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The Maiden Ship #3

The Rightful Bearer

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Make peace with your past, lest it ruin your future.

Dain Alloway has been tasked with finding the rightful bearer and stopping the oncoming invasion of the four kingdoms. But as he begins the journey, self-doubt invades first, and he finds his confidence waning—Dain is no longer sure he’s the right person for this job. Who is he to challenge an emperor and his monstrous creations? Who is he to stop a war?

Meanwhile, Sable Cortham’s talent has grown, and every new lesson brings her another step closer to becoming one of the most powerful adept in history. But wielding this kind of magic makes Sable a target. She’s begun to wonder, even if they can find the rightful bearer and stop the emperor, how many more villains will come for her power? Will the four kingdoms ever be safe for the adept?

Elden Grayspire has recently been rescued from a centuries-old prison of stone, and while he rejoices in his newfound freedom, he laments the fact that his beloved remains a prisoner still. Mourning the loss of so many things past, feeling lonely and helpless, Elden struggles to find a place in this new time and era. As he embarks on a secret mission against the very man who cursed him long ago, will he finally discover a purpose and a way to belong?

The adventure concludes in The Rightful Bearer! Join Dain, Sable, Elden, and the rest of the Maiden Ship crew in this final seafaring adventure.

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2022

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About the author

Micheline Ryckman

5 books388 followers
Micheline Ryckman lives on a farm in the Rocky Mountains of Canada with her family and multiple pets. When she’s not spending time with said family and pets she writes, reads, and illustrates. It was her love of art and literature that inspired her to build Whimsical Publishing up to the point where she could publish other authors and support other artists. She gives thanks everyday for how her little company continues to grow and do just that.

Her young adult, epic fantasy series, The Maiden Ship, and cozy fantasy, Charting Stars, are all available.

Stay up-to-date and connected with Micheline by signing up for her newsletter via her website/blog whimsicalpublishing.ca or connect with her on social media sites—Instagram: @whimsicalillustration, or Facebook: Whimsical Illustration.



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5 stars
38 (35%)
4 stars
48 (44%)
3 stars
17 (15%)
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3 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Micheline Ryckman.
Author 5 books388 followers
January 22, 2022
I might just be a little shocked that I wrote a trilogy.

Yep, I’m shocked.

Especially considering the things I’ve faced with my constant chronic health struggles and what we've faced together in the world as a whole… I guess the moral of the story is that good can come out of bad—that creativity can still happen amidst struggle. I hope, hope, HOPE, dear readers, that you will enjoy this last book. For more than a year I poured my heart and soul into this final tale. I had so many emotions while I wrote it. I swooned, I laughed, I cried, and when I finally finished it, I totally doubted myself. What a crazy ride it is to be an author! In the end though, however this story is received, the TMS trilogy is finished and that is goals in and of itself, right?
Profile Image for Bryn Shutt.
Author 3 books159 followers
January 17, 2022
The epic finale of a thrilling adventure.

The Rightful Bearer is a heart-pounding, heart-warming tale that explores the deep bonds of family and friendship, the magical beauty of love, and the power of hope and light against the darkest onslaught of storms.

I have absolutely loved taking this journey with Ryckman. Her unique worldbuilding, rich prose, epic humor, and profound thoughts have stuck with me like no other tale and this finale was no exception.

The characters and their struggles, hopes, and losses are so vividly and realistically presented. You feel seen in each one. I laughed, cried, and hid under my bed, all in turn.

This deliciously gritty, hopeful tale is perfect for fans of swashbuckling, magical adventures (and everyone else. Trust me you're going to love this).
Profile Image for Vanessa Rasanen.
Author 9 books749 followers
May 3, 2022
No doubt the author poured her whole soul into this series and this book in particular.

Ryckman weaves a tale of enduring hope, steadfast love, and thrilling adventure in this finale that wraps this series up beautifully. Her characters shine in both their virtues and their struggles, making them into such well-rounded, relatable people. Dain, Sable, Elden, Mo... it is hard to choose a favorite character from this crew, but I adore them all!

