I've spent a good portion of the last week revisiting the first two books of this series before delving into the advanced copy I received from the author of this latest addition. Prior to this book, the Dragon Portal series was, by far, one of my favorite reads of the year, so much so that I have been anxiously awaiting Facets of Power since I finished book two several months ago.

This book was absolutely brilliant.

"...Life and death are simply alternative sides of a coin."
"And I've been transmuting coins since I was old enough to walk."

My heart threatened to pound its way through my chest the entire time I navigated the last half of the book. Like the previous two novels, the balance Waters strikes between action, intrigue, secrets and sensual tension is so masterful that her words grip you tight as a demon's embrace and won't allow your escape until the journey is through. I've not been able to guess at a single twist in Sabine's story, and it's been a delightful ride at that. Every time Sabine finds herself in unknown territory, with the odds against her and her allies on similar uneven footing, the author finds a way to have her overcome and thrive in unexpected ways.

It is obvious that I'm drowning in need for the next installment. That I'd recommend this book (and the first two, as they most definitely must be appreciated in the intended order) should go without saying.

As previously stated, I received an advanced copy from the author and am leaving this honest review voluntarily. ( )

Seriously, I love this series.

I was honestly worried that this book wouldn't be as good as the two before...I mean, it happens. Especially when you have a series that is a direct continuation of the book before. However, that is definitely not the case here!! Facets of Power deserves to be read slowly and savored, but I tore through it in one evening.

Like the books before, the plot is fantastic and fast paced. Every time you think there will be a lull to catch your breath, something tears around the corner and shakes everything up again. It isn't exhausting though, it's energizing. The story is continuing to build around Sabine's quest, but there are plenty of side plots and under currents swirling around. The flow from one book to another is seamless and the writing in beautifully done.

We get to meet some new characters and learn a little more about our favorites. I like that the main characters are continuing to change and adapt, but are still, at the core, true to themselves. I also love the new settings that allow for more and more colorful characters to be added. I hope we get to see more of Sabine's struggle to find her balance, this book introduced more about her mother and how she handled her role as Queen.

So in summary, the world is rich and inviting, the characters are complicated and engaging, and the plot is fast and engrossing. What more could you want?? (Except the next book!)

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )