Downfall: A YA Epic of Skyship War, Monster Battles, and Rebellion

Above the Black #3

by Marc J. Gregson

The riveting fantasy adventure from New York Times bestselling author Marc J Gregson comes to an explosive conclusion in Book Three of the Above the Black fantasy trilogy.

Mayhem has erupted in the Skylands. Uncle’s iron-fisted grip has eroded peaceful governance, and the Meritocracy hovers on the brink of civil war. Disowned once again, teenage hero Conrad is sent to invade the Below’s colonies—a perilous mission with almost no chance of survival, where Conrad is left for dead.

Rescued by an old enemy and escaping capture by sky pirates, Conrad finds shelter on a faraway island in the Eastern Airs. Under the guise of a new identity, Conrad undergoes training from the King’s enemies and takes to the dueling pits where he competes for the status to challenge Uncle once and for all. Can a dead prince rise again, or will Conrad succumb to the brutal horrors of his world? To rally support and overthrow a despot, Conrad will have to prove the Meritocracy won’t be trading one feckless tyrant for another.

Take a seat for the bloodiest of showdowns in the final installment of the Above the Black fantasy trilogy. Marc J Gregson’s action-adventure revels in gory monster battles, fierce duels, empathetic characters, and a morally gray dystopia that is strikingly imaginative.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Dystopia, Action

528 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2026

About the author

Marc J Gregson is a New York Times bestselling author. He attended the University of Utah, where he received his bachelor of arts in English teaching. Marc’s pursuit of learning has led him into the classroom, where he teaches middle school English. He believes in the power of words and that stories can unite people from all origins. Above the Black is his first fantasy trilogy for teens.

Reviews

[FM Wylde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estoy bastante decepcionado con esta saga. El primer libro fue un diez, el segundo culebreó pero pintaba a un final potente. Este libro me han parecido 600 páginas de dar vueltas para llegar a la imagen de la portada (que pasa en las últimas 20 páginas) con un final más predecible que las herramientas que va a elegir Mickey Mouse.
Sobre el worldbuilding, se quedó en nada. ¿Por qué la guerra con los lantianos? ¿Como diseñaron las serpientes metálicas gigantes? ¿Por qué son de metal? Ni puta idea bro, pero mira como nos damos de hostias y matamos a un personaje irrelevante que te presenté hace un capitulo por décima vez.
El constante matar a todo el mundo ha hecho que muertes importantes (de personajes que odiamos durante 3 libros) se hagan irrelevantes. Me da coraje porque la saga pintaba espectacular, pero el cierre se me ha quedado muy muy flojo, venga a dar vueltas sin más.
Le pongo un 6,5 porque escribir una trilogía y cerrarla siempre tiene mérito y porque es un libro que se lee solo, y para quien busque entretenerse sin pretensiones y sin darle más vueltas está genial. Pero vaya, creo que esta saga, para lo que ha sido, podría haberse quedado en una bilogía.

[Zach Rubbico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be better than the world intends.

I started the Sky's End trilogy at the suggestion of my boss this year and it has become an instant recommendation in my middle school classroom.

I finished the second book sometime this Fall, and panicked when I learned that the conclusion wasn't out yet. Through the power of Edelweiss, I was able to get an advance reader copy, and I burned through the book on my break.

The book scratched that itch of war that Red Rising offered and continued to leave me on brilliant cliffhanger endings that I continue to read longer after the "okay just one more chapter."

It ended in the best way, adding new mythos to the world and challenges that Conrad had to face. Definitely will be a staple of my classroom library full of excitement and adventure.

[Carlos Losa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es el ABC de los libros de fantasía. No hace nada especialmente innovador o memorable, pero es cierto que engancha y que te mantiene pegado a él.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very moment Sky’s End and Among Serpents cover art caught my eye at my local Barnes & Nobles … was the moment I knew I was going to fall in love with the series.

The Above The Black Trilogy will always and forever have a place in my heart. I will never forget the adventurous tale of Conrad of Elise, Ella of Elise and their friends. This tale truly makes you feel wholesome and apart of a family that’s taken their losses, grief and turned it into passion, motivation and love. A story not just about vengeance but finding yourself in times of darkness and in the tiniest times of love shared amongst those who you cherish most.

