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The End of Magic #2
The End of Dragons
To Survive, They Must Kill The Last of Her Kind.
The Lapis Moon is gone. Magic is dying. The world has moved on.
Mages, however, are an endangered species. Sander Bree is scraping a living as a mage for hire, Rosheen Katell is in hiding with her brother Oskar. All mages are outlawed, exiled, dodging assassins and the wrath of Archbishop Yorath Pasco who would gladly have them skewered in public.
Then a dragon attacks a small fishing village on the Parthalan coast. Dragons aren’t supposed to exist in these enlightened times, and so the Archbishop suggests a if Sander and Rosheen use their magic to slay the dragon without fuss then their slates will be wiped clean. Of course, they encounter personal betrayals, political backstabbing, criminal shenanigans and a bloody great dragon in a rollicking adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The Lapis Moon is gone. Magic is dying. The world has moved on.
Mages, however, are an endangered species. Sander Bree is scraping a living as a mage for hire, Rosheen Katell is in hiding with her brother Oskar. All mages are outlawed, exiled, dodging assassins and the wrath of Archbishop Yorath Pasco who would gladly have them skewered in public.
Then a dragon attacks a small fishing village on the Parthalan coast. Dragons aren’t supposed to exist in these enlightened times, and so the Archbishop suggests a if Sander and Rosheen use their magic to slay the dragon without fuss then their slates will be wiped clean. Of course, they encounter personal betrayals, political backstabbing, criminal shenanigans and a bloody great dragon in a rollicking adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2024
15 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Mark Stay
9 books147 followersMark Stay got a part-time Christmas job at Waterstone’s in the nineties (back when it still had an apostrophe) and somehow ended up working in publishing for over 25 years. He would write in his spare time and (he can admit this now) on company time, and sometimes those writings would get turned into books and films.
Mark is also co-presenter of the Bestseller Experiment podcast, which has inspired writers all over the world to finish and publish their books. Born in London, he lives in Kent with Youtube gardener Claire Burgess and a declining assortment of retired chickens.
Come and say hello at https://markstaywrites.com or visit the Woodville Village Library for free short stories and more at https://witchesofwoodville.com
Mark is also co-presenter of the Bestseller Experiment podcast, which has inspired writers all over the world to finish and publish their books. Born in London, he lives in Kent with Youtube gardener Claire Burgess and a declining assortment of retired chickens.
Come and say hello at https://markstaywrites.com or visit the Woodville Village Library for free short stories and more at https://witchesofwoodville.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 19, 2024
I received an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I’ll state upfront that “The End of Dragons” is an excellent book and I have rated it as such. I enjoyed it very much and I am eager for the third and final installment in 2025. If you’re expecting a “but…” from me then yes, there is one. “The End of Dragons” is excellent relevant to its peers but I have high expectations of author Mark Stay and personal preferences in storytelling that caused me to wish for more in the book. That’s honestly not criticism, it’s simply sharing how my own biases impacted my enjoyment of the book.
My first encounter with Mr. Stay came from his fantastic “The Witches of Woodville” series. It has everything that I enjoy most in fiction: a setting where I can feel the historical relevance, a strong main character, and characters who continue to develop over the course of the book (or series in this case).
“The End of Dragons” predecessor, “The End of Magic”, established several strong main characters who for the most part developed nicely over the course of the book. Although the setting is a fantasy world, it is fully realized and unique in ways that set it apart from other fantasy books. “The End of Dragons” continues to develop the world and it remains intriguing but for most of the book the characters did little to evolve. They advanced the plot, but I learned little about them that I didn’t know from the first book.
I struggled to find a central character or character in whom I was emotionally invested. I liked them but it wasn’t until the end of the book that I truly began to cheer for or against them. The primary character from “Magic”, Sander Bree, is one-dimensional in “Dragons”. He reminds me of Terry Pratchett’s Rincewind character; useful to advance a plot and play a comedic foil but we don’t get into his head very much. Rosheen Katell is mentally absent for most of “Dragons” but thankfully she comes alive in the end.
