The De-Coding of Jo

Keys to Eternity

Young Adult - Fantasy - General
390 Pages
Reviewed on 10/20/2022
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

The De-Coding of Jo: Keys to Eternity by Lali A. Love is the third novel in the young adult dark fantasy Ascending Angel Academy series, preceded by book one, Hall of Ignorance, and book two, Blade of Truth. The shreds of humanity are on the brink in an epic conclusion that sees the protagonist we've seen grow and within this volume blossom into a young woman who better understands herself, her purpose, and her power. The path to getting there is rocky. Josephine “Jo” is in a juxtaposition both internally and externally with her form and function, as well as alternating timelines and antagonism across all that can and will destroy the world, and so much more. The crux of this wide-reaching and multi-layered finale is the epitome of good versus evil. A prophecy is realized, powers are in jeopardy of capture, a journey of the Legendary, Roma and Jo, armed with the Blade of Truth advances, and the Plague of Chaos must be crushed once and for all.

All roads in the Ascending Angel Academy series lead to Keys to Eternity, the culmination of a massively ambitious and deliciously executed trilogy by Lali A. Love. There is a zero percent chance that this installment will be understood and comfortably followed if a reader has not been in Jo's world with the previous two novels. Aside from robbing oneself of a brilliant arc, the themes are far too complex to grapple with solo. Sorry not sorry, folks. Love's philosophical elements have the same level of oomph that the action sequences carry and we continue to be shown the frailty of our non-fiction existence while witnessing an alternative perspective of what is in Love's masterful fiction. Existence and reason, the connection of one to all and to absolutely everything, and the nature of reality are bundled in profoundly honest prose. It's not called the Blade of Truth for nothing. “I realized this was not a coincidental occurrence. After all, everything transpired by Divine Design.” Love speaks to us through the journey of Jo and we must all listen. Very highly recommended.

K.C. Finn

The De-Coding of Jo: Keys to Eternity is a work of fiction in the fantasy and adventure subgenres. It is best suited to the mature end of the young adult reading spectrum due to some potentially dark and distressing themes and was penned by author Lali A. Love. In the third and final part of the story, we find protagonist Jo under more pressure than ever as energy vampires run amok everywhere and humanity is under threat. Teaming up with the Warriors and her closest allies, Jo must undergo one final dangerous quest to save everyone she loves from extinction, but this quest involves a time hop to a place even more deadly than her own plane of existence.

Author Lali A. Love has a knack for both emotion and atmosphere, and that makes for some truly cinematic reading during the course of this epic fantasy adventure novel. I really enjoyed the close narration focused on Jo, which helps readers sit right on her shoulder and feel every trial and triumph as she faces her hardest challenges yet. The lore and worldbuilding of both Jo’s world and the ancient Age of Lemuria were second to none, with vivid detail and a satisfying internal logic to the sci-fi and fantasy concepts used that made perfect sense to the engaging plot. Overall, I would highly recommend The De-Coding of Jo: Keys to Eternity to fans of the existing series, and the series in general for YA fantasy readers seeking something more serious in its themes, but with all the high-stakes action and adventure you could wish for.

Pikasho Deka

The De-Coding of Jo: Keys to Eternity is the third and final book of the Ascending Angel Academy series by Lali A. Love. Three months have passed since Jo connected with Roma and her Blade of Truth and lost Conrad. But a dangerous threat arises when the evil Wizard Ciakar sends the Goddess Lith to search for the Galactic Medallion and the Keys to Eternity. Meanwhile, Nisha, Jo's closest friend, joins the Sisterhood feeling jealous of Jo and Alicia's growing closeness. As members of the Order of the Serpent attack the StarSeeds, Jo has to figure out a way to bend reality through time hoops. She reunites with Roma and the Warriors as Chaos comes ever closer to annihilating everything in its path. Can Jo and her friends fight back and join the Eternal Archive Spheres?

The De-Coding of Jo: Keys to Eternity wraps up a complex and sprawling fantasy series with a neat bow. The underlying theme of empathy runs through this epic young adult fantasy novel that finds a fresh way to showcase the battle between good and evil. Author Lali A. Love weaves a riveting tale full of magic and wonder, delving into concepts and ideas that will leave readers with a lot to ponder about the nature of the universe and our reality itself. Apart from Jo's powers, she has a strong sense of morality and an empathic outlook that makes her the perfect heroine to negate the flaws of humanity. If you're a fantasy fan, you will definitely love this series.