The Dawn Throne

The Dark Gods #3

by Tara Sim

In the aftermath of the chaos and tragedy of Godsnight, the heirs find themselves struggling to recover and determine their next moves. But when Phos, the god of light, stages an attack on their realms in a bid for cosmic control, the heirs decide to take the fight to Phos in Solara, the realm of light.

But once in Solara, they discover a realm terrorized by the myth of the Sunslayer who has been targeting those in Phos's bloodline. In order to forge a delicate truce in an attempt to buy time, Nik, Rian, and Julian set off to capture the Sunslayer; while Angelica, Risha, and Dante remain in the city to search for a way to defeat Phos for good.

Genres: Fantasy, Adult, Queer, LGBT, Fiction, Lesbian, Dark Fantasy

431 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2026

About the author

Tara Sim is a YA and adult fantasy author found in the wilds of the Bay Area, California. When she's not writing about magic, murder, and mayhem, she drinks tea and wrangles cats.

Reviews

[Me, My Shelf, & I · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rad. As. Hell.

(full review to come)
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The way I keep refreshing this page, hoping for a crumb... Is it November May December June yet?



😭😭😭😭 So sad to wait an extra 6 13 19 months, but hopefully it's worth it!

[Tara Sim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recap of book 2/The Midnight Kingdom for those who need it: https://tarasim.com/recap/the-midnigh...
***
Don't get eaten by scorpions

[Blair Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find as we get further and further into a series it is harder for me to talk about it. There is always the chance of spoilers and I don't want to do that to anyone! This is the third book in the The Dark Gods series and I know we have at least one more to go! Luckily for me I already have it! I do feel like the wait between the second and this one was long enough that I really should have done a reread, or at least found a really good recap before diving into this as there are definitely some things that I forgot, this seems to be a theme with me and this series. I plan a full reread before going into my copy of The Meridian Forge. the world continues to expand in The Dawn Throne. All our hires have things to individually overcome and work together to take down Phos. Unlike the last book where I did have to break it down in multiple sittings, this one I did not. With everything that has happened so far in this series and everything that they went through in this book I am excited to see what is up next. I can't wait to start my reread, I am going to be doing it with audio as well this time and get to book 4.

Thank you to Orbit for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinion are my own.

[Brittany Taft · Rating 5 out of 5]

so. fucking. epic.

[Kenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy of this book!

This has been my most anticipated read for this year and I can safely say it was ONE HUNDRED percent worth the wait. The way these books have wound their way into my soul needs to be studied.

We are thrown back into a world in chaos and these battle worn characters have to continue fighting tooth and nail to save the world from an insane god who is hell bent on multi-world destruction.

Getting to see the journey of these characters working through both inner and outer turmoil is some of the best writing I have ever witnessed.

This has set up the final book to be complete and utter devastation. Let the end of the year get here fast.

[Lilu · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 this series is getting better and better the more things progress 😁

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book three in The Dark Gods series.
Gods, demons, chaos, and destruction... what more could you want?

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's only kind of an Icarus thing ... (you'll know once you read it)

The Dawn Throne is the third book in Tara Sim's Dark Gods quartet, and I'm stressed out of my mind about how this series will end. This series was originally planned to be a trilogy, but given the scope of the world and ensemble the author has created, I think it would be impossible to wrap it up neatly in three books, so I am glad we're getting a fourth. That being said, I think the expansion made this book feel a bit more "second-book-syndrome"-esque than the actual second book. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it; I would've probably read it in two days or less had I not had schoolwork to complete. I will also mention that I did not reread books 1 and 2 before diving into this one, as I had read them a little over a year ago and had relatively in-depth notes on what happened. I say this because I think I might have enjoyed the beginning a bit more if I had gone straight from book 2 to 3, but I plan to reread them all before book 4 releases, so I will update my review if anything changes during the reread. If you have not read books 1 and 2 for a long time, I would highly recommend finding a summary or rereading them because you get dumped into the action with little time to remind yourself of where you left off. Also, the dramatis personae only includes about half the cast.

