Discere

5 out of 5 stars

A bittersweet ending to a series I have LOVED

Reviewed in Australia on 26 March 2026

Format: Kindle

The Ascended: Discere is a dark, high fantasy read with added romance and an epic scope, and honestly... I don't even know where to start.

This is the third book in the series (and currently the last - for now, which I am absolutely clinging to as a crumb of hope). And wow. This one leans fully into the high fantasy genre and is noticeably darker than Initium and Gehenna.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the structure. Each part follows the journey and task of a different couple, which made the story feel expansive while still keeping the emotional stakes deeply personal. This was different to book 1 and 2. Watching these storylines unfold and slowly weave together was incredibly satisfying. There was no point in this book where I felt confused, bored or wanting it to speed up/slow down.

I can't say too much about the plot without spoiling things, but this book is very much an exploration of sacrifice, the kind that reshapes lives, relationships, and entire worlds. There were moments where I laughed, moments where I cried (tiny bit), and moments where I genuinely did not see what was coming (Tallulah and Michaela... I'm looking at you). Also, I just loved that we got more Evon and Meira, I was a stan for those two since the start!

By the end, everything comes together in a way that feels both epic and deeply emotional. I closed this book feeling genuinely satisfied with the ending while also wishing I could stay in this world just a little longer.

Because this is true high fantasy, the worldbuilding (which was established in Initium and Gehenna) and built on here is rich and detailed. I was very grateful for the glossary and key in the back with the planes and translations. It made navigating the complex world much easier and added so much depth to the reading experience. This book, due to its complexity... I found best to be read in uninterrupted parts! Less confusing that way.

A bittersweet ending to this series... and I will absolutely be waiting/hoping for whatever comes next.

Thank you to the author for an early copy. All opinions are my own.