At first I didn’t really want to read the last part of this trilogy… I did not like the ending of the second part or where the story might develop to. So I waited.. And waited and finally startet reading it. Duchess Rina is more or less imprisoned with evil ink mages.Talbun and Brasley are on a library hunt, where another evil ink mage Ankar (the one who already tried to kill Rina ) searches for answers. Tosh and some of the former whores went to another land for… I don’t remember why. Alem and

I really am not sure what to say about this one. I'm still reeling from the ending, which was not at all as I expected. The ending was...too clean? It was sudden, for sure. I'm going to have to come back to this later, perhaps when my head is no longer buzzing....Update 1/23/17: After letting this sit with me for about a week, I feel only slightly more confident about what I could possibly say about it. This one was a bit more fast paced in places, and a little sluggish in others, but overall th...

There were lots of things to like and some things not to like about this book. To like -- lots of characters get filled out, with interesting personalities. Lots of grand adventures going on! Not to like -- the "ink magic" just seems unbounded, at some point there are just too many threads happening at once (six, I believe).I was wondering how one could conclude such a situation, but I think the author comes up with a well-thought-out conclusion.The series as a whole was definitely worth reading...

It took me months to get through this story and I knew early on I wouldn't be thrilled. I kept picking it back up because I didn't enjoy the first 2 and I at least needed an ending. Now I wish I hadn't wasted my time. I hated Maurizan, she was petty and childish and I skimmed most of the chapters from her pov. Alem was wishy-washy and a coward. Rina is what a goddess now but they gave us no actual explanation for this, no idea where she went, or why. This story kinda started about her and we get...

Lackluster. That's how I saw this conclusion.Many of the conclusions to character arcs were intensely disappointing and a few were baffling.Maurizan is an infuriating character, Alem like the lead in a harem anime and just as seemingly unremarkable.Some of the set piece action sequences were utterly lacking. Two characters have an entire veranda of abilities supposedly at their fingertips and we see scant few of them over the entire series. I am unimpressed by how little of Encar's repertoire is...

**3.5 stars**I'm gonna actually write a little review for a change, but it's gonna be a review for the series as a whole :)Very brief synopsis: when her hometown of Klaar is attacked by invading Perranese forces and her parents (the duke and duchess of Klaar) are killed, Rina escapes and is taken to a wizard and given tattoos that give her different kinds of powers. With these new powers, she vows to take back her town of Klaar from the invaders.That's just a summary of the first book in the tri...

well. some very exciting action in several areas, great battles, great magics, even at times, in doses, great characters. very abrupt ending that fell far too neatly into place in far too short a span with some dubious transitions and character actions and then simply ending with a huge event that was long heralded but with little fanfare and really quite ugly in delivery. as if Gischler suddenly grew bored, realized he had no more ideas and the trilogy was already long enough, and simply decide...

A Painted Goddess by Victor Gischler is the third book in the Fire Beneath the Skin series but it can be read without reading the others first -but you will want to! Rina and her friends are now clashing with more than magic, gods are now in the game. Rina has more magic tattoos. There are more surprises, fights, action, excitement, twists, turns, and magic then ever, this book is fast paced and never boring! This is a wonderful series! It has wonderful characters that have stayed true throughou...

Spoiler free, I just want to say that I totally devoured this series, loved every second of it... until this book. I hated this book. It was so hard to read. I know every reader has their own path planned for the characters, things they hope will and will not happen, and I must say, Mr. Gischler managed to pinpoint nearly every single one of my hopes and do the EXACT OPPOSITE. Honestly, the only ending I enjoyed was Brasley's. I try to keep my personal hopes for the characters and conclusions ou...

Firstly, I devoured the first two books. For the first one, I actually thought I forget it was a male writer because the female voice felt real. Secondly, it’s a fun series. The whole tongue tattoo in the first book. I still think about its reveal. Very cool. Thirdly, expect lots of late night rambling. Also slight spoilers but if you’re here then you’ve read the first two books. Now. Onto this book. Oh boy. There were a lot of things happening, some popping out of the left field without any war...

I received an advance e-book copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.A Painted Goddess is the final book in the trilogy.I preferred this book compared to all the others. There was a lot happening, with the various characters in different places for various reasons, but most of all, to help Rina and save everyone. I actually hated Maurizan since book 1 and really couldn't stand her. Also, the ending was okay but I think it is possible for there to be a fourth book.

It was good. I go into more detail in my reviews of the other two books. But the ending of this one was incredibly dissatisfying. (if that's even a word)... It felt as if the author had to suddenly wrap it up. There was no sense of completion, and we only find out what happened to three of the side characters. Their relationship also confused me. As far as I'd known, Bradley and Maurizio barely knew each ithet, and I don't think they even spoke to each other in the last two books. Yet they acted...

Really bad ending to the series, so much was left hanging and serious characters were just sort of left by the wayside

It took me almost a year to finish this book I would listen to it and would not be able to continue it at times. My need to finish books I start whether I like them or not won out and I finally finished it. The ending was disappointing and quick.... overall I’m bummed about this series I really wanted to like it as I liked how it started out. I have absolutely no idea why Rina and Maurizan want Alem so much as he is not a strong character at all. Maurizan I didn’t care for at all through the boo...

Rina Veraiin's friends are scattered searching for more ink magic tattoos to protect Helva. The threats Helva is facing are more dire than initially believed and ink magic may be Helva's only chance at survival.A Painted Goddess was a strong story. The entire A Fire Beneath the Skin trilogy caught me by surprise. The story picks up directly after the cliffhangers in The Tattooed Duchess. The author Victor Gischler spent a lot of time setting the enormity of the events the protagonists faced. I h...

Disappointing final entry in the "A Fire Beneath the Skin" trilogy. I'm a big fan of Gischler and this seemed like a very slap-dash novel intended to wrap up the story. The ending was flat and lifeless and the final treatment of Rina was cliched and abrupt.

AExcellent series. Excellent finale. Loved and hated the ending. I should have seen it coming, but I didn't, not until it was happening. I hated seeing it come to an end. I'd become totally invested. Upon reflection, it's apparent how everything fits at the end. Everything. Superbly done.

https://koeur.wordpress.com/2016/01/2...Publisher: Amazon/47 NorthPublishing Date: January 2016ISBN: 9781503954762Genre: FantasyRating: 3.6/5Publishers Description: When the gods go to war, who will stand against their divine fury? In the thrilling conclusion to the A Fire Beneath the Skin trilogy, the enchanted kingdom of Helva faces a nightmarish future of endless bloodshed, and Rina Veraiin—a young warrior-duchess armed with mysterious, magical tattoos—must use her fantastic powers to save he...

A fitting conclusion, however I can't help but feel disappointed in it too, tbh I feel a little broken. Again the book went in numerous directions leading up to the big showdown. Thankfully the epilogue cleared up a few things and left an opening for book 4. All in all it was an action packed trilogy where the reader gets a chance to be part of the story (if their imagination allows it).I was given the book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

***BEWARE, SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW!When I picked up book 1 of this series, I was looking for a quick, mindless read to pass the time on my commute. I very soon realized there was much more depth to this series than I had previously thought, and I was hooked pretty quickly. It was clever and creative and I found myself caring about who I was reading about, and I especially loved the idea of the ink magic via tattoo system. By book 3, which I started reading as if it was the next chapter in b...