The one character from “Magic” whose role and mental presence increased in “Dragons” is the ancient elf Malachy. I truly enjoyed learning more about him and was happy with his larger presence in the book. Most of my emotional connection with the book came from his character.
Lastly, and again this is just my personal preference, I generally do not care for ensemble casts where the book dedicates a chapter to each until they all come together in the end. It can be an effective technique and it is done very well in “Dragons”, but I’ve read too many books where jumping from scene to scene with different characters leads me to forget what happened chapters ago. Having to go back and remember who someone is or what happened to them removes me from an immersive experience and I find it to be annoying overall. However, Mr. Stay employed the technique well in “Dragons” and I am only mentioning my dislike of it from my own jaded experience with lesser authors.
This review may seem overly critical of “Dragons” or in conflict with the rating I gave it. I assure you this is not the case. “Dragons” is an excellent book and a fun read. It is only my very high regard for Mr. Stay’s ability that caused me to nitpick in the hope that “The End of Gods” is as near to perfect as can be.
I’ll state upfront that “The End of Dragons” is an excellent book and I have rated it as such. I enjoyed it very much and I am eager for the third and final installment in 2025. If you’re expecting a “but…” from me then yes, there is one. “The End of Dragons” is excellent relevant to its peers but I have high expectations of author Mark Stay and personal preferences in storytelling that caused me to wish for more in the book. That’s honestly not criticism, it’s simply sharing how my own biases impacted my enjoyment of the book.
My first encounter with Mr. Stay came from his fantastic “The Witches of Woodville” series. It has everything that I enjoy most in fiction: a setting where I can feel the historical relevance, a strong main character, and characters who continue to develop over the course of the book (or series in this case).
“The End of Dragons” predecessor, “The End of Magic”, established several strong main characters who for the most part developed nicely over the course of the book. Although the setting is a fantasy world, it is fully realized and unique in ways that set it apart from other fantasy books. “The End of Dragons” continues to develop the world and it remains intriguing but for most of the book the characters did little to evolve. They advanced the plot, but I learned little about them that I didn’t know from the first book.
I struggled to find a central character or character in whom I was emotionally invested. I liked them but it wasn’t until the end of the book that I truly began to cheer for or against them. The primary character from “Magic”, Sander Bree, is one-dimensional in “Dragons”. He reminds me of Terry Pratchett’s Rincewind character; useful to advance a plot and play a comedic foil but we don’t get into his head very much. Rosheen Katell is mentally absent for most of “Dragons” but thankfully she comes alive in the end.
The one character from “Magic” whose role and mental presence increased in “Dragons” is the ancient elf Malachy. I truly enjoyed learning more about him and was happy with his larger presence in the book. Most of my emotional connection with the book came from his character.
Lastly, and again this is just my personal preference, I generally do not care for ensemble casts where the book dedicates a chapter to each until they all come together in the end. It can be an effective technique and it is done very well in “Dragons”, but I’ve read too many books where jumping from scene to scene with different characters leads me to forget what happened chapters ago. Having to go back and remember who someone is or what happened to them removes me from an immersive experience and I find it to be annoying overall. However, Mr. Stay employed the technique well in “Dragons” and I am only mentioning my dislike of it from my own jaded experience with lesser authors.
This review may seem overly critical of “Dragons” or in conflict with the rating I gave it. I assure you this is not the case. “Dragons” is an excellent book and a fun read. It is only my very high regard for Mr. Stay’s ability that caused me to nitpick in the hope that “The End of Gods” is as near to perfect as can be.
June 28, 2024
Now that was a deeply satisfying read! ☺️ It was great to see what happens to all our beloved characters from the first book, and also to meet new ones.
Mark’s narrative style continues to get stronger in this book. From the first word I was dragged deep into this fantastic world of flawed characters and beautiful magical creatures.
Thanks so much for bringing them all back Mark Stay! I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
Mark’s narrative style continues to get stronger in this book. From the first word I was dragged deep into this fantastic world of flawed characters and beautiful magical creatures.
