The Wizard and the Warlord

The Wardstone Trilogy #3

by M.R. Mathias

The Wizard and the Warlord The Wizard and the Warlord is the gripping conclusion to the epic trilogy that M. R. Mathias wrote in a Texas prison. This compelling volume brings the elves, dwarves, giants, and the dragons into the story again as our heroes, led by High King Mikahl and the great wizard Hyden Hawk, are forced to fight for the fate of the Kingdoms. This time, they do so against the terrible creature that Gerard Skyler has become, and the legions of demon-beasts at his command. From M.R. Mathias, This is the CONCLUSION to The Wardstone Trilogy. It has taken me several years and a lot of sleepless nights to complete this grand work. When I decided to become a writer I gave it my all, from the moment I put the inkpen to paper in prison, to the new epic I am halfway through writing now. I hope you like reading Wardstone as much as I enjoyed writing it and bringing it to fruition. You may see some of these characters and locales again, but the story of Claret and mighty Ironspike comes to its magnificent end here. Enjoy the journey, M.R. M. R. Mathias has several other titles available from Amazon, Saga of the First Dragoneer - Free Dragoneer intro novellaThe Royal Dragoneers - Dragoneer Saga Book OneCold Hearted Son of a Witch - Dragoneer Saga Book TwoThe Confliction - Dragoneer Saga Book ThreeConfliction Compendium - Dragoneer Saga 1-3 plus The First Dragoneer novellaThe Emerald Rider - Dragoneer Saga Book FourRise of the Dragon King - Dragoneer saga Book FiveBlood and Royalty - Dragoneer Saga Book SixDragoneer Saga - Royalty Trilogy Boxed Set (Books, 4, 5, and 6)Also by M.R. MathiasThe Legend of Vanx Malic Book One - Through the WildwoodThe Legend of Vanx Malic Book Two - Dragon IsleThe Legend of Vanx Malic Book Three - Saint Elm's DeepThe Legend of Vanx Malic Book Four - That Frigid Fargin' WitchCrimzon & Clover I - Orphaned Dragon, Lucky GirlCrimzon & Clover II - The Tricky WizardCrimzon & Clover III - The GrogCrimzon & Clover IV - The Wrath of CrimzonCrimzon & Clover V - Killer of GiantsCrimzon & Clover VI - One Bad BitchCrimzon & Clover  VII -  The Fortune's FortuneAnd don't miss the huge International Bestselling  The Wardstone TrilogyBook One - The Sword and the DragonBook Two - Kings, Queens, Heroes, & FoolsBook Three - The Wizard & the Warlord

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Dragons

418 pages, Paperback

First published June 22, 2012

About the author

M. R. Mathias is a member of the Authors Guild who cares for his wife, a Breast Cancer Warrior who has Parkinson's. After raising two boys into fine young men, they and two dogs split their time between a modest smalltown home, and an apartment built on a floating dock on Lake Ultura (aka Lake Texoma) which foots into an amazing State Park brimming with all sorts of wildlife. Like the wizards of old, he tends to the animals who share the area and inspire the creatures in his works. He likes to fish, write, play guitar, and he builds all sorts of things out of reclaimed wood. He sold over two million eBooks most of them before eBooks were cool. His work is critically acclaimed, and has earned multiple literary awards, including a coveted Locus Poll nomination.

**Featured in the March 2020, Publisher's Weekly article, "As Luck Would Have It"

"The Master of Epic Fantasy" - Kindle Nation Daily, Nov. 2017

Mathias has authored several fantasy series and compiled an admirable list of accolades along the way.

--Devious Arcana, (ongoing)

--The Wardstone Trilogy (3 Books)

-- Perpetual Fantastica Fantastica (4 Books)

--The Dragoneer Saga (6 Books)

--The Legend of Vanx Malic (10 Books)

--The Crimzon and Clover Short Story Series (8 Books)

--Master Zarvin's Adventures (3 Books)

--Dragon Racers (3 books)

If you are a Kindle Unlimited user, treat yourself to some of the best "hidden gem" fantasy ever written.

