Dark Drinker

Gunmetal Gods #4

by Zamil Akhtar

Yes, it is true Micah the Metal reconquered the holy land for the Faith. It is true he buried the Shah’s children alive, then marched his army over them. And it is true he copulated with a Fallen Angel.

But what about the rumors of his death?

Most say he wandered the hollows of Labyrinthos until the skin withered off his bones. Others say he was shot by a mercenary boy no older than ten. Some even say he was hanged at the gallows by the Imperator himself.

But the truth, as always, is stranger than myth.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Collections, Audiobook, Epic Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

500 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2024

About the author

The Gunmetal Gods Ultimate Collector's Edition is launching from Nov 14 to Dec 5, 2023! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/gunmetalgods

Get your FREE copy of Death Rider, a standalone novella in the Gunmetal Gods series, by joining his mailing list at https://ZamilAkhtar.com

When Zamil was fourteen, he moved from the dry, dune-spotted Arabian peninsula to the hilly, arctic wasteland that is Western Massachusetts. He despises the cold, isn’t very fond of the sun, and prefers spending all day indoors mashing the keyboard in the hopes something great will come of it. When not dreaming up dark and fantastical journeys, he enjoys binging horror movies, wasting precious time arguing about international relations on Reddit, and occasionally traveling somewhere exotic. He currently lives in Dubai with his loving wife and his badly-behaved pet rabbit.

Reviews

[P.L. Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars!

Please see below the link to my interview with the author, where we chat about the book, including my thoughts on 'Dark Drinker'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCCgs...

[Zamil Akhtar]

The most METAL book in the series ;)

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved book 1 of this series, but I'm starting to have so much more mixed feeling the farther I go. I was really really excited for this volume because it was the return of a character I really liked after having new characters and storylines in the past 2 books. This raised my expectations a bit which lead to the let down.

And that leads me to what I find most frustrating about this series. Each book has introduced really interesting elements and lore and hinting at something much bigger and then it never goes further into what is going on with all of that. Instead each book is mainly focused on the standalone plot of the book with different characters and locations than the previous entry. That is in an of itself not a bad thing. But I just am not finding those plots with new characters, locations, and political maneuvering that interesting. I want to know about the bigger story, the through line that hooks it altogether and I'm not getting much of that. Also, I thought this book's plot was the weakest on its own merits. It's a redemption arc for a character which is cool, but why he's doing what he's doing doesn't really feel natural for the character also the plot is pretty thin and basic without a lot to sink your teeth into. And again it introduced some new cool lore and/or magic elements that I want to know more about and didn't do much with them. I'm not sure if I'll be reading the next book or not. I need to know if it's going to start having some kind of payoff first before I jump in.

[Douglas Lumsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a HUGE fan of this amazing saga. Dark Drinker doesn't follow the chronology of the rest of the series; instead it takes a bizarre side trip that can be a little jarring at first to readers of the story so far. But it's a trip well worth taking. Don't expect the conventional in this book: all conventions are twisted beyond recognition.

The story focuses (mostly) on Micah the Metal, one of the principal adversaries in Gunmetal Gods (Book 1), but it shows him in a far different light because he has become a far different person. (At one point, Micah consumes a potion that actually transforms him into his hated rival, Kevah, but it's a Kevah in an alternate reality pointedly different than the one we've been following. It's a psychedelic experience that significantly alters Micah's perception of himself and the world he lives in.)

One of the things this story makes clear is that it is the supernatural entities--angels, jinns, devs, and whatever might be behind them all--that pull all the strings, and arrogant humans are merely their ignorant tools.

The Gunmetal Gods saga is wildly creative, and Dark Drinker is, in my opinion, the most creative chapter of the series. Forget about good and evil: the lines between heroes and villains in this story (even more than in the series as a whole) are so thoroughly blurred that they lose all meaning. Don't even try to figure out where the story is headed, because that's not where it's going to go. Just sit back and take it as it comes. This is the kind of book that has to be self-published because traditional publishing companies wouldn't know what to do with it. If you like mind-blowingly original dark fantasy inspired by Middle Eastern cultural motifs (and you wouldn't have read the first three books of the series unless you do) then take a deep breath, leave your expectations at the side of the pool, and dive right into the deep end. Try not to let the reality-twisting floating letters touch you, but be comforted by the fact that you won't know it if they do.

