Return to Edan

The Edan Trilogy #3

by Philip Chase

From the ashes of the War of the Way arises chaos, and a new menace swarms over the battle-ravaged kingdoms of Eormenlond while disease and violence claim thousands. But the greatest threat to Eormenlond is its savior. Stark choices confront Dayraven's friends as they race to salvage what they can of their world. Amidst the vast struggle for survival and meaning is Seren, a girl from Caergilion who may hold the key to unlocking the Prophet’s mind. The convergence of plotlines sweeps the tale back to where it all began in Return to Edan , the monumental conclusion of The Edan Trilogy .

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fiction, Ebooks, Science Fiction Fantasy

787 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 21, 2023

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

Return to Edan is an impressive and fitting conclusion to The Edan trilogy.

"There was an interesting thing about stories, he had realized. Tell people a truth in plain words, and they were more than likely to forget it amidst the thoughts and cares of their daily lives. But clothing that same truth in a story allowed people to uncover it for themselves, and having done so, they might keep it in their hearts. Also, he had realized another thing: He liked telling stories. He suspected this had been true of the man he had been before he lost his memory, but he could recall none of the tales that man would have told."

So here we are at the end of the trilogy. I must say... It has been a pleasure to read The Edan Trilogy by Philip Chase. I need to mention foremost that I am a friend of Philip Chase, the author. But I was never under any obligation to read through The Edan Trilogy or forced to rate the series with a positive rating. In fact, I’ve been vocal about my disappointment with The Prophet of Edan, and Chase has been understanding and kind toward me despite that. That already displayed his professionalism. I read Return to Edan, the third and final book in The Edan trilogy, simply because of one reason. I want to. Despite my mixed feelings on The Prophet of Edan, its strong ending was enough to spark my curiosity to read through the last book in the trilogy. And I’m glad I did. Return to Edan replaced most of the flaws and issues I had with The Prophet of Edan with the things I loved most about the trilogy. Chase’s storytelling, characterizations, and writing shine the most in this concluding volume.

“Their grief over death was the same, and they faced the same darkness, but each faced it in his own way.”

From the ashes of the War of the Way arises chaos, and a new menace swarms over the battle-ravaged kingdoms of Eormenlond while disease and violence claim thousands. But the greatest threat to Eormenlond is its savior. Stark choices confront Dayraven's friends as they race to salvage what they can of their world. Amidst the vast struggle for survival and meaning is Seren, a girl from Caergilion who may hold the key to unlocking the Prophet’s mind. The convergence of plotlines sweeps the tale back to where it all began in Return to Edan. And Return to Edan managed to convey the themes of the hardship of responsibility, leadership, faith, and love without shying away from the darkness and death. Death, its meaning, and its capability as an irreplaceable reason or excuse behind humanity’s virtuous or malicious actions were deftly implemented into the narrative. The themes and the impact of the narrative in Return to Edan were the most powerful in the trilogy.

“The fear of death lies behind everything: faith, desire, greed, procreation, and every institution we’ve ever built in a futile effort to keep it away, distract ourselves, or at least hide from it. But it’s everywhere. Death pervades life. The only rule is to kill before you’re killed. We’re no different from the other animals in this world.”

If you’ve read The Prophet of Edan, you might wonder whether there are many stories left to tell about these characters. The Prophet of Edan could work as a series concluding volume if the author chooses it. But apparently yes. There are still a lot of plot threads to resolve, and Philip Chase did just that. One of the things I loved most about Return to Edan is how Chase organically controls the balance of his storytelling and scenes. To elaborate, allow me to repeat briefly the biggest factor I disliked about The Prophet of Edan was how non-stop the battles were. I mean it, non-stop. It ended up slowing the pacing for me. The characters are plunged into detailed inconsequential skirmishes and battle scenes throughout The Prophet of Edan, and they travel from one place to another continuously very quickly. To me, The Prophet of Edan made The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter’s action scenes felt lesser in quantity. And I felt this was not the best way to utilize Chase’s beautiful, often philosophical, storytelling style. This situation was not repeated in Return to Edan. Sure, some battle scenes in the middle of the book felt redundant, but they are only a few. Most of the detailed battle scenes were pivotal, engaging, and filled with consequences, and they are well-placed in the story.

“You are a ruler. The best Asdralad could have. It is the prerogative of rulers to change the rules, so long as it does no harm. All traditions have their origins, but sometimes they come to cause more hurt than good, and then it’s time to change them. It seems to me Asdralad would be best off with you guiding it. Faldira knew that, and who would dare to question her wisdom? And you might be best able to fulfill your duty with the support that comes of being loved… Sometimes rulers must do things that enable them to keep going. No matter how much we pretend not to be, we are human. It’s no crime to have desires. In fact, they may help you to better understand your people.”

If you’ve read The Prophet of Edan, you might wonder whether there are many stories left to tell about these characters. The Prophet of Edan could work as a series concluding volume if the author chooses it. But apparently, yes. There are still a lot of plot threads to resolve, and Philip Chase did just that. One of the things I loved most about Return to Edan is how Chase organically controls the balance of his storytelling and scenes. To elaborate, let me briefly repeat the factor I disliked about The Prophet of Edan first. It was how non-stop the battles were.

“Without death, there is no beauty, no pain, no sorrow, no joy. No loss. No life.

I mean it... The detailed blow-by-blow battles in The Prophet of Edan were non-stop. It ended up slowing the pacing for me. The characters are plunged into detailed inconsequential skirmishes and battle scenes throughout The Prophet of Edan, and they travel from one place to another continuously very quickly. To me, The Prophet of Edan made The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter’s action scenes felt lesser in quantity. And I felt this was not the best way to utilize Chase’s beautiful, often philosophical, storytelling style. Fortunately, this situation was not repeated in Return to Edan. Sure, some battle scenes in the middle of the book felt redundant, but they are only a few. It is the other way around in Return to Edan. Many of the detailed battle scenes were pivotal, engaging, and filled with consequences. They are well-placed in the story, and most of the time, they lead to an enrichment of characterizations and their respective motivation. The final action sequence and convergence were incredible.