Spoilers for Book 2
Most of the heirs have escaped Phos's clutches thanks to Taesia becoming Nyx's vessel, but their battle with the gods is far from over. After Phos attacks their home city, our protagonists venture into Solara - the realm of Phos - to confront him in his own domain. Half of the cast (Nik, Rian, Fin, Julian, and a new friend) set off to find Taesia, who has been aiming to kill Phos's bloodline, while the rest (Risha, Angelica, Cosima, and Dante) remain behind to discover a way to end Phos once and for all. The pacing was actually much faster in the beginning than the end, in my opinion. The first half is fairly action-packed (especially once you hit the 20% mark...I read a significant portion of this book in one sitting because of it), but the middle and ending are a bit slower. The middle is really where I struggled because, yes, the protagonists have goals, and yes, they're making an effort to accomplish them, but it still felt less tense and suspenseful than the earlier part of the book. The ending is mildly insane...I still think book 1's ending was my favorite thus far, but I am so stressed already for book 4, and I don't even have it in my hands yet. Because we're so deep in the series, I don't think there were as many major twists, but there were a few that kept me searching for proof that my theories were correct. I will be reading book 4 the moment I can, and I have very high hopes for it. As of now, my ranking for the series would be (from bottom to top): book 1, book 3, book 2 - but I also think book 4 might be my favorite.

Because the cast is fairly expansive, I'll keep this as brief as I can. Angelica remains my least favorite of the main characters. I said in my review of book 2 that I had high hopes for her arc, but I don't remember what those hopes were; she's fine as a character and I still like her, but she just feels a bit boring compared to everyone else. Similarly, Cosima is fine, but she felt like she was barely in this book, so I didn't get to improve my opinion. Taesia also remains further down in my ranking. Like Cosima, she doesn't get as much page time in this book, and like Angelica, she's cool; she just doesn't intrigue me as much as some of the other characters do. I'm also don't have strong opinions about Julian; he's neat, but he's just kind of...there. I really liked Dante in the last book, and I still liked him in this one, but he's scaring me a little. I continue to hope for more Fin page time, though I was interested in the extra glimpses we got of Rian in this book, especially when I get to compare his POVs with Nik's. We also get a new character: Edwin, a bard. He seemed kind of close with Rian, so I'm interested to see if anything comes of their friendship. Nik's arc in this book was incredibly enticing, and I went through a roller coaster of emotions. Nik fans...y'all are going to have a time with this book. Risha is still my favorite character, and she may have honestly escalated herself to one of my favorite characters of all time. Her arc in this book is very Harrowhark coded (from Gideon the Ninth, and I'm just in love with her design, her personality, and her storyline. If I didn't mention a character, I probably didn't find them overly interesting (or I forgot because there are so many names). This is one of the few series that I can say I don't know that I would be okay if any of the characters died, so we'll see if book 4 breaks me.

The Dawn Throne is the penultimate installment in Tara Sim's adult fantasy quartet, and long-time fans will not be disappointed with the action, the angst, and the complex character arcs.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC! (This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, so thank you immensely!)

4/5

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the third book in a trilogy, The Dawn Throne moved insanely slow. There’s so much build up that I genuinely worried about it somewhere around the midpoint. By the time I reached the last quarter, I realized this couldn’t possibly be how the trilogy ended, because I would have been quite miffed at the entire series. Fortunately, it turns out this will be a quartet. Unfortunately, that doesn’t erase the slowness of most of The Dawn Throne.

After the events of the second book, most of the heirs and their siblings are back in their home realm, Vitae. Taesia has faded into the shadows, intent on terrorizing Phos and his realm, but the rest of the heirs are not far behind. They plot and plan to open a portal to Solaria, but Phos beats them to it, reigning death on Vitae. The only thing they can do is jump into Solaria and try to stop Phos themselves, gaining unlikely companions and aid along the way as their magic grows and changes.

I went into The Dawn Throne believing it was the third book in the trilogy. I was aghast to realize it was moving so slowly that it seemed all anyone was doing was talking to each other. I hoped it would pick up the pace, but it never quite did. Even the confrontation at the end felt long and drawn out. I have no doubt that other readers will enjoy it and the time we get to spend with the characters to really understand what they’re doing and why and how they’re coping with everything, as well as the small horrors that creep up on them. So I was quite relieved to discover there is, in fact, another book. After the events in The Dawn Throne, I have every expectation it’ll be as explosive as a finale should be.

