The Lightborn

Tales of the Edge #3

by Rebecca Zahabi

Freed from his prison cell, the former slave known as Tatters is finally ready to face his past. Now his true nature is known to all, he can use his Lightborn powers freely. But they come at a price, and his loyalties remain conflicted. The renegades about to attack the city used to be his companions, and both sides have treated him badly. He will have to decide which side to choose.

Isha had thought Tatters was dead, and is overjoyed to see him return. But her master, one of the most powerful mages, has a past with them both, one which might make their reunion impossible. The mages remain divided, and in order to survive they will need to come together, and put aside past arguments. They too have a choice.

And outside the city, the renegades continue to advance. Destruction of the mages is their only goal, and nobody knows if they can be stopped...

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 9, 2024

About the author

Rebecca Zahabi is a mixed-heritage writer (a third British, a third French and a third Iranian, if the mix is of interest to you). Her long-term goal is to take over the world.

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so normal about this series I say, as I keep wiping away the tears I've shed during the last 20% of the book. I trusted Zahabi to deliver, and deliver she did.

As I opened The Lightborn, I was instantly transported back into this wonderful world, as if no time had passed (in reality, it's been about two years since I read book two), and the stakes were so high, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Everything I was expecting to happen, did, but some things still took me by surprise, like the death of a beloved character (didn't realise how much I cared for them until they were gone), and the ending itself.

It's not a "typical" fantasy book ending, which is why I like it so much. This whole series has been different from the get go and I simply can't get enough.

I'd like to talk about the (very minimal, almost nonexistent) romance.

In book two I felt it was heading in a completely different direction for Isha, but in book three there was subtle foreshadowing (and the fact that we barely saw who I thought was her intended) about the person she actually ended up with, so whenever I do a reread, I'll have to check if there were hints even earlier and I just missed them.

I'm okay with the pairing, but I think there should've been more build-up, considering how their relationship started off.

And I'd also like a fourth book to expand on the world even more, because there's absolutely more story to tell. Mayhaps a Hawk prequel? That would be so cool. Pleaseeeee give us more!!

Also, this series is CRIMINALLY underrated, it's not even funny how long people have been sleeping on it, WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR Y'ALL TO PICK IT UP??? I'M BEGGING, OKAY, BEGGING, TALES OF THE EDGE DESERVES ALL YOUR LOVE!!! Please give it a chance.

[Books0507_Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales of the Edge is such an underrated series, but it has everything. The worldbuilding throughout is so impressive and the magic system unique, there are some brilliant complex characters that really drew me in.

This was a great end to the series, more people definitely need to pick this series up they are missing out on such a gem.

[ObviouslyAllie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dynamic between Tatters and Passerine in this book was just amazing! A great payoff for what was set up in the last two books.

[Cass (the_midwest_library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down

This series was interesting, it's def a debut and I'm excited to see what the author writes in the future. The magic was really cool, and the world was fresh and for the most part interesting. I also quite liked the characters.

But the plot in all 3 of these books was watery, and very meandering for me. What was there was solid, it just felt like we spent a long time getting to this place and frankly it didn't feel that high stakes.

I had a good time. I'm excited to see what is next for this author but this series isn't my favourite per se.

[Abi Pellinor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third and final book in the Tales of the Edge series, I was so excited to finally dive into the end of this trilogy!

The worldbuilding throughout this series has been absolutely fantastic, with a really well developed magic system and in depth discussions on oppression of various kinds (enslavement, racism, sexism, and more). The discussions on how difficult it can be to fight back against an oppressive regime on various levels, whether that is from outside or inside the privileged group.

I also really enjoyed seeing the character development throughout the series, with it coming to a head in this finale and certain characters really coming into their own and displaying that development we've seen throughout the books.

This whole series really is underrated and I wish that more people gave it a shot as Zahabi is a fantastic author who really pulls you into her books and holds you there. I can't wait to see what else she publishes!

[Radu Dumanovschi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A literary piece written easily for everyone's understanding with interesting moments but ruined by a passage in which a character expresses her desire to enter into pathological sexual relations that she considers normal and which make the reader roll his eyes. Personally, I think that the author could do without that passage or at least rewrite it in an artistic way.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

Lightborn is the third and final book in Rebecca Zahabi’s Tales of the Edge trilogy. Tatters is finally out of prison and reluctantly once again tied to Passerine, his once friend turned betrayer. Hawk and her Renegades are coming, and the Nest is still divided despite the new triumvirate, with each leader holding conflicting visions of how to defeat the rebels. Meanwhile, Isha must step into a role she never wanted and confront the mother she barely remembers if she hopes to help build a world where everyone can belong.