“Death exists for a reason, I know. Up until now, our greatest minds have counseled us to accept it as the one inevitable thing. To lie down meekly when it is our time and go in peace. But what if death’s purpose is to challenge life? What if death is calling to us, commanding us, saying, ‘Conquer me if you dare’? Should we not rise to this challenge, no matter how puny our efforts may be at first? Is it not the ultimate mystery? Is it not what gives motive to everything our kind has achieved, all we’ve groped toward, blind creatures that we are, over the course of our benighted existence? And when we solve death, when we taste immortality, we will have left behind the animal and embraced the god. Can you not see it?”

Maybe it’s because this is the end. Or it could be because Chase’s characterizations were at their best in Return to Edan. But I felt the most invested in Dayraven in this book. More than I was in The Way of Edan or The Prophet of Edan. Although I would have preferred having more of Orvandil, Imharr, and other characters in the novel, the turn and development of some characters surprised me in a good way. I don’t want to give any spoilers. But I enjoyed all the storylines with Dayraven, Earconwald, Joruman, Bagsac, and most of all, Seren. Seren is a new character appearing in Return to Edan for the first time, and she stole the spotlight for me. I believe her existence and how Dayraven’s story converged with her was crucial to why Return to Edan was so readable for me. I could’ve read more and more about Seren. It was easy for me to feel emotionally attached to her and her violent ordeals. As I said, Return to Edan did take a dark and twisted turn. Just read the first POV chapter of Bagsac, and you will understand what I am talking about. Vile characters I hated went through unpredictable development, even if one of them (in my opinion) needed more exposure to work better, and yet... I am left satisfied with the resolutions of all the characters. Even Munzil and Surt’s story! I thought their storyline would be unnecessary, and they seamlessly converged with Dayraven’s story.

“What helps me is to know that those who touch my life become part of me, and I part of them. Even with my memories lost, those I knew before are part of who I am in ways I can’t begin to understand. And those I meet from this day forward will be as well. This life is such that we will not always be together in these forms, but I try to keep in mind that everyone I meet stays with me, even when we leave each other’s company.”

One more thing to address before I close this review. The mystery of the elves. Do we get to learn more about the elves Dayraven met in The Way of Edan. We do. But honestly, not so much. There are still a lot of mystery about the Elves and their powers. And I have a feeling there will be a sequel series to The Edan Trilogy. In fact, I could be wrong here, but I think I remember Chase mentioned something along that line. But this isn’t to say the Elves did not play a part in Return to Edan. Their touch and existence influenced the people of Eormenlond’s lives irreversibly in Return to Edan. And if it is true we are blessed with a sequel series, then I look forward to hopefully learning more about them.

“Good. Now, whatever you are — soldier or farmer, merchant or fisher, wife or husband, mother or father, sister or brother — it matters not. What matters is that you perform your duties to the best of your ability and in a way that honors those near you. A true soldier protects the weak and maintains his dignity by serving the people, never bullying or exploiting them — whichever people he may watch over… A true farmer labors to feed those around her. A true merchant never cheats or steals, but honors every bargain. A true fisher blesses her family with sustenance. Wife and husband honor and cherish one another. Mother and father sacrifice for the sake of their children. Sisters and brothers… Sisters and brothers recognize the god in one another. And I tell you this: You… You are all sisters and brothers. No matter how hard, it is your duty to find a way to honor and love one another.”

Structurally speaking, the story structure in Return to Edan reminded me of The Return of the King by Tolkien. It’s clear Tolkien, Beowulf, Malazan Book of the Fallen, and Norse mythologies are some of the main inspirations behind Return to Edan and The Edan Trilogy. After I read Return to Edan, I realized that on top of a great reading experience, I also understood the message from reading the trilogy. Out of all the messages interpreted from reading the trilogy, the one I took the most is about our ability to control our emotions despite our harsh circumstances. To hate or to love. We have the power to decide which path to follow. The path of love will not be easy; it is often crueler than the path of hate. But at the end of the day, Return of Edan taught the hard and necessary lesson in choosing to love. It is my favorite of the trilogy with a satisfying and bittersweet ending. I look forward to reading whatever Philip Chase decides to write next.

“My brothers and sisters, first you must know that the power to answer that hate lies within you. You decide what person you will be. You create that person with every choice you make. This is the freedom no one can take from you. Will you allow the hate and injustice of others to twist you into something you do not wish to be? Or will you hold fast to a vision of you as a person who acts with love and honor? When you decide, you have made the first step toward hate or love.”

Series Review:

The Way of Edan: 4/5 stars
The Prophet of Edan: 3.5/5 stars
Return to Edan: 4.5/5 stars

The Edan Trilogy: 12/15 stars

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[John Mauro · Rating 5 out of 5]

My complete review is published at Grimdark Magazine.

Finding the right words to describe Return to Edan, the darkest and most ambitious volume of the Edan Trilogy by Philip Chase, feels like an exercise in futility. This final installment of the Edan Trilogy is a book of extraordinary thematic depth, also delivering an unputdownable story with a well-realized cast of relatable characters.

The novel opens with a nine-year-old village boy, Oran, trying to survive in a cruel world following the death of his father. A mysterious figure enters the scene, bringing a sudden transformation to a local thug and demonstrating firsthand the power of the famed Prophet of Edan.

Return to Edan has a melancholy feel reflected in the dark color palette of its stained-glass cover art. The cover depicts a new point-of-view character, the nature-loving girl Seren, who quickly becomes a highlight of the novel. She suffers terrible tragedy but may also hold a key toward salvation. Meanwhile, the sorceress Sequara and her friends are searching for the lead protagonist, Dayraven, who has lost his identity and much of his memory in becoming the fated Prophet of Edan.

The first two books of the trilogy, The Way of Edan and The Prophet of Edan, leaned heavily into a Buddhist-influenced journey of self-discovery. Return to Edan retains this Buddhist influence but also serves as a Christ allegory with numerous Biblical parallels. As Dayraven travels the land, he preaches very Christ-like lessons on the importance of love:

“The path of love is not always easy, and it is not always clear, though it will reward you like no other. You may stumble away from it at times, but it is always awaiting your return. It requires courage and determination to stay on it. You must be true to yourself and your deepest beliefs. Most of all, it requires being the person you choose to love.”