[Marco Landi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anche questo quarto libro della saga è oltre le 5 stelle come tutta la saga, che ormai credo sia insieme a Malazan, nella vetta delle mie preferenze!!

Un quarto libro singolare, diverso dai precedenti.. come fanno intuire anche i colori freddi della cover rispetto ai toni caldi delle precedenti, siamo lontani dalle terre deserte e torride già esplorare.. l ovest è più freddo, ricco di foreste, laghi e ghiacciai.. è diverso anche per la struttura.. torniamo indietro nei tempo, alla fine esatta del primo volume.. emergiamo dai Labirinti assieme a Micah The Metal e scopriamo cosa gli è accaduto.. con un secondo POV del tutto nuovo, Vasco, Capitano, Inquisitore e molto altro.. l'intreccio di questi due POV assieme a tutti i caratteri secondari, ci aiuteranno a scoprire cosa succede a ovest, e quale minaccia sta giungendo proprio da ovest che minacciava Kevah al termine del terzo libro..

Rispetto agli altri tre è forse quello meno ricco di azione vera e propria, anche se sul finale non manca, con un po' più di descrizioni, ma non manca di avvincere e affascinare.. la folle creatività di Zamil riempie ogni pagina, il mondo creato in stile ottomano ma pieno di esseri di ispirazione Lovecraftiana, è così ben fatto e stratificato da essere tra i migliori letti.. per vastità, culture create, complessità e profondità, è l'unico che raggiunge similitudini con quello di Malazan..

La scrittura resta ricca e vivida, con un'originalità unica.. questo volume, ma come tutta la serie, è imprevedibile, magica, mai banale, ricca di sense of wonder, di originalità e creatività.. dain Vermi del Marciume, alle lettere che possono riscrivere la realtà, dai mondi paralleli, alle diverse realtà.. introduce nuove idee e concetti, come i Migranti del Mare di Anime, una nuova magia, dopo aver approfondito Starwriting e Bloodwriting, questa volta è il turno del Sungorging.. niente da dire, semplicemente spettacolare.. non vedo l'ora di scoprire quale sarà il nuovo aspetto che si svelerà nei prossimi capitoli..

I capitoli in cui Zamil gioca con la realtà, su come alcuni poteri possono riscrivere la realtà e le persone, con pesanti conseguenze su memoria, destino, e avvenimenti, beh, sono semplicemente un mind fuck totale!!!!
Così come i vari e misteriosi dettagli del Pantheon che via via vengono scoperti.. da brividi!!
Un volume ricco anche di amore, famiglia, sentimenti, affetto, amicizia, che trovano il posto accanto all'oscurità e alle bassezze degli uomini.. tra pathos e momenti toccanti, Zamil si conferma uno dei miei autori preferiti!!!

Non resta che aspettare il quinto volume, per scoprire cosa succederà, adesso che le due storie sono allineate...

[Stuart MacFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic entry in a world of Jinn and Angels - this time taking a large step back to revisit some familiar faces and introduce a few new shadier ones. It suffers slightly from a slower pace and not advancing the main narrative too much due to being a “side story” of sorts - but the magic and the brutality continues to ramp up to new incredible heights.

I cannot wait for Book 5 - quickly one of my favourite series.

[Nick Gaspard’s Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really did answer some satisfying mysteries while also carrying over some of the larger ones that will be handled in the next book.

Zamil Aktar’s prose again was wonderful to behold and I very much appreciate how he tells his stories.

There were some really tough moments that pull on your heartstrings in here, as well as action packed, adrenaline pumping moments too.

A grand speech here or there before a big battle, which I always appreciate, and lots of lovecraftian entities.

5 stars all around!