The Dawn Throne isn’t a bad installment in the series. It sets up the finale exceptionally well, what with all their heirs seemingly perfectly positioned in relation to their god. It’s horrifying and terrifying, and I loved how they all felt like pawns in some game they’re only now seeing. I can’t wait to see how it plays out in the last book, and what they choose to do with that information. My favorite part of this book was seeing them understand just how well they’d been played, and wondering which, if any, realized it, and when. But it does move really slowly. The entire first quarter felt like it took forever. It was nice to see the heirs back home and realize some of the fallout of what happened in the second book, but I often felt like I could have done without half of it.

Things do pick up when they enter Solaria. Mostly. I loved getting to know this new realm, and I really loved how it was painted as a desert. I can’t imagine how excruciatingly hot it must have been with three suns beating down on them, and sometimes I was disappointed it didn’t really feel as hot as it probably should have. But it was everything else that was unfolding that held my attention beyond the world building. I really enjoyed getting to know the Solarians who fall in with the heirs. Edwin was probably my favorite, but I also question what, exactly, he brings to the group. It was fantastic to get to know all of them, and I do hope to get to see some of them, and others from the previous book, in the finale.

As for the heirs themselves, I loved seeing them trying to take control of their destinies. Their internal struggles against their gods were done exceptionally well. I loved how each of them dealt with it differently. Their powers grow and change as they grow and change, and I liked to see at what cost. They’ve really come a long way from the first book. But what’s most remarkable is just how close they’ve become. I loved seeing them come to rely on each other, to know someone else is there to stop them or help them in all the ways they need. From a bunch of heirs that started off competing against each other for a throne that might not even exist anymore, they’ve grown closer and it’s been wonderful and fun to see.

The Dawn Throne was a lot more fun after I discovered it’s not the last book. That doesn’t quite make up for how slowly it moved, but I enjoyed watching everyone get into their places for the last book. I loved seeing how the heirs grew and changed, and the realizations that they were just pawns was well done. It was great to see Solaria and what Phos was doing, but, as he spent most of the series feeling like the villain, I’m curious to see how the fourth book will unfold.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Chris Monceaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Thank you to Orbit Books for providing an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

The Dawn Throne was definitely worth the wait! It was really cool to finally visit Solara, and I appreciated that the plot wasn’t quite as all over the place as the previous two books. This story felt more focused with all of the characters determined to accomplish the same goal even when they were separated. All of the energy was directed toward destroying Phos, first on getting to Solara and then to figuring out how to kill the god. The singular mission made this story the tightest one yet without compromising on the individual characters’ arcs or reducing the number of POVs.

While the plot of The Dawn Throne was tighter than its predecessors, it did still suffer from some pacing issues at times. A lot of time was spent on meetings and planning, which slowed things down quite a bit, especially in the first half of the book. The quieter moments did have some great character work, though, and they were balanced out with a lot of really exciting action sequences when things did get going. The slower bits also provided the space for describing the current state of affairs in Vitae for the different houses and the political and day-to-day atmosphere on Solara. So, I didn’t mind that things weren’t action, action, action all the time.

As for the characters, there continued to be a ton of POVs in The Dawn Throne. lol. Risha was the standout for me in this story, though. She had to deal with such a personal loss while also trying to figure out the ramifications of the changes to her powers after absorbing Jas’s soul. Ultimately, her story became one of deciding if the ends justify the means and whether the cost of losing herself is worth doing whatever it takes to achieve her goals. Dante was another character with a really fascinating arc. His relationship with his demon progressed in such interesting ways, and I’m even more curious now to see how their story ends. The rest of the characters all had great growth, as well, but I’d be here all day if I commented on each of them. I will say, though, that in many ways this was Nik and Rian’s book. Their relationships with their god and their father were central to their stories, and their emotional baggage was a central catalyst for important pieces of this story.

I really enjoyed getting to see the world of Solara in The Dawn Throne. Sol’s schemes had wreaked havoc on this world in ways I hadn’t expected, which meant so many of its people suffered. I thought everyone on the world would be ardent worshippers of the god, but I was surprised to find things were more complicated. It provided a brilliant backdrop for a conversation about faith, and I enjoyed how those themes were weaved throughout the narrative.