Thanks so much for bringing them all back Mark Stay! I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
October 5, 2024
I was gifted an ARC of The End of Dragons in exchange for an honest review. I’m delighted to report that honestly, it was exactly the gift that I literally asked Santa for.
The End of Dragons had moved on in time from where we had left the characters in The End of Magic, but the sequel brings our old friends back to us, along with some new ones. What sets the End of Dragons apart from typical fantasy fare is character depth. While I loved the characters from the initial instalment, it was a joy to delve deeply into characters like the old elf Malachy and young Gudrun Falk, a moon child. Stay captures and fleshes out the dark complexities of their characters without losing the sharp wit of Malachy and Gudrun’s desire to just have some normality which makes them both feel very real.
The supporting cast, from airship crew and eccentric thieves, to the darkly fascinating magical beings, also come alive with vivid personalities. Even the dragons, majestic and fearsome side characters that they are, feel like fully realized beings with motives and histories of their own.
Stay’s writing is well-paced and laced with laugh out loud humour, a welcome counterbalance to the darker themes the book explores. He has a knack for making magical absurdities feel believable, whether through witty dialogue or playful asides. And yet, when the moment demands it, his prose becomes deeply lyrical, especially when delving into characters depths. His action scenes are gripping, but it’s the quieter, more reflective passages that truly resonate. There’s a melancholic beauty in Stay’s descriptions of a world on the brink of immense change.
The End of Dragons is a satisfying and emotionally charged sequel in a unique fantasy series. Mark Stay has crafted a story that is not only filled with adventure and magic, but also a thoughtful meditation on power. A super fun book that brings all the emotions as you ride its rollercoaster to a white knuckle ending.
It was absolutely the sequel that I’d hoped for. These are the types of books that need to leave their names in pub toilets alongside a note that says “Read for a good time.” Thoroughly recommend.
The End of Dragons had moved on in time from where we had left the characters in The End of Magic, but the sequel brings our old friends back to us, along with some new ones. What sets the End of Dragons apart from typical fantasy fare is character depth. While I loved the characters from the initial instalment, it was a joy to delve deeply into characters like the old elf Malachy and young Gudrun Falk, a moon child. Stay captures and fleshes out the dark complexities of their characters without losing the sharp wit of Malachy and Gudrun’s desire to just have some normality which makes them both feel very real.
The supporting cast, from airship crew and eccentric thieves, to the darkly fascinating magical beings, also come alive with vivid personalities. Even the dragons, majestic and fearsome side characters that they are, feel like fully realized beings with motives and histories of their own.
Stay’s writing is well-paced and laced with laugh out loud humour, a welcome counterbalance to the darker themes the book explores. He has a knack for making magical absurdities feel believable, whether through witty dialogue or playful asides. And yet, when the moment demands it, his prose becomes deeply lyrical, especially when delving into characters depths. His action scenes are gripping, but it’s the quieter, more reflective passages that truly resonate. There’s a melancholic beauty in Stay’s descriptions of a world on the brink of immense change.
The End of Dragons is a satisfying and emotionally charged sequel in a unique fantasy series. Mark Stay has crafted a story that is not only filled with adventure and magic, but also a thoughtful meditation on power. A super fun book that brings all the emotions as you ride its rollercoaster to a white knuckle ending.
It was absolutely the sequel that I’d hoped for. These are the types of books that need to leave their names in pub toilets alongside a note that says “Read for a good time.” Thoroughly recommend.
July 1, 2024
Author of the Woodfield Witches series, Mark Stay returns to the world of The End of Magic in this second book of the series The End of Dragons.
Originally billed as a standalone, the series has now been expanded to a three-book series, with the final instalment released in 2025.
In the original series, we followed the three main characters of Sander Bree, Rosheen Katell and her moon child brother Oskar as they learned to live in a world where the Lapis Moon (the power of all things magical) was destroyed, subsequently changing their lives forever.
The End of Dragons begins immediately where The End of Magic finished and takes up the story of Gudrun Falk, who along with Rosheen Katell’s brother, Oskar is a moon child. Moon children were different from other people and they had their senses dulled by the moon, and before the fall of the moon seemed to have very limited intelligence or ability. However, when the moon exploded, instead of having their magic taken away like Sander and Rosheen, their innate powers became stronger.