[James Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 4 of Gunmetal Gods actually takes us back in time to pick up where book 1 left off, this time we follow my favorite character in the series Micah the Metal, who apparently survived his fate. I am glad to see him back, and I enjoyed the explanation of his "death". This time around, he's on a redemption arc and instead of Kevah, this time he faces off against a new character named Vasco dei Cruz.

I like the idea of a redemption story for Micah, and while he does a lot of good things in this book, some of it doesn't quite feel like him. I was expecting more "crisis of faith" moments or him struggling not to revert back to the person he used to be, but we don't get much of that. Because of that, it kind of lessens the impact of his character for me. Luckily, we do have Vasco. His character is full of depth and intrigue. I really hope he takes up a big part of the story going forward.

The story itself is pretty straightforward with the exception of this one weird part involving Micah and Kevah. I'm not a fan of this part at all, and it just threw me out of the story. Luckily, it doesn't last very long. What I am a fan of, however, are the worms. These things are straight out of a body horror movie and are one of the more grotesque things in the series so far.

Overall, I did enjoy this book more than Elder Epoch but still not as much as the first two. I'm interested in seeing where everything goes from here.

[Usman Zunnoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

At this point, Akhtar has my unwavering trust in his ability to deliver a hard-hitting, wonderfully written, and completely engrossing story… one that blends heavy themes with deep character investment and masterful execution.
Within this series, there seems to be no limit to the captivating magical and theological concepts at play, each offering a unique twist on familiar ideas. Akhtar also weaves in political and cultural parallels with sharp insight and seamless precision. Fans of history will catch plenty of moments that bring a knowing smile.

In Dark Drinker, we follow characters haunted by past sins and traumas as they navigate a tumultuous political landscape and fight to achieve their ambitions. Some seek redemption or forgiveness even when they know it’s hopeless. Others are driven by far murkier motivations, caring little for the cost. Either way, the result is a tapestry of relentless intrigue and visceral emotion—prime fuel for binge-reading and for stoking anticipation for what comes next.

Overall, Dark Drinker is a powerful entry in what I consider a top-tier epic grimdark fantasy and cosmic-horror blend. The horror elements are once again amplified, and I find myself increasingly drawn to the series’ ominously gripping aesthetic. The stage has now been set for an epic showdown between formidable forces and for an expansion into corners of the world we’ve yet to explore. I eagerly await the next book!

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novella: ★★★★ — 4/5
Book 1: ★★★★★ — 4.75/5
Book 2: ★★★★★ — 4.5/5
Book 3: ★★★★★ — 4.9/5
Book 4: ★★★★★ — 4.9/5


Dark Drinker is perhaps the most audacious and hallucinatory entry in the Gunmetal Gods series. Unlike its predecessors, it doesn’t follow the strict chronology readers may expect. Instead, it offers a side trip—a reality-bending detour that can disorient, even shock, but ultimately rewards those willing to surrender to Akhtar’s vision. Where the first three books grounded you in the brutal, war-torn Middle Eastern-inspired landscapes and cosmic horrors, Dark Drinker fractures those boundaries, twisting identity, morality, and narrative itself into something both psychedelic and devastatingly emotional.

The story focuses on Micah the Metal, the legendary antagonist from the first book. Yet he is not the same man. Time, trauma, and manipulation by supernatural forces—angels, devs, jinns—have reshaped him. In one of the novel’s most striking sequences, Micah consumes a potion that transforms him into an alternate version of Kevah, his long-standing rival. This experience is more than a simple body swap; it warps his perception of the world and himself, forcing both character and reader to confront the instability of identity, ambition, and morality in Akhtar’s universe. It’s a mind-bending, almost hallucinatory journey that twists familiar characters into new, terrifying, and morally complex forms.

This is not a tale of redemption. Humans, even the strongest, are mere pawns in a game played by supernatural entities whose motives remain enigmatic. Akhtar uses this to heighten the stakes and the horror: ambition, cunning, and sheer force can achieve only so much when angels, devs, and jinn manipulate the outcomes of war and life itself. It’s a subtle, philosophical cruelty woven seamlessly into the story.