All in all, The Dawn Throne was a solid third installment in this series and well worth the wait. I’m even more excited than ever to see how the final book wraps everything up. Thankfully, the last book will be released later this year. I can’t recommend this series enough if you enjoy dark fantasy with mad gods, portal hopping between worlds, and disaster queers struggling to save the world(s). Therefore, I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dawn Throne was everything I’ve come to love about this series. It was emotionally devastating, character-driven, and packed with enough tension and action to keep me frantically turning pages.

After the events of Godsnight, the heirs are left battered in every possible way, and I loved seeing how each character grappled with the aftermath while still being forced into an impossible fight against a god determined to reshape the world. While there are plenty of action-packed moments and high-stakes confrontations, what stood out most to me was the character work. Every heir is carrying their own guilt, grief, fears, and insecurities, and Tara Sim does an incredible job of making those struggles feel just as important as the larger conflict.

Listen, this quartet is massive. The physical books are absolute bricks (in actuality, each book is less than 600 pages), and this book is the shortest of the four. Don’t let the size turn you away, though. This has become one of my favorite epic fantasy series, and this third book was everything I could’ve wanted.

The multiple POVs continue to be one of this series’ greatest strengths. Even with such a large cast, everyone feels distinct, and I appreciated how the narrative shifted naturally between characters based on who had the most compelling role to play in a given moment. Some storylines grabbed me more than others, but I was invested in the entire group and desperately wanted them all to make it through the chaos ahead.

The pacing slowed a little in the middle compared to the explosive opening, but the emotional payoff and the absolutely wild final stretch more than made up for it. This book feels very much like the calm before the storm… if “calm” can even be used to describe a story filled with gods, assassins, betrayals, and constant emotional damage. The ending left me equal parts satisfied and terrified for what’s coming next.

More than anything, this installment does a fantastic job of setting up what promises to be an unforgettable finale. The stakes have never felt higher, and I genuinely have no idea how these characters are going to survive what’s ahead.

Thankfully, and I owe Orbit every ounce of sanity I have left after finishing this book, I already have an ARC of the fourth and final book because there is absolutely no way I could have waited to find out how this quartet ends. After that ending, I would have been counting down the days. I’m both excited, terrified, and emotionally unprepared for whatever Tara Sim has planned.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this eARC!

[Emily Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tara Sim, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for giving me an aARC of The Dawn Throne in exchange for my honest review.

The Dawn Throne is the third book in The Dark Gods series. This book has a perfect blend of character development and plot, with character development being prioritized ever so slightly over plot. There are numerous POVs in this book, though this book does not force a POV when it is not needed. Often times in books, you will see POVs cycling through in a specific order, however here, the POV is included when it is necessary and will add to the plot. Each heir is currently struggling with something, Taseia feels as though she has to handle this herself as working with the others has not gone well for her up until this point. Dante is collaborating/fighting a deal with a demon, Angelica is figuring out her strength and learning to accept her instruments, Julian is fighting his god, Nik is dealing with anger and guilt, and Risha is dealing with her own struggles that I refuse to spoil. The characters might all be together (for the most part) but they are not going through the same thing. The plot fabulously intertwines with each character's struggles. The overarching goal for this novel is to take down Phos, who is located in Solara. However, to do that each of the heirs are forced to come head-to-head with their deepest insecurities/struggles. They have to challenge their beliefs and learn how to work together. I truly enjoyed this novel and was always so upset every time I had to put it down. I am grateful that I already have an eARC for the last book because I don't think that I would be able to wait until November to see how this all wraps up. The heirs have all been through SO MUCH and I cannot imagine what else they will have to experience in order to accomplish their goals. This book will tear at your heartstrings and try to put it back together all at once. Such a great sequel and well worth the wait.

[Michaela Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

Although I just finished this one, there's so much going on- I'm afraid if I wait I'll lose my train of thought.

