Tyrant

Mammoth #4

by Brian McBride

Love and sacrifice, failure and redemption, loss and triumph... it will take everything they have to topple their giants in this spectacular conclusion to the adventure that started it all.

With Reid in jail, Lydia missing, and the Jailbirds on the lam, this ragtag band of misfits has nothing left to lose. As tensions between Jailbirds and Bluecoats rise in Mammoth with Orion vying for political office and Graham quickly adopting his new role as Orion's right-hand man, the race to save their friends, expose Orion, and restore legacies long lost comes to its most desperate hour.

All three keys in hand - the Mammoth Key, the Titan Key, and the Leviathan Key - the Jailbirds begin their search for Cuvier's lost vault, a trove of discoveries and wonders hidden at the end of a long trail of ciphers and clues. The Wild Hunt closing in on one side and the police on the other, the Jailbirds are running out of time.

A new friend and ally leads to a new trail of clues, sending the Jailbirds further than they've ever gone before - to the treacherous desert dunes of Egypt - where defeating Orion Clark and claiming their treasure will force them to face their greatest fears.

Genres: New Adult, Adventure

Paperback

Published January 1, 2025

About the author

Born and raised in the misty mountains of Oregon before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, Brian has been writing since he was old enough to hold a pen and has been reading for even longer. A profesionnal multi- tasker, Brian has built a Tiny House on Wheels, started a small business, launched his own publishing house, and serves as pastor at his church. His growing list of interests include but are not limited to: his goofy German Shepherd, Arlo, iced tea, tropical getaways, and angsty teen dramas.

Reviews

[Sharon Loves to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I am vacillating on how to rate this one. I was expecting to love it, and I did! The plot was well paced and engaging, and McBride kept me turning the pages to see how “my” Jailbirds were going to extricate themselves from dire circumstance after dire circumstance.

But I didn’t love it as much as I expected to.

On one hand, it closed out character arcs in ways I loved and appreciated, but on the other hand, I am not sure I felt “along for the journey” as much as a witness to their peaks. (This could simply be a problem with having so many POVs. The arcs had to be spread thin.) I also wish I knew more about the life choices of most of the MCs after these events. They are all young adults—post-high school but pre-college. What did they decide to do with their lives? (And what about a certain someone’s health?👀)

On one hand, the writing was wonderful, with many moments of impressive prose, but on the other hand, there were many, many typos and some usage issues that detracted from the quality of the writing. (I read the Kindle version.)

On one hand, I appreciated the faith elements, but on the other hand, I expected more spiritual development in some of the characters. Along the same vein, I had hoped there would be more of a focus on glorifying God in their quest versus bringing “glory” to Christopher Rhodes and his predecessors.

On one hand, the epilogue was a fitting end to an adventure story like this, but on the other hand, too much like the ending of a semi-recent action movie to feel fresh. (And to this character-driven reader, disappointing.😢)

If you are a lover of Indiana-Jones-type stories, then I highly recommend this series! It isn’t my usual genre, but I still greatly enjoyed the characters, their relationships, and their growth. That is very well done over the course of this series. I did wish for “more” with Tyrant, but it is still a great book, and the series is well worth your time.

Oh, and if you do decide to read this series, you might just need tissues for Tyrant.😭 My heart!💔

[Morgan Giesbrecht]

If you need me, don’t. I’ll be in my corner crying and processing because I’ll never get over this. My kids be all grown up. 😭💛🥹 Beta read 💔

[Rachel Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, this is your warning…
THERE WILL BE SPOILERS
Oh. My. Goodness.
How could you do this to me 😭😭😭😭😭😭
First off, this series is epic. The way the themes weave themselves through the stories while staying grounded in truth and Scripture is incredible. This books (though I have read more) have left me in a reading slump. Any time I’m looking for my next read…I just want something moody and adventurous and creative like this series. I look back at how much the characters have grown and it’s so different and inspiring and I want to cry.
This book legitimately had me sobbing at the end. I couldn’t even talk about it without crying. I still probably couldn’t talk about it without crying. If you miss the 2010s dystopian movie vibes and love adventure movies with subplots of romance…this series is absolutely for you. This book, this series is now an all time favorite and I will patiently wait for a movie adaptation. Also…the ending??? Where’s the devilfish books…I needed them yesterday.
The characters- I literally love the all. I have favorites but no least favorites aside from villains. Reid 😢 I called his character development early on and I loved it. Tommy and Lydia ✨ so many emotions. I love that they got married in book three and how their relationship stayed special. Jude as always was hilarious but it just masked his true self that I also adored. Maya was such a strong character. She had such a hard life but a back bone that was deep. Mars 😭😭😭😭😭😭 I knew if anyone was to ☠️ it would be him. But why??? I bawled the rest of the book. Watching the jailbirds pick up the rest of the pieces of their broken, beautiful life was so hard. Lucy 🦞 new character, but so good. I loved seeing her bloom alongside the jailbirds. But what is she to do now??? What am I to do now???

Content: same as prior books

[allison riera :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

so unrealistic but love the vibes, very indiana jones esque. although it followed the plot of outer banks season 4 a little too closely, with the baby and mars’ (unnecessary! 😭) death. the middle two books did a great job of breaking from outer banks and creating a new world and story, but this felt too similar for me.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy conclusion to an epic series whose characters feel like my friends.