Truly is a funny and enjoyable fast paced trilogy. There is plenty character development and diversity throughout the stories and enough details of world building to give your mind the most pleasant visual experience. I do wish to read more of Conrad and his companions but this story has a well deserved ending!

Marc J Gregson you are very well appreciated and I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.

Rise you cusses! Rise!

[Waldo Winston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta reader review.

Gregson concludes his trilogy beautifully! Continued world expansion, new threats and challenges. The characters you love and love to hate all come to a conclusion you will thoroughly enjoy! The roller coaster you have been riding through the other two books keeps going with all the thrills, pumping the adrenaline until the end! You will not want the series to end, but will love how it does.

[Bonnie McDaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the young adult Above the Black trilogy, and brings everything to a pretty satisfying end. As I predicted in my review of the second book, Among Serpents, the new and nastier villain is the protagonist Conrad's uncle Ulrich, the self-proclaimed "King of the Skylands" (even though he gained his position through treachery and mass murder). Ulrich schemes against and manipulates everyone around him, and is not above sending his nephew to what will likely be his death in the monster-ridden Below.

We learn quite a bit more about this secondary world in this concluding volume, especially about the Below and its inhabitants the Lantians. In fact, that is my main issue with this book--there is so much necessary plot and background to be revealed that the first third of the book feels overstuffed. There is seemingly endless running and hiding and fighting, and the characters (and reader) scarcely get a chance to breathe. It's not till the middle section of the book that the pacing thankfully slows down, as Conrad lets everyone believe he is dead, takes on a new identity, and begins the preparations to challenge his uncle. He has to become a far better duellist than he's ever been, and he also has to prepare himself to take on the mantle of leadership--because if he defeats his uncle, he will be the new King of the Skylands.

This volume explores Conrad's dilemma, and how he will use what has been given to him by both his mother and father, the seemingly opposing traits of compassion and ruthlessness respectively, and his melding the two. At the story's climax, he does defeat his uncle, but the author acknowledges that the work won't end there. Conrad has to basically rebuild the world, undo the damage the Skylands has done to the Below, and balance many opposing factions. The situation is fragile and precarious, but the book ends with a reason to believe that Conrad will pull it off.

Taken together, these books boast well-thought-out worldbuilding and a satisfying story. They're nothing like most YA fantasies out there, to be sure. I'm happy to have read all three of them, and I think others will be too.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧
🗣Excellent

Finishing this series brings a happy, warm spot to my heart. Especially with Conrad and Ella acknowledging their Mother and Father at the end.

Excellent story. I never had the feeling that things were dragging in just for page count. The relationships were all so solid, and the sense of found family only gets stronger in each book.

These are marketed as YA, but they're written so they'll appeal to young adults through not-so-young adults. Highly recommend the whole trilogy.

I look forward to the Sky's End movie AND to any other books Gregson writes!

Together, we will rise.

[Lauren Ansley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. This series is awesome. A fantastic YA fantasy series with a unique world and memorable characters.

The first third of the final book suffered a little with feeling repetitive. Running and hiding from various monsters over and over, but it gave us a chance to see an ~unlocked location~. Once a certain event happens, the trajectory of the book really unfolds, the pacing is much better, and you’re hooked.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book and series. It was always so hard to have to put the book down because I just wanted to keep reading more. If you want a good sci-fi series, Above the Black is such a good one.

[Matthew Ansley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite YA series since the hunger games.

Perfectly delivers a fresh adventure with harsher challenges than ever. The ending …. GAAAHH

*chef’s kiss*

Pain shapes us, and may even become our strength.

I’m not crying, you’re crying.

I’m gonna go re-read book 1 again

[Tessa Tollenaere · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐

This was the best book of the three and it's bittersweet because this was also the finale. I loved every second of the journey even if some word choices still bother me but hey, the action and the story were so good I could handle that !

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvelous conclusion to a unique story!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this one since I absolutely LOVED the first two. It fell a bit flat in my opinion and Conrad made some choices that left me going 🤨 It’s non-stop action and a page turner for sure, but a little bit of a let down of an ending.