Dayraven also uses his powers to reveal the sins of evildoers, forcing them to confront the horrors of their own actions:

“A long wail escaped the king’s mouth, which gaped in a rictus of agony. When his scream ceased, the man gasped for breath as he knelt and stared ahead with eyes that did not see.”

There is clear Biblical inspiration for this from both the Old Testament, “Though his hatred covers itself with guile, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly” (Proverbs 26:26), and the New Testament, “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2).

But Philip Chase has given a grimdark twist to the typical Christ allegory, since the source of Dayraven’s powers is not goodness but rather a morally ambiguous elven power that could be evil in nature or simply indifferent to the affairs of humanity.

Dayraven’s power is not an intrinsic part of his existence: it is something foreign to him, embedded in his being, constantly threatening to take over. Dayraven wrestles mightily with the internal struggle that this creates, trying to harness the elven power for good. In this way, Philip Chase has also captured the essence of Frodo’s conflict in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, another Christ allegory where the power of the One Ring is an evil that threatens to consume Frodo’s own identity.

Like Frodo, Dayraven must consider if he is willing and able to make the ultimate sacrifice for others. Humanity is capable of such deep love and beauty but also terrifying evils. After the War of the Way from the last book, the world of Return to Edan is rife with violence and disease. An outside observer like the elf might justifiably ponder if a species that has caused so much suffering and destruction is truly worth saving. Is humanity just an irredeemable cancer on the face of the planet?

Grimdark fans will find much to love in Return to Edan. Set in a dark and brutal world, Philip Chase doesn’t shy away from realistic depictions of violence and the shadows of war. The rawness depicted in several scenes made me wince in pain. There is also moral ambiguity, as Dayraven’s powers are both wondrous and terrifying: he could end up being either a savior or a destroyer. In this sense, Philip Chase threatens to subvert the chosen one trope in a manner that could potentially go the way of Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah.

Continuing the trend in the characters’ personal journeys, both eastern and western theologies are reflected in Philip Chase’s concept of Edan, which seems to encompass both the Buddhist notion of nirvana and the Biblical notion of paradise (“Eden”) as a state without suffering or sin. But Chase also astutely captures the inherent tension between loving human attachments and the emotional detachment required to achieve such a state.

My review barely scratches the surface of Return to Edan. The Edan Trilogy can be read on multiple levels, and a complete analysis is more worthy of a Ph.D. dissertation than a short review such as this. But putting aside such in-depth analysis, I should emphasize that Philip Chase also delivers a perfectly paced story with beautiful prose and engaging, empathetic characters.

Taken as a whole, the Edan Trilogy is a modern masterpiece, a lamentation as timeless and beautiful as the stained glass depicted on each of its three covers. With the Edan Trilogy, Philip Chase proves that fantasy can achieve the highest echelon of literary greatness while delivering a gripping story, epic in scope and deeply personal in its impact.

[William Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne

Finally found a time where I can give Return to Edan the attention it deserves! The first two books in this series are brilliant. Seriously impressive works that blend classic and modern fantasy with compelling characters, an epic plot and smooth, effective prose.

Well, Return to Edan lives up to its predecessors and finishes off The Edan Trilogy brilliantly. Twists and turns along the way. Satisfying moments. Great building of tension. Epic action sequences, as well as powerful moments between our characters during the slow moments.

In Return to Edan, Philip Chase shows his skill at crafting a wide range of characters, not only making them immediately distinctive, but also keeping them intriguing and engaging throughout the entire story.

Please pick this series up!

[Mark Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third, final and by far the longest book of Philip Chase's Edan series. This review contains some spoilers for the first two books.

The trilogy started off wearing its Tolkein influences on its sleeve, and whilst that never really stopped (we even have a vaguely Gollum-like figure in book 3 and a multi-stage home-coming) the author definitely put his own stamp on the tale and turned it in unexpected directions.

Many authors might have concluded the story with the end of book 2, and many readers might have expected them to. A great victory was had, the fearsome architect of the destruction threading books 1 and 2 was defeated.

But we would have been left with nagging questions about this "elf", this great enigmatic power that allowed the victory against the odds. And we would have been served a filling meal of more traditional fantasy fare that contained, but did not elaborate on, many hints of deeper thinking and more nuance.

In book 3 Chase makes good on the intellectual promises of the first two books. It's still an exciting fantasy book with many battles, deadly warriors, and dangerous magics. But it also leans into the two-sides thinking that we saw in the other books. Chase's 'baddies' had motivations, beliefs, and often reasons to think of themselves as the force for good. For some reason I kept thinking of the Council for Truth and Reconciliation that held sway after apartheid. There was no such council here, or moralising to the reader, but as the factions stumble - often violently - towards peace, hampered by pride, misunderstanding, and the need for vengeance, you feel the lessons that the prophet of Edan is trying to impart.

Chase's interest in Buddhism and eastern mythology enter in an unlikely but effective mix with this more classical fantasy world, and again without lecturing, the story manages to explore more than just the map. We also get some scenes reminiscent of the sermon on the mount.

The ending of trilogies and longer series are often emotional as we say goodbye to characters we've spent considerable time with. Chase delivers an affecting conclusion where different characters and places get their chances to withdraw from the reader until we're left with a moment that circles back to the start of book 1.

I very much enjoyed the trilogy. It's well written, exciting, traditional-feeling fantasy with extra dimensions to it, and an intellectual edge that cuts deeper the more pages you turn.






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[Edward Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My brother and I now have a booktube called The Brothers Gwynne. Check it out! The Brothers Gwynne

This book is truly amongst the best of fantasy!

I'm a huge fan of The Edan Trilogy. Book 1 had a Gemmell meets Tolkien vibe, Book 2 was downright savage and I loved it. And Book 3 ... wow! Return To Edan is such a wonderful melting pot of some brilliant fantasy works (as well as historical influences) with Philip's own story in full glory. It was so much fun to read.