Injured and left alone at the mountainous springs of healing in the first book, Gudrun has to adapt to life when Oskar fails to return to her. Waking up and gathering her strength, Gudrun travels down the mountain to live a simple life in a village at the bottom of the mountain until her past catches up to her.
Moving forward five years, we then rejoin Sander Bree and Rosheen Katell. Sander is living as a jobbing mage, who along with the last elf Malachy (and a horde of Lapis moon stones to give him magical abilities) is travelling around making a living hiring himself out.
Rosheen, on the other hand has moved into the family business of being a dung collector, whilst attempting to maintain control of her brother Oskar, who in the first book, found his magical powers as a moon child and scared her and the rest of the world half to death.
The End of Dragons is a fantastic addition to the first and continues the story wonderfully. Mixing humour and gritty fantasy, Mark Stay has written an absolutely brilliant book.
If you have read his Witches of Woodville series, you will be accustomed to how he writes such well realised characters, and with The End of Dragons Mark Stay expands on the characters, particularly Malachy.
The End of Dragons is a page turning piece of fantasy and there were many times I was both laughing out loud and gasping at the twists and turns in the book, particularly when we are introduced to the dragon.
Mark Stay never lets up throughout the book and there is adventure aplenty as both Sander and Rosheen get themselves into a variety of scrapes.
This was one of my most anticipatd books of the year and I can never shout loud enough how brilliant this series is. If you like Pratchettesque humour, mixed with gritty fantasy, I urge you to pick this series up.
Originally billed as a standalone, the series has now been expanded to a three-book series, with the final instalment released in 2025.
In the original series, we followed the three main characters of Sander Bree, Rosheen Katell and her moon child brother Oskar as they learned to live in a world where the Lapis Moon (the power of all things magical) was destroyed, subsequently changing their lives forever.
The End of Dragons begins immediately where The End of Magic finished and takes up the story of Gudrun Falk, who along with Rosheen Katell’s brother, Oskar is a moon child. Moon children were different from other people and they had their senses dulled by the moon, and before the fall of the moon seemed to have very limited intelligence or ability. However, when the moon exploded, instead of having their magic taken away like Sander and Rosheen, their innate powers became stronger.
Injured and left alone at the mountainous springs of healing in the first book, Gudrun has to adapt to life when Oskar fails to return to her. Waking up and gathering her strength, Gudrun travels down the mountain to live a simple life in a village at the bottom of the mountain until her past catches up to her.
Moving forward five years, we then rejoin Sander Bree and Rosheen Katell. Sander is living as a jobbing mage, who along with the last elf Malachy (and a horde of Lapis moon stones to give him magical abilities) is travelling around making a living hiring himself out.
Rosheen, on the other hand has moved into the family business of being a dung collector, whilst attempting to maintain control of her brother Oskar, who in the first book, found his magical powers as a moon child and scared her and the rest of the world half to death.
The End of Dragons is a fantastic addition to the first and continues the story wonderfully. Mixing humour and gritty fantasy, Mark Stay has written an absolutely brilliant book.
If you have read his Witches of Woodville series, you will be accustomed to how he writes such well realised characters, and with The End of Dragons Mark Stay expands on the characters, particularly Malachy.
The End of Dragons is a page turning piece of fantasy and there were many times I was both laughing out loud and gasping at the twists and turns in the book, particularly when we are introduced to the dragon.
Mark Stay never lets up throughout the book and there is adventure aplenty as both Sander and Rosheen get themselves into a variety of scrapes.
This was one of my most anticipatd books of the year and I can never shout loud enough how brilliant this series is. If you like Pratchettesque humour, mixed with gritty fantasy, I urge you to pick this series up.
July 1, 2024
I received ARC ebook and this is my honest review.
