Review: Amazing Conclusion to this Epic Series, Go Semara!!!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 30, 2014
My CommentsI’m finally able to review the conclusion to this AMAZING series, Knight has quickly become one of my FAVE YA authors as her writing just transports me into these pages and I forget everything else around me!!  The first three chapters are INTENSE, but definitely stay true to the story and just when you think you know how the plot would progress, it all changes again….. so if you think you know how things will transpire in Balance after this incredible journey with Semara (I certainly did), you would be very, VERY wrong.  However, that only shows Knight can be true to the story AND brilliant with plot twists.  This story is not for the faint of heart (which I consider myself to be), but it IS worthwhile to courageously follow Semara and her friends as they finally win this ongoing battle.  The Rebels are coming for you, Mandesa, your time is up!Like I mentioned, the first three chapters take off just as Pendulum ended so there is no gap in time as Balance begins.  I cried a little at the sadness of this beginning, some soldiers die here, and the battle rages on.  Nothing graphic is described, but it’s tangible as Semara fights back with her fellow rebels.One of my favorite scenes happens in the beginning, the Arc leaves the ocean and goes airborne!!  In my mind, it happens in slow motion…..gradually the submarine leaves the depths of water with the awesome Raeth navigating this change!  The propeller, the engine mechanics, and all other underwater functions cease as this change occurs and as the vessel goes into the air the water and debris melt off giving it the momentum it needs to go forward.  The view changes to go in front of the ship as it travels upward and we see it pass by in the air as it engages into warfare, avoiding the blue mist/buildings/other obstacles and starts heavy fire to help Freedom escape unscathed!  This scene is over in a few seconds, but I loved it and this is what I envisioned :)Everything changes for the Triune in this book and the plot slows down while they recover.  There is less romance in this story, but I considered that a good thing because Balance is more about Semara’s relationship with Harrison than anyone else.  As much as I enjoy the romance, a girl needs her dad and this book shows their relationship improve beautifully.In the first part of the story, Ryder gets traumatized because of something he experiences and his connection with Semara literally gets put on hold.  Even though I sympathized with the guy and still believe he’s perfectly suited for her, he REALLY doesn’t get her in the first half of the book and that was a small disappointment.  There’s a huge misunderstanding between them as they both must work to overcome new issues, but I kept wondering when they would get a break as a couple.  There are also a few brief sensual scenes with them and I find myself wishing that there was a middle ground for them.  Nothing inappropriate happens, but Semara misses his touch desperately.  Just as he recuperates and things improve, he tries to win her heart once more, but will he be too late?  I do believe that Ryder makes up to Semara whatever distance settled between them, but it slows the story down.  *Come on Ryder, get it together now!!*Semara gets another huge revelation in this book, but the moment she finds out I felt like screaming at her….”STOP asking questions when you know it’s bad news!”  It’s in the past, but it throws another twist into the plot that I did NOT see coming.  There’s also a traitor (possibly more than one) among the rebels and they have to be careful until they find out who that is.  Semara does not get to use her powers for much of the book and that changes the dynamics of the story.  Also, Semara turns 18 and this changes everything (good and bad).  The brief moment with the kids was utterly sweet!Dear Semara:Please hear me out because you are such an extraordinary character and you deserve to be at peace with yourself.  You are and NEVER will be NOTHING like Mandesa!!!  After living in her evil custody for a decade (or longer), she did EVERYTHING she could to break you and turn you into her, but she couldn’t!  You are your father’s daughter and an amazing leader.  You think that everyone around you is brave and capable, but you missed one very important revelation.  You have GREATNESS within you and you’re a born leader, YOU CANNOT  FAIL.  Things happen unexpectedly and they definitely go wrong, but that’s not because of you.  The people who have died for this cause have done so willingly and their memory will be honored long after Mandesa and her tyranny have ceased.  There is evil, injustice, and unfairness in this world, but there are also leaders like yourself who will make whatever sacrifices are necessary to thwart them.  Please don’t give up hope, you deserve to be happy and free just like your friends.  I have been with you on this journey…..I have laughed with you, cried with you, and cheered you on through this.  You have inspired me and given me hope.  You have provided refuge and survived the impossible.  I have faith that you will continue to overcome and do the right thing.  