Chase managed to evoke so many emotions and feelings from such an array of characters. For the first 150-200 pages or so we are rarely with the same POV twice and it worked so well. It is a testament to Philip's skill as a writer that I'd get to the end of the chapter, want to read more of that character, then nod in glee when I saw who the next chapter focused on. I couldn't put it down and it is a remarkable climax to an already spectacular series.

I loved every character. New, old, good, bad, human and otherwise. Everyone was written superbly and they truly made me feel immersed in this brutal but at times beautiful land. I loved the poems and the songs, the battles were as sharp and gut punching as Odin's spear Gungnir and the relationships formed between the characters made this a highly emotional read.

I miss them already!

[Allen Walker]

I recommend this book, especially the audio!

[Joshua Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly outstanding conclusion to Chase's trilogy. Although I really liked the first two installments (4-star reviews), I felt this was a cut above the first two books in every way. The characterization came together really well, the plotting was superb, and the overall story highly compelling. I honestly hadn't thought I was as connected to these characters until the end, where several characters' conclusions left me quite emotional.

The series as a whole features rich world-building, especially in terms of religion and culture, very cool magic, and a wide cast of characters whose stories converge meaningfully in this final volume. The writing is polished and elegant, and Chase has a gift for description, especially in the case of character motivations and inclinations. I especially enjoyed cheering for characters on all sides of this many-faceted holy war, and seeing the convergence of their plot lines.

I highly recommend The Edan Trilogy for fans looking for a book series that has classic fantasy vibes with a modern sensibility, written by an author with a rich and assured prose style.

[Janny]

The third and final volume in Philip Chase's Edan trilogy brings the clashes of warring factions to a head, as kingdom fights kingdom, and conquest threatens to roll over nations, leaving destruction in its wake.

Told in a tight third person style, in modern language with few frills, lovers of Norse style fantasy, bloody battle, and characters whose motivations are straightforwardly presented, but run deep with ambition, greed, desire, grasping politics - will clash with others, old and young, who are motivated by altruism.

At the center of this fury and clash of ethics and culture is Dayraven, touched by an 'elf shard' and twisted internally by his innate good nature and the desire of the power that strives to overturn his will in possession.

Readers who love Norse derived fantasy, broadscale clashes and bloody weapons, characters who champion sometimes tormented ideologies, and at the core, lasting friendships between companions thrown together by strife will enjoy this yarnspinning tale. Readers of John Gwynne in particular will find lots to love here.

This book turns on the core of a great mystery, as yet unexplained, and the most unusual presentation of fantasy elves I have ever encountered. Between rousing scenes of action, dungeon torments, and rambling introspection into the direct thoughts and unvarnished motives of characters, this is not a difficult epic, in that, the characters' interests are clearly delineated, and we see the build towards their ends creating the suspense leading into the desire for conquest, and the shock of encountering another perception beyond what they know, that turns power and redemption upside down as they encounter their weaknesses, cruelties and flaws.

A satisfying conclusion to what Chase set out to pursue. If you loved volume 1, this book well provides the finale and closure befitting the start to the series.

[Sean Halpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book in the trilogy, and I LOVED book two. The ending made me tear up, as did several scenes throughout the book.

If you like John gwynne, Brian lee durfee or just fantasy done extremely well, with an extraordinarily satisfying conclusion to a well plotted trilogy, pick up the edan trilogy, I promise you won't be let down.

[Daniel Clouser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The release of The Edan Trilogy has been a major highlight of 2023--and there has been lot going on this year. Brandon Sanderson is releasing 5 full-length novels, including 4 stunning special editions. Mark Lawrence released an instant classic in The Book that Wouldn't Burn. Ryan Cahill, Michael R. Miller, and James Islington have all put out epic entries in their respective series this year. Nearly every day brings news of some spectacular special edition smashing its goals on Kickstarter--Empire of Silence, Dragon Mage, Legends & Lattes... I am barely scratching the surface of everything 2023 brought to SFF, but in a field so crowded with greatness, Edan nevertheless stands tall.

Of course, this means that I cracked the pages of Return to Edan with a great deal of excitement but, at the same time, very little idea of what to expect. The structure of this story is unusual--a strange thing to say about a standard trilogy, perhaps. But it could almost be a duology and a standalone sequel. The conclusion of R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing trilogy, for example, is no less open-ended than where book 2 of The Edan Trilogy leaves us.

And this is one of the most interesting things about the series: I had such a strong sense of where everything was going in the first two books, but then so many of the plot threads that I anticipated stretching through to the end were wrapped up in The Prophet of Edan, leaving the question of Dayraven's fate as the only major dangling thread. Having now read Return to Edan, I think I understand why.

The cinematic bombast of dragon fire and heroic battles were never the point of Dayraven's journey. They are part of the story--and we shouldn't feel any shame for enjoying them--but it is fitting that we leave them behind, moving into the finale. The action here is all of the human variety, dealing with the grim consequences of the War of Way through an unflinching lens. The inhuman horror of the elf suffuses the narrative with ever-mounting tension, but when swords are drawn, it tends to be in brutal conflict between human foes, often with no clear "good guys" to root for--even if you find yourself rooting for whichever POV you're following at the moment. RtE is at least a little darker than its predecessors.

So, is it grimdark? I say no. It is bloody enough for a grimdark story, but the underlying philosophy is all wrong--too much hope, too much light in the darkness. The level of violence will lead some readers to label it as such, but I think that the themes set it outside of the grimdark subgenre.

The thematic work is really where Return to Edan shines. If this was the case for the first two books, then it is even more so in the third. We delve into some of the deepest questions of the human experience--not just, "Why am I here?" but, "Do I even exist?" Perhaps not. After Galdor is given a glimpse of Dayraven's otherworldly insight, he muses, There is no "I". "I" have never been. "I" am only eternity pretending to be the infinite variety of beings in the mask that is the world of forms. But behind the mask there is only one. Eternity hiding from itself.

This seems a recognizably Eastern philosophy, but we also get Dayraven as a Christ figure and various other threads from a number of real-world religions. The representation of religion and spirituality is top-notch, handled with a deftness that ought to please the devoutly religious and the atheist alike. There is certainly a point of view, but we are never told what to think (though we are certainly invited to think).