Rian is recovering from surviving Pho's possession. Taesia has run off to Solaria to take revenge for Rian, she thinks she killed him when she fled. Risha is struggling with her new powers and being bound to the spirit of her friend Jas, Dante is in prison, Nic is trying to heal with the loss of his eye and the guilt of what his brother went through. Angelica is grappling with her powers and how far she can push them. Fin is learning a lot about himself and his other family, Julian isn't comfortable in his new position. In short everyone is a real mess.

And the Gods have to go. But figuring out how to either kill them or cut off the way to their access to their world. It's been a few years since I've visited this series, so I was very surprised to see the next book, there's a lot to keep track of in this series with so many heir's and and POV's, they are complicated well formed characters, the jumping around left me a bit of catching up on with the abrupt changing a few times.
I did enjoy book two a bit more than this one, but still really enjoyed being in this world again.

But I'm glad this wasn't an attempt to wrap this up in three books, and that's we'll get a resolution in The Meridian Throne next! Look out Gods your heirs are coming for you!

[Cayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tara Sim has done it again. The Dawn Throne is the third installment in the Dark Gods saga, and she effortlessly blends epic fantasy with mystery and thriller energy in a way that keeps you turning pages..well past your bedtime, might I add.
This book is doing a lot of setup work for the finale, and it does it well. There's a simmering tension woven throughout that never quite lets you exhale and keeps you on the edge of your seat. We spend our time in Solara, the realm of light, and it get's very "dark"... pun absolutely intended. Sim slowly makes the realm familiar to us, which I appreciated ...but I'll be honest, I'm suspicious. Nothing ever gets that comfortable in this series without a reason.
If you love a well earned plot twist and a revelation that reframes everything, this is the book for you. I found myself second guessing every alliance and every quiet moment, which is exactly how I like to feel when I'm reading.
I genuinely cannot wait for the finale. A huge thank you to Tara Sim and Orbit Books for the opportunity to take my talents to the realm of Solara!

[Dhiren Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for the chance to review this book. The series as a whole has you on the edge of your seat, and this book does not disappoint. From the very beginning where we are are still picking up the pieces of the aftermath of the last battle and the decisions that some of the heroes have made, to the very end where those same decisions are required. The constant shifting point of view took a little getting used to in book 1 but by now, there is so much happening and each hero truly has their own journey so it's actually quite pleasant reading in this way. This book feels a little drawn out but I am trying to be mindful that books 3 and 4 were intended to be 1 book so there may be extra story crafting squeezed in for us. There are some portions where Tara implies unspoken dialogue between the heros and side characters but the context is so vague I'm not really sure what we were supposed to take away from it (ex; Valentin).

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!

While I really enjoyed the story and I was able to dive back in fairly quickly, I felt that it moved slowly and struggled to keep my attention.

Selfishly, I was hoping for more of Taesia and Julian's romance, but that's because I'm a diehard romantic.

I loved watching the heirs grow into themselves and their partners. Seeing Nik finally take a breath with Fin and huge kudos to Fin for finding a way through to him. Taesia taunting Julian to come find her and then *he does* and says he's not afraid of her. Perfection. Cosima and Angelica, Angelica realizing Cosima is what calms and soothes her. I'm not ever Jas and Vasha, I'll be side-eying Tara for a minute on that.

I'm excited to watch the rest of the heirs defeat their gods, I just hope it moves a little faster.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

hehe

[Desigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

[Megan (thebookishtwins) · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfection. no notes.

[Ashley Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic series. I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book, so I had to hurry up and read the previous two books, and I was not disappointed! Lots of intricate world building, an interesting cast of characters, and I’m so excited to see how this series gets wrapped up! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Janna Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dawn Throne is an epic and emotionally satisfying continuation that delivers everything I’ve come to love about this series: rich worldbuilding, dangerous gods, political intrigue, and characters forced to make impossible choices. Tara Sim continues to expand the scope of the story while never losing sight of the emotional journeys at its center. The stakes feel higher than ever, and I loved watching alliances shift as old loyalties are tested and new threats emerge. The balance between action, mythology, and character development kept me fully invested throughout. A powerful installment that deepens the series while setting the stage for even bigger challenges ahead.

[annabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think i enjoyed it more than i enjoyed the second book in this series, but it nevertheless still felt like a 'journey book', moving from one book to the next.