I honestly had higher expectation because I ended up liking book 2 more than I thought I would, especially since this book has the deadly competition aspect. Sadly, that competition is executed so badly that it was the worst one I have ever read in my life. Every contestant does their tests alone and we do not even see the other contestants nor do we even learn their names. Moreover, the competition is barely part of the book, like probably barely even 5-10% of the whole book despite it being the premise of said book.

Overall, a huge disappointment because the whole premise was interesting and the romance was somewhat cringy that I couldn’t get behind it nor cared about the drama because of it. The only thing I like about the book was the reveals about the parents, especially the mom.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy for an honest review.

Each book in the Mousai trilogy works as a standalone book.

Here, we will have the story of Arabessa Bassette, the eldest sister and leader of the Mousai, an obedient daughter, a responsible and caring sister, and the one who always takes the selfless path and assumes all obligations for her king and her family. Arabessa is the one who always does what she needs to, but perhaps never what she truly wants.
And everything is about to change when she decides to fight for the throne of the Kingdom of Thieves. However, more than being the new king, Arabessa will have to make both choices and sacrifices, and the price of forging her own path may cost her the love of the man she has loved since childhood.

Symphony for a Deadly Throne is seductive, enchanting, and absolutely beautiful.

I clung to this book as if it were a soft quilt of years and felt as if my entire body was warm and smiling. In this book, Adilor's world turns old stories into nightmares, and we are swallowed up by this attractive, uncontrollable, and hungry land.
In alternating chapters, we will learn the story of Zimri, and all the pain that wraps around him like a thorny vine, as well as all the things that make his heart beat faster.
He and Arabessa were protagonists who had such challenging and definitive feelings, and I don't know if there is anything in literature - or in life - sweeter and more beautiful.
This was a story full of beauty, that unhinges you and holds you in the same breath.
It's like groping among thorns while the same spark of hope that grows in the characters' chests is the one that swallows you whole.
This is a book that consumes you, slides and closes around you like an embrace.
Books like these are what stars are made of.
P.S.: We will never have enough of you, Achak.

*I own a physical copy*

In 2019 my health started going down hill and I didn't take into consideration what that would mean for my book reviewing. Sadly, I've been trying to play catch up for years and it's been affecting my ability to keep up with present day tasks. So I greatly apologize for this but I am going to clear out all these older review books and focus on present day. I will come back and update this review if I end up reading the book, which is very possible as a lot of these books are still ones I would like to read, I just don't think the pressure looming over me is helpful. Thank you for giving me a chance to early read these books and I am so sorry I wasn't able to provide what was needed.

Symphony for a Deadly Throne is a beautiful and thrilling conclusion to the Mousai series. Easily my favourite, and the best written, of the trilogy. This is one of the best fantasy romance series l've read in a long time, and it deserves more recognition. Although this wasn't exactly what I expected, it was truly perfect in every way, and I could ramble on about it forever. I know that other readers will fall in love with this book as quickly as I did. I truly can't recommend it enough!

Even if I hadn't read the other books in the series, I liked this one very much. It has a strong female main character, and her struggle between responsibilities and feelings is brilliantly portrayed. I liked how the world was presented to us. The world-building was excellent. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book!
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great conclusion to the series! I was really interested in seeing how the story arcs for each sister played out, and I wasn’t disappointed. This was such a unique story with lovable characters. Highly recommend this series to all romantasy lovers!

Good way to end the story. Beautiful and quick read.
Thanks for the arc opportunity, couldn’t wait to read this book after that ending in book 2. Wanted to reread the series again the second I finished the book

This book was so beautifully written! This book is fast paced and keeps the energy up throughout. Mellow's prose never dissapoints. This was my first read by EJ Mellows and quickly became a favorite for the year.

Wow! This was definitely the standout book of the trilogy in terms of romance. The emotions were beautifully restrained yet felt so natural. The pain and complexities were truly heart-wrenching, but there was an underlying assurance that everything would turn out fine. I absolutely loved it! The way they communicated and their unwavering resolve made their connection even more compelling.

Having love both the predecessors of this book I was highly anticipating this read it was not disappointed. Speeding the first two books in the series, I was very invested in hearing arabessa and zimri’s conclusion to the series in full.
I’m very glad I got to see the end of their story as It was clear they had always had a complicated on an off relationship.
Really really enjoyed the world building. And Character development. this author is has just has the most beautiful way of describing things, Descriptions are so rich and immersive. Would Thoroughly recommend this trilogy To those seeking a world of magic, Pirates and danger.

Symphony for a Deadly Throne by E.J. Mellow is a captivating read for fans of fantasy romance and politics, particularly those who enjoy complex, emotionally charged stories about strong female protagonists navigating the intricate dance between love, power, and loyalty.

This was so good. E.J Mellow you outdid yourself with the writing, it was incredible. thank you netgalley for this arc.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and E. J. Mellow

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

I related to Arabessa just a little bit too much so this book hit me in every single way possible that it could. Her loyalty to her sisters, her kingdom and her loyalty to Zimri were tested on every single page and I loved seeing her develop a loyalty to herself as well because she so completely deserved it.