Find M. R. Mathias online: mrmathiasbooks .com

Here is what others are saying about M. R. Mathias:

"There are few writers in the genre of fantasy that can equal the creative mind of M.R. Mathias - now acknowledged as a master in this genre of dragons and dwarves, and magic, and spells, and all aspects of fantasy."-- Top 100, Hall of Fame, Vine Voice, Book Reviewer, Grady Harp

"M.R. Mathias imagines a setting that will entice readers and lead them, along with his characters, on a breathtaking adventure." -- Readers Favorite Book Awards review of M. R. Mathias's 2017 Award Winning novel "A Gossamer Lens" from The Legend of Vanx Malic series

"M.R. Mathias is a master at world building and is so good with creative descriptions that you can almost feel the wind whipping through your hair as you soar along on the back of a dragon." -- Readers Favorite Awards review of M. R. Mathias's 2015 "Gold Medal" Award Winning novel "Blood and Royalty" from The Dragoneer Saga"

"You've (Mathias) already achieved much, much more than so many people who like to think of themselves as writers." -- @Gollancz The Deputy Publishing Director of SF, Fantasy & Horror list of the Orion Publishing Group, 2013

Reviews

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wizard and the Warlord by MR Mathias is the third and final book in the Wardstone Trilogy. The Wizard and the Warlord by MR Mathias is a book that will appeal most to an audience of adults and young adults who enjoy: MR Mathias books, the Wardstone Trilogy, and/or fantasy adventure books. This books features elves, dwarves, giants, and the dragons as characters. The plot itself follows a group of heroes being led by High King Mikahl and the wizard Hyden Hawk as they fight for the fate of the kingdoms against Gerard Skyler and his demon-beasts.

The Wizard and the Warlord by MR Mathias was just as well written as the rest of the trilogy. I have to say out of all three books this one was my favorite because it had the most twists and turns as well as the fastest pace. My favorite part was when the heroes faced Gerard Skyler and his army as it was the pinnacle moment of the book and the whole trilogy.There were so many things that came together in this book and I really enjoyed how it all came to an epic conclusion. I felt like the author did a particularly well job in wrapping up the trilogy while still leaving room for future books that follow some of the characters on future adventures.

[Richard W Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Enjoyable

I really enjoyed this Series,though there were Characters that I thought should have lived longer and used in more ways lol. But hey I'm just a Reader not a Writer.

[David White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series

I loved all the characters in this book. It kept me enthralled from beginning to end. I hope there will be more books to come.

[Lara Redmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad series considering I don’t typically enjoy high fantasy

[Jim Galford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable conclusion to the trilogy.

[Books-treasureortrash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book review: 2 Treasure Boxes

Hyden Hawk knows he must defeat The Warlord, even if this evil creature was once his brother. The Dragon Queen was defeated but she is not gone. The Warlord can use her body as a tool to reach into the world. The Elves realize it is time to stop hiding and instead they must help the humans defeat this evil before it annihilates the world. The Warlord and his minions are extremely powerful, but can the High King and Hyden Hawk, with the help of the Elves, Giants, Dragons and Dwarves defeat this evil?

The Wizard and Warlord is the third and final installment in the Wardstone Trilogy. Mr. Mathias has written numerous books, primarily fantasy novels, and he has also written a couple of Horror books as well. There are several protagonists in this fantasy tale and it is told in the third person narrative with the voice and thoughts of the main players.

This is the best book in the trilogy. The story starts with the Elves and introduces their culture as well as some new characters. These new characters are skillfully brought into the storyline and connected with some of the previous players. There are numerous quests that occur which lead the characters into unique situations. Most of the characters grow and develop as the trilogy concludes. The characters are likeable and the comradery that exists between them is fun the read.

The book examines the idea of revenge and shows the undesired effects that can occur when revenge is the only motivator. Within the Warlord a small part of Gerard remains, and it is sad to see how evil power corrupted a sweet boy. Hyden Hawk hopes that he can stop The Warlord, the being who was once his brother, but he also hopes they can both still survive.

Although this book is the final in the trilogy, the story can stand on its own, however to receive the most enjoyment the previous two books should be read first. I recommend this book as a good read. It is an exciting epic tale filled with interesting characters, lots of action and numerous adventures.

Favourite Quote:

“The snow-capped mountains literally looked to be formed of molten copper as the sun inched down behind them. Then as the sun’s glow faded and the silvery light of the stars took over, the mountains appeared frosted in crystal.”

For more of my reviews go to http://books-treasureortrash.com

[Elizabeth (Stuffed Shelves) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mathias did a great job at concluding the series in the last book The Wizard and the Warlord. He introduces us to a very magical world. This book in particular was very descriptive, or maybe I already had a clear image of everything so reading the third book was a breeze, either way I really enjoyed the last book of this trilogy.

As a fantasy book, this book and series did not disappoint. It has great descriptions making the story very easy to visualize. I found the ending to the series to be very dramatic and captivating, making reading the whole series a well worth adventure.

At times it felt like it was becoming a bit rushed, with excitement to the finale. Again, it could have been my own excitement trying to fly through the pages to conclude all the build up that occurred throughout the trilogy. There were some characters I had grown very attached to during the three books, that had no definitive conclusion making me a bit frustrated, but maybe it's a clue to a spin off series by Mathias.

This book, being the last in the series, could probably even be read as a stand-alone book considering how much information is given, but I would still recommend starting with book one, since Mathias takes you on quite a long and fun ride. It includes new characters, as well as continuation of the characters from the previous books.

I did notice a few inconsistencies throughout the book that were distracting, and left things unexplained. It wasn't enough of a problem for me to not say I loved this series, and will probably read it again in the future to fill in the spots I probably missed by my own excitement flying through the pages. I give this book and the entire trilogy a 5/5.

[Marc Englert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see a lot of reviews just gushing about this series, and I would like to add my two cents. Yes, it is a really good trilogy, but no, it's not perfect and probably not for everyone. It was written and published independently so there are a few typos and things that a professional editor would probably caution against. That being said, those things are what make this series more enjoyable, in my opinion.

The author has a tremendously creative mind and has crafted a world full of heroes and villains that I found myself wanting to escape to. The fabulous beasts and mystical magic in the pages are a great way to escape reality for a few hours; after all, that's what reading is supposed to be for, isn't it? The author penned the trilogy while in a prison cell, turning his life around by creating a new one inside the pages of these books. I find that extremely inspiring, and forgive me if it taints my view of the series but it's my opinion.

Hardcore fantasy fans may snub their noses at it, but I loved the series and its organic development of plot and characters. I gave each book 5 stars, and was delighted to read each one. For those people who want to slam the books because they bought them after reading only rave reviews, my advice is to download the sample first. That's what I did and it made me want to buy every single book in the trilogy. Enjoy reading this fun set of books; I know I did!

[Tanner Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Wardstone series is a big winner. It is the best book in the series. They always say leave the best for last and in this case they are right. This book is the really good. I am pleased with how it ended although I can’t tell you how it ended. I don’t want to be a spoiler. I will just say you will not be disappointed. If you haven’t read the first two books you have to or this one will make no sense. I have never understood people who don’t read all the books in a series.

Our fantastic journey continues in this third book. By this third book I felt as if M.R. Mathias has really got it going on. The book read really easy and moved along fast. There are still our beloved characters, but also a host of new ones too. Sometimes I think final books in a series can be a letdown. Not this one. It keeps you involved and has a fantastic ending. It is a big book again, but moves along so well you will not notice. At least I didn’t notice. Again there are a lot of bloody battles in this book and since they are my favorite part I was ecstatic about that. Come on who doesn’t love a good fight. Also he does introduce quite a few new characters. This is a pattern in this series and it works well.

This author has gotten better with each book in this series and I look forward to more great series from him in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series and give the series and this book five stars.

[Jason Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third and final book in the Wardstone Trilogy. My husband and I have both loved this series so much we are sad it is ending. But what a way to end this series. This book is thrilling and the ending is phenomenal. You just have to read this book if you have read the first two books. If you haven’t read the first two books you have to start with them or this book makes no sense.

This book is the best of the three books in this series. The author really outdid himself with this book. It moves along at a fast pace and is extremely well written. He has settled down from the frenetic jumpy writing in the first book. The second book was a lot better, but this book has hit it out of the park. The flow is just so smooth.