Mark Stay's sequel to The End of Magic was so worth the wait. I was so excited to get back into the fantastic world he created to find out what's become of all the awesome characters I love. This story had plenty of humor and wit, along with a healthy dose of heartbreak. A few new characters to love and boo as well. Blackmail, survival, gasbag air travel, bandits, and dragons! I loved how Mark used this crazy adventure to explore how these characters would survive after magic is gone and what lengths they would go to in order to save who and what they love. And how gorgeous is that cover art!?! I will be ordering my signed paperbacks from the author's website shortly.
Mark Stay's sequel to The End of Magic was so worth the wait. I was so excited to get back into the fantastic world he created to find out what's become of all the awesome characters I love. This story had plenty of humor and wit, along with a healthy dose of heartbreak. A few new characters to love and boo as well. Blackmail, survival, gasbag air travel, bandits, and dragons! I loved how Mark used this crazy adventure to explore how these characters would survive after magic is gone and what lengths they would go to in order to save who and what they love. And how gorgeous is that cover art!?! I will be ordering my signed paperbacks from the author's website shortly.
June 28, 2024
I got this book as an ARC, this is my honest review.
The second book in the End of Magic series. Its a much better book than the first (imo), its as if Mark Stay has fleshed out his characters more, and given them room to grow. We follow Sander, Rosheen and Malarky as they continue to reign havoc and try to find the lapis stones that can return their magic. Of course, there are the usual protagonists trying to prevent them. We learn more about Moon Children and both Oskar and Gudrun have a role to play in helping the last remaining dragon.
I enjoyed the book immensely and look forward to book 3.
The second book in the End of Magic series. Its a much better book than the first (imo), its as if Mark Stay has fleshed out his characters more, and given them room to grow. We follow Sander, Rosheen and Malarky as they continue to reign havoc and try to find the lapis stones that can return their magic. Of course, there are the usual protagonists trying to prevent them. We learn more about Moon Children and both Oskar and Gudrun have a role to play in helping the last remaining dragon.
I enjoyed the book immensely and look forward to book 3.
June 25, 2024
Yet another triumph from Mr Stay.
I have to admit, I originally found the End of Magic to be not as funny as I'd hoped (this is not a criticism, merely a measure of the esteem in which I hold Mark Stay's comedy credentials). But in this sequel, the gags come thick and fast and cemented this fine ensemble cast in in my head.
Sander Bree manages to shake off his Rincewind-like origins and become more of a character all of his own, and the set-up for the grand finale has left me unwilling to wait another year for it. Rosheen, Gudrun and Oskar also have to question their very reasons for being and find a new way of living.
This universe is beautifully painted and painstakingly worked out, with rules and geography and science that all hold together without ever pulling you out of the story (and being part of some pretty big twists at the same time).
(And I think I may have learned some moral lessons without realising, or feeling preached at, which is always a very clever thing to do.)
I have to admit, I originally found the End of Magic to be not as funny as I'd hoped (this is not a criticism, merely a measure of the esteem in which I hold Mark Stay's comedy credentials). But in this sequel, the gags come thick and fast and cemented this fine ensemble cast in in my head.
Sander Bree manages to shake off his Rincewind-like origins and become more of a character all of his own, and the set-up for the grand finale has left me unwilling to wait another year for it. Rosheen, Gudrun and Oskar also have to question their very reasons for being and find a new way of living.
This universe is beautifully painted and painstakingly worked out, with rules and geography and science that all hold together without ever pulling you out of the story (and being part of some pretty big twists at the same time).
(And I think I may have learned some moral lessons without realising, or feeling preached at, which is always a very clever thing to do.)
July 4, 2025
Dit is het tweede deel van een serie van 3 boeken over het einde van de magie. Dat is duidelijk te merken, want er zijn veel open eindjes en er zijn ook heel veel personages die een rol spelen. Voor mij was Mabyn (Mab) wel erg schattig. Ze is een 10-jarig meisje die de enig overgebleven draak beschermt die vlak bij haar dorp in een grot treurt om de dood van haar partner en ongeboren kind.