[Elvys Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

07/08/1996
10pm mountain time, scratching my head because I need all three books out so I can read them. Talking to my wife and realizing this will be my first trilogy I’ve read that all books are not out and I haven’t watched the show first, I’m getting the real reading experience and it’s driving me crazy. Well, have a good night. 2025 hurry up!!!!

[Jerren Trifan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5. For the intended audience, I think this series is an easy recommendation.

Continuing from where the previous left off, MJG excels at situational placement of Conrad. Each chapter in this book you retrieve a little more essence of his true character (in the descriptive sense). The "starting from nothing" arc is always a classic one. Rooting for the underdog, seeing how their skills and perseverance can lead them to heights never before seen. It is a classic inspiring theme and I think MJG did a great job with it in this book. Conrad put his head down and focused on grinding to become a high with Cassandra's training, and the loneliness that he had to deal with was definitely weighing on him. In these moments, it can be a hindrance, but for others it can be an even stronger motivating factor.

The growth of Conrad when he gets sent down to the Below, the trials and tribulations he has to deal with, the political games, all of it really builds his character. In every moment of adversity, he strives forward and makes tough decisions, even when they could have huge short-term benefits. When he told the pirates they could leave, he didn't want the lotchers in his fleet anyways - moments like these really defined him as his own person, no longer beholden to the ideas of his father.

The rebellion of the lower class is quite a powerful theme in these books, and this one brought the impact and scale of it to a much greater height than the previous. There are plenty of allegories or real-world comparisons you could make for the evil and tyrannical regime that Ulrich had been ruling, and yet the power of the people prevail. The lower cooks and other townsfolk who rally in support of Conrad to overthrow Ulrich is the quintessential moment of this in the book.

For a series intended for the YA audience, MJG doesn't shy away from putting some gory and gruesome moments in relation to the battle scenes in this book. Personally, I don't mind because I'm not a YA, but I just wanted to note that.

End:

Ulrich finally getting defeated; Conrad fighting with no rules in order to win like Ella said was fantastic. Conrad using his endurance training against Ulrich, which in the words of his father "End the fight early", which is the Urwin motto. Him practicing for the cane throw his uncle via Roderick's design was a great way to show preparation for a single fight.

I love that not all is fantasy and after he is now king. There are still plenty of problems and issues plaguing the Skylands, rogue factions, pirates, etc. Ending it in this way, where Conrad is now king and has the support of the trades along with his dear friends was a nice way to tie everything together. Yes it is a meritocracy, but he couldn't have gotten to where he is without the people supporting him.



Overall, I am quite happy with this finale of the series. This book hit all of the notes I think it was aiming for, had unexpected turns, and a lot of wonderful character development. Conrad becomes his own person in this one, and it pays off quite well. An exemplary job from MJG- I would certainly recommend this series to someone in their mid to late teens. A little bit of romantic elements, a fair bit of brutality, but a while bunch of positive messaging about anti-tyranny and unity amongst the closest people to you. Also plenty of lessons in perseverance, trust, and independence that would be beneficial for a younger reader. Great stuff!

[la_parenthese_litteraire · Rating 4 out of 5]

J’attendais énormément de ce tome 3 et, je n’ai pas été déçue. Cette conclusion qui clôt parfaitement la trilogie, tout en restant totalement fidèle à ce qui faisait la force des deux premiers tomes : une ambiance sombre, lourde, parfois presque étouffante, où l’espoir semble toujours pouvoir disparaître d’un instant à l’autre.
Dans ce dernier tome, la guerre atteint un point de non-retour. Tout devient plus violent, plus désespéré, et on sent vraiment que les personnages arrivent au bout de ce qu’ils peuvent supporter. Conrad, surtout, m’a énormément touchée. Depuis le début de la saga, il porte énormément sur ses épaules, mais ici il finit par couler sous le poids de ses responsabilités. Il doute, il s’épuise, il se perd parfois complètement… et c’est justement ce qui le rend aussi humain. On le voit lutter constamment entre son devoir envers la Couronne, ce qu’on attend de lui, et ce qu’il veut réellement devenir.
J’ai aussi beaucoup aimé le fait qu’il ne s’en sorte pas seul. Ses proches jouent un rôle essentiel, même si les relations sont loin d’être simples dans ce tome. Certaines amitiés et certains liens vont être mis à rude épreuve, il y a des tensions, des blessures, des choix difficiles… mais c’est aussi ce qui rend les personnages si crédibles et attachants. Malgré toute la noirceur du récit, il reste cette idée qu’on peut encore trouver un peu de lumière grâce aux autres.
Et puis il y a toujours cet univers… Les îles du Ciel, le Dessous, les nuages toxiques, les batailles aériennes : tout garde cette atmosphère unique et immersive qui fait l’identité de la saga. On sent que l’auteur maîtrise complètement son monde et sait exactement où il veut nous emmener.
Ce que j’ai particulièrement apprécié, c’est que la fin ne donne pas l’impression d’être expédiée. Au contraire, tout trouve naturellement sa place. Les thèmes abordés depuis le début prennent vraiment tout leur sens ici, et la conclusion est à la fois dure, émouvante et satisfaisante (ça pour être satisfaisante elle l’est vraiment. Ahah et j’étais tellement contente sur un point bien précis)