Despite all of the deep questions and philosophy, this book still moves. It isn't a lightning pace--that wouldn't be appropriate to the heavy themes, as presented here--but it clips along, reining in plot threads from around the continent. On a sliding scale of Elfland to Poughkeepsie, the writing tends much more to the Elfland side, but it is still a modern and accessible style. There are poetic passages and Tolkien-esque flourishes, but these never linger long enough to alienate the reader who just wants to find out what happens next.

I could go on, but I can hardly begin to explain everything there is to love in this book. Suffice it to say that it brings an excellent series to a thrilling, heartbreaking, and, above all, hopeful ending. I recommend reading it yourself and discovering everything my words fail to convey.

[King Crusoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's quite a lot I could say about Return to Edan, but the short of it is that this is in the upper echelon of my book of the year list, and handily swept its position away from a couple other books from where they were initially back when I prepared my Top 10 a couple of weeks ago.

I just finished the book this morning (30 December, 2023), just before the end of the year, and the Edan trilogy as a whole I will likely think back on as one of my favorite and most memorable reading experiences of the entire year, to rival even my read of The Dark Tower in 2022, and even my continuous reads and re-reads of Sun Eater material throughout 2022-2023.

I harken back to what I said in my review for The Prophet of Edan, not just about that book itself, but also about The Way of Edan as well. I said the The Prophet of Edan, while a great book, was not quite as "magical" to me as its predecessor, and so didn't hold quite as high a place in my heart when I finished it. In the context of Return to Edan, that magic returned, avenged sevenfold, and made this read, albeit drawn out to a much longer timespan than I ideally would have, into something truly special to me - and perhaps even more special than the first book of the trilogy already was.

Additionally, I think back to how I predicted this book would go based on my analysis of The Prophet of Edan, which Philip more-or-less confirmed for me: the big climactic moment of that book was what most people would have assumed was coming for this, the third book in the trilogy, but instead it occurred an entire book early. So what does that leave for the conclusion of the trilogy? Well, one of the final chapters of The Prophet of Edan (if not THE final chapter; I forget off the top of my head) basically lines up all of the loose threads and plotlines that either haven't been resolved yet, or haven't reached their own peaks yet, setting up Return to Edan as not *necessarily* the climax of the series, but rather the withdrawal from it, though it IS ALSO the climax.

This may not make much sense to someone reading this review, but that's essentially what this book was. It was the wrap-up of all the remaining plotlines, with long-resolutions being that wrap-up for some, while others still had their own major arcs and climaxes for themselves. Return to Edan isn't so bombastically battle-worn as its predecessor...but I also think this is for the better. I found that aspect of Prophet to be a tad heavy-handed, making some of the pacing feel weird until one notices about halfway through that it's going for that "end of trilogy" moment in book 2. Either way, Return was a lot more introspective, thematic, and deliberate in its story-telling choices, without relying on epic battle sequences except where necessary, and what battles do exist here are relatively brief, with the primary factor of their impact being in what it means for the people fighting them, even where they're being fought, rather than the spectacle or brutality of the fights themselves being forefront.

I found myself really invested in every single plot arc, and even if some POVs/storylines took a tiny bit longer to come around than I would have liked at 1 or 2 points, the general balance of everything that Philip wrought in this novel was unbelievably well done. There were times when I managed to predict where one of the storylines was going in certain moments because of how, again, deliberately they were plotted and paced, and I give major kudos for that.

The book started, strangely enough, with a new plotline and a new character - a surprising choice at first, though I very quickly came to understand it as Chapter 1 itself became one of my favorite chapters in this entire trilogy, even still. Then, as more of the remaining plots came back and the various characters moved around and came back into the narrative and intermingled at different, sensible times, the book really breathed with life for me as a reader. Characters who I hadn't thought would be around on-page until the very end, let alone be important in the narrative, surprised me with their deep inclusion; places I had wondered about since as early as the first half of book 1 came to matter again in ways that I'm very glad to have seen because this conclusion would have felt notably empty without it; and actions and conflicts that I had no idea how they'd conclude despite knowing they were nowhere near done with The Prophet of Edan left me gripped as certain developments strongly shifted how I rooted for...well, everyone here.

I remember noting with The Way of Edan especially how Philip has done an incredible job making sure just about every single character - and furthermore, the place in which that character comes from - is simultaneously the good guy AND the bad guy at once, depending on which other character or kingdom you could hypothetically ask. Return to Edan continues that trend very well, not least because loyalties and feelings amongst the peoples of Eormenlond change and adapt in every moment of major change, one of the most realistic things Philip has added to this series. This made many character moments within various story arcs all the more impactful and intriguing, and really sold the idea that I was not reading a simple fantasy novel, but a world of PEOPLE and of KINGDOMS with stakes all their own - a world that will live on eternally in my head.

Thematically, the series is also which with topics and ideas that made me think deeply about the human condition, religious ideals, and the price of a power trip - all themes that ate covered quite extensively in writing, but handled very appropriately in Edan. Never does Chase resort to such clichés as Religion Bad, or Bad Leader = Bad Nation, and tho some things in this regard aren’t inherently new, they also aren’t the exact same as when everybody else has covered them. There are dynamics that make the whole thing quite worthwhile.

Finally, I want to talk about the morality of Edan. One of the things I find myself most deeply appreciating about this trilogy is that Philip does not shy away from the darker themes, the darker scenes, the darker implications that are inherent to some of humanity. He includes these scenes at points to remind you that with good is evil, and with evil is good. I love and I respect the way that the morality of this series remains inherently good and light, even when the content itself swerves rather dark or violent at times. One can tell that Philip enjoys grimdark by the inclusion of a few scenes littered throughout the trilogy, and yet it never becomes overbearingly dirty. It’s just meant to accentuate the lighter side of the world - a lighter side that is quite prominent in this the final book, mainly surrounding the Prophet character (who at one point in the book is a on the border of being a literal Christ-like stand-in), but also just in the world itself.

There is much violence, and there is much darkness, but that’s never the point, and it makes this series so easy to recommend from a thematic point of view, even for those who might be sensitive to some of the content that does appear, because it is only included to make you appreciate the changes to the world and the kingdoms and the characters even more by the time you finish and you reflect on the full journey.