This magical world will pull you in, leave you breathless, and fill you with such hope. Truly a lovely read that reminds us life has its hard times and its darkness, but there is always something to fight for. You will never want to leave this world, and Ryckman leaves the perfect amount of questions unanswered to keep you immersed long after you close the book.
Profile Image for Julie.
321 reviews19 followers
June 4, 2022
This was such a great ending to the trilogy! I love these characters and this world and I'm going to miss them. I definitely teared up at one scene at the end!

TW: injury, death, violence, war
Profile Image for Madalyn.
225 reviews12 followers
April 28, 2022
The Rightful Bearer (TRB) is the third book in The Maiden Ship Trilogy and as in The Lion of the Sea (TLotS) we get multiple POV's in TRB too!

Dain is having ominous prophetic dreams again and hoping that they can help him in searching for The Rightful Bearer. He is also struggling with the pressure of his task and self doubt plagues his mind at every turn.

Sable's talent has grown so much under Jord's teachings and she knows that places an even bigger target on her back. Meanwhile she must also learn about Dain's soul fragment sacrifice with the siren Hannon and come to terms with it and what it could possibly mean for her and Dain's relationship.

Elden has his beloved Ileana back but she is still cursed and so he often finds himself lonely and mourning the loss of his long ago family and the life he and Ileana should have had. In the midst of his turmoil Sable and Dain send him on a very important mission with the one and only Ghost of Alta.

I'm just going to lead with the fact that I absolutely loved this book and it has to be my favorite in the Trilogy!

I feel like this book had so many great lessons about love and life and living it the best you can free from the ghosts of your past. We all know Mo has great bits of knowledge but honestly quite a few characters have those wonderful lines of inspiration.

The character growth coming to completion in TRB was one of my favorite things. and let's not forget the close to what has been a very fun adventure...I laughed, I cried, and I had plenty of "aww" moments.

These are books I would love for my kids to read because this trilogy is definitely one that is intended for all ages and I recommend you give this adventure full of heart a try!

I look forward to reading any spin off's set in this world or with familiar characters <3






Profile Image for Erika.
60 reviews10 followers
February 9, 2022
Thank you so much Micheline for the chance to read The Rightful Bearer! I was so curious about what was about to happen and the expectations were not disappointed! The Rightful Bearer is packed with actions, lore, Magic and adventure. We meet our beloved characters and we follow them on a scary path towards a war to save the Four Kingdoms. The tale is really magical, we can feel the author’s growth in her words. It was the perfect ending for the sweetest trilogy on the sea 🌊
Profile Image for Kelly.
Author 21 books1,362 followers
February 7, 2022
Bursting with adventure and magic, Ryckman’s conclusion to the Maiden Ship trilogy will steal your breath, and your heart. Beautiful prose intertwines with gripping high-stakes, making this fast-paced novel a thrilling read.
Profile Image for Rachel.
172 reviews4 followers
June 1, 2022
Reviews for the previous books in The Maiden Ship series can be found here (The Maiden Ship) and here (The Lion of the Sea).

I was lucky to get an early copy of The Rightful Bearer, and it’s bittersweet to see this series coming to an end. This review will be spoiler-free, but I want to hit on some of my favorites from the story.

The characters in Micheline’s Maiden Ship world have always been one of my favorite components of the series. This holds true with The Rightful Bearer. I loved Dain and Sable and pretty much everyone in their supporting cast of characters. To me, it seemed like the characters really had a chance to grow and flourish in this book, which was a combination of the events they’d gone through in previous books and the events of this book. I loved seeing the ends of the character arcs and minor characters that had been introduced in earlier books.

Plot-wise, the story picks up where the previous book left off, and we’re able to revisit settings and locations that we’ve seen in previous books. There wasn’t any major plot twist that surprised me, but the world itself was just as rich as the previous books.

If you love action-packed, magical adventures with characters that are easy to love, this is the trilogy for you!

