Review: This highly romantic series is among the best of the best
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 1, 2014
Honestly? I did not anticipate that the finale in Karen Amanda Hooper’s Kindrily series would be this good. I mean, I knew the book was going to be good, but FIGHTING FOR INFINITY provided  more intensity, more unpredictability and a greater onslaught of emotions than I could have ever predicted.Few paranormal books deliver for me these days, and as a result I’ve been choosing more realistic stories over the more “magical”, other-wordly tomes that are on the shelves. Even still, I approached the release of FIGHTING FOR INFINITY with high, high hopes. Hopes that my favorite characters would come out on the other side in one piece, hopes that all my questions would be answered and hopes that everything I loved about the first two books would be found here for one final hurrah. Karen not only fulfills these hopes, she also goes above and beyond when it comes to pulling her world, her plot and her characters full circle. All my questions have been answered. Every last one.Now for some disclosure: I’ll admit, I am honored to call Karen a personal friend of mine. While I value her friendship, I will be nothing but honest in my review.…On this note, Karen is a wonderful author who is very interactive with her readers. At the end of the book preceding FIGHTING FOR INFINITY (titled Taking Back Forever) she allowed readers to choose where they stopped reading. The story basically ended on an unbearably dramatic cliffhanger, but if you preferred you could stop reading at an earlier, easier to swallow part of the novel. She repeats those extra final chapters (with a personal note to readers) at the beginning of FIGHTING FOR INFINITY. THAT’S how much she cares about her reader’s emotions… and their sanity.After the first chapters, the story moves on to what happens immediately after the previously mentioned cliffhanger. So much logic is involved when it comes to what happened to Maryah. We’re also introduced to a new character (Rina, whom I guarantee you will love) and a few familiar faces. (Remember the despicable River, anyone?) Many of the characters -  both new and old - will surprise you.I love how the matters of trust and redemption are handled within FIGHTING FOR INFINITY. Maryah, Nathan and the rest of the Kindrily need to face their own personal doubts, knowing that the right or wrong decision they make and the absence or presence of trust will directly impact whether they live or die. This may be a story about reincarnation, but life after death is not always guaranteed.FIGHTING FOR INFINITY is a story that goes beyond that of just Maryah and Nathan. The fate of their kind is being threatened. The source of their troubles will shock you. I always wondered what it was that would make Maryah erase her memories and the answer was my least expected guess. Even mid-way through the novel, my mind was full of doubt. Their story circles as far back to the very first meeting between the two soul mates. Although new revelations and characters are presented, EVERYTHING is connected. Everything goes back to multiple of their previous lives. I just… Woah… Karen, how did you manage to keep it all straight?As for the beyond epic finale itself. The word “fighting” in the title of FIGHTING FOR INFINITY is there for a reason. This is NO anti-climactic Breaking Dawn-esque non-battle. Maryah and co. will fight to keep their family together, they will fight to find out the truth, they will fight to the death, if need be – but obviously with the hope that death will not be final. Karen takes her battle from the sunlit cliffs of Arizona (only my favorite place on earth) to the sky-high peaks foreign lands. Not everyone will make it out alive – and reincarnation is not guaranteed. Or is it? You will have to find out the answer to that question yourself.As always, Karen’s writing is impeccable. Her extensive research is apparent. Her story is solid and fully imagined. On par with (if not better than) most of the “big six” paranormal releases out there, I would place this highly romantic series among the best of the best, not to be missed.Pros:- A wonderfully satisfying conclusion, FIGHTING FOR INFINITY is the polish that makes this stellar paranormal trilogy shine.- Maryah’s growth shows so much in this installment. The choices she makes are a far cry from the indecisive and ignorant girl in the first installment.- Readers who may have turned away due to the romantic elements in book two can return with the reassurance that FIGHTING FOR INFINITY turns down the heat considerably. It’s more on par with the YA tone of book one.Cons:- SPOILER ALERT (highlight to view): I want more. Perhaps we can have another story about the, er, “future” generation of Kindrily?- POSSIBLE SPOILER (highlight to view): Some relationships may be disturbing. Questionable situations involving Maryah and Dedrick are implied, although the answers may alleviate these qualms. There is one scene when the later party appears to be violating Maryah’s body without her permission.Go on, guys! Pick up this title today! (For only $3.99, how can you not?) Just be sure to start with book one, Grasping at Eternity, otherwise you will be completely lost.Plot: 10Characters: 10Setting: 10Pacing: 10Style: 10Grade: 100