But now that I’ve skirted around actually talking in-depth about this novel’s climax and resolution, I want to just say that this book affected me more emotionally near and at its end than any other book has, save for Kingdoms of Death and Ashes of Man, books 4-5 of Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio (which, if you've read those books...well, you know why). Being a solid third place in the emotional department, and I think a first place for a climax and resolution for me in the year, Return to Edan solidly earns a place in my Top 10 books of the year - and fairly high up, as the case may be.

The last 50-60 pages of this book had me in a constant state of misty-eyed, which allowed a tear to shed a few times, including in the last few pages where I finally let it out. Not only was every storyline and character arc satisfied, but they were done so well, that I felt like I was saying goodbye to characters and a world that I'm not entirely ready to be done with yet, and this was only a trilogy.

The actual climactic battle in Chapter 29, and the resolution to come in Chapter 30, were some of the most gripping and engaging reading experiences of my year, and they make for a very melancholic close to 2023 for me. I want to express a heartfelt thank you to Philip for publishing these books, and to thank him personally for sending me my copy of Return to Edan a few weeks before it was available to read for anybody else. I should have tried reading this from the moment I had my copy, but it made a finer wrap to my entire year than I could have hoped for, and I'm grateful for that. My copy has a small scuff on the spine that must have happened in shipping, but that scuff combined with the short message on its signature are more than enough for me to cherish not just this story, but also the bindings in which I read it, forever.

I highly recommend The Edan Trilogy by Philip Chase. And I don't just say this as a new acquaintance of the author; I say this is as a lover of books and of reading. I haven't read much, but this series is near the top regardless.

P.S. Oh, and for those you wondering. Yes. Return to Edan handily receives the proud rating of So Book. In fact, it earns two of them. It's so damn book, that other books are jealous of its bookness.

P.P.S. If you don't get the previous post-script, I'm sorry. It's an inside joke.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad to say this was my favourite entry of the trilogy, and pretty much a perfect conclusion for me. In Return to Edan, Philip Chase combines my favourite aspects of the first two books: intricate character development, gripping spirituality, fluid action and detailed worldbuilding. In addition, we get to spend more time with some of the earlier less-explored characters, and are even introduced to important new ones, some of which I grew to like a lot.

On the spiritual front, like our protagonists, I hope the peoples of the world will focus more on unity, forgiveness and love, rather than tribalism and hate, someday... Alas, it doesn't look too good at the moment 😞 But we must hope! As a somewhat nihilistic and cynical person, this story belongs to a select few that makes me consider some of my choices in life.

I'm already looking forward to the (standalone) sequel, which will take place a few decades or so after this finale. Strong recommendation!

Characters
🔲 Flat as cardboard
🔲 Solid main cast, shallow side characters
🔲 Well-written
🔲 Complex and nuanced
✅ Hard to believe they were fictional

Plot
🔲 Same old, same old…
🔲 Few surprises, nothing memorable
✅ Gripping
🔲 Exceptional
🔲 Mind-blowing

Worldbuilding
🔲 Takes place in our world
🔲 Incoherent
🔲 Superficial
🔲 Solid
✅ Nicely detailed
🔲 Paints a complete and vivid picture

Immersion
🔲 I felt detached
🔲 It was somewhat immersive
✅ It felt like I was there

Pacing
🔲 Hard to get through
🔲 Inconsistent
✅ Well-flowing
🔲 Pageturner
🔲 Unputdownable

[Stjepan Cobets · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating 4.7

The fantasy book "Return to Edan (The Edan Trilogy, #3)" by Philip Chase is an excellent completion of the trilogy. As before, the writer has perfectly integrated the story, characters, and the entire space of Eormenlond. As before, you can expect battles, deceptions, and machinations of everyone involved in the story because no one can be trusted. But the greatest danger is now the savior himself, who stopped the war. The book follows several POVs, but the writer Philip Chase made it a perfect whole and managed to make the book look great until the very end.

Dayraven disappears after a great battle, and his friends go in search of him. But he himself is fighting an Elf who is increasingly taking over his mind and body. Dayraven fights his inner battle to tame the Elf, but it is an unequal battle in which he is sure to lose. But wherever he goes, his voice spreads, and followers begin to follow him, because he is the Prophet of Edan, but no one knows that Elf has completely different plans. In the meantime, the wars that were started before are becoming more cruel and more violent. Allies become enemies, which leads to even greater chaos, and in addition, the leader of the northern tribes has much bigger plans. The world of Eormenlond is becoming more brutal, and the only one who can save it is Dayraven, but he himself is not sure if he will succeed in this plan.

I would recommend the book to all fans of epic classic fantasy.

[Xyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterful conclusion.

Return to Edan is an amazing conclusion to cap off the amazing debut work of Dr. Chase as an author. This is easily the best book in the trilogy in my humble opinion.

The climax was as grand as you would expect, while most likely being completely different than what you expected. The characters and emotional beats really strike home in this one. The series ends with a wind down reminiscent of that in Return of the King, with more than one unique twist to differentiate things. I'm by no means calling it a copy, only stating that was what it put me in mind of, as it's completely different.

One of my favorite characters in the series is introduced in this book, and the series would have had a gaping hole with their absence in my opinion. There's a lot I could say, but my reviews basically boil down to "book good" most of the time, and this one is no exception. I implore you to give this series a chance, as it beautifully harkens back to classic fantasy while skillfully weaving in history I am admittedly ignorant of into a modern tale that hits all the right notes.

I applaud Dr. Fantasy for his efforts, and the product was well worth the many years he spent creating it.

An absolute must read.

[Shaun Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book of the trilogy, thoroughly enjoyable & Dr Fantasy nailed the ending, very satisfying

[Hilary Treat · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This is how you end a trilogy my friends! Book 3 was so unexpected and it was my favorite book of the trilogy. I’m always so interested when an author includes a religion in a series. How will religion be portrayed? Will it be portrayed as good, or bad? I think Philip Chase does a good job of showing that religion can be both good and bad. It can be good if it inspires self-reflection, change, and helping others. It can be bad if it inspires a harsh judgmental attitude, corruption, and abuse of others. I really love how real the characters feel and how I could feel sympathy even for characters who had done awful things. The last chapter had me smiling but with tears in my eyes - and I thought to myself “yes, this was so good.”