I know it’s difficult figuring out who you are and where you belong with such a confusing and dysfunctional past, but I have always believed you would get it and you don’t need anyone else to be your strength.  Your instincts and your dreams are more accurate than you realize.  Keep fighting, Semara, hope is not lost and the victory is yours!!  Keep defying the dark, Semara, your readers are with you ALL the way!!My favorite characters in this book were Harrison and Dred.  Their love and support for Semara enhances the plot beautifully!  There is also more of Maggie and that kept me smiling, you just GOTTA love that woman (there’s one scene when Semara nearly knocks her over in a hug and that’s EXACTLY how I would’ve reacted)!!  Something else I loved in Balance is Penton and his “special” inventions, wow :)  Can I keep him?  Also LOOOOOVED the children’s safe place…..Wow, such a GREAT scene that I would love to learn more about if any part of this series gets extended!!  Raeth made me SOOOOO proud, I was just amazed by her character growth.  She goes from being terrified of assassins and unable to cope in so much of Escapement to bombing assassins in Balance, go Raeth!  She’s also an incredible pilot, feisty, passionate, totally in love with Penton, and no longer terrified of anything.I want to honor both minor characters and one main character who do not survive Balance.  One of these characters is Lanena, Semara’s real mom.  Lanena was murdered before the series started, but she has a very loving presence in the story that strengthens Semara in amazing ways.  Even though this is a fictional story, it became personal for me and I loved these characters.  So it’s my pleasure to honor the fallen for their sacrifice and their allegiance to Semara and the Rebellion.  The one main character was someone that loves Semara and was able to give their life helping her succeed.  I was deeply saddened with this person’s murder, but they will not be forgotten.Other scenes that stood out to me that were just amazing…..there’s a very special celebration in the story that is a “FINALLY” moment and just beautifully written, that alone is worth the price of this book!  Also sooooo enjoyed how Harrison communicates with Semara, Ryder, Raeth and Penton with his mind.  That is DEFINITELY a gift that comes in handy several times!  And there’s a moment where Semara, Raeth, and Penton get inked together (special tattoos); Ryder gets re-inked and it’s just a very special moment in the book that symbolizes they’re already a family…..such a beautifully descriptive moment!The ending of Balance gets kind of wild because it’s a total showdown with Mandesa, but it’s so worthwhile.  Another main character gets injured and it’s slightly gory.  Balance is not my favorite book in the series, but I was very satisfied with its conclusion and I felt that the violence was necessary even though some of it is sad.  It was interesting because Semara has been fighting for so long, she doesn’t consider what happens next putting a new Council together and restoring the evil Mandesa left behind.  She is finally able to move forward and it was an absolute pleasure to see that part of her life.I’m relieved to finally see the conclusion to this wonderful series, but I’m also partly sad it’s over.  Does anyone ever feel like that when they grow to love the characters and the journey you’ve been on with them ends?  If I HAD to choose a favorite in this series, it would probably be Escapement, but I connected with the series overall.  Even though each book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading them in order so you can appreciate and follow along accordingly.  I didn’t give Balance five stars because of certain aspects of the story I didn’t agree with.  There is some profanity and the sensuality between Ryder and Semara was just unnecessary for my reading taste.  I’m soooo happy they’re in love, they connect with one another in profound ways, and they’re so well suited for one another…..that’s soooo great!  However, these brief scenes did not enhance the story for me.  That being said, The Neumarian Chronicles is one of my favorite YA series along with Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, Starters by Lissa Price, and Anomaly/Luminary by Krista McGee!  Semara and her friends are such great characters that are easy to relate to and root for as they overcome bombardment, misunderstandings, war, betrayal, suicide bombers, MORE assassins, treachery, the unknown, seeing innocents being murdered and enslaved, and other traps that come their way.  Yet they discover in Balance that it’s not JUST about surviving, but also not letting yourself become hardened and allowing yourself to love those around you without fear of losing them.  You have to fight for freedom, but it’s worth fighting for!!I want to thank the author and author’s assistant April for the review ecopy of Balance provided (the rest of the series I purchased).  I also want to thank April for answering my questions and discussing the book with me to help me understand and get the closure I needed for this book.  It was such a pleasure reviewing this one!  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed are my own.