What makes Dark Drinker particularly brilliant is its creative daring. Every chapter challenges expectations, blurring the line between hero and villain. Conventional morality dissolves, leaving characters in shades of gray so dark they verge on black. Micah is cruel, obsessed, and often horrifying, yet glimpses of human insight punctuate his journey. He confronts other ambitious and morally ambiguous characters, themselves pawns of higher powers, and these interactions elevate the book above straightforward grimdark fantasy into something uniquely psychological and emotional.

Alongside the cerebral horror, Akhtar continues his masterful worldbuilding. The Middle Eastern-inspired settings feel both familiar and freshly strange, populated by supernatural beings and magical forces that shift and warp reality. Every encounter with jinn, devs, or divine agents carries weight, tension, and dread, expanding the cosmic horror first glimpsed in the earlier books. Dark Drinker pushes the reader into corners of the universe hinted at before, revealing new horrors and fresh, complex layers of power and ambition.

Yet this book is not merely about grotesque or cosmic horrors. Akhtar balances the brutality with deeply human moments of grief, love, and memory. Consider the tender yet devastating passage between Ana and Mara: “A fifteen-year-old girl should not be carrying so much guilt, her own and others… ‘Buy her that dress.’ Mara laughed. It was sweet, like the plucking of a harp… They should enjoy the world while they still see it as a ‘shiny thing’, before grief washes the colors away.” Moments like these anchor the reader in empathy, making the horrors of war, blood, and cosmic manipulation feel all the more devastating because the stakes are human as well as supernatural.

The book’s exploration of grief is equally striking: “Only now did I begin to understand what Lunara must’ve felt… It’s a poison that seeps into every thought, even happy ones.” Akhtar reminds us that the cost of ambition, vengeance, and divine interference is never abstract. Love, hope, and the faint embers of peace are constantly under threat, consumed by a burning night of loss, cruelty, and war. Yet the series also allows for brief reprieves, moments of reflection and tenderness: “Mourn today, but tomorrow, cherish what remains.” In the midst of grotesque battles and cosmic terror, the humanity of the characters resonates.

Fans of the first three books will find the tonal shift in Dark Drinker striking. The novel leans into the experimental, exploring the psychological and supernatural in ways the prior installments only hinted at. Yet this is not a weakness—it is a triumph. By shifting perspective and stretching narrative boundaries, Akhtar deepens the series’ philosophical, emotional, and cosmic dimensions. The familiar characters, Micah in particular, are both recognizable and transformed, allowing readers to witness the evolution—or perhaps devolution—of their favorite antagonists in unexpected ways.

The horror here is subtle and cerebral but no less impactful than the bloody, battlefield-driven spectacles of earlier volumes. The terror often comes from perspective itself—characters unsure of themselves, their identities, and their agency, in a world dominated by supernatural power. Readers experience the same uncertainty and dread as the characters, making the novel immersive and disorienting in precisely the ways Akhtar intends.

In short, Dark Drinker showcases the series’ versatility and ambition. It demonstrates Akhtar’s ability to take risks, to pivot away from expected narrative paths, and to maintain the brutal beauty, moral complexity, and cosmic dread that define the Gunmetal Gods universe. The book is a hallucinatory, emotionally resonant journey where grief, ambition, and identity collide with eldritch horror, supernatural manipulation, and existential dread.

For readers willing to embrace its intensity, the rewards are immense. The story is unsettling, thought-provoking, and often heartbreaking, yet filled with visceral thrills, fantastical magic, and morally ambiguous genius. By the end, one emerges exhilarated, shaken, and hungry for the next chapter, confident in Akhtar’s skill to continue pushing boundaries and delivering dark, unforgettable, and imaginative fantasy. Dark Drinker is not just a continuation—it is a masterclass in bending expectations while deepening both character and cosmic stakes. It demands immersion, patience, and awe, and leaves the reader eager for whatever nightmarish marvels Akhtar will conjure next.

