Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

Legacy #3

by Melissa K. Roehrich

The only way to survive in a realm full of villains is to become one.

A Fated Purpose
Tessalyn Ausra has taken her revenge, and it’s never tasted so sweet. Feared by the rulers of Devram, she’s under the protection of the Achaz Kingdom where she can fulfill her purpose. But with power she can’t control and the bond still in place, she finds temptation and chaos around every corner. Correcting the balance promises the ultimate freedom, but the dark still calls, even if destiny beckons. She’s finally found her purpose in this world. Will it lead to salvation or destruction?

A Broken Destiny
Theon St. Orcas has been planning for this moment his entire life. Finally the Arius Lord, he’s more alone than ever. Axel is missing, Luka is in another kingdom, and he’s left with two broody strangers from another realm and no Source. Once again, he’s racing against time to figure out a history that’s been manipulated. Pulled in all directions, sacrifices are demanded. How can he protect his people when the biggest threat is the one he’d sacrifice anything for?

A Tempting Betrayal
Sent to a foreign kingdom, Luka Mors finds himself the outsider he’s always dreaded being. Needing to stay at Tessa’s side, he’s in the center of a dangerous game, but more than that, he’s forced to stay in the presence of a temptation he’s been denying for years. He’s always prided himself on his loyalty, but what does he do when that loyalty starts to waver?

Destiny beckons, and sacrifice demands.
This is book 3 of 4 in The Legacy Series, an adult, dark fantasy romance series with elements that may be triggering to some readers. Please be sure to check the updated content information on Melissa's website. Seriously. We know they are all walking, talking red flags at this point. Read the content information, then embrace the darkness.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Fae, Romance, Dark Romance, Audiobook

672 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2024

About the author

Melissa is a dark fantasy romance author who loves coffee, dragons, and constantly rearranging her bookshelves. She spends her time writing, reading, and homeschooling her three boys in the Middle-of-Nowhere, North Dakota, where she lives with her boys, husband, dogs, multiple barn cats, and chickens on a small farmstead. She is constantly trying to convince her husband they need to add goats and ducks to the mix, and one day, she'll succeed.

She's not here much, so if you're looking to connect, check out the following:

*Facebook Reader Group: Melissa's Dragon Cave
*Discord: https://discord.gg/GTY757MCXF
*Instagram: @melissa_k_roehrich
*TikTok: @authormelissakroehrich

Reviews

[Marianna Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

*clears throat, taps mic*

6 stars of complete and utter excruciatingly painful PERFECTION. This series has now solidified its spot on my all time favorite fantasy romance series list… dare I say it may even be god tier??? Yes. Yes it absolutely is.

“Even the monsters and the villains need others. We’re not mean to do life alone.”

Cry count total: 5. THAT ENDING DESERVES JAIL TIME (in the best way I swear). I feel like a part of my heart was left in the last chapter and I’ll never get it back but I’m okay with it.

Where does one even begin with this MASTERPIECE?! Somehow each book in this series just progressively gets better and better. Despite this being the most painful, it is also my favorite so far without a doubt… I mean I’m a sucker for emotional damage so are we surprised? NOPE.

Book 3 picked up right where book 2 left off and it was nonstop from page 1! Did I stay up all night to read a 750 page book in 24 hours? Yes, of course I did. That should say it all. Not a dull moment, not a word I wanted to skip over. The type of book that you are physically incapable of putting down despite feeling like you are on a never ending emotional roller coaster. I’m beyond impressed with how the plot continued to thicken and grow in complexity without things getting confusing or feeling like one big info dump. We get so many answers in this book but Melissa, like the genius she is, continues to keep us on edge by withholding just the right amount of information. She literally has me wrapped around her finger at this point. 

Obviously I’m a sucker for books that make me feel so many emotions so deeply and my god do these characters make you FEEL! They are all so morally grey and flawed and complex and have so many layers I can’t help but fall in love with them and all their imperfections because it feels so REAL.

Starting with TESSA. Holy hell. She was the epitome of feminine rage in this book and though she absolutely infuriated me at times I have been waiting for her to finally snap after everything she has been through and I ate it up. I love an unhinged murderous women seeking vengeance. Watching her ever so slowly start to accept love and the darkest parts of herself towards the end up this book made me so excited for the growth we are without a doubt going to get from her in book 4. She’s crazy and her crazy speaks to my soul.

Don’t even get me started on Luka and Theon. The fact that you get not one, but two tortured soul book men in this…. My top 10 book boyfriends are fighting for their lives right now.