De lapis maan is uit elkaar geklapt en overal liggen stukken van die maan. Er zit nog steeds magie in de stukjes en alle magiërs verzamelen er zoveel mogelijk van. De nieuwe leider van het land wil een einde maken aan alle magie. Daarom heeft hij een klopjacht uitgeschreven om alle magiërs uit te schakelen. Dus moeten Sander Bree en Rosheen Katell zich verbergen.
Er gebeurt heel en het is fijn lezen en nu is het wachten op deel 3.
De lapis maan is uit elkaar geklapt en overal liggen stukken van die maan. Er zit nog steeds magie in de stukjes en alle magiërs verzamelen er zoveel mogelijk van. De nieuwe leider van het land wil een einde maken aan alle magie. Daarom heeft hij een klopjacht uitgeschreven om alle magiërs uit te schakelen. Dus moeten Sander Bree en Rosheen Katell zich verbergen.
Er gebeurt heel en het is fijn lezen en nu is het wachten op deel 3.
July 13, 2024
I had given up hope that the story begun in End of Magic would continue.
Thankfully Mr Stay was able to regain the ownership of his story and characters , unsure of the backstory surrounding the original loss .
So here we are with the long awaited sequel and it doesn't disappoint.
The gangs all here , ready for more magic , mayhem and mythical creatures.
It's wonderful escapism and I can't wait for the conclusion in "The end of God's "
My only suprise is this book hasn't got more reviews come on people get buying and reading .
Thankfully Mr Stay was able to regain the ownership of his story and characters , unsure of the backstory surrounding the original loss .
So here we are with the long awaited sequel and it doesn't disappoint.
The gangs all here , ready for more magic , mayhem and mythical creatures.
It's wonderful escapism and I can't wait for the conclusion in "The end of God's "
My only suprise is this book hasn't got more reviews come on people get buying and reading .
July 19, 2024
I received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I can't say this book was a comfortable read, there was a bit more violence than I normally go for, but it was gripping from start to finish. I was really invested in the story, loved the characters, the twists, turns and surprises and the unusual ending.
It was a thrilling, rollercoaster ride of a book and one I was thinking about still days after I read it.
I can't say this book was a comfortable read, there was a bit more violence than I normally go for, but it was gripping from start to finish. I was really invested in the story, loved the characters, the twists, turns and surprises and the unusual ending.
It was a thrilling, rollercoaster ride of a book and one I was thinking about still days after I read it.
January 29, 2025
A brilliant follow up by Mr Stay
It’s equally funny as it is bloody and shocking. There’s a scene near the end where I was laughing and then a second later my jaw is on the floor—did that just fucking happen? It’s Pratchett meets Abercrombie. I loved Prince Aeden too, I have to say. Mark writes an arrogant fool with zero self awareness just beautifully haha Bree and Katell are on to the next adventure! Can’t wait for the End of Gods
It’s equally funny as it is bloody and shocking. There’s a scene near the end where I was laughing and then a second later my jaw is on the floor—did that just fucking happen? It’s Pratchett meets Abercrombie. I loved Prince Aeden too, I have to say. Mark writes an arrogant fool with zero self awareness just beautifully haha Bree and Katell are on to the next adventure! Can’t wait for the End of Gods
August 20, 2024
Mark Stay has done it again with The End of Dragons, a follow up to the End of Magic. It was like coming home again to see some of our favorite characters return in this book, and a few unexpected ones. His likable and believable characters drive the plot forwards instead of the other way around. This kept me up several nights silently cheering so as not to wake my wife. Pick it up now!
June 28, 2024
I loved this book! I think you need to have read the first in the series (The End of Magic) to enjoy it properly, but it has bloodthirsty moments, funny moments and heart warming moments. I’m already looking forward to the next one.
August 20, 2024
Loved this book. Really enjoyed the first book and this was a great continuation. The characters still maintain their charm as they developed. The new dilemmas introduced in the story continued to keep me hooked. Plus it has dragons.
December 28, 2024
I really love the world and characters created in this series, and I can't wait for the final instalment!
May 6, 2025
I absolutely love Mark Stay's books. Sheer joy from start to finish.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews