Lych Way

The Undertaken #3

by Ari Berk

If Love and Death die, what is left?

Silas Umber has returned from Arvale, his family’s ancestral home, having disturbed the tormented spirits of his ancient line. Frantic to retrieve the shade of his beloved Beatrice, he turns his back on the spectral chaos he has left behind, unaware that the malevolence he unleashed has followed him back to Lichport.

As his family and friends suffer and fall at the hands of the vengeful Huntsman from Arvale's sunken mansions, Silas must reach deep into his complicated bloodline to summon powers and wisdom beyond those required of a simple Lichport Undertaker. But the dark and painful secrets of his birth threaten to overwhelm him, and if he can’t lay the ghosts of his own past to rest, if he refuses to make the required sacrifice, Silas may lose everything and everyone he has grown to love and worked to protect.

With the stunning conclusion to the Undertaken trilogy, Ari Berk returns to the series that Publishers Weekly calls "thought-provoking gothic fantasy," School Library Journal praises as "reminiscent of the classic gothic works of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Shirley Jackson," and VOYA applauds as "a captivating world that seduces with each page turn."

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Horror, Gothic

336 pages, Hardcover

First published February 25, 2014

About the author

Ari Berk is a writer, artist, and scholar of literature, folklore, and myth. Former student of and assistant to Pulitzer Prize winning writer N. Scott Momaday, Ari has written everything from academic works on ancient cultures to popular books about myths and legends for children and adults and, most recently, a trilogy of novels. He works in a library filled to the ceiling with thousands of arcane books and more than a few wondrous artifacts. When not writing, he moonlights as professor of mythology and folklore at Central Michigan University. He lives in Michigan with his wife and son. Visit him at www.ariberk.com.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so, the trilogy ends as it began--brilliantly. The story in this volume follows traditional rules of structure, something that many writers ignore because they don't want to work that hard, and it weaves two tales of redemption--Silas and Dolores--as deftly as the Moirae craft their tapestry. Without spoiling anything, I will say that the ending was quiet, something I had not expected but which made complete sense.

All three books were well worth the time spent reading them, even when I couldn't turn out the lights for several evenings, because Dr. Berk is a master storyteller. His attention to detail shows his reverence and deep understanding of mythology and history. In the end, we have not only been given the gift of a wonderful story, but he has gently taught us to become better readers.

[Jesie Stefani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, the whole trilogy really,is well worth the read. My stomach tightened deliciously at the rich and often dark atmosphere brought to life by the author.I was markedly drawn back into the world of Silas Umber - the Undertaker of Lichport within the first few pages. As I continued to read on - just when the ghostly deeds seemed to much (in a good way) - Ari Berk filled my imagination with a myriad of rites pertaining to death, birth, and the grave! In short, as always, Ari Berk’s writing is spellbinding.

I do not want to give away any juicy secrets from the book, so all I’ll say is that for anyone who has been awaiting the final installment of the Undertaker trilogy I promise you it is well worth the wait. I, for one, felt as if no time had passed between the closing of Mistle Child and the opening of Lych Way. Within three pages I was consumed by the story and I forgot anything that may have happened in between. Mr. Berk does a wonderful job at providing entertainment while also exploring the delicate dialogues that surround the nature of death and self-discovery, as well as the sacrifices that breathe life into the world. The Undertaker Trilogy presents young readers with a hero who grows and matures with them and safe and exciting means to explore complicated ideas. But, the books are not just for young adults; the characters are woven together splendidly, as the faults and heroics of each person winds throughout the book(s). There is also a wide breadth of delightful detail pertaining to death lore and myth which are more than capable of keeping anyone entertained.

The rich and intricate tapestry of folklore, adventure, and just the right thread of spine tingling terror that began in Death Watch is bound and brought together in a satisfying end.

In short,pick up Lych Way from the store, the library, wherever! Read it. Enjoy it. I know I did.

[Ken Yuen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was the best of the trilogy. You can really see the benefit of Berk's experience. Pacing, character, and storywise, this is the best book so far. It's a book that answers two books worth of questions.

We get conversations that are long overdue. We have three books of storylines that reach their conclusions. Ultimately, all the conclusions feel natural and fitting for the story as set up. It's not all happy endings and not all questions are answered, but enough is answered to leave the little bit of mystery that makes sense.

It's an interesting world that's set up here, with a blend of myths with a mythos of its own.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've stopped listing this a YA since I think many adults would enjoy the series. You do need to start at the beginning and although this is the last listed I hope the story continues.

[Ravenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible ending to an incredible series. Every loose end is tied back up in this story, like the neverending tapestry of the Sewing Circle.

Some of the reveals in this novel I expected but several I did not expect. I truly did not know how Mr. Berk was going to end this story. After decades of reading everything I could possibly consume, it is difficult for authors to surprise me. Mr. Berk has continually surprised me. His work is a beautiful weaving of folklore, death, sorrow, and family. All of these topics and several others blend together to create this series.

I love everything about these books and will not forget them for the rest of my life. These books have given me comfort in my recent hard times. Silas and I are not too different. I feel less alone and more alone equally after reading this book series.

Thank you to master storyteller Mr. Ari Berk for giving me (and people like me) an incredible book series that feels like I'm going home.

[Lee Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series was fantastic! I love the development of all the characters! I rushed to read this after the cliffhanger left by "Mistle Child." This book sucked me in like the other two did. The ending.... I wish there was a fourth book because I have lots and lots of questions. I feel like there's more to be learned. Something just feels unfinished. I turned the last two blank pages a few times hoping words would appear. Please make a fourth book!!

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silas has returned from Arvale back to his home in Lichport.
Unfortunately, Silas forgot to close the gate and something has followed
him back into the world of the living.
my favorite quote is on page 261, when Silas tells his mother: "Fear is what happens
when ignorance gets sharpened to a point."

Another novel with a similar theme:
Pierce Anthony's: On a Pale Horse

[GermanShepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling and spectacularly unique

One of the best series I've ever read, and I read ALOT of books. The entire series is darkly enchanting, thought provoking and full of great imagery and mythological references. Just when every book seems to be a story already told, this series made old stories new, and I seriously loved every word. Truly sad to finish the last book.

[J.Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This entire series was just ok. I wish it had been more like the Garth Nix Sabriel series, which is one of my favorites. Alas. Silas Umber is a strange child who becomes even more strange when his dad disappears and he and his terrible mother are forced to move back to the town where his parent's grew up and live with his dad's brother. Here Silas starts to learn the truth about his dad's profession which he thought was a typical undertaker. Instead, it was more of a guide for the dead, helping them to pass on and taking care of lingering, troublesome ghosts. My main beef with the whole series is that Silas was so unlikable. I felt annoyed with him throughout all three books. He would deliberately make decisions knowing they were probably not wise and against the express wishes of other older members of the community who knew better than him. I wasn't sad to finish the series and I wasn't upset with the ending, other than, like the rest of the series, I felt it wasn't explained well enough. I don't like explanations couched in rhetoric and haze and these had an abundance of that.

Death Watch

[Teri Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg. What an incredible third book. I read both book two and three in the same day because I just couldn't stop...and this one was creepy enough that I didn't want to go to bed without finding out what happens.

This whole series gets under the reader's skin, in part because it's *just* realistic enough to be a little scary without being gory, and in part because the themes are things that really matter: the nature of life and death, family, love, grief. It's so thought provoking, in addition to being beautifully written.

I laughed, I cried, I jumped out of my skin at the slightest noise in the empty house...I longed for more even as I realized that the ending is exactly right.

Well done.

[Kara]

I'm putting this aside. I stopped on page 74. I don't want to say I am DNFing this, as I fully intend to come back to it when I am in the mood for something eerie, gothic, and heavy. Right now I am just finding it too slow and I am a little bored.

Ugh, my attention span is suffering these days.

I also think I want to reread the trilogy from the beginning. It has been so long since I read Mistle Child, and a lot of the details have been lost to me and they are not coming back so easily.

I still really adore the writing, but if I can't get involved in the plot with the missing pieces in my memory and such, I need to pick it up at another time.

[M RaindancerStahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

ended a bit abruptly, and not quite definitively. I think if he were not aiming for a younger audience, it might have been improved by more detailed explanations of what was going on.

A chaotic world was created and never dealt with.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was slow going, confusing, disjointed? I can say...the first two books in this Trilogy grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go until the last...but #3..not so..I had to force myself through the middle...and was relieved that I made it through.

[Meara]

Ending the trilogy on kind of a flat note.

I was very excited to read the final book, as I really enjoyed the first two. This one built the tension nicely and then left the reader flat when SPOILER Ari ends the series with Silas walking up to his dead father.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series. It frequently had me in tears, but it's worth it. To me, it was an examination of life and death and love... How each person takes them to a different place and the impact each has on them.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final installment of this meandering and mesmerizing series ventures into Egyptian mythology as Silas seeks out his place in the worlds of the living and the dead.

[Chocomeiske · Rating 3 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this book but it felt a bit rushed and ended in a cliffhanger which is ok if it wasn't the last book in a trilogy.

[Craig Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

picked a good time to read and finish this series during halloween