Which one to start with..?? I’ll go with the grumpy, broody dragon shifter who will quite literally burn down the world for her. Luka SIR I AM SAT. The mouth on this man. I could not stop giggling and kicking my feet. I love how he never holds back when it comes to Tessa, he somehow always knows what she needs before she does. We love a man who isn’t afraid to tell her like it is but also supports all of her rage and viscousnesss. We got to know him so much more as a character in this book and let’s just say… he did not disappoint.

My sweet fucked up, damaged, emo sad boy Theon. I LOVE HIM YOUR HONOR AND I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR IT! Theon may not be everyone’s favorite but he is in fact mine! I. Can. Fix. Him. The YEARNING and pining we got from this man. The love he has for Tessa is felt so viscerally I wanted to actually scream!!! Watching Theon grovel actually made my entire year. He is a MMC that is truly morally grey and will not be for everyone but that’s totally fine, more for me. Getting more of his backstory and watching him try to learn how to love in his own twisted way actually brought me to tears on multiple occasions. Consider him redeemed in my book. I shouldn’t be as obsessed with him as I am but like here we are and there’s no turning back.

“I would sacrifice all the realms and all the stars for you. You are perfectly wild. Perfectly untamed.“

Every single POV was PERFECT! I absolutely love each side character in this book! They all have their own unique purpose and add so much more depth to the story. This is not a series where I find myself dreading some characters POVS or feeling like they are unnecessary. Axel and Kat are EVERYTHING TO ME! And god I’m so scared for them. Now that I mention it…. I’m fucking scared for everyone at this point so…..

So in conclusion: this book changed my brain chemistry, I’m not the same person i was before I entered the world of Devram, and I will not be okay until book 4 is out. HAVE TISSUES READY!

RUN don’t walk to read this series if you like:
- Dark fantasy romance
- Flawed, complex characters drive you to the point of insanity yet you can’t help but fall in love with them
- EVERYONE being TRULY morally grey (walking talking red flag men)
- Touch her/him you DIE
- A FMC on her fucking REVENGE arc
- Meddling gods
- Kingdom politics
- Contemporary high fantasy
- Dragon shifter broody MMC
- MMCs with the most tortured souls
- Fae, vampires, witches AND MORE
- Extensive and intricate world building
- Books where nothing is as it seems
- EMOTIONAL DAMAGE
- Multi-POV
- Unique magic system/plot
- Romance that will rip your heart out and stomp all over it. Repeatedly.
- scrumptious spicy spice (not too much the perfect amount in my opinion)

As always friendly reminder this is a DARK fantasy romance. Emphasis on the dark, so please check your trigger warnings before stating this series.

So so so beyond grateful to have received an ARC copy of this book from Melissa and her team ♥️

[Emmy Rosam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last line goes CRAZY. Melissa is a genius. 6 stars 🌟 This series is everything to me.

[évieane]

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ──── ㅤ-: ✧ ‍‍‍‍‍ unfortunately, 2024's first DNF
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍╰┈➤˗ˏˋㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ page 305


ㅤ So...apparently I was not able to get over those specific things like I hoped. 😅 One of the tropes I absolutely hate in a book is related to reverse harems/love triangles/poli-relationships and, as you have probably guessed, this series indeed includes a poli-relationship (concerning the main character). My anger would have probably been way reduced if I have known from the very beginning what this series will later come to include, but no. When I first started this series, back on the release day of the very first book, there were absolutely no mentions about a possible MFM relationship.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Therefore, you may fully understand my shock and disappointment when a poli-relationship was suddenly starting to develop in the second book. I want to make it very clear that this is absolutely a personal preference, based entirely on my own taste and in no way am I criticising anyone for this. I would have only appreciated the heads-up before I started caring for this series and characters; especially since it is such a struggle for me to leave something unfinished and to quench my curiosity about an intriguing plotline.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Despite my disappointment, I can still recognise and praise an amazing plot and insanely good writing in a book. Exactly due to these reasons, and because of my insane respect for Melissa as a writer, I will not pour my disenchantment into a review and a rating that might affect the book's popularity, especially since this is based only on a personal preference and not an issue with the book itself. Therefore, I will not be offering any rating to this book as to not affect its overall rating in any way. It would have been nice if the tag for the type of relationship that was going to be explored had been included from the very beginning of this series only so that such a thing would not happen; but I suppose it was decided that the wish to not spoil even the slightest of elements from this series was more important than correctly advertising a series.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I might get back to this series sometime in the future, maybe when the last book would have also been released, but that would be only because my curiosity about a really amazing plot might somehow be greater than my displeasure for some specific elements here. Until then, I wish lots of love and appreciation to this book from its target audience, as I am unfortunately not part of it.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Maybe I am simply too old fashioned to understand this new trend with the entire poli-amorous dynamics, but that is fine since I do not plan to jump into it anyway. Just advertise your books correctly from the very start.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Feel free to spoil anything to me in the comments for this if you wish, though!!! I might actually need that 👀



────────────────────────
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ᯓ ✿ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍pre-reading ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⪼ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ i genuinely don't know why I am doing this to myself; my curiosity for the plot wins, i guess, and I am brave enough to think I can get over the things I KNOW i will hate. At least I am sure the plot will be insane and the writing just as good.....