Many thanks to the author for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Athina (booknotes_athina).
513 reviews44 followers
June 4, 2022
You can read the full review also on my blog Book Notes by Athina

This is the finale to The Maiden Ship trilogy and it was very satisfying to read.
I really liked the whole storyline and I loved the author's writing style. I liked the world-building which is unique and I loved the magic system.
The story wraps up beautifully and any questions you might had are answered. The character development is excellent and I cannot pick a favourite character as I loved them all.

I am highly recommend checking out the whole trilogy.
Profile Image for Cait | GoodeyReads.
2,092 reviews488 followers
May 27, 2022
Thank you to the author for an eARC.

GREAT FINALE.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

What a solid conclusion to a great trilogy I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.

One of my favorite aspects are the CHARACTERS. They are thoughtfully crafted and even the smaller side ones come alive. I love how deeply they’re created and how beautifully it plays into every part of the novel. The romance between Dain and Sable is the sweetest. There were plenty of soft moments between them where my heart swooned. I loved the connection they shared and the strength they had on their own, but also the way they leaned on each other when needed too.

The only thing I don’t quite understand was the mermaid subplot that bled over from book two? Though honestly towards the end I was wondering if there’s a future book with more of this?! I need answers. That tidbit is my only meh thing about these books.

With the last 30% it was intense. I loved the action, reveals and how things amped up. It was well written and every angle of the final battle was executed. I liked the villain takedown and the true rightful bearer?! I was pleasantly surprised at those answers too. This has been a wonderful series to read and I look forward to future books by Ryckman!

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: mild
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, battle scenes, physical and magical altercations, weaponry
Profile Image for Wooks.
63 reviews19 followers
May 31, 2022
This third and final installment of The Maiden Ship trilogy is full of non-stop excitement! It will pull on your heartstrings, give you warm fuzzies, AND keep you on the edge of your seat with twists and turns you did NOT see coming.

This high-seas adventure explores the bonds of love and friendship among the various characters. You really get a feel for the trials and inner turmoil each character POV is experiencing. I enjoyed getting to see the perspectives of a few more characters in this installment. Elden's POV is one of my favorites and even though he's not a main character in the books, his story is one of my favorites! Every character shows a significant amount of growth in this last book. It's such a fun experience to see how they've all evolved since book one.

It was bittersweet to finally reach the ending and I wish I could say more but I was graced with an advanced reading copy so I must keep the rest a secret until release day! But trust me, you'll absolutely want to complete this journey with Dain, Sable, Elden and all the others!
Profile Image for Bee.
109 reviews53 followers
Want to read
April 28, 2022
��A friend can teach us everything they know, but an enemy can teach us what we need to know.”

Count me as excited for the official release and epic conclusion to the trilogy!
Profile Image for Britt Richards.
Author 4 books19 followers
July 26, 2022
What a perfect ending to the trilogy! Micheline once again delivered and absolute masterpiece with The Rightful Bearer. This book gave us deeper understandings of everyone involved, and I was so surprised (in a good way) of the revelation of the whole the rightful bearer was! I felt so many emotions reading this book, and though I’m sad that the series is over, it is one of my favorites by far. Dain and Sable have such an amazing relationship, and I adore how Micheline has them relate to those around them. I can’t wait to see what else Micheline has in store for us within The Four Kingdoms.
Profile Image for Yari.
124 reviews12 followers
October 31, 2023
I finished this story!
I have no idea what to make of it!
Was it bad? No.
But was it good? Not entirely sure.
No hate here because I didn't actually hate the book. It doesn't deserve hate. I believe some things could had been better, though, or foreshadowed.
There were around four identities reveal in this book. Two of them I adored because they made sense, the moment it was implied, I could see it. The other one was shaky but still not that far-fetched. The last one I straight up wished didn't happen. It wasn't foreshadowed enough.
I didn't like some of the decisions made regarding the pirates, specifically the leader ones, not getting into spoilers. But I will say, if you want ruthless, ambitions women, we will always love it but don't, don't other representations to get it, it left such a sour taste in my mouth.
Finally, we can say that a sequel has been implied and I am both looking forward to it and not. Yes, I am interested in many of the unresolved plot points but if we are going to respond to them, I honestly hope it will be with a different cast. Give the old one a break.
Also, Elden is the best character of the entire series, fight me.
Profile Image for Sahana Ramnath.
797 reviews21 followers
May 30, 2022
An amazing conclusion to a wonderful trilogy!

