What do you think?
Rate this book
Daniel Faust #3
The Living End
As the FBI closes in on the Las Vegas underworld, Daniel Faust -- grifter, thief, and sorcerer -- isn't the only one feeling the heat. Half-demon racket boss Nicky Agnelli is fighting to hang onto his empire, leaving a trail of dead informants in his wake, while Daniel's ex-girlfriend Jennifer rallies her forces on the street and aims her sights at Nicky's crown.
Meanwhile, homeless people are vanishing by the dozens. Daniel has bigger problems to worry about, but a plea from an old friend sends him on a search for answers. What he finds is a conspiracy twenty years in the making, involving a power-hungry senator, occult experiments, murderous British mercenaries...and Lauren Carmichael, Daniel's nemesis.
From a gunfight in the Arizona badlands to unearthing buried secrets in a New York laboratory, the hunt is on. With Lauren's deadly plan revealed and time running out, Daniel and his crew will stop at nothing to take her down. She's got the law in her pocket and a hired army at her back. He's got black magic, bullets, and the art of the con. It's high noon in Vegas and when the dust settles, only one side will be left standing.
May the best villain win.
Meanwhile, homeless people are vanishing by the dozens. Daniel has bigger problems to worry about, but a plea from an old friend sends him on a search for answers. What he finds is a conspiracy twenty years in the making, involving a power-hungry senator, occult experiments, murderous British mercenaries...and Lauren Carmichael, Daniel's nemesis.
From a gunfight in the Arizona badlands to unearthing buried secrets in a New York laboratory, the hunt is on. With Lauren's deadly plan revealed and time running out, Daniel and his crew will stop at nothing to take her down. She's got the law in her pocket and a hired army at her back. He's got black magic, bullets, and the art of the con. It's high noon in Vegas and when the dust settles, only one side will be left standing.
May the best villain win.
374 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2014
354 people are currently reading
593 people want to read
About the author
Craig Schaefer
43 books1,332 followersCraig Schaefer's books have taken readers to the seamy edge of a criminal underworld drenched in shadow (the Daniel Faust series), to a world torn by war, poison and witchcraft (the Revanche Cycle), and across a modern America mired in occult mysteries and a conspiracy of lies (the Harmony Black series).
Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.
Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
July 17, 2025
➽ And the moral of this rerereread is: Okay, so I've never been a huge fan of Danny's card tricks but, bloody hell, how I love it when he uses them to redecorate the space with his enemy's arterial blood! 😍😍
That's not really what I had in mind but yeah, sure, whatever.
👋 Until next time and stuff.
[March 2020]
🃏 Get Those Magic Decks Of Cards Out of Storage We're Doing the Danny-Boy-IS-MINE Thingie Again Buddy Reread (GTMDoCOoSWDtDBIMTABR™) with the MacHalos and Stuff 🃏
➽ And the moral of this rereread is: it is a truth universally acknowledged that one should never leave home without a severed head. Because you never know when it might come in handy and stuff.
Killer smile is optional but doesn't hurt. FYI and stuff.
[March 2018]
☢ Daniel Faust and Cait are Mine Mine Mine Buddy Reread with my MacHalo Wives and Daughters and Stuff (DFaCaMMMBRwmMWaSaS™) ☢
➽ And the moral of this reread is : I'm adopting Mr Perkins, aka MY Danny Boy's lawyer. I mean, a counsel whose main advice to his clients is to kill all witnesses of their, um, slightly, um, illegal, activities deadly dead? Now that's a real winner in my Most Nefarious Yet Subaquatic Book (MNYSB™).
Sorry about that, my eyebrows kinda sorta get all waggly and twitchy when I get excited about, um, you know, stuff.
P.S. I want a pair of batshit crazy, trigger-happy, helicopter-flying, homicidal cambion twins on my payroll, like Nicky Agnelli. They'd be the perfect addition to my murderous army and stuff. Also, they'd do wonders for my underwater street cred. And stuff.
[Original review]
This is me fangirling very silently.
Because yes, I can do that, too.
Not sure these slightly subdued gifs properly convey how I really feel. Oh well. I promise to do better next time. And stuff.
➽ Oh, just a quick reminder before I go:
❣ Danny Boy is:
❣ Caitlin The Wingtaker is:
So dontcha go gettin' silly ideas into your silly Little Barnacle heads. Get it? Good.
Bye Now.
