Downfall

Above the Black #3

by Marc J. Gregson

The riveting fantasy adventure from New York Times bestselling author Marc J Gregson comes to an explosive conclusion in Book Three of the Above the Black fantasy trilogy.

Mayhem has erupted in the Skylands. Uncle’s iron-fisted grip has eroded peaceful governance, and the Meritocracy hovers on the brink of civil war. Disowned once again, teenage hero Conrad is sent to invade the Below’s colonies—a perilous mission with almost no chance of survival, where Conrad is left for dead.

Rescued by an old enemy and escaping capture by sky pirates, Conrad finds shelter on a faraway island in the Eastern Airs. Under the guise of a new identity, Conrad undergoes training from the King’s enemies and takes to the dueling pits where he competes for the status to challenge Uncle once and for all. Can a dead prince rise again, or will Conrad succumb to the brutal horrors of his world? To rally support and overthrow a despot, Conrad will have to prove the Meritocracy won’t be trading one feckless tyrant for another.

Take a seat for the bloodiest of showdowns in the final installment of the Above the Black fantasy trilogy. Marc J Gregson’s action-adventure revels in gory monster battles, fierce duels, empathetic characters, and a morally gray dystopia that is strikingly imaginative.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Action

Unknown Binding

Published March 17, 2026

About the author

Marc J Gregson is a New York Times bestselling author. He attended the University of Utah, where he received his bachelor of arts in English teaching. Marc’s pursuit of learning has led him into the classroom, where he teaches middle school English. He believes in the power of words and that stories can unite people from all origins. Above the Black is his first fantasy trilogy for teens.

Reviews

[Zach Rubbico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be better than the world intends.

I started the Sky's End trilogy at the suggestion of my boss this year and it has become an instant recommendation in my middle school classroom.

I finished the second book sometime this Fall, and panicked when I learned that the conclusion wasn't out yet. Through the power of Edelweiss, I was able to get an advance reader copy, and I burned through the book on my break.

The book scratched that itch of war that Red Rising offered and continued to leave me on brilliant cliffhanger endings that I continue to read longer after the "okay just one more chapter."

It ended in the best way, adding new mythos to the world and challenges that Conrad had to face. Definitely will be a staple of my classroom library full of excitement and adventure.

[Waldo Winston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta reader review.

Gregson concludes his trilogy beautifully! Continued world expansion, new threats and challenges. The characters you love and love to hate all come to a conclusion you will thoroughly enjoy! The roller coaster you have been riding through the other two books keeps going with all the thrills, pumping the adrenaline until the end! You will not want the series to end, but will love how it does.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very moment Sky’s End and Among Serpents cover art caught my eye at my local Barnes & Nobles … was the moment I knew I was going to fall in love with the series.

The Above The Black Trilogy will always and forever have a place in my heart. I will never forget the adventurous tale of Conrad of Elise, Ella of Elise and their friends. This tale truly makes you feel wholesome and apart of a family that’s taken their losses, grief and turned it into passion, motivation and love. A story not just about vengeance but finding yourself in times of darkness and in the tiniest times of love shared amongst those who you cherish most.

Truly is a funny and enjoyable fast paced trilogy. There is plenty character development and diversity throughout the stories and enough details of world building to give your mind the most pleasant visual experience. I do wish to read more of Conrad and his companions but this story has a well deserved ending!

Marc J Gregson you are very well appreciated and I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.

Rise you cusses! Rise!

[Elvys Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

07/08/1996
10pm mountain time, scratching my head because I need all three books out so I can read them. Talking to my wife and realizing this will be my first trilogy I’ve read that all books are not out and I haven’t watched the show first, I’m getting the real reading experience and it’s driving me crazy. Well, have a good night. 2025 hurry up!!!!

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

I enjoyed this book and was often reminded of Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series in that we have a pseudo steampunk world at war with teen characters making hard decisions. This third book concludes the series nicely and was enjoyable throughout.