For fans of grimdark fantasy, cosmic horror, morally complex characters, and emotionally charged storytelling, this book is essential—and one of the most unsettlingly brilliant entries in the series yet. It is a journey of horror, humanity, and wonder, and it challenges the reader to feel deeply, fear broadly, and trust completely in Akhtar’s extraordinary vision.

[Héctor Garcia Villarrubia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book recieved as an ARC reader. Thanks for allowing me to read it before release!

Dark Drinker is the fourth installment in the Gunmetal Gods saga. And Zamil keeps the level of masterful storytelling, character writing and horror. It is not easy achievement, but Dark Drinker is as good as the previous books. It expands the characters , locations and mithology of an already rich world. The whole saga is taking an amazing shape, an equal to the great fantasy epics.

This said, I don´t think Dark Drinker is as good as the previous book, Elder Epoch, but we`ll get to that.

The structure of the book is similar to the prevous Gunmetal Gods stories: two people have a conflict between them, and they decide to make it everyone`s problem. And in the process, destroy one or two kingdoms. This time the conflict is between Micah the Metal, one of the main characters in book 1, and Vasco dei Cruz, a new character.

The conflict starts small, as a personal fight between Micah and Vasco, but it quickly scalates until it engulfs Crucis itself, the homeland of the two main characters. Dark Drinker 500 pages are a thrilling journey packed with action, terror and ridiculously badass powers.

And i have to say, changing completely the location and the characters in a fourth book is a bold move, i respect that. Except for Micah and a few appearances of Kevah, there are almost no characters from previous books. But Zamil manages to make them as compelling as his other characters. Special mention for Vasco, the new POV character. He is a complex and intriguing character, and can`t wait to see what will he do in following books.

And of course this would not be a Gunmetal Gods book without a healthy dose of pants-soiling terror. Aside from the expertly written cosmic horror, Zamil delights us with some visceral, gory, worm-filled horror. We have both scenes with eldritch abominarions that defy description, and scenes so nauseating, they make you want to schedule a doctor appointment.

All these aspects considered, i can say i have enjoyed Dark Drinker as much as any other installment of the saga. 4.5/5

However, there are a few flaws that, in my opinion, prevent it from reaching the level of Elder Epoch. Mild spoilers below!

In the first place, Micah`s character development feels a little off. His journey during the whole book is one of redemption, trying to be better than the abusive, child-murdering tyrant he was in the first book. During the story, he genuinely tries to make amends for the things he has done. Yet it feels he starts the book already changed, instead of being a gradual process. He begins the book saving a bunch of people he doesn`t know, risking his life to protect them. So, i feel this makes his redemption story lose weight.

Second i`m not thrilled about the new eldritch phenomenon introduced in this book, the flying letters. Their ability to rewrite anything in a person is fascinating, but i find it frustrating to read. Apparently there is no limit of what they can do, which i don`t think that goes well with the alredy introduced magic systems, all of them having well defined limits and conditions.

And this leads me to the ending. Major spoilers from here, duh.

I felt that the letters thing worsened what could have been a very powerful ending. That suddenly Vasco forgets about the bad blood between him and Micah... does not feel right after all that had happened. It`s still a good ending though, and maybe the next book will justify those narrative decisions.

And speaking of endings and bold moves, i have to say: spoiling the ending of your book in the prologue, even without much context, shows an amazing confidence in your writing skills. I take my hat off to that

[Kiro Selanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

As in Book 2, this novel sidelines Kevah in favor of pitting two other characters against each other. The first is our old friend Micah the Metal, last seen dying from a bullet wound at the end of the first book. Surprise! He didn't die. But he's had religion quite snuffed out of him, so now he aims his sight (and gunmetal hand) much lower: to save and protect a woman and her two children.

Going up against Kevah is a new character, Vasco. He's the leader of a mercantile empire, but secretly he's an Emigrant: a person whose soul is destined to reincarnate over and over. This makes him different from most people, whose souls are lost when they die. Vasco believes that some sort of calamity is coming, and he's determined to save all the Emigrants he can find from it. He cares nothing for non-Emigrants (including his daughter), so his plan includes war and conquest.