Instagram : @la_parenthese_litteraire

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

I enjoyed this book and was often reminded of Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series in that we have a pseudo steampunk world at war with teen characters making hard decisions. This third book concludes the series nicely and was enjoyable throughout.

Story: Conrad is running out of time to challenge his uncle in a meritocracy battle of leadership. Soon, a new and devastating weapon will take out the last of the resistance and ensure his uncle reigns unchallenged. But even Conrad knows he does not have the skills needed nor the allies he would require to overthrow the tyrant. Missing friends, worried about his sister, and despairing of being able to change his fate, Conrad will have to find the mettle and the will to overcome the setbacks constantly thrown at him.

This was an interesting book in the series in that a lot of it takes place on the ground rather than in the sky or skylands. It still has its steampunk overtures but now with an ever increasingly despairing Conrad as the odds stack up against him. A lot of the ground scenes do feel like filler though they are necessary in a sense in order to reach the finale. But there are also some logic issues - too many instance of good triumphing over evil solely because evil is very very dumb (e.g., the ruthless uncle who never bothers to kill him but threatens it a lot).

But there is plenty of action and quite a few heartwarming scenes as Conrad 'levels up' to deal with both his uncle and, of course, unstable foe Sebastian (I enjoyed that Conrad had an adult but also a teen adversary). In all, an enjoyable read good for adults or teens alike. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[NyxShadow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voici, enfin, l'ultime tome de cette incroyable trilogie. Alors, Conrad va-t-il s'élever ou chuter ? Triompher ou périr ?
Dans les deux précédents opus, les événements ont sérieusement dégénérés.
La guerre est devenue totale et les pertes sont massives pour les deux camps.
A travers les tomes 1 et 2, l'auteur nous a non seulement permis de bien comprendre qui étaient les principaux personnages de l'histoire (il n'y a pas que Conrad !) mais également les différentes forces en présences, les forces et les faiblesses de chacun, etc. Magistral ! Car si le tableau se noircit au fil des pages, tout n'est pas négatif (ou en tout cas je n'en suis pas ressorti abattue comme avec Game of Thrones par exemple).
Conrad est un personnage qui évolue, qui doute, qui échoue, mais aussi qui se relève, qui apprend, qui essaie.

Dans ce troisième tome Conrad n'est toujours pas le héros parfait. Il doute toujours autant mais il ne renonce pas. Il est prêt à tout pour ses amis, sa famille et surtout pour faire tomber son oncle.
Pourtant, si les deux premiers tomes fonctionnaient sur le même schéma, on change un peu la donne ici. En effet, on va plus être sur une succession de "moments". Plus dense que les précédents, j'ai vraiment eu l'impression qu'on avait plusieurs épisodes qui étaient regroupés dans un même volume. On est sur une méthode empirique plutôt.
Cela veut-il dire qu'il est moins bon ?

Que nenni !!!
On est à nouveau sur un tome incroyable. De la tension, de l'action, du doute, des moments plus émotifs, des personnages malmenés, des moments d'espoirs. Bon, on est principalement sur une succession d'actions pour être honnête, on souffle assez peu. Mais on est tout de même sur une incroyable conclusion.
L'auteur réussit à négocier les difficultés en évitant les clichés (accident bête ? Résolution deus ex machina ?). Il nous propose des résolutions réalistes, parfois brutales, mais que l'on peut accepter. Ce n'est pas parfait, mais Conrad pouvait-il faire mieux à ce moment clé ? Pas sûr...