We like the fact that the main cast of characters has stayed the same throughout the series. There is a revolving door of supporting characters that get killed off quite regularly, but the main characters stayed the same. This book has spectacularly written battles. They are so much more detailed than the first book. And there are a lot more of them. We have come to so love these boys/men and their quest it is hard for us to say goodbye. But their journey does end but it does end awesomely.

So my husband and I have decided we will give this book five stars and the series as a whole five stars also. If you like to read fantasy novels make sure you give these a try.

[Nolan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the most intense and in depth detail of all of the Wardstone books. It is the conclusion of a long and hard road our young heroes have found themselves on. In this book the battles and fights are extremely bloody much more so than in the first two books. I am not sure that was really necessary to the story. I think he could have had a few less bloody battles and the book would still have been good. Although they do make for good reading and a good distraction this book isn’t for the faint at heart.

The bad guys are even more intense in this book. They are very scary and have very scary powers. He also introduces us to a whole slew of new characters that turn out to be integral to the story. It can be difficult at times to follow so many characters, but it is challenging to your mind. So it doesn’t get stale you are always engaged or you might miss something. I also like the way he goes in depth with the elves and really makes them come alive. This book is a fitting end to the series. The ending is very well written and does not leave you hanging. It finishes the story nicely.

Don’t be intimidated with the length of this book or the first two books. They read fairly fast and nove along nicely. I have just started the Dragoneers series and I hope it is as good as this one. If you like fantasy with some good old blood and guts give this a try. I do recommend you start with book one though. 5 stars

[Garrett Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the third and final book delivers. It brings a good conclusion to the series. It did not disappoint me at all. I really have enjoyed my time reading these books. It was time and money well spent. Please read books one and two before attempting this one. If you don’t you will be lost and it won’t make any sense. This series is a must read from start to finish. The author has gotten better with each book. The progression of the story has unfolded nicely over the three books.

In this book we have the conclusion of the quest to defeat evil. It has really intense battles and lots of magic. There are a lot of battle scenes and they do dominate the book somewhat. But this is the end book and they have to complete their mission. So the evil characters will be fighting harder. That is how it works in any good series. In the last one it should be more intense. Otherwise it is just anti-climactic and can leave a bad taste about the whole series. So the final book to me is the most important one and this is a really good final book.

This book provides a good ending to this series. It is still a large book so be prepared to read for a while. But it is worth it. I was not disappointed in this book. This is a series I can see myself rereading a couple years from now. Or having my children read when I have children.

[Thomas Oneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now we have come to the conclusion of the series with book three. This was such a great series I hated to see it end. But thankfully this author has a lot of other books out there.

In this the final book we come to the end of the journey. The guys finally complete their quest. It has been fun to follow them and their quest to defeat evil. I thought he did a really good job in writing this book and ending it well. Sometimes books end stupidly but I liked how this one ended. This book tied the whole series together and ended on a high note.

In this book the fights were really bloody and they were long. It had a lot more of these than the first two books. They were really cool. I like that he kept changing out characters it kept it interesting. For me this book read just fine. Some people are just haters and never gave this series a chance. Obviously they have never read a lot of fantasy books because most are written like this book. There is so much detail that it has to be long and have a lot of characters. It would be boring if it wasn’t written like this.

Give these a try. I really liked them and thought this was the best of the three. Although they were all good books and I liked them all.

[Ethan Westfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a pretty long list of books to read. But after I read the first book, it was good enough that I would finish the series before starting another one. These are very well written and highly entertaining without being over the top with violence or sex. I would say anyone over twelve would enjoy these books.

This book concludes the fight of good vs. evil that started in book one. This book is larger than life. The books have a big sweeping storyline that does not slow down or drop off in this the final book. The magical creatures really come to life and get fleshed out very well and there are a lot more of them in this book. The author does a great job in telling this story. I like the fact that he never strayed from the main story. He never gets sidetracked. There are a lot of different characters throughout the whole series that change constantly. They are there for a little bit and then they are gone. But it makes it much more interesting that way. The story finishes in a great way. It is an appropriate ending to this series.

The whole series was very well written and had an excellent plot. I have this author on my goodreads list and will be keeping an eye out for future books.