The twists in this book I definitely hadn't seen coming throughout either of the other two books in this trilogy. The love story between Zimri and Arabessa was so frustrating to read sometimes but I feel that helped with the reading experience as they both were frustrated with each other as well. I think this is the only time I've been okay with a miscommunication trope because it was a miscommunication that neither of them wanted or could help.

Her ending was exactly what she deserved and I remember doing a little dance at the end when I finished reading the book. Arabessa is so smart and I also loved that all of the sisters attitudes and personalities complimented each other rather than being basically exact copies of one another. I don't think I could pick a favourite sister because they are all so different and complicated in their own ways and each of their stories also made sense for their own paths.

This was a captivating and thoroughly refreshing story. I was enthralled by Arabessa and Zimri's journey, overcoming obstacles and conflict to bring them together in the sweetest way. The longing a tension was top tier. I also loved this world so much that i was craving even more detail and information about it, and would love to return to it to experience more that it has to offer. The relationship between the sisters was also great to experience throughout this series, as each was written so distinctly, but I find I loved Arabessa and her story most.

This series as a whole was thoroughly entertaining and I will enjoy doing a reread soon to relive many of the exciting moments.

Thank you so much Montlake Publishing and Netgalley for sending me an eARC to read and review!

"Arabessa realized then how painful it was to grow. To move forward into something new. How hard it could be to carve one's own and who might be forced to be left behind in the process."

I know that it's almost a year too late, but better late than never, right? I don't know exactly why I didn't read this one last year since I specifically read the first two books for this eARC, but oh well lol.

Anyway, this book was okay! Compared to Dance of a Burning Sea, Mellow fell back into her old writing style because, let me tell you, the writing was WEIRD. That's the best way to describe it. Almost like Mellow was a teenager writing an essay for an English class that had to be 10 pages long.

In regards to the romance, I desperately wished the miscommunication trope wasn't the literal CENTER of this story. Much like my issue with This Cursed Light, the romance seemed to be the center of the story versus the conflict. That being said, I did like Arabessa and Zimri together (even though Zimri lacked personality for the most part). If the plot hadn't focused so much on their romance, the story would've been pretty decent. I wish Mellow had expanded on the Thief King's role, but *insert shrug emoji* At least we got to see more of the Thief Kingdom in this book.

The biggest thing I loved was this book's focus on finding/ forging one's own path, despite what others may think or want them to do. I would absolutely LOVE a spin-off with Kattiva as well.

I also loved Arabessa's mental struggle between duty and love. As I've learned recently, you need a balance, which Arabessa was lacking in her life. So I could relate to her.

Overall, a little disappointed with this finale.

"Symphony for a Deadly Throne" by E.J. Mellow deserves a solid 5 stars from me. This installment in The Mousai Trilogy is a captivating blend of characters, story, and challenges within the enchanting Thief Kingdom of Aadilor. What sets it apart is the mature tone, making it feel more grown-up than its predecessors.

Arabessa Bassette, leader of the Mousai, faces a compelling dilemma when an unexpected invitation puts her in a deadly competition for the Thief King's throne. The story explores Arabessa's internal conflicts as she grapples with choosing between her greatest love, Zimri D’Enieu, and her deepest ambition.

E.J. Mellow crafts a thrilling narrative in the mesmerizing world of Aadilor, where love and power collide, and sacrifices become inevitable. "Symphony for a Deadly Throne" is a 5-star recommendation for those ready to immerse themselves in a world where lethal notes resonate in the most mesmerizing symphonies.

I’m so sad about this but I’m having to DNF this. I couldn’t stand the characters which is a shock considering I loved their little interactions in the first two books.

I cannot stand a character being “selfless” but in actuality is just making decisions for others no matter what the other person says.

The third and final book in an amazing trilogy. I had to read the first 2 before I could start this one and I definitely ate them all up. I think the third book was by far my favorite but they were all amazing and will be added to my favorite fantasy books list :)

Thank you so much for providing me with this arc

This was a great finale to The Mousai series. I really enjoyed Larkyra and Niya’s stories so finally having Arabessa’s story was worth the wait. This story wasn’t just focused on the romance it also includes higher stakes with exciting magic and action packed moments.

The slow burn romance was amazing. Childhood friends to lovers isn’t usually my favorite romance trope but this was beautifully done. It was so great to see Zimri’s love for Arabessa and hers in return. He had always been in the shadows before so it was great seeing his character and learning more about him. The banter was fun and there were even some spicy moments. This book definitely felt more romance heavy but not in a bad way.

I appreciated that since Arabessa was the oldest sister this story felt different from the previous books. She had more responsibilities and felt a strong sense of duty to her kingdom that warred with being able to be with Zimri. I think her character growth was done really well. We get to watch her learn how to set boundaries, trust the people around her to be make their own choices and make her own.

Overall this was a wonderful conclusion to an exciting romantasy trilogy. You don’t have to read these books in order technically they are all stand alone books featuring different sisters and romances but I do think that it is worth reading the previous books in order so it doesn’t spoil some of the romance plots.

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for providing me an eARC