Si je trouve ce tome "un poil" en dessous des précédents (le tome 1 restant mon chouchou), il est incroyable.
On est sur une incroyable trilogie. Les limites d'un système, les failles humaines, la résilience de l'être humain, le courage, la loyauté, même l'amour, tout est intriqué ici.
Une série que je vous recommande fortement. De par la densité de l'ensemble, on va plutôt partir pour des lecteurs plutôt à l'aise. Elle peut-être lue à partir de 14 ans pour de bons lecteurs, mais des adultes y trouveront leur bonheur sans soucis (oui c'est du YA et alors ?)

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚔️You know a fantasy is going to be wild when the hero starts the story disowned, sent on a suicide mission, and left for dead.

I had a really fun time reading Downfall by Marc J. Gregson. The stakes feel huge right from the start, with the Skylands basically teetering on the edge of civil war, and Conrad being tossed into the chaos once again.

What I liked most about this book is how scrappy Conrad is. He keeps getting knocked down politically, physically, and emotionally, but he just keeps finding a way forward. Watching him survive sky pirates, hide behind a new identity, and train with the very people who want to take down his tyrannical uncle made the story feel like one long, intense climb back to power.

And the dueling pits? It's absolutely one of my favorite parts. The action scenes there were gritty and exciting, and it really felt like Conrad was fighting not just for survival, but for the chance to prove he could be a better leader than the one he’s trying to overthrow.

Overall, it’s a fast-paced fantasy with plenty of danger, political tension, and that classic rise from the ashes energy that kept me turning pages.

✨️Thank you, Peachtree Teen and Marc J. Gregson, for sharing Downfall with me!

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.5/10

Despite the lower ranking I still enjoyed this conclusion!

This bloody, action-packed, YA thrill ride of a series has ended. Maybe my tastes have changed but this book didn’t work as well for me. The whole book, you knew where we were going to end up so there was little tension.

The plot is breakneck - to a fault. Horrible, catastrophic events happen and two pages later we have to move on because the plot demands it. (This is a YA book so I wasn’t expecting a meditation on grief, but the consequences of actions could have been felt more). There were also one too many plotlines in this book, and some moments that just didn’t land.

This book is also hyper violent for a YA crowd and unlike “Red Rising” doesn’t try to shed the label by the end of the trilogy which makes it… interesting. Combined with some present day language and typos in the kindle edition, this was a fun book I enjoyed that didn’t quite meet my sky high expectations.

Overall, I’d still definitely recommend the series if you are looking for action based YA trilogy

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great ending to the series. I kind of wish the whole book was written the way the ending was? The middle 200 pages felt so saturated with information, trying to get through all the beats as quickly as possible. I would’ve liked to live in the Below a little while longer, especially when Goerner’s memories were highlighted as such an important factor. Conrad’s psyche towards the end felt more realistic; we witnessed his journey and growth through these books, I wanted to delve into his thoughts a bit more, especially during the more emotional beats.

Other than that, I think this ending to the trilogy sums everything up well, and I will miss reading about Conrad and friends. I heard about the story of getting book 1 published and purchased it as soon as it released. I feel that I’ve grown alongside these characters over the last three years as their stories developed, and they’ll always have a special place in my heart. I would follow them all to sky’s end.

[Taryll Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really solid finale to the ‘Above the Black’ trilogy. Very bloody, action-packed and fast-paced (at times too fast) with a fairly satisfying final few chapters to bookend the series. I still find the first book ‘Sky’s End’ to be the best and easiest to read, but I’m a sucker for world-building and setting up characters and plots. ‘Downfall’ takes some unexpected twists and turns, but ultimately it ends at a place you likely saw coming since book one. That’s not really a bad thing in my eyes, as most stories of revenge and the deliverance of justice will take this structure. I had a good time reading this one, and the series as a whole, and can’t wait to see what’s next for Gregson in the future!