[Mike Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well here it is the final book in the Wardstone trilogy. I have read the other two books and it all comes down to this one. It is another long book but I felt it was worth it. I liked the series as a whole but found this book to be the best of the three. It not only finished the story it did so in a good way. Sometimes final books in a series can be disappointing. This book was not, thank goodness since I had already invested considerable time in the first two books. The last chapter of this book is awesome. But I cannot tell you about it. It would be spoiling it. Just take my word for it.

The book was the best in the series and was written really well. He seems to have found his rhythm and told a great story. This book is not as convoluted as the first one. It stays the course nicely with hardly any side trips. The main characters continue in their development and the lesser characters play a bigger role. He has again shown a flair for describing creatures and scenery. I have decided to give this one five stars. It was a fairly easy decision. The book deserves it.

[John Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I am a fan of the first two books in this series (as you can see by my reviews), I felt that they were seriously lacking in good female characters. Shaella was just insane, while Princess Rosa was just cute but only there to be a weakness for Mikahl. But, here is book 3 and along comes Telgra; she’s an elf with brains and beauty who is not afraid to help the humans although they have never been kind to her people. She was just well-written and likeable right from the start.

I was anxious to see how Gerard’s storyline would turn out, and although it’s not what I guessed it was still unnervingly good. There were a few points in the book where I rolled my eye’s at the references to the Hobbit and some of the jokes kind of went over my head, but all in all this was a fitting final piece to the trilogy. It was a bit shorter than the first two, or maybe it just flowed faster and I read it in a couple of days. I am sad to see the end of the series but the author has hinted that some characters may make appearances in his other books, so I will just have to read those to find out for myself!

[Austin Lefevre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to this trilogy. This book has it all from bloody battles to mental challenges. Hayden has to defeat his own brother who has turned into an evil wizard. What is better than that pitting brother against brother? Once again MR Mathias can be a little heavy on the details and yet still not get real in depth with the story. That has been and is my only criticism. Sometimes the story gets lost in the details. But this is a fitting final saga. The story unfolds well and it moves along at a good clip. There are still a lot of details but I don’t think the story gets overwhelmed in this book.

The book is long and may look intimidating. But if you have read the first two (which I recommend) you will know they are a pretty fast read once you get into them. I have taken days to make up my mind on how to rate this book. I kept going back and forth between four and five stars. What finally persuaded me to give it the five stars was how it ended. It really left no loose ends and everything was done. It did not end on a bad note but rather it ended in a very positive way. So here it is five stars.

[Nicholas Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book straight thru. It took me 10 hours but it was worth it. This final book of the Wardstone trilogy is a great book. It was exciting from page one and the excitement never stopped. There were lots of good bloody battles throughout the whole series but they were particularly good in this one.

It was definitely a fitting way to end the story. I did not dislike anything about the book except for the fact that it had to end. The depth he got into with the elves was cool. I felt like I was right there and they were as real as you or I. He has always done a great job with his characters and his stories.

If you don’t like this guy I think there is something wrong with you he is great in my opinion. His books are always fun and have crazy things going on. I have not read a book from him that disappointed. I will keep reading his books even if people run him down about his attitude. So what that doesn’t mean his books suck. He is a good storyteller. I don’t have to personally like the author to like their work. There are plenty of authors or actors that I don’t like personally but I still like their work.

[Romuald Dzemo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wizard and the Warlord is Book Three in the Wardstone Trilogy by M.R. Mathias, another gripping tale of magic and intrigue, laced with unrelenting action. Gerard Skyler, like the Lord of the Dark Tower in Lord of the Rings has embraced darkness and is about to submerge the kingdoms in its depths if nothing is done and done soon enough. Now the High King Mikahl has to bring together all the forces he can to stop this powerful evil from destroying his people. The scene is set for yet another intense and roller coaster action as the company of elves, dwarves, dragons and other creatures join the King and the great Wizard Hyden Hawk to fight Skyler.

The Wizard and the Warlord is a wonderful tale of courage and bravery in the face of evil, a story that is flowered with a lot of humor, intelligent and insightful passages, and one that demonstrates the power of good over evil. Again, the characters are as usual --- compelling and drawn from a world of legend, but Mathias makes readers feel like these characters were just sitting across the table with them. Book Three of the Wardstone Trilogy has many merits and it’s no doubt that readers will be absorbed into the action.