· Book 1: The Long Way Down ★★★★★
· Book 1.5: The White Gold Score ★★★★★
· Book 2: Redemption Song ★★★★★
· Book 4: A Plain-Dealing Villain ★★★★★
· Book 5: The Killing Floor Blues ★★★★★
· Book 6: The Castle Doctrine ★★★★★
• Book 6.1: Sweet, Blissful Certainty ★★★
• Book 7: Double or Nothing ★★★★★
• Book 7.1: A Drive in the Country ★★★★
• Book 7.2: Sixty Six Seconds ★★★★
• Book 8: The Neon Boneyard ★★★★★
• Book 9: The Locust Job ★★★★★
· Book 10: Down Among the Dead Men ★★★★★
· Book 11: Dig Two Graves ★★★★★
That's not really what I had in mind but yeah, sure, whatever.
👋 Until next time and stuff.
[March 2020]
🃏 Get Those Magic Decks Of Cards Out of Storage We're Doing the Danny-Boy-IS-MINE Thingie Again Buddy Reread (GTMDoCOoSWDtDBIMTABR™) with the MacHalos and Stuff 🃏
➽ And the moral of this rereread is: it is a truth universally acknowledged that one should never leave home without a severed head. Because you never know when it might come in handy and stuff.
Killer smile is optional but doesn't hurt. FYI and stuff.
[March 2018]
☢ Daniel Faust and Cait are Mine Mine Mine Buddy Reread with my MacHalo Wives and Daughters and Stuff (DFaCaMMMBRwmMWaSaS™) ☢
➽ And the moral of this reread is : I'm adopting Mr Perkins, aka MY Danny Boy's lawyer. I mean, a counsel whose main advice to his clients is to kill all witnesses of their, um, slightly, um, illegal, activities deadly dead? Now that's a real winner in my Most Nefarious Yet Subaquatic Book (MNYSB™).
Sorry about that, my eyebrows kinda sorta get all waggly and twitchy when I get excited about, um, you know, stuff.
P.S. I want a pair of batshit crazy, trigger-happy, helicopter-flying, homicidal cambion twins on my payroll, like Nicky Agnelli. They'd be the perfect addition to my murderous army and stuff. Also, they'd do wonders for my underwater street cred. And stuff.
[Original review]
This is me fangirling very silently.
Because yes, I can do that, too.
Not sure these slightly subdued gifs properly convey how I really feel. Oh well. I promise to do better next time. And stuff.
➽ Oh, just a quick reminder before I go:
❣ Danny Boy is:
❣ Caitlin The Wingtaker is:
So dontcha go gettin' silly ideas into your silly Little Barnacle heads. Get it? Good.
Bye Now.
· Book 1: The Long Way Down ★★★★★
· Book 1.5: The White Gold Score ★★★★★
· Book 2: Redemption Song ★★★★★
· Book 4: A Plain-Dealing Villain ★★★★★
· Book 5: The Killing Floor Blues ★★★★★
· Book 6: The Castle Doctrine ★★★★★
• Book 6.1: Sweet, Blissful Certainty ★★★
• Book 7: Double or Nothing ★★★★★
• Book 7.1: A Drive in the Country ★★★★
• Book 7.2: Sixty Six Seconds ★★★★
• Book 8: The Neon Boneyard ★★★★★
• Book 9: The Locust Job ★★★★★
· Book 10: Down Among the Dead Men ★★★★★
· Book 11: Dig Two Graves ★★★★★
March 19, 2021
I almost abandoned the series after the 2nd volume because of the cheesiness between Daniel and his demon girlfriend. Thankfully, the love story was lees important here and it was such a better novel as a result. Humor, non-stop action, an exciting con job, all kinds of interesting villains, more magic. Exactly what I was expecting from Daniel Faust. Can't wait to read the next one but meanwhile I will give the other famous wizard one last change. I am talking about Harry Dresden, obviously.
February 8, 2016
If you like urban fantasy, I highly recommend giving Craig Schaefer's Daniel Faust a try. Apparently my first two reviews were complicated by a now-repaired broken finger (and quite possibly a little pain-killing medication), so I owe Faust a decent review.
Let me give you an idea how much I enjoy this series:
Enough that I've bought the first four books of the Daniel Faust series for my kindle at full price, and I never pay more than three dollars for a e-book.
Enough that I save them for riding the bike at the gym as a way of motivating myself to get there and exercise.
Enough that they are my go-to rec for action UF, as they are fun, clever, reasonably well plotted, and generally free of annoyances that plague certain other series.