[Britt ★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I fucking hate that bitch Tessa

[Eloise Samaha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tessa might be the stupidest character in any fantasy series I've ever read she is one temper tantrum away from mentally regressing to the age of 3

[Madison Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

in a shocking turn of events another legacy book is in fact 5 stars and having to wait for the next one feels like a punishment tbh…

[naz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝑾𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓," 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒅. "𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒎𝒆, 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎."

The way this book had me on the edge of my seat!! 😱 I won’t spoil anything since this is book 3, but I will scream at the top of my lungs about how amazing this series is! Why? Because every action has consequences, and while there is happiness and love, you have to live in the consequences first. That’s exactly how this book is built!!! Tessa makes mistakes, Theon makes mistakes, Luka makes mistakes, and even our dearest Axel has his small tiny mistake (lol). We see the domino effect of it all unfold and AGHH, that’s what I LOVE about this book!

The character development is deep, raw, traumatic and don’t even get me started on Tessa’s evil era that basically defines her whole personality in this book. YES GIMME MORE! 😈🔥 Love to see how the villain is the main character heheh

𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅

I seriously can’t believe half of what happened in this book there were multiple gasp moments! 😱 And now there’s only one more book to go?!! MELISSA, PLEASE EXPLAIN YOURSELF! 😩

Highly recommend this series to anyone who loves being held in a chokehold by their current read, throw the book around, and maybe even screaming at it (the best part of reading, tbh)!!

⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅The villain era has commence, the way this is one of my most anticipated reads I have for the year. I AM BEYOND EXCITED.

[Bailee Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

5, maybe even 6 stars

I LOVE when a highly anticipated book not only meets your expectations but SURPASSES them.

Hands down the best book in this series so far. I love these characters so much. There was not ONE freaking slow part imo in this book. I mean even the non-action scenes were filled with information or angst. I just- UGH I WANNA SCREAM!!!!

Tessa, I love her but I want to SHAKE HER. But I also want to hug her. I’m having lots of mixed emotions because homegirl has trauma, but she’s making DUMB decisions. Ugh. JUST LET PEOPLE LOVE YOU!!!!!

The men. I love Luka, I really love his dragon ass. I love that he’s a hoarder and I love that he’s steady in everything. BUT THEON? I love that emo sad boy. He. Breaks. My. Heart. I want to RAGE at him right now. But also love him.

There was SO much info in this book and that cliffhanger was BRUTAL. But I love them even more now.

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

✩ 2.25 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Morally Gray MC’s
➼ Visions & Prophecies
➼ Secrets & Betrayals
➼ Fated Mates
➼ FMC Villain Era
➼ Feminine Rage
➼ Touch Him/Her and Die
➼ Dual Narration
➼ Third Person Multi POV

Sorry to the fans, but I’m sick of these characters and this series. Tell me why I really thought this was a trilogy and I could get through these 672 pages and be done? 😫 People seem to love “feminine rage,” but I usually hate it because it basically just means that the FMC sinks to the level of their oppressors and becomes the “bad guy.” I want my MC’s to stay good and still overcome the challenges they face without becoming evil and I’m surprised more people don’t agree. Her character has become completely unhinged, such terrible character progression in my opinion.

I’m also really not a fan of the weird poly throuple situation happening between Tessa, Luka and Theon. I’m not saying I will never read another Reverse Harem series, but I don’t plan to read many and I don’t like that this series developed into that after the first book. If I had known that was where this was heading, I probably wouldn’t have started this series at all.

Not even Axel gave what I needed him to give in this book. His repeated use of the nickname “kitten” probably had a lot to do with my annoyance with him. The way he said it tended to sound condescending in my opinion. Honestly there were quite a few overused cheesy nicknames in this book. Baby girl might have been the worst. Weirdly I don’t mind Little Storm, but Theon can’t be redeemed in my eyes after book one... sorry not sorry.

I’m so annoyed with myself knowing I’ll probably still read the next one for some kind or closure. It better be the final book!

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: The ending of the last book left so much up in the air! Need to know where the author takes this story. Starting now. 💙

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[Olga · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not sure where to start... I had forgotten so much about what happened in the previous books... that itself should have warned me.
Scattered. This book, this whole series, is all over the place.

I would reread the whole series so far to be able to provide you with proper examples but... have the characters changed personality all of a sudden?
Theon in particular? I feel he is kind of given a redemption arc situation in the way he is acts in this book. He was always doing the right thing for Tessa and everyone, but here it is simply presented as a quality when in the previous books I felt we had to feel the opposite?

Thank gods Tessa is starting to be remotely agreeable to common sense. While keeping monumentally important staff from everyone.
Gods forbid she actually helps instead of spiralling into disaster, has her character grown at all? I keep wondering, I feel she is changing cause the plot needs her to, not because she is particularly learning to be different. Despite the unconditional love of not one but two surprisingly reasonable men. Honestly if there is a real poli situation (which at this point I don't think will feel remotely real) happening only Theon and Luka can pull it off.

There is SO much going on behind the scenes that is hard to read. We get gods and goddesses and lessers and legacies and auguries and hunters and vampires and fae and angels and shifters and other realms and prophecies and fates and furies. Just no. There is way too much to confuse a reader, and I feel I am at an advantage having read the Lady of Darkness series. What *is* a being of Chaos? Why can't the author explain more of these things? The mechanics? We keep being told characters are "more than". More than what? More than Gods? Who can't seemingly do anything? More than... what exactly. The author keeps telling me, yet I have to choose to believe it.

What are the Fates, if anything specific? Why is Achaz such an asshole? Where is Temural?What'ss up with the whole witches thing we seem to disconcertingly pass over? Why don't we learn anything at all in this book? Why don't we dwell on the lore? Unravel the bigger issues? Is there a whole other series coming up with more little pieces of the bigger story of the gods so we can *finally* understand it?

[Amelia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pure disappointment… what a shit show it was and I hated every minute I read this! Author lost her mind for real! What a disgusting messy shit 🤮

Ps: reviews are for readers if authors are getting offended I don’t give a flying fuck!

I was obsessed with first book then I see what she was planning to do in second book which I wasn’t sure then. Later I read this one, it was bad like so bad. Author randomly decided to change her romance plot after book one because she ruined Theon character throughly that she needed a new MMC. She literally created a new main male character which is supposed to stay platonic because it looks weird, revolting and it doesn’t fucking fit! She even created and hinted new bond with luka and tessa 😒 It’s borderline bad and inconsistent writing. I genuinely thought it was polyamorous relationship but nope it was absolutely bad and inconsistent writing. Also Luka was calling her “little one” on book one and always wanted to fuck her!? what kind of pedo shit was that even his explanation made it worst 🤮

Author has no idea what character development is because I didn’t see ounce of it except Theon. Especially on Tessa omg one character never ever changed for 3 books!? Like give me a fucking break. I have never ever hated fmc more than her. She was in a hard power trip because oo how special how magical she is 🙄 (bitch please) She has toddler level of emotional intelligence and she is whiny and stupid! Author kept hinting she is clever and I am like “where!?” she is one dimensional, whiny and oo so special character but not in a good way 🙄

Luka is one big piece of shit through and through omg what a disgusting friend he is! His shiny rock syndrome was unbearable “she is mine” suddenly oo so powerful guardian bonds nonexistent lol what a joke 😒 He became oo so important so special main male character for Tessa 🙄😅 Author brought up his whole dead family alive and made hem side characters lmao it was such a weird inconsistent shit again!

Agh my baby Theon you don’t deserve how you became side character and pushed aside. Then I loved he got some character development but in the end he also sacrificed that development for crusty ass Tessa (another inconsistent writing). Also how the fuck Theon was okay with sharing!? Oh so possessive!? How Theon was okay with it!? (another inconsistency) I am gonna pretend this is it for Theon and move on!

Author also ruined and has no idea what to do with Axel and Katya which they were my favorite and I am so glad I was right about them from the beginning. I am gonna pretend they’re happy the way I left them!

Plot got so stretched out and no idea where it is going and I didn’t give a flying fuck since I have never ever hated any characters like I hate Tessa and Luka. This series is done for me and I’d never ever read any book of this author. I am disappointed and angry because I really loved this series in book one and now I am the number one hater.

Thank god I didn’t waste my money to buy physical books because I’d pissed every time I see these books on my shelf and remind me of waste time and money.

Truly I hated every minute I have read this book! I wish I can dnf books! Giving 1⭐️ gave me little bit joy though ngl if I save one person from this, it’s a win! I am full of regret that I should never ever started this series.