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, a note: If you're unfamiliar, most ARCs don't look like this one. (A giant messily bound copy of only regular copy paper.) Most of the time, they resemble trade paperbacks and usually they've got some art (maybe not final art) on the cover along with details about the book, media plans for publishing, etc. A few do come like this one, bound by that large plastic thing through regular paper. This one is larger than 8.5x11 and REALLY long. I really hate to sound ungrateful, but publishers, please don't do this. This book was SO hard to read. It's extremely heavy and flimsy. I'd much prefer to wait or even just read the digital copy. Anyway, on to the book.

Gregson's final book in the Above the Black series is an incredibly satisfying ending. There's tension, fighting, betrayals, scary creatures, and even a smidge of romance. Downfall is everything you would want in a scifi adventure! Conrad's uncle, the king, has sent him down to the Below. He says it's to conquer the colonies there, but Conrad knows it's a suicide mission. Now it's his plan to not only survive, but to thrive and eventually take down his uncle.

Release Date: 1/13/2026

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the good fortune of happening across the Above the Black trilogy almost a year ago. Sky's End immediately pulled me in, and I promptly tore my way through Among Serpents right after. With such excellent books as these, my expectations were set pretty high for part three. Now that I've finished this wonderful series, I can say that not only has Downfall met my expectations, but exceeded them and become my favorite of the bunch.

The worldbuilding is vivid and paints such an imaginative picture in your mind, the characters are fun and likable and make you care with very little effort, and the action is thrilling with few lulls in between the truly epic moments. I loved the steampunk/victorian era aesthetic, and soaked up as much of it as I could before reaching the final page.

When I think of my top reading experiences, I'll always look back on Above the Black for all the memorable, peak moments it provided. I look forward to whatever Marc J. Gregson bestows on us next.

[Samir Abou Assi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Together, we have risen.”

This is a beautiful conclusion to an amazing series. The amount of fight scenes, growth and found family moments were incredible. I didn’t want to stop reading it, while at the same time I wanted to slow it down just to have those characters with me for a little longer.

It did have a couple of moments where it felt repetitive, but regardless of that there wasn’t a time I stopped thinking about the book and I know this will stay with me for a very long time. The ending felt like one big hug that I won’t forget. With this series, Marc became one of my new favorite authors.

4.75⭐️

[Katicate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm between a 2 and 3 star but I'll round up.

There aren't a lot of negative/neutral reviews for Downfall as of writing this, so let me just say this- if you read and enjoyed the first two because of the romp around the skies on a ship with themes of found family, this book will not be for you. If you enjoyed the duels and that part of the first two books, you're likely to enjoy this one. Conrad spent a good chunk of the book away from his people and his ship. A lot could have been cut to give more space to other scenes that were rushed.

All in all, I found Downfall lacking for my personal taste and what I was looking for but it was not a bad book.

[Ashley Gregson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc starts DOWNFALL with his foot on the gas pedal and doesn't let up. If you read the previous books in the Above the Black Trilogy, you know that the last book left us with a crazy twist and huge obstacles for Conrad and crew to face in the finale. DOWNFALL rises to the occasion, bringing you relentless action, devious plots, new allies, and of course, tons of monsters!

Strap in to witness the epic conclusion to Conrad's journey!

I laughed, I cheered, I cried. So will you.

[Ariana Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic conclusion to the epic trilogy! I have loved how throughout the stories, Conrad is constantly going through a growth arc. But I feel like it got really cemented in the book, watching him grow and learn and understand more of what it takes to truly be a leader, a right and honorable one. I love the cast! Such a good found family vibe! It’s full of action and humor and keeps you on your toes from start to finish. Highly recommend the audiobooks for all three.

[Aj O’Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wha an incredible debut series! I really enjoyed this book and the character development (of all the characters!), the representation of healthy masculine self understanding, the dynamic and unique world building, the support characters being absolutely essential to the plot, and the dirty, messy, clawing your way to fight for everything that you earn in life.
What a great YA book, a well written, well developed series. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is amazing. Literally deserves to be bigger than it is. Books 1 and 2 were soooo good, and book 3 just as!! It was a bit slow for the first couple hundred pages, but the buildup was worth it and the ending was everything it needed to be! MJG is incredible and I will literally read anything he writes from now on!!