[Allyson Mays · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin? This series has easily become my favorite book series of all time. From the very first pages of the first book, I was pulled into what seemed like a fun and adventurous story—just a lighthearted tale about treasure hunting, right? That’s what I thought at first. Little did I know what was actually in store. What started as an exciting journey quickly unfolded into something much deeper, more powerful, and so emotionally resonant that I was completely hooked.

As the story progressed, the stakes grew higher, the characters grew stronger, and the themes grew richer. It was no longer just about treasure—it was about truth, sacrifice, hope, and courage in the face of darkness. The worldbuilding, the pacing, the character development—it all blended into something truly unforgettable. Each book built upon the last in a way that felt intentional and masterful.

And Tyrant? I read that one in a single day. That’s not something I do often. It was one of those books where you tell yourself, just one more chapter, and suddenly the sun is setting and you’re still glued to the page, heart pounding, unable to look away. By the end of this book, I was in tears, not just because it was over, but mainly the ending. :) Every chapter brought some new twist or breathtaking revelation. The action never let up, but it was the emotional depth that got me. I cared so deeply about the characters, their choices, and what they stood for.

One of the things I appreciated most was how clean the series was while still being incredibly gripping. It didn’t rely on shock value or overdone tropes to keep you interested. Instead, it used powerful storytelling, relatable characters, and moments of real heart. And the way faith was woven into the narrative felt so natural—never forced, just beautifully integrated into the journey. It gave the story an added layer of meaning that stayed with me long after I turned the final page. I can’t recommend this series enough.

[Michaela Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely phenomenal story, kept me hooked from beginning to end and I just had to keep reading. I'm still reeling from it a couple weeks later. So many twists and turns, and the perfect way to finish out the storyline with our main cast of characters. (Or IS it the end?...) These books are like comfort food for fans of adventure films, and I hope you'll take the time to pick up the whole series!

[Abra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 4th and concluding book in this adventure series. You pick this series up when you want to read for just pure enjoyment; quick to read, exciting, easy to love characters etc.

[Grace DuBose · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥 *Speechless* 🔥

I have been waiting and waiting for this book to hit the shelves.

I walked into Tyrant, tense, shaking, on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen to Lydia, Reid and the rest of the jailbirds.
I walked out of Tyrant, smiling, crying, hopeful, and I think mentally damaged. I am still processing this y’all.

SO MUCH unexpected HAPPENED 😱😢😍
My feelings about this book are mixed together in a thousand different places.

First of all, I did really love the plot. Some of the fights were pretty unrealistic, seeing as how the jailbirds escape (mostly) unscathed on multiple occasions, but that all comes with the art of storytelling. 😉
So many twists and turns, a few predictable, but many a surprise! Happy and sad surprises.

Jude of course, is my all time favorite. I am super excited to see his story continue to unfold! 🥰
After Leviathan and Tyrant, I have really begun to enjoy Reid’s character as well.

And the epilogue!! How could the story continue??? I’ll admit, I am looking forward to another book, but not to the wait!

Please hurry up the writing! I have loved this series, and I believe Tyrant might be my favorite book yet. I don’t see how Devilfish could be any better, but I know it will be!

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really disappointing morals in this one. Things are sometimes justified, or shown as fine because they're not nearly as bad as X. And then the conclusion that there will be no forgiveness for a character goes against everything I believe as a Christian. I was hoping for a redemptive storyline, but what I got was condemnation and the judgement that some people are beyond the pale. As if some people deserve their sins to be forgiven and others don't. But that is the thing about forgiveness and grace: we don't deserve it.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not prepared to love this series as much as I did. But I could not stop reading! Tyrant did not disappoint, of course we had all the action and close calls for our Jailbirds. The character growth was beautiful- I really loved Reid’s story from the start to the end. His heart change and realization of who he is to God, it was so well done. So glad I read this series and looking forward to what the author gives us next!

[Stevie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great finish, very national treasure/Indiana Jones with a lot of heart. Laughs, angst, and tears, all you could want in an adventure series.

[Mr. A · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Review on the way)

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I think that's all I can say! The Jailbirds are off to finish their quest once and for all, but at what cost? Each one of them has lost so much already, but are they willing to risk it all just to beat Orion? We see all our favourite characters struggle with who they are and what kind of a person they want to be. When the maps and ciphers lead them to Egypt, they must race agaisnt the clock to get to the treasure before Orion and his men. You'll be holding your breath in this heart-pounding, heart-wrenching adventure finale!!

Content guide:
Language - unspoken curses

Sexual content - noticing of each other barely detailed, remembered kisses barely detailed, forehead kisses
- implied fade-to-black scene between married couple, not detailed

Other content - mentions of drunk and abusive parents, including a boy with severe scarring on his body
- the Jailbirds kill people while defending themselves

[Jada · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
Marss 😭😭😭 I don’t like that ending!!! My favorite aspect of this last book was seeing Mars’ character growth, I related to him so much and he was set up for so much potential and was finally figuring out where he belonged, he should not have been killed off! and that whole time he was the only one who didn’t get closure with his parents, I hated thattt😫 It would have been infinitely better for Reid to have stepped in front of Lydia, it would have been such a perfect redemption sacrifice for him! Reid and Immy’s connection felt so forced too, they didn’t all need to be coupled up like thattt

But rant aside I loved the rest of this book and will definitely have to read more of McBride’s stories🥲