The adept (the magic users) have finally rallied under the leadership of Dain, Sable and Alis, and now they're bringing the war to their oppressor, the emperor Rectlor.

Dain and Sable have grown into their abilities as magic users and as leaders, and their povs were absolutely amazing.

I also loved Elden's povs! Elden and Ileana deserved all the wholesomeness and this book really delivered it 💙

The mysteries were resolved satisfyingly, with a few new ones left open ended for more books in this series (?!).
Profile Image for Laurie Glenn.
34 reviews
February 27, 2023
Amazing end to an amazing series! I loved the Maiden Ship trilogy from the first chapter of the first book. This series just gets better and better as the books go on, and the final book exceeded all expectations. The characters I’ve grown to know and love dearly came so far, and saying goodbye to them truly hurt my soul. But the world Micheline built is truly incredible, and I cannot wait to read more from here! The Rightful Bearer was a whirlwind of emotions, but I loved every second of it. That twist at the end got me! If you love fantasy books set at sea, magic, found family, and a solid dash of pirates and sirens, then you’ll enjoy this series! 5/5
Profile Image for Jennifer.
423 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2022
Oh my was this good. I had moments of "I didn't see that coming". I want to say so much about this, but I am sworn to secrecy. There was never a dull moment. I have throughly loved this entire trilogy.
Profile Image for Lora.
385 reviews
April 11, 2022
"Make peace with yer past, lest it ruin yer future."

This book!! This series!!! I've followed Micheline because I loved her artwork. I've stayed because she relates to life in a way that I just love. Seeing her chronic illness influencing her writing it subtle ways was huge for me in this read. This read delivered insightful dialogue and messages, grew the characters and their relationships and gave me a perfectly wrapped gift of joy.

Sometimes you can simultaneously get the best and most unsatisfying ending. This was that for me! I love these characters, the world, the storyline and the magic. I'm so happy with this trilogy and the way it wraps, but I want MORE!
Profile Image for Lily.
40 reviews
April 28, 2022
This book was a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy!! I wrapped things up so well and left some many things open as well. I really want a spin off to the series I need answers. The ending was so good. I can't wait for other to read this!!
Profile Image for Katy Hurley.
21 reviews1 follower
April 2, 2022
This is the second time I've been lucky enough to get to read an eARC of one of Micheline's books. I'll be honest, it took me a bit to start it simply because I was loathe to see this series end! There aren't sufficient words for the emotions this last book has evoked. What an adventure you have taken us on Micheline!!
Profile Image for Christine.
16 reviews
August 16, 2022
"Make peace with your past, lest it ruin your future."

The Rightful Bearer is an amazing tale of friendship, found family, cunning-ruthless pirates, and the heroes and heroines who risk their lives to save the ones they love. I really enjoyed reading this beautiful story and enjoyed the really sweet ending. All the characters were presented with the endings they deserved. This story will always continue on in my heart.

“A friend can teach us everything they know, but an enemy can teach us what we need to know.”
Profile Image for Angie.
97 reviews2 followers
January 18, 2023
Nice ending, loved it. there were certain things I didn't expect so it surprised me. It wrapped up everything nicely
March 8, 2022
Thank you Micheline Ryckman for the e-arc of The Rightful Bearer!! The following review is my own thoughts on the finale of this wonderful trilogy

The conclusion to this trilogy was quite pleasing. I love Ryckman’s ability to create such vivid emotion and connection to the characters. The Rightful Bearer was a book that I could not put down and I’m absolutely in love with this story. I look forward to revisiting this story in the very near future and to see the edition faecrate curated!
Profile Image for Melina.
252 reviews12 followers
June 21, 2022
3.5/5 Stars