I’m excited there’s another book to go with the trilogy - I’m reading it next!

[Vedrana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favourite entry in this trilogy. The beginning was very strong, it had been a few months since I read the latest one and I liked that one the least so it didn't stick in my head and starting this I felt I forgot a lot of the conflicts and since we are thrown in the midst of clashes and violence I was not sure which side are we as readers supposed to be on but really quickly realized that is the point. The book shows the horrors of war and violence and destruction very well. I do enjoy stories where lines between good and evil are not as clear as they might initially seem and I think that this book really plays with this concept really well. It is also very well written and the ending did impact me emotionally. All in all this was a fun ride.

[Alex Lozano · Rating 5 out of 5]

8/10
Return to Edan is one of those books where you need to let it sit for a while to fully appreciate everything it tries to tell. Like a good borscht that tastes better the next day. The book is very unique in that it doesn't end the way you might have imagined. Philip was very brave in writing a trilogy where the overarching plot isn't in plain sight. When I finished Prophet of Edan, I thought the story was done, I was sorely mistaken.

I love the world Philip created. It feels alive and lived in. Often a fantasy world is just a place with a few key locations where events transpire. It reminds me of a movie set where we just jump from scene to scene. Eormenlond feels like a real place and I'm sure if I asked questions about certain locations on the map, Philip would have a story about that area. A true testament to a well-thought-out world.

Two key character POVs were my absolute favorite in this book. The first is Dayraven. I was fascinated by the internal struggles Dayraven was experiencing in this book and how even through these struggles, he sought out the best for everyone around him. The other POV is probably one people wouldn't expect, for it was Bagsac. I don't know what it was about those chapters, but they had me at the edge of my seat. I genuinely feel bad for Bagsac and can sympathize with his plight.

Now what I believe is Philip's strength in writing. The themes in this book are heavy but very important to our world. A couple of themes I noticed are slavery (including the control of the mind and animals) and that there are consequences to our actions. I will focus on what I believe to be the most important and central theme, forgiveness. Great emphasis was placed on the idea that we should forgive others no matter how severe and deep the pain, grief, or anger is. That doesn't mean people shouldn't pay for their actions, but that we need to learn to forgive each other and move forward and carve a new path together. Forgiveness is the only way we humans can grow and become better and not make the same mistakes again. My only wish is that more authors explored this theme so that we can learn to be better.

The Edan Trilogy was a great debut story by Philip. Hopefully, the next book won't take as long to write! (hahaha)

[Kaminsod · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I finished The Prophet of Edan, second book in the Edan trilogy, I felt like it pretty much concluded the main story and therefore, the final book had a very open field and could easily become the best or the worst of the trilogy. So, which was it?

Well, let me start with that. First two books of the trilogy pretty much followed the typical fantasy story. Yes, there were a lot of amazing ideas, it was surprisingly complex and overal I do not mean that as an insult. What I mean is that it was quite a standard story of "there is a conflict and there is a chosen one to solve it". And even though I loved where those novels took me, Return to Edan took the opportunity to go places where most fantasy series will not.

What happens after the big conflict is resolved? How does the rest of the world react? What does it take to bear a power of a chosen one after that? Can the peace actually last?

This novel tackled all these questions while delivering a satisfying conclusion for most of the character arcs and plotlines. The writting also felt significantly more advanced in this one and maybe that is why it got stronger emotional response out of me.

In the end, I have to say, Return to Edan is my favorite of the three. Maybe it is not as action packed and does not have as many cool moments, but it is the most unique for sure.

And the trilogy overal? I really liked it. I would say that if you are looking for a classic fantasy with a modern darker aproach to it, you can not chose much better than Edan trilogy. It is not exactly my cup of tea, that much is true, but I enjoyed it anyway and I am very curious what is the author going to bring to us next. 8,5/10 for Return to Edan, 7/10 to Edan trilogy.

[James Morpurgo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprising delight this Edan Trilogy this has been.

I decided to purchase the first installment as a way to directly support a content creator who provides excellent insight and reviews on fantasy novels that I am most interested in, but had no immediate plans to try it out. That was until I saw the map, got curious, read the first chapter and never stopped.

I was unsure what to expect from Return to Edan following the events of the first two books which could easily have just been a duology. What we got was a grim dark equivalent of the latter book stages of The Lord of the Rings (i.e. events after Sauron defeated). War, disease and conflict still rages on long after dragons and evil wizard are defeated.

In Return to Edan, Philip Chase produces his best writing in terms of introspective, poignant prose and skillfully brings together all of the themes presented throughout the trilogy to great effect.
What makes this trilogy so unique is the traditional pre-1990s fantasy story foundations being balanced with visceral and graphical close quarters, description of combat, together with morally grey villains and modern day curse words.

Overall, very impressive and this has completely changed my mind about self published books and I would be more willing to try things that publishers have passed up on or where authors have chosen to follow their own path. Many congratulations to Philip on releasing all three books this year and looking at other reviews I can see that many others have received Edan with as much enjoyment as I have.

[Danube · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weak character work, but the worldbuilding was great and made the read highly enjoyable.

Most characters feel flat, have very little personality and act like robots most of the time. The cast is overblown with too many characters having nothing to do. They just exist in the scenes without contributing anything significant. I assume the author wanted to have his “fellowship”, but didn’t develop its members enough. Some characters important in the previous books in the series just disappear for hundreds of pages. Villains feel cartoonish and inner monologues sound unnatural.

The world is fascinating, however, and the chain of events triggered by the ending of ‘The Prophet of Edan’ felt very realistic and I was hungry to continue reading to see them unfold. I liked that all sides of the conflicts were represented in POVs, so it was possible to compare their motivations and the tragedy of violence was all the more underlined.

Out of the three instalments, ‘Return to Edan’ had the best flow and was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

[Rob Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

What I thought was excellent about this was that by not ending the series at the end of book two, the series allowed for a more realistic approach to the Holy War that's has been the focal point of the series and tied up those loose ends very nicely.