Thank god it’s fucking over!!

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Tell me how to love you, because I’ll pluck stars from the sky and walk through your flames. And when I’ve turned, and this bond we never got to have has faded, I’ll still choose you. I’ll still love you, and it will mean even more because we’re choosing it.”

im so shocked to be giving this a 4 star cause the series up until this point has been a 3 star experience at best. i really adored the romance between Axel and Kat here and all the pain that came with their situation. i mean, Kat being pregnant, Axel turning into a vampire and losing his magic, and her having to break the twin flame bond?! if one more thing goes wrong ima lose my shit 😩. i will say that i still don’t like Tessa at all, not a fan of whiny characters who take no accountability but i did like the romance with Luka and how he was the only one who made her feel comforted. even Theon kinda grew on me, he showed Tessa and Luka a lot of grace and allowed them to process their feelings for one another without him interfering. (also, that scene where he talked them through it is living in my head for all of eternity). the ending where he basically was willing to sacrifice himself to protect everyone else made him more redeemable too, even though im sure they’ll find a way to keep him from going through with this. im interested in Tessa’s lineage and how she’s bordering the edge of being an antagonist at this point. im just happy ive finally found a book in this series that i liked.

[Bri Kahama · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really invested in this story but I wish I knew it was gonna be a reverse harem/sharing/MFM situation. I personally hate those kind of books. And Tessa is insufferable. At this point, Theon deserves better, a better girl and a better best friend.

[౨ৎ emily ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️(only because was I expecting an insane ending) So I’m gonna need the next book like I need to breathe atp.

This series has single handidly fucked me right up.

I love all these characters with my whole heart.

I’m actually going to be so sad when the last book comes out and I don’t even have to wait that long. I just don’t want it to be over already.

this is a 5 star series hands down. Every book was uttter perfection.

[Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa pls there’s only so many times you can hurt me

[💫]

tessa better set the world on fire smh

[shaelinslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is going to send me into a spiral. But, like, in the best way possible?

This world is so damn frustrating, and you’re always mad at someone for something, but it’s also so polarizing, because even if you don’t agree with what these characters are doing, you can kind of see why they do these things (due to the POV’s).

80% of this book was me seething at Tessa for being “poor me” throughout this whole book, meanwhile there are Fae still enslaved. It’s giving “Kim, there’s people that are dying” energy.

Lastly, Luka deserves SO much better, and I am living for Theon’s change of personality. So much so, that I like him far better than Tessa, which, what a turn of events???

Basically, this series is gonna rip your heart out, make you cry, throw your book, but also make you fall in love with the world and its characters. I am giving this book 4.5 stars, because I love this world, and the writing- but I needed more Theon, Kat, and Axel. And yes, I am still crying.

[Breanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can someone just kill Tessa please and end all of our suffering with this godforsaken series

[Gabi Koz · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ !!!! My obsession with this series should be STUDIEDDD. What an emotional rollercoaster WOW I am shook to my core.

These characters are so infuriating and yet I still love them all. I cannot believe we have to wait until fall for book 4 😭😭 wow wow wow

Processing before I can make a better review because wtf!!!

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I will not know peace until this series is over"
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Series: The Legacy Series #3
Series Type: Series
Genre: Fantasy
Sub Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance, High Fantasy, Urban elements

Tropes:
- Angsty MMC
- Check trigger warnings
- Emotional
- Foreshadowing
- Morally grey FMC & MMC
- Secrets and Intrigue
- Tension
- Meddling gods
- Dragon shifters
- Vengeful FMC
- "Mine"
- Dirty talk

Other:
- Fantasy Species: Dragon, Fae, Gods/demigods, Humans, Vampyre, Witches
- Format: Digital ARC, Kindle Unlimited
- Plot/Character Driven: Both
- Pacing: Medium
- POV: Multiple POVS
- Narration type: 3rd person limited
- Magic Type: Elemental, Healing Magic, Magitech, Shadow Magic
- Character gender : M/F/M
- Spicy chapters: Not tellling🤭


👨‍👧 Characters
Tessa
Where do I even begin with Tessa? My girl is in her villain ERA! She is such a flawed character but also so relatable when you’ve been stomped on by everyone in your life repeatedly, always being told what to do, and never being able to make your own decisions. It is such a hard cycle to break, and does Tessa make some really questionable choices in here? Yeah, she does. This woman, all she’s ever known is trauma, and she is trying to navigate the best way she can! And I am just proud of the progress she makes.

