I was excited for The Seven Rings, the final installment of Nora Roberts’ Lost Bride Trilogy. I’ve read many of her books and trilogies over the years and genuinely enjoy her work. I’m disappointed to say that my excitement and engagement with this particular story didn’t survive the year-long wait between each book’s publication.

The first book unfolded with a satisfying balance of romance, suspense, and mystery in Roberts’ signature style. It ended with a cliffhanger that had me audibly groaning as I triple-checked I’d really reached the final page. Book two picked up immediately, which proved to be a double-edged sword. With a plot spanning generations and a huge character canvas, keeping seven doomed brides and their husbands straight in my memory as the mystery deepened became nearly impossible.

Which brings me to The Seven Rings. What should have been a thrilling conclusion felt surprisingly lukewarm. I found myself wading through long descriptions of Sonya and Cleo’s daily lives at the mansion among friendly ghosts—and one malevolent exception. Hester Dobbs, the dark spirit who killed and imprisoned those seven brides across generations, fuels her power through fear. Sonya, Cleo, and their partners are determined to retrieve each stolen wedding ring and end Hester’s reign of terror. Sounds compelling, right?

Sadly, I struggled to stay engaged. The pacing felt slow, bogged down by details unrelated to the central quest. I found myself skimming chapters and doubling back to catch pertinent plot points. Rather than experiencing that bittersweet book hangover of “what could possibly compare?”, I felt relief at finishing the series.

I’m still a Nora Roberts fan—it’s rare that such a beloved author produces something that falls flat, but it happens. The saga has its moments: swoony romance, spine-tingling mystery, genuine suspense, and ultimately vindication and hope. For me, though, those moments couldn’t quite carry the weight of this final book.