The people that Micah is trying to help are Vasco's would-be wife, his daughter, and an adopted son who is really Kevah's son. While Vaso tries to get them, Micah is trying to get them away.

The second half of the book involves a war with a barbarian war chief, in which Micah and Vaso take opposite sides.

There's a chapter in which Micah experiences an alternate world. He lives as Kevah, but in this world the wars turned out differently than in ours (well, the book's); Kevah's (and Micah's) daughter lived; and Kevah lived a full life, coming to be known as the "Man of Peace". This was a great interlude.

The prose is as good as the previous books in this series. Perhaps there was a touch too much philosophizing, but it's still very strong. The plot is the weaker part of this book. Although it's good by most standards, it's weaker than the previous entries in this series. One reason is that Micah's goals are so modest, whereas the previous books were on a grander scale. And as for Vasco, his goals aren't really clear to me even after I've finished the book. Again there's talk about some "cosmic egg" and a calamity to come, but it's all too vague to make sense. So I had to enjoy the moment-to-moment action rather than follow the overall plan, which is inscrutable. Oh, and the eldritch horrors in this book aren't as horrible as the blood-cloud demons in the previous book. I did like the idea of magic letters that rewrite a person's life, though.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No matter how much we cherish something, we always feel its loss as it slips away. Mourn today, but tomorrow, cherish what remains."

I don't know if Zamil Akhtar considers his own work to be grimdark fantasy, but I certainly feel like it fits that genre. The cosmic horror present in some of the earlier Gunmetal Gods books isn't as present here, which is always something I look forward to, so not seeing it as much as it was present in Elder Epoch was a little bit disappointing. The story more than made up for the lack of said horror, however, this comes with another "but." I was very much looking forward to a progression of the story and Dark Drinker is more of a companion novel to Elder Epoch much in the same way that GRRM's "A Storm of Swords" and "A Feast for Crows" are to each other. The biggest difference here is that Zamil Akhtar uses a well-known character to go off on this adventure, whereas in the ASOIAF books, "A Feast for Crows" are mostly B-List characters I couldn't have cared less about what they were doing during "A Storm of Swords."

The plot and character development are impeccable as always. Without spoiling the ending too much, I did feel like with the way this ended that I felt like my time was taken advantage of a bit. I'm hoping there's more in store for the way things end for a certain character, as it seems almost anything is possible in this world. The ending *was* very grimdark though, so I just have to live with it and trust Zamil Akhtar is taking this in the best possible direction.

[Mike Voss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zamil Akhtar is back with a new entry in his Gunmetal Gods series and it's a keeper! The author graciously provided me with an advance ebook copy, but I could have gladly waited longer to read it.

Akhtar has developed an elaborate universe and magic system and has been wisely saving new wrinkles to add to it. Dark Drinker is as much character study as action, adventure, and war, and man does he excel at characters. He eschews the notion of antagonists versus protagonists - the characters, like real people, display shifting allegiances and even principles, so the reader may find themselves sympathizing with a character they've learned to hate, or vice versa.

As deft as he is at character work, his plotting and worldbuilding are just as good. This is the fourth entry in the series, with at least one more planned, which gives Akhtar room to weave elaborate storylines around those beautifully written characters.

I long ago reached a point where I'm pretty sure I'll read anything this author puts in front of me, so I'll be snapping up that next/last volume and anything else he cooks up in the meantime and after.

I imagine as this is a fourth book in a series I'm likely preaching to the choir, but if you just happened to click on my notes without having read Akhtar, give Gunmetal Gods a try, or sign up to his newsletter to grab a free copy of the associated novella Death Rider to sample his writing and this world. [Edited to fix incorrect novella title!]