Luka
The way this man showed up for Tessa in this book will forever go down in history for me! He’s not the man that is going to cave to all your qualms, and he’s not going to tell you what to do. He’s going to be the man that makes you stand up for yourself, support you, and love you no matter what. No matter what your choices are, he will stand by you even if he doesn’t agree with them! Let me tell you, the absolute MOUTH on this man has sent me into another dimension. I did not think that Luka had it in him to give what he gave… broody Dragon shifter, like literally say no more.
“Gods, you can be such a good girl when you’re not being a brat,” 👀👀


Theon
Theon, my messed-up shadow daddy with daddy issues, you are not for everyone. But I'm okay with that, because I claim him as MINE now. He had me in tears so much of this book (not the happy kind lol). I am so sorry, but I forgive him and I understand him. This man has gone through so much trauma, and he is trying the best he can to show those he loves that he cares. Does he try? I’m gonna go cry now.
“You came for me,” she whispered. “I told you I will always find you,” he answered.
- you can go cry now…

🌎 World Building & Magic for Fantasy
Wow, just wow! The way this series interconnects with LOD while standing strong on its own is mind-blowing. Everything about the writing, the world, the magic is just perfection. I’ve been messaging my girlfriend back and forth trying to theorize, and there are not many book series that I can do that with, nor do I enjoy that either. Holy heck, I am so excited for her next series too because I can see all the plot setups for it. I have literally gone down rabbit holes trying to piece together what is happening and where this is gonna go, and I am still absolutely gobsmacked. The level that Melissa has in her books! And if she writes it, I’m going to read it. She’s undoubtedly my favorite author to ever exist!

♥️ What I Loved
I giggled, I screamed with joy, and I cried countless tears. Now, I am emotionally ruined and broken. How this book surpasses the first two is beyond me—it’s actually insane! Everything was done perfectly. I devoured this book in under 24 hours because I loved it so much. I haven’t been able to stop crying since. I wouldn’t change a single chapter; I was captivated and enthralled the entire time. The emotional impact is tenfold. Melissa has a way of making you love characters you initially hate and question those you trust. This series truly portrays a world where everything isn’t black and white, and it brings real-life trauma and healing into the narrative. The characters’ actions reflect real-life struggles, and their flaws are a product of their upbringing and environment. It’s so evident in this book, and it makes you hurt for them.

💔 What I Didn’t Like
How my face looked like absolute crap the next day, and I’ve been crying for a week straight. Yeah, didn’t love that…

📝 Overall Thoughts
I’m seriously depressed now.

Thank you to Melissa for giving me the chance to read this ARC even if she’s Evil and has broken my heart

[Victoria⚔️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will vanish into the void until I obtain book four.

[TJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such uneven characterization, and some characters (looking at some of our main players here) are just downright unlikeable and chaotic in not the witty literary way, like the messy wtf am I reading way. I had such high hopes with the first book and was eager to see deep storylines and people evolve, but this is too much. The love triangle thing adds another layer that just doesn’t feel like it fits. It feels like it’s the trendy thing to do now in romance novels, add in a reverse harem or polygamy line- which is fine, but it feels forced here just like some of this oddly developed characterization. And I reeaally don’t get the reverse harem or polygamy thing if there is supposed to be like a “I’m destined for you” or a twin flame/soul mate vibe when the text is pushing that concept for a one-on-one but then accidentally multiple people get thrown into this “I’m yours” love debacle. I just can’t figure this out and am over the trendy stuff ruining books I like

[bookissbyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭐️ (only for Axel & Kat)

"𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒏. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑳𝒖𝒌𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒓." 😶‍🌫️🤢

I DON'T KNOW WHY I DID THIS TO MYSELF WITH THIS BOOK! 💀
Actually I know, I really liked the first two in the series and I tried to not pay much attention to the fact that Tessa is the worst FMC ever written! I thought that she will become less annoying throughout the series but guess what? It's the exact opposite thing!

If you want to read a book where everyone is LITERALLY BABYSITTING Tessa, who is only whinning and matters weird stuff that you don't get answers about or understand them, then go for it! Every single character in this book cares about Tessa, well except Axel & Kat who were my favourites from all the books.

Ok I’m so pissed about this one. Let’s not talk about the fact that the series suddenly became MFM, purposefully for the trending trope, because the first 2 books are clearly focusing on Theon & Tessa, but suddenly Luka pops up from NOWHERE! I would prefer to read Theon & Luka being twin flames at this point! It would be more believable. 🫥

The plot was so fcking complicate that I was lost a lot of times and there were some moments that weren't making sense.
-Like the guardian bond between Theon & Luka that they were apart but it was ok
-Like Theon didn't care about his brother and was only caring about Tessa
-Like the fact that Theon was pushing Luka towards Tessa even though we met him as a super possesive character
-Like the fact that Theon & Luka are best friends but Luka is ok with "betraying" his best friend and having a thing with Tessa
-Like the numerous characters who pop up and we don't understand what is the point of them existing?
-Like the fact that they read all the time books to search info
-What tf are the Fates?