- Was a really good finale to the trilogy
- The first half felt a bit drawn out, while the ending felt a bit rushed. The ending was still good, but it felt a bit open-ended, and I still had a bunch of questions (if not more lol) by the end
- Sable was definitely my favorite character. She is such a badass, and learns to have so much self-respect and self-worth. She is such a role-model character
- Eris, Sable, and Elden's relationship is so sweet and pure. I loved it so much
- I was happy to see Dain and his Mom have a discussion and get their stories and feelings out in the open. Their relationship shows that forgiveness takes time and that trust can slowly be build up again
- Toff's humor throughout the whole trilogy as been great, and honestly he was the best in this book. He was always entertaining whenever he was on the page, and it was so funny when he was with Elden.
- Ultimately, the found family in this book was what I really loved, and the magic and sea-adventures were just the cherry on top
Profile Image for Melanie (Fenrys's Version).
150 reviews29 followers
June 19, 2022
I loved this trilogy so much!
The magic was interesting and explained well without any info dumping.
The characters were so likeable and their relationships were very heartfelt. I liked the exploration of family dynamics, how estranged family deals with that trauma and the bonds of found family and how they all then interact.
The plot kept a relatively consistent pace which I enjoyed. I liked the writing too, it was engaging and there were some beautiful quotes. You can tell the author poured her heart and soul into the writing.
The romance is beyond sweet, just so so cute how they really understand each other and support each other. I loved watching them both grow throughout the books both separately and together.
A good blend of very comforting but also epic!
Profile Image for Mary.
22 reviews
July 1, 2022
A perfect, bittersweet ending to such an adventurous series!
I loved going back into this magical world created by Micheline Ryckman for a last time. It was a comfort to go along with each character on their journey to save the kingdom.
One of the things that really stood out to me in this book (and I absolutely loved this), was the special way Dain treated Sable after her traumatic experience, and after her finding out about how he is linked to the merrow. I love the chivalry in his character.
The final thing I will take away from this series is Mo's quotes of wisdom. His words ring true and help me in the day to day challenges life throws at me. His wisdom is a reflection of the author who created him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ange.
80 reviews11 followers
April 2, 2023
There will definitely be a time in which I go back and reread these books. They have a classic sort of vibe to them in terms of the prose (and Faecrate's editions definitely gave the physical aesthetic) which makes them feel timeless.

First and foremost, I could feel Micheline's prose improving throughout the series and the growth of a writer is so lovely to witness.

As for the story itself? The three narrators were excellent choices. The ending made me sob (I won't be forgiving you for some of those choices, Micheline. Very cruel). The climax was very well done. I never know if an author will stick the landing, but considering this landing stuck.
June 16, 2023
What a ride this trilogy was! Wow! This is a perfect casual read for any YA reader! It was artfully written and descriptive just the right amount for me! I absolutely love Dain! Imma sucker for powerful blonds what can I say. Definitely worth a read! And a reread!
Profile Image for Hannah   completing_my_tbr.
45 reviews1 follower
April 5, 2023
Absolutely loved it! It was a perfect conclusion to the story and the end had me crying. I’m so excited to read more from this author ❤️
Profile Image for Katie Marie.
340 reviews
August 10, 2023
The Rightful Bearer was everything I wanted it to be!! We got the climax, the epic battle (and DANG was it epic!!), the conclusion (but really just the beginning) to our two romances, and the end of this incredible series! 🤩 I’ve enjoyed every moment of this journey with Dain, Sable, Illeana, Elden, Toff, Mo, Idris, and the rest of the crew. They feel like family and I’m going to miss these characters! 🥲

Micheline has created a fantastic and real feeling world, magic system, religion and it’s role in the story, and fantasy creatures! I seriously loved everything about it and how the different types of people all fit and worked together.

The ending is a bit bittersweet and there are still things that need to happen and be resolved in the actual story, as life doesn’t end just because the series does, but we’re left with a happily ever after and satisfying conclusion. Though now I’m wondering if there’ll be future books one day… 🧐

The author kept these books relevantly clean with
some cuss words, romance going no further than kissing, and only mentions of a same sex couple with no detailed showing in the actual books.

Anyway, I highly enjoyed this series and totally recommend it to all fantasy lovers!! 😆😍
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews

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