[Sheri Hoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The conclusion of the Wardstone Trilogy-Book 3- The Wizard and the Warlord provides a dramatic and exciting finish. In MR Mathias style, new characters are introduced and action is fierce and fast paced while beloved characters from the previous two books act to fulfill their destinies. Humor and heartbreak are interwoven themes. We see both heroic actions and desperate actions. Unexpected alliances develop.

Not every character survives and some are permanently wounded. The characters who remain experience some closure and new beginnings in the final chapter of the book. All are forever changed.

I do recommend that people read Books 1 and 2 first, but Mathias does give enough information so one could enjoy this book as a stand alone adventure.

Seeing this grand story end was rewarding, yet I felt sad, too. I wanted the possibility of knowing what happens next to characters I cherished. Perhaps, at some point Mathias will continue the story or write a spin off. I know a trilogy has delivered for me when I am not quite ready to let it go.

[Eric Wolford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third and final book in the Wardstone trilogy. I was so excited to finally read it. I liked the first two books but this one blew me out of the water. It was just so good. We have the conclusion of the fantastic journey undertaken by Hayden. It has been quite the ride. Out of all three of the books I liked this one the best. It finished up the story very well. We were not left hanging at all. It is finished and that is all.

The author has done a fabulous job with this whole series. But he has really outdone himself on this one. In this book Hayden must face his brother who has turned into his enemy. The battles are fierce and very bloody. They were in the first two books too. But they just seem to jump off the pages in this book. Maybe it is the battles are between the brothers or their surrogates. Whatever it is they are fantastic.

I gave this book five stars because it was enjoyable and well written. The whole trilogy has been a joy to read. But I particularly liked this book. It was by far my favorite of the three.

[Stephen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delivers the goods; it brings a good conclusion to the series. I have enjoyed reading all these books but this was my favorite. I do not regret reading it or the others in this series. You have to read books one and two before attempting to read this one. If you haven’t you will be lost and it won’t make be easy to follow the story. The progression of the story has unfolded nicely over the three books.

This is the conclusion of the three young men’s journeys. It has been fraught with perils with intense battles and magic. The battles or fights dominate the book more so than in the first two. In the last book we should expect it to have more intensity. Otherwise it would not be a very good way to end a series. The final book is usually the most important one. It is where everything ties together if it is done right.
This book is done right. It is a large book so be prepared to spend some time with it. This will be a timeless book that will stand up well over time.

[Tim Stitham · Rating 5 out of 5]

So the story has to end here and it leaves a pit on my stomach. It is as if I have lost something very important. The Wizard and the Warlord concluded the exciting adventure of High King Mikahl and the wizard Hyden Hawk. This may be a fitting end to a great series, but who wants it to really end, anyway? Fans of the Wardstone Trilogy will love and hate this book – love it because it’s another thrilling ride to the world of magic and action, hate it because it’s hard to finally say goodbye to your favorite characters. My brother introduced the Wardstone trilogy to me some three years ago, and I’ve been a fan of M.R. Mathias ever since. Unlike other book finale, this installment don’t seem crammed up. The magic battle scenes were still executed flawlessly. The humor and realistic character dynamics are still a treat. It’s a fast paced book that staggers at some points that need proper exploration. King Mikahl and Hayden will be missed, as well as Telgra, Dargeon and Phen. Good thing though is that we can move on to a new series and meet new characters to love

[Elizabeth Ehlen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mikahl and Hyden have no choice but to face the demon hellbeast that Hyden’s brother, Gerard, has become. Mikahl isn’t sure why Hyden insists on all the side quests, but he trusts Hyden’s instincts in these matters. He just hopes that Hyden can get back in time to join with him and all of Xwarda in one last stand against all of the demonkind loosed from the Nethers. If he can’t the age of men is surely over.