This was a strong ending and delivered exactly what I had been hoping for from the series. That said, I still think the trilogy might have worked even better as a single, sweeping volume. It ultimately tells one continuous story with each book functioning more like an act in a larger narrative.

With the worldbuilding and character groundwork already laid, this installment leans heavily into action, containing the bulk of the trilogy’s major set pieces. Once things get moving, the pacing is nearly relentless from start to finish. It’s visceral and often brutal, with several intense sequences and a few genuinely devastating moments that brought me to tears. While the ending may tie things up a bit too neatly, I still loved where everything ultimately landed.

Tatters, in particular, was a revelation here as we finally see him operating at his full potential. Watching him fully access his powers and stand among the mages who once underestimated him was incredibly satisfying. But what truly defines him are his relationships: his compassion toward the Lightborn Starling, his uneasy yet compelling partnership with Passerine despite their history, and his romance with his kher lover Arushi, even as they find themselves on opposing sides.

As for Isha, I think the direction her arc takes—particularly her emergence as a leader within the Nest—could have used a bit more groundwork, as it feels somewhat out of left field when it begins to take shape. Still, I appreciated her journey overall. I especially liked how much Kilian and Caitlin were there alongside her. Their strange friendship, evolving and enduring even as everything around them shifts.

The Lightborn is a gripping, action-packed finale that delivers on what the first two books built up.

[Paperwinter]

Tales of the Edge will always be the series with one of the most impressive worldbuilding I've seen, in terms of the originality and comprehensiveness of its magic system. I liked the themes of oppression and the complexity of the characters in the book.

Sadly, as a finale, I'm a little disappointed with this one. It suffers from the same jerky pacing and incomplete story arcs as The Hawkling -- particularly egregious is how Arushi betrayed Tatters by fighting for the Renegades, and I believe she was actually to kill him in battle, but the book doesn't show any of the result of that. They kind of just go back to being lovers in the final scene.

My main complaint though is Caitlin's personality transplant. I never like when a character has a sudden change of heart off-screen, and especially not when it's so transparently just to fulfill a romantic role. Tales of the Edge does well to include the POV and society of the khers, and I can't help but feel there's a missed opportunity here to also include a POV from the ungifted, instead of saddling us with a character which (to me) was pretty unforgivable from the earlier two books.

[Taldragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freed from his prison cell, the former slave known as Tatters is finally ready to face his past. Now his true nature is known to all, he can use his Lightborn powers freely. But they come at a price, and his loyalties remain conflicted. The renegades about to attack the city used to be his companions, and both sides have treated him badly. He will have to decide which side to choose.

Isha had thought Tatters was dead, and is overjoyed to see him return. But her master, one of the most powerful mages, has a past with them both, one which might make their reunion impossible. The mages remain divided, and in order to survive they will need to come together, and put aside past arguments. They too have a choice.

And outside the city, the renegades continue to advance. Destruction of the mages is their only goal, and nobody knows if they can be stopped...

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is the last in the trilogy. I struggled to the end. there were loads of amazing parts the battles and going to war were amazing. The overall story plot fell to pieces. I don’t actually get the value of the lightborn at all. in fact it all starts to feel like a moral tale about ethnicity. Book 2 was gripping and compelled me forward - i was really looking forward to this. In summary, the author has huge potential but I dont think I would recommend embarking on this trilogy. Wait for their next foray and sharpening. In fact, the last 10 pages i skimmed as i just wanted the book done. I didn’t want to report a did not finish so close to the end.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series but not enough to go purchase special editions. Alas, I purchased them far before continuing in the series. Unlike the first book which was filled with world building and character establishment, these two dove into the plot which, especially in book three, moved quite quickly. I also appreciated, due to my own delay, being able to read the books back to back.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this, well listened, while suffering from a Head Cold which really hasn't helped the book. I didn't enjoy the battles and there were a few which made this feel long to me. The rest of the book and the ending were fine. Overall, I liked it but wouldn't read it again.

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third instalment in the Tales of the Edge series.

Review to follow.

[Benjamin Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

To Tatters, you say?