Feminine rage???? More like cringe rage 😑
I was genuinely having second hand embarrassment from reading Tessa’s chapters.

The only thing that is good in this book is Axel’s & Katya’s story. I would read a whole book about these two and I felt really sad about Axel 😥

Disclaimer: I really loved the first two books and I was reading the third book for 3 weeks, which says a lot, cause I wanted to dnf it all the time!

[Haley Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ axel & kat carried this entire book 🙌
also plot twist im starting to prefer Theon over Luka ??

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This book was filled with things I loved and things I did not.

The first 60% of the book was so slow and honestly not much happened other than Tessa was being annoying. I struggled with her character in book 2 and was hoping her “villain era” would make up for it but she didn’t really do much actual villaining. She does have growth at the end of the book, but it’s like too little, too late in my opinion. Her being the love interest also kinda makes me not interested in the romance. Sometimes a relationship is toxic for too long and there isn’t really any coming back from it. I’m not saying Tessa is irredeemable just that, for me, the friendships and relationships are beyond repair.

What I loved: Axel.

I’m still looking forward to seeing how this series wraps up in the final book next year. I do find the world and overall plot interesting.

[Aiste Tauras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toxic chaos. Šita knyga buvo visiškai toxic chaos. And I’m obsessed.🫠

Dar kart pasikartosiu, kad ši serija tikrai ne visiems. Kai visi veikėjai moral grey, čia negali tikėtis jokių teisingų ar sąžiningų sprendimų ar tiesiog ieškoti teisybės. O buvo viskooo. Patikėkit 🔥

Knygos tai pat labai slow paced. Labai. Gal atrodo, kad daug kas ir kartojasi, bet man tai dalis to chaoso, kuris yra neatsiejama serijos dalis. Suprasit skaitant 😁

Bet viską sudėjus, šita serija rado vietą širdy. Šitie veikėjai… jau gyvena rent free in my head. Beto 3 knygos pabaiga labiausiai ir patiko! Labai laukiu 4-tos🥹

[Ms reads a lot · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 51%. I just can’t do it anymore. The FMC is too horrible.

[literary.leyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well now I have to wait 3 months for the series conclusion….. grumble….. grumble….. grumble……

I absolutely love MKR! I have now read everything she’s ever written and I can’t get enough!
Just when you thought the story couldn’t get any better, we get a hot why choose situation. Tessa is really going through it, and it’s exciting to see her find her own footing. Theon is a possessive shadow daddy that’s learning to share and I’m loving every minute of it! Luka is PERFECTION! This is a must read series, but please read Lady of Darkness first or you will be completely confused. I’d say it’s 3 chili’s on the spice scale, when it happens it’s certainly fun but it’s not like we’re spend all our days and nights in bed. The spice happens when it should if that makes sense. Ahhhhh is it August yet!? I’m dying!

Some of my favorite quotes from the book are:
“Time to cum temptress” chapter 20
“Anything is possible if one is willing to pay the price” chapter 21
“You are so vicious” chapter 27
“Destroy me little storm” chapter 38
“Dreams born in the dark become nightmares” chapter 46
“A chosen inevitable” chapter 47
“To wild to wreckless to uncontrollable, control the uncontrollable” chapter 49
“Not meant to exist” chapter 49
“Go live little storm” chapter 50
“Be happy little storm” chapter 50

[Farha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first two and really didn’t enjoy them for a number of reasons, but I had somehow convinced myself this was the last of a trilogy so I forced myself through it for the sake of completing the series and I seriously shouldn’t have wasted my time.

I think Tessa is one of THE worst female leads I have read, she is whiny, annoying and honestly stupid. It’s not naivety or ignorance, it’s actually just stupidity. I tried to give the benefit of the doubt with all her previous trauma but she literally has visions on visions of Achaz using & disposing of her and why she shouldnt trust Rordan but conveniently ignores them to justify her ‘purpose’. This entire book is her just being a really annoying contradiction. For someone who hates to be controlled, she allows herself to be controlled by her fate time after time and then throws a petulant tantrum everytime it has a horrible consequence. I really hate how she’s written as this absolutely powerful being that can ruin the realms but actually she’s just a needy, emotionally stunted child that needlessly relies on other people. She didn’t have any concept of future thought so I don’t like that they made her out to always have this top secret plan and was super clever because she wasn’t. I don’t understand a lot of her choices, even as a victim of her past. The visions felt ultimately useless to read considering she didn’t seem to take any of them into account when she acted (she had the vision about Lukas not coming for them because of her betrayal and she didn’t think to try nip that in the bud?). All in all, a character that didn’t show a single shred of development in all of the books and maybe even regressed.