[Samuel Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the first three books in this series kept me on the edge of my seat by building up two fascinating charcaters and pitting them against one another, this fourth entree in the series was a bit of a let down. Jumping back in time to flesh out a new player on the board while bringing back an old favorite is a really interesting idea, but a lot of this one began to feel repetitive of things we had seen before and with how it ultimately ends, I was left feeling like very little of this books events mattered when all was said and done. If a fundamental aspect of a character changes near the end of a story through no action of their own, did the old version of the character matter to begin with?
Getting to explore Crucis was a lot of fun and had it's own distinct feeling, especially in Hyperion. It was cool to see how the reprecussions of book one were effecting the Ethosian side of the conflict.

Still very excited to see how this series will wrap up in the fifth book when we get back to the meat of the story with Kevah and the Eastern side of the map.

[Ian Yarington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has quickly jumped to my top 5 list, despite it being fairly dark, it's an amazing world with wonderful lore and unique magic systems. I've been thoroughly impressed by every book in this series but the one character I've been missing the POV of was Micah. This book really does him justice, at least in my eyes, and it's a good redemption arc for one of my favorite characters. On the other hand, I absolutely hate Vasco, the second POV character. This guy had me wanting to murder him and he is a fictional character. He made me irrationally mad at times, but honestly, that's a testament to Akhtar's writing.

On a side note, books like this make me wonder what the hell is going on in publishing. This, The Bound and the Broken, Cradle, and The Echoes Saga were all self published and are easily in my top 5 or 10 series of all time.

[Abraham Barbosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was great, and dare I say, as good as the first.

I was at first skeptical at how Akhtar would deal with bringing Micah back, but then I saw it was a separate storyline in the past rather than him being resurrected following the events of Elder Epoch. And still, I had already liked Micah enough in GG, but this book made me love him even more.

Vasco was also a great antagonist, and I love merc company dynamics in fiction.

My favorite part was probably Man of Peace, and how it changed Micah.

I can't wait until the last book comes out. I'll for sure order it on day one.

[Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I have sung the praises of this series in each review there is not much more to say.

Zamil puts on another masterclass of literature and fantasy writing.

The setting, character work, themes, and everything else is literal perfection in my eyes.

This is one of the greatest fantasy series of all time. If it does not end up in future top 10's or become widely read, it will be a true shame.

if you have even an inkling about reading this series, do yourself a favor and take the plunge.

[Christopher Colton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's funny how a future book can make you sympathize with the villain of an earlier one. Micah certainly doesn't become good by any stretch, or even redeemed or vindicated in any way. But there's a bit of insight as he goes head to head against another bastard, while both are unwittingly pawns of more sinister powers.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the series

This is the 4th book. It's good and fun and spooky and sometimes confusing, such is art.

I'm really just throwing words here so I can post the review. If you, for some reason, are on the fence about reading the 4th book in a series you're already 3 books invested into... idk, bit odd? Give this bad boy a read.

[Nigel P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curious and curiouser

To quote Alice. It is a bit like a dark ‘Wonderland’ always wondering where the story is heading to - thought I had an inkling and then I read ‘Dark Drinker’!
Not complaining, I really enjoy the twists and turns of this most excellent epic - not sure I want it to end anyway :-)

[Peter Lowry · Rating 5 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I was a Beta Reader for this book, assuming it didn't change much (& probably even if it did! haha) this is my short & spoiler-free review.

It was Solid!
I can highly recommend this next installment in this epic series, well done Zamil!

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Solid book the wormrot is cool and the new magic system is interesting but this book really just feels like setup for the next as most of this book is basically a flash back of what is happening in other parts of the world

[Robert Keyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

This book series is going from strength to strength, I can't wait for the next chapter. The setting really sets this apart from other fantasy, excellent world building.

[Brandon Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and intriguing

[Clinton Boxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

This was really good. The Gunmetal Gods Saga has really hit it's stride in this novel. I'm looking forward the next book.

[Reader]

good book, would like to see a reunion or second battle of micah and kevah

[Thomas Bray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good continuation of the series and the new characters introduced are great. I did feel it was a little disconnected from the previous books.

[Aaron McKinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Marques Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much. Every book adds a new layer to this world. Akhtar is the master of creating monsters.
4.5 Stars