light. It was a story of hardship and suffering amidst small glimpses of hope for a new and prosperous future.

This fourth and final instalment of Aino Lahteva’s Strands of Existence series  begins with Isa and Rime’s relationship being called into question. While their once strong bond gradually fragments, the witch queen – Istrata – still lurks, unseen, preparing to attack Kerth.

Isa is faced with a tough decision: is she willing to embrace a new way of being, to take the place of an eternal being in order to save her precious Kerth and all those who reside there?

Character Portrayals:

There are four key characters that span the length of this unique fantasy series: Isa, Rime, Reistel, and Istrata (The Witch Queen).

Isa:

Isa has grown into a powerful fire consecratoress who is now wanted by ‘the source’ (an eternal god-like being) to be a guardian for her world. Isa has always been brave and determined, though has often been let down by her impulsive and stubborn nature. Nevertheless, I have seen Isa grow and mature a lot over the course of these four books. Where she once was naïve and overly idealistic, she has become more practical, realistic and bold in her actions, which have enabled her to influence both the people – and environment – around her. 

Rime:

Rime has similarly grown a lot between the four instalments of this series. He has always taken his duty to the people of Kerth seriously but has become increasingly selfless throughout the series, often putting other’s needs ahead of his own, even if it tortures him. He is stubborn, strategically minded and – above all – a decent man, always doing what he deems right in difficult situations. His actions in book four were admirable and I found myself liking him all the more.

Reistel:

Reistel, a powerful frost consecrator has always been a delightful mixture of seriousness and playfulness. Despite his strong feelings for Isa, he has also always been a fair and understanding man. Even with his rough edges – and there are many, especially when he is first introduced in the series – his steadfast nature, courage and determination made him increasingly likable to me. Furthermore, his sense of humour always made the darker moments of the book feel more bearable, like a lantern of hope had been presented through his wry words alone. It’s safe to say that Reistel gradually became my favourite character.

Istrata (AKA: The Witch Queen):

Istrata, the old ruler of Kerth whom Isa was made from, has always been somewhat of a mystery. However, this final book delved deeper into her past and her memories, illuminating much of what had happened to her and how this changed her for the worse. It was interesting to learn more about this character because of the crucial impact she continued to have on the people of Kerth. 

Istrata was mysterious, headstrong, and a truly formidable opponent for Isa. However, at the end, it was the first time where I really saw her humanity, a quality which had been sorely lacking from Isa’s previous interactions with her. Becoming increasingly aware of her past allowed me to understand her better, which made her motives seem almost reasonable, which was somewhat terrifying to consider.

What did I enjoy most?

The following bulleted list conveys the things which I enjoyed most about this book:

•The character’s emotional connections were deep and complex, leading to a strong transference of emotions to the reader, which allowed for greater engagement with the narrative.

•The story’s world is intricate and fascinating, conveyed through vivid imagery.

•The author’s style of humour was expressed well through her characters, especially Reistel, which made the series even more enjoyable.

•In each book, the plot steadily progresses, with tension building gradually, drawing you in.

•The scene where Isa and Reistel connect to the Nexus was so beautifully written that I couldn’t not mention it. The lush green scenery amidst a wider backdrop of chaos and destruction was the perfect form of symbolism, showing how the future could prosper if the protagonists succeeded in their goal.

Memorable Quotes:

Six quotes stood out to me while reading this book.

1) ‘To the ones that are a little different’. 
(An engaging, meaningful and delicate opening message to the reader).

2) ‘He had changed me in so many ways that he would always be a part of me’. 

3) ‘The higher one climbed, the less freedom one seemed to have’. 
(Referring to the social/power hierarchy and loss of freedom the more status you accrue).

4) ‘Language is the key to our thoughts and a way to master them’.

5) ‘Having only one path forward gave a certain undeniable focus and peace of mind’.

6) ‘People needed faith, and better to have faith in things that make you aspire to be better and fulfil your life with the pursuit of improvement than to surrender fully to the idea of everything just being the way it is, without any higher goal and no reason to become more than you are’.

Overview:

This was the perfect ending to the Strands of Existence series: a tense and gripping final instalment in which the characters fight with all they have to succeed, unfortunately having to sacrifice some of the things they cherish most.

Themes included: war, power, love and loss, rebirth and destiny.

My Rating: 5 stars.

I would definitely recommend this series to those who love unique fantasy books. This series is truly spellbinding, with a rich world (including its own extensive history) and characters that continue to grow on you.

Would you like more information?

To learn more about Cloudless Horizon, you can visit its Goodreads page, HERE.
Or, to find out more about Aino Lahteva, simply visit her website, HERE.

Thank you for joining me for today’s review. If you enjoyed this post, please share it with others, or leave a comment with your thoughts.

Have a wonderful week,
Ellie.