I don’t think the author really thought about where these storylines would go as the series progressed because this book felt like her trying to fill in the holes she had inadvertently dug. The absolutely unbreakable bonds could suddenly be suppressed, where separation almost killed Tessa in earlier books, she simply powered through in this one. All of a sudden there were a number of other confusing bonds thrown into place to try account for this ‘inexplicable pull’ random characters had towards eachother. The guardian bond that was unbreakable saw Luka professing his loyalty to Tessa instead. This book basically backtracked on everything that was emphasised in earlier books.

There was so much information dumping to try patch up the messy narratives that it became a nothing book. There wasn’t significant advancement in the storyline over the course of nearly 600 pages but there was A LOT of jargon - all of these random new characters that were sent to help but actually couldn’t do anything because of ~fate~. Everyone talks about how they were trying to help Tessa but also had their own motives and honestly it isn’t clear what their motives are or how they were trying to help beyond the superficial. Apart from Tessa (unfortunately) all the characters were incredibly inconsistent.

Theon was given this strong redemption arc which he deserved but it was written poorly. He went 0-100 on his personality change that it didn’t make sense and I think the author knew that because she basically had Luka take his place entirely. Theon ‘loses’ a brother, Luka finds one. Theon dad is removed from the story, Lukas dad is introduced. It’s not subtle and it shows the lack of forethought in the progression of this story.

Overall, the book spent way too long building up things and claiming there was reasons behind X, Y & Z but it felt nonsensical and amounted to nothing. It then ends with this glimpse of Achaz & Akira having a parallel interaction to Tessa & .. well everyone really. I think it’s meant to be this great cliff hanger but it doesn’t differ from any of the other random characters and plot lines and vague backstories thrown in earlier so at this point i was just glad it was over.

I try not to leave reviews where I am simply being a hater because I think it’s unfair on the authors who poured their heart and soul into their work, but unfortunately, this book just had me so pressed from the first page. I rage read it for absolutely no reason and it was a bad decision.

[Alex Cali · Rating 5 out of 5]

…I do not have the right words. This series has broken me. Broken me in ways I didn’t know I could be.

But 6 motherfucking stars. Masterpiece. Emotional TURMOIL.
Theon…I would follow you anywhere my man.

I am still an emotional puddle since having finished, so bear with me here, because this will be chaotic (which is fitting, iykyk…)

Let’s start with the overall plot and story. This picks up RIGHT after the events of book 2, and if you were waiting for Tessa’s Villian era, that revenge arc, and overall the female rage…boy do you fucking GET IT in this book. I will quite literally breathe in anything with a semblance of feminine rage, and I was well stocked with this book. But on top of that, so much is uncovered, relationships are TESTED, truths and betrayals…it’s, no joke, a roller coaster ride of pain, heartbreak, tenderness, rage, and lots of mother fucking plot twists. You will NOT be bored.

Tessa. I was rooting for you this whole series, and I was absolutely ready to be your cheerleader when you decided to destroy them all. Don’t get me wrong, my girl made LOTS of questionable decisions, but the beauty of Melissa’s writing is that you feel all the feelings with our characters, so you get it. Tessa’s evolution from victim to villain was everything I wanted and more. But I’m so ready for more to come for her. She might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ll drink her up any day.

Luka. I have always been a fated mates, soulmates, one person for me, kind of girl, but this dragon shifter had me questioning myself because I fear I may love him. The dragon softy I never knew I needed. His Tessa’s biggest supporter and I loved to see it.

Theon. Oh Theon. If I didn’t love you before (I totally did and that says a lot about me) I am absolutely FERAL for you now. My favorite control freak. The way his character development happened in this book was EVERYTHING. The self-sacrificing. My god, I just wanted to give you the biggest hug throughout this whole book.

Axel and Katya. The way I SOBBED for these two. I won’t say more, but I love their story, but I fear I will continuously be in pain whenever I read their chapters. They just be protected at all costs.

Melissa writes traumatized characters who simply love too much but have no idea how to show or receive it. And I’m absolutely obsessed with all of them and the world she has created. This hook ended on a gut wrenching cliffhanger that I fear may leave me in shambles for the foreseeable future. Melissa, how dare you…

I am not the same. I need book 4.