I thoroughly enjoyed the gripping conclusion to the Wardstone trilogy. I love that Mathias isn’t afraid to kill beloved or introduce new characters even in the final act of his beloved story, and honestly I love the story behind the story, of Mathias’ journey through prison to write this saga. I look forward to seeing the rest of the universe Mathias creates and hope that we learn some of the stories of those sidequests and minor characters, as well as the history of the realm. I think that this could develop into a huge fantasy universe given the chance; and Mathias seems quite capable and willing to bet on second chances. I look forward to more!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading is something I do to get away from my job, everyday stresses, etc... Some authors write books that drag, some that seem to fly. This series starts slow, but picks up pace and before you know it you have progressed from a brisk walk to a marathon of screaming down the path. I was reading 3o tp 40 pages an hour at first, but by the end of the third book, I was reading over 100 pages an hour. Entrancing? Yes. Characters that you see developing and connecting, not only to themselves, but to the story itself is a rare thing. Are there issues, yes, slow at first. Can every book have a pace at which every reader is comfortable and happy? No. However, this was a very fun trilogy to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as well as his latest book, The Legend of Vanx Malic. The characters in which have stayed with me even after reading 2 other authors other books. Try it. Buy the first book in this series. Get hooked. I am sure you will enjoy it. I know I did.

[Breana Cliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Wardstone series is awesome. It is by far the best book in the series. I have always heard leave the best for last and they are right. I am pleased with how it ended but I won’t tell you how it ended that would be wrong. I don’t think you will be disappointed. If you haven’t read the first two books this one will not be easy to follow I would not recommend reading it by itself.
The book was easy to read and moved at a fast pace. All the main characters returned but there were some new additions. Sometimes a final book in a series is not very good or has a bad ending not this book. It kept me involved and interested all the way through to the ending which was really good. It is a big book but I never noticed. There are a lot of big battles in this book and since they are among my favorite scenes it was great for me. I love a good battle.
He has gotten better with each book in this series and I look forward to reading more great books from him.

[Cyrus Trivin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a way to end the story. We have had three long books to get in deep and the way it ended was exactly how it should have ended. I very much like the story and felt like I was a part of it. The brothers, Mik and even Shaella are a part of me now. This has been a heck of a ride and I hated to get off but it had to end. But if it had to end than I am glad it ended the way it did.

There was plenty of action and lots of battles but they are par for the course in these books. He sure knows how to write a battle scene. He also added elves to this book. They were an integral part of the story. I liked the whole flow and how we moved from person to person in the telling of the story. I think anybody who enjoys reading of magic, dragons and such would really enjoy this book. It can stand alone maybe but it would be better to read the first two books so you have the background needed to read this book. It just would make for a better reading experience.

[William Reich · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series itself had so many good things in it. We have to have an ending to this series and this is a fitting one. I hated to see it end but all good things come to an end. I will take comfort that he has many other books out there.

It has been fun to follow the guys and their exploits. I thought Mathias did a good job in writing this book and the whole series actually. This book did a good job of tying the whole series together and ended well. There was nothing left hanging.

In this book he added more and bloodier battles. I like how the characters kept dropping in and then getting killed it kept it interesting. There is a ton of detail so the book has to be long and have a lot of characters. It would have never fit in a short book.
Give these a try this book is the best of the three but they are all good. Although they were all good books and I liked them all very much.

[Nicole Underwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

(same review as Book 1 & Book 2)

The trilogy had promise (I read all three) - the story line was interesting, the battle scenes were well written and very in-depth BUT the author's ability to develop characters was completely missing. At first I thought that this was a children's series because the characters were so underdeveloped. Characters fell in love after 2 sentences, heroes in the book died abruptly and the other characters just moved on after maybe a sentence of regret. It was weird and kind of painful to read. There were too many inappropriate sex scenes for this to be read by children - which made the story feel even weirder. It was a like a youth trying to write an adult book and not having the maturity to get the emotions, relationships and connections balanced.

Again, really interesting story line. If it was re-written and re-worked a bit it could become a solid, epic fantasy series.

[Cherry Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel lost since I finished this book. I did not want the story to end. I am reading another book now but my mind keeps going back to this book. I know that sounds corny and weird but it is how I feel. Hyden, Gerard, and Mikahl are a part of me now and will always live on in my mind.

If you read the first two books you know that Hyden and Gerard go on separate paths (good and evil). This book resolves that issue once and for all. Mikahl is also prominent in this book. The book is written like the first two in the way it flows and moves from character to character. A very fitting ending to a great series. This book does not disappoint the reader. I was very pleased with how it ended. It could not have been any better. I may have wished for a continuation but I am okay that it is over. I can always go back and read the books again.