Story: Conrad is running out of time to challenge his uncle in a meritocracy battle of leadership. Soon, a new and devastating weapon will take out the last of the resistance and ensure his uncle reigns unchallenged. But even Conrad knows he does not have the skills needed nor the allies he would require to overthrow the tyrant. Missing friends, worried about his sister, and despairing of being able to change his fate, Conrad will have to find the mettle and the will to overcome the setbacks constantly thrown at him.

This was an interesting book in the series in that a lot of it takes place on the ground rather than in the sky or skylands. It still has its steampunk overtures but now with an ever increasingly despairing Conrad as the odds stack up against him. A lot of the ground scenes do feel like filler though they are necessary in a sense in order to reach the finale. But there are also some logic issues - too many instance of good triumphing over evil solely because evil is very very dumb (e.g., the ruthless uncle who never bothers to kill him but threatens it a lot).

But there is plenty of action and quite a few heartwarming scenes as Conrad 'levels up' to deal with both his uncle and, of course, unstable foe Sebastian (I enjoyed that Conrad had an adult but also a teen adversary). In all, an enjoyable read good for adults or teens alike. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, a note: If you're unfamiliar, most ARCs don't look like this one. (A giant messily bound copy of only regular copy paper.) Most of the time, they resemble trade paperbacks and usually they've got some art (maybe not final art) on the cover along with details about the book, media plans for publishing, etc. A few do come like this one, bound by that large plastic thing through regular paper. This one is larger than 8.5x11 and REALLY long. I really hate to sound ungrateful, but publishers, please don't do this. This book was SO hard to read. It's extremely heavy and flimsy. I'd much prefer to wait or even just read the digital copy. Anyway, on to the book.

Gregson's final book in the Above the Black series is an incredibly satisfying ending. There's tension, fighting, betrayals, scary creatures, and even a smidge of romance. Downfall is everything you would want in a scifi adventure! Conrad's uncle, the king, has sent him down to the Below. He says it's to conquer the colonies there, but Conrad knows it's a suicide mission. Now it's his plan to not only survive, but to thrive and eventually take down his uncle.

Release Date: 1/13/2026

[Ashley Gregson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc starts DOWNFALL with his foot on the gas pedal and doesn't let up. If you read the previous books in the Above the Black Trilogy, you know that the last book left us with a crazy twist and huge obstacles for Conrad and crew to face in the finale. DOWNFALL rises to the occasion, bringing you relentless action, devious plots, new allies, and of course, tons of monsters!

Strap in to witness the epic conclusion to Conrad's journey!

I laughed, I cheered, I cried. So will you.

[sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is amazing. Literally deserves to be bigger than it is. Books 1 and 2 were soooo good, and book 3 just as!! It was a bit slow for the first couple hundred pages, but the buildup was worth it and the ending was everything it needed to be! MJG is incredible and I will literally read anything he writes from now on!!

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning conclusion to this series! I loved the intensity and the pacing. Still no one was safe and many more amazing characters were lost 😢 Absolutely a must read, every book is strong in this series and it is one I plan to reread!

[Danika Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the trilogy. its been a joy to follow Conrads story over the last few years and I have a little emptiness now that its finished! Thank you Marc, what a ride!

[Bridgette Castelvecchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc, this series is incredible and I loved every word of it! I hope you continue to write more amazing stories! I’ll be on pins and needles waiting ❤️

[Mandi Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all the characters especially Conrad whose struggle to defeat his uncle and stop his tyranny. I also loved seeing his growth over the whole series where he saw through the lies of meritocracy and was a true leader despite social expectations.

Sebastian finally got what was coming to him. Finally justice in that aspect as well.

The action was non stop but there was a lull before the final battle that was somewhat noticeable compared to the first two books.

The final battle was satisfying and allowed us the victory over tyranny. I do wish that some of the elements like the lows revolting to protect Conrad until his final duel wasn’t so predictable or had more connection to the lows who were participating like we saw them previously under the thumbs of the high and their abuse so we could have a deeper connection to their choice to revolt.

I hope to see more from Marc as he’s shown to be an incredibly talent author who knows how to write heart gripping fast paced action adventures.

This will always come in close second for me next to Red Rising.

[Marc Gregson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been one of the great joys of my life writing the Above the Black trilogy.

I hope you loved it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

"Rise like your ancestors, Conrad. Rise."