By having multiple POVs throughout the series on all sides of this conflict, it allows for a more holistic approach and justifies various actions, but also even more character moments than there potentially could have been. Because of this, the emotional ending felt entirely justified. The new character was a welcome addition to the story and I enjoyed the philosophical quality to some of the passages. This struck the perfect balance between the action and the slower moments. An excellent conclusion to this trilogy.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never has a book made me cry like this did. I appreciated the references to Beowulf. Whether that was intended or that the author was influenced by that work I don't know. I am just grateful for this Trilogy. I started reading it at a dark point in my life and part 2 and 3 gave me something to look forward to. Now that it's over I don't know what to do. I will just have to move forward like the protagonist crew did all throughout this epic journey of loss, heartbreak, perseverance and ultimate friendship.

Please pick up this series, and this book, of course and read it. Support the author. Philip Chase is one in a bajillion and deserves more credit and recognition than the elf shard that dwells in my mind could ever give him.

Thank you Mr. Chase. Truly!

[W. Boal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never felt so emotional during the last stages of a book. An absolutely brilliant trilogy and what a finale. Painful, but so good.

[Strayybullett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Way of Edan & The Prophet of Edan were amazing books a fantastic start and middle to a brilliant story, Return to Edan is one of the best endings to a fantasy trilogy I have ever read, BRILLIANT!!!!

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began my journey through this trilogy in April 2023, with "The Way of Edan" mostly because I was part of a readathon on discord and needed to find a book that was over 500 pages and was self-published, as those were the "prompts" to qualify the selection for the reading event. What I was unaware of at the time, is the profound affect the story would have on me. I would also like to mention here, that the physical copies of this series are printed with very high quality paper. I understand that the words are more important than the paper quality, but it is a luxury for those of us who love physical books. When you hold and read this book, it feels like no expense was spared, from the potent cover art to the aforementioned choice of paper.

I've decided not to detail the many, many intricacies of this book here because it really is more than a journey we go on with novel characters. There are deep philosophical and spiritual themes here that truly made it an "active" read for me than a passive read of another fantasy trilogy. Neither the philosophical or spiritual elements take away from a gripping story, full of choice and consequence, victories and defeats, love and loss, and ultimately acceptance of what is. From a technical standpoint, Philip Chase delivers high-level prose that fits the story, not just to impress with flowery language that doesn't serve to elevate the material. It's rare to find authors who can write battle scenes and combat as well as the quieter moments of inner reflection. We get that here and we get that in books one and two.

I understand the author invested many years of his life creating this work. In doing so, I believe he's avoided many pitfalls that I've seen new authors run into.. there are no loose ends here. Casual mentions of things early in book one come back in book three as significant events, which we as readers didn't know, but the author had up his sleeve. These kinds of well thought-out long-term plot elements don't come out of nowhere. An author really has to know where he or she is going from the start to deliver these kinds of finales. I believe it is greatly due to the author's personal love for reading that when he takes his turn with the pen, he wants to deliver his readers the same kinds of satisfactions he enjoys from his favorite books.

Everything from the normal "fantasy" genre is here for you and more. Yes, immersive world-building, a magic system, religions, cultures, etc.. But the underlying themes for those who really absorb the material and can read between the words are truly exemplary. I wholeheartedly recommend The Edan Trilogy because at all levels, surface to deep, it is worth the reader's time.

As a sidenote, I am sure like most creatives putting out their "baby" to the world, there must be some trepidation for the author wondering how it will be perceived. Will people like it? Will people get it? The answer for me to both questions here is "yes" and "yes" so I hope whatever comes next from the pen of Philip Chase continues to tell a confident story because he's earned the recognition here.

[Laura Shank · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 stars. Best of the trilogy. There were some really epic moments. A bit too much battle...I was tired of it after The Prophet of Edan, although I understand why there was still a need for battles to be fought. The climax was what it needed to be, I believe, so it was satisfying. The falling action dragged a little bit to the ending, although I did enjoy seeing where all of the remaining characters ended up. Overall, very well done, Philip Chase!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return to Edan is truly a beautiful ending to this series…. Without giving too much away, the ending is a captivating twist of events, but still satisfying all the same. I feel like I've gotten to know these characters so well and became considerably attached to them--I literally cried reading this!! Chase has created a masterpiece and I can't wait to see what he will be putting out next!

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Return to Edan is what most good third books in a trilogy should be. It is an ending. One that gives fitting closure to the characters and narrative threads that were woven by its preceding instalments. This is often a failing in weaker trilogies that RtE manages to avoid.
The world building, action and plotting remain as solid as before and are an echo of both modern and classic influences but the real strength of the novel is it’s themes and intricate character dynamics.
RtE is altogether a more literary fantasy novel both compared to its contemporaries and its own earlier entries.
The author is unrestrained in his pursuit to unlock the readers mind to new ways of discovering the world around them and exploring important theological concepts that few books attempt and even fewer accomplish. Some may point to a lengthy and overly sentimental close but this is a fitting echo of it’s inspirations.
Despite a very natural and modern prose this will be a challenging read for some and an unforgettable read for a lucky few whose life experiences rise to the surface to add texture to the more poignant chapters.
Not a perfect book but a perfectly honest read.

4.5 / 5

Full video review to follow @BigALDoesBooktube

[Sam Not-so-wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A satisfying and heart twisting ending to a fantastic trilogy. This book left me feeling warm and fuzzy, yet with a few scars, at the end of a bloody, thoughtful and truly epic story.

As a final book in a series, this feels very different to many endings I have read. Instead of ramping up the pace, this book feels much more interested in introspection and the interconnectivity of the people and the world they live in. Don't get me wrong though, there are many cracked skulls, gruesome battles and other scenes to get the blood pumping a bit quicker!

What really impressed me is just how connected I felt to the characters without realising it. By the very end my eyes were welling up as all of the arcs came to an end and we learned everyone's fates. Feeling botg warmth of love and sadness at those we lost, the dynamic characters will stay with me for a long time.

Chase has done an excellent job with his debut series and his hard work and dedication show in a truly gripping and emotional story.