*****************************************
About this book in particular:
"Speaking of which, this 'Meadow Brand' person? As your attorney, I recommend killing her. Make it look like a drug overdose, maybe a gang shooting, something nice and unrelated, you know?"
Daniel Faust and his friends are doing their very best to thwart the end-of-the-world plans of Lauren and her henchperson Meadow, but they have their hands full after FBI Agent Black (!) has put Faust in her crosshairs. Faust is a small-time criminal and sorcerer who moves in some ethically dubious circles. An interaction with a demon sums it up: "He let out a long, slow chuckle and took another sip of whiskey. 'I do so enjoy a man named Faust asking me about a deal. Makes me feel at one with history. Shame we can't talk business son, but you're already damned." But at least Faust isn't alone. The magical--and criminal--underground in Vegas is closely knit, and Faust has a number of friends he can count on, including Bentley and Corman, the couple who run Scrivener's Nook; Pixie, computer whiz, non-magical and dedicated to helping the homeless; and Jennifer, ex-girlfriend who has her eye on a hostile takeover of Vegas' criminal activity; and even Nicky, half-demon and current head of said criminal activity. Oh, and Caitlin, Hound of Hell and the love of Faust's life.
Yes, I get it--the set up sounds a little silly. And while it is a little silly in the classic premise of action stories--crazy person wants to take over the world/become a deity--I like to think it achieves something solid, an ideal meld of action, compassion and humor, cooked together with solid writing. Writing feels solid to me, achieving a balance between humor, atmosphere and action. Listen to a demon play the blues: "This was the real blues, down-home raw and ragged, drenched with sweat and sex and the bloodied edge of a switchblade. Out on the dark and silent street, his music still echoed in the back of my mind, floating and fading like a dream that slips away on waking."
I won't sum the plot, except to say this book is the culmination of The Lauren Problem began in books one and two. Stopping Lauren takes Faust and the team through a number of hurdles in such a way as to keep my attention without feeling like it's wasting time. The plotting also nicely evades the escalating bigger-badder villain plot-trap, which in turn sidesteps the need for Faust to become more and more magically endowed. Magic tends to be used creatively, but not necessarily powerfully in this world--Faust's go-to weapon is a deck of cards.
There's also a decent amount of humor, occasionally situational--a scene heavy on the sexual foreplay could have annoyed but instead had me laughing out loud at its cleverness. For a urban fantasy, I thought it had some surprisingly solid emotional moments, whether it was Pixie expressing doubt at the new knowledge of the magical world, Faust considering how far he will go to bring Lauren down, or managing the delicate emotional state of a friend's daughter. I enjoyed it.
"I wasn't sure which way she'd lean in the end, which of her parents she'd take after, and I really didn't care. What mattered to me was that she knew she had choices, and she knew she was loved."
Four-and-a-halfcards stars
Let me give you an idea how much I enjoy this series:
Enough that I've bought the first four books of the Daniel Faust series for my kindle at full price, and I never pay more than three dollars for a e-book.
Enough that I save them for riding the bike at the gym as a way of motivating myself to get there and exercise.
Enough that they are my go-to rec for action UF, as they are fun, clever, reasonably well plotted, and generally free of annoyances that plague certain other series.
*****************************************
About this book in particular:
"Speaking of which, this 'Meadow Brand' person? As your attorney, I recommend killing her. Make it look like a drug overdose, maybe a gang shooting, something nice and unrelated, you know?"
Daniel Faust and his friends are doing their very best to thwart the end-of-the-world plans of Lauren and her henchperson Meadow, but they have their hands full after FBI Agent Black (!) has put Faust in her crosshairs. Faust is a small-time criminal and sorcerer who moves in some ethically dubious circles. An interaction with a demon sums it up: "He let out a long, slow chuckle and took another sip of whiskey. 'I do so enjoy a man named Faust asking me about a deal. Makes me feel at one with history. Shame we can't talk business son, but you're already damned." But at least Faust isn't alone. The magical--and criminal--underground in Vegas is closely knit, and Faust has a number of friends he can count on, including Bentley and Corman, the couple who run Scrivener's Nook; Pixie, computer whiz, non-magical and dedicated to helping the homeless; and Jennifer, ex-girlfriend who has her eye on a hostile takeover of Vegas' criminal activity; and even Nicky, half-demon and current head of said criminal activity. Oh, and Caitlin, Hound of Hell and the love of Faust's life.
Yes, I get it--the set up sounds a little silly. And while it is a little silly in the classic premise of action stories--crazy person wants to take over the world/become a deity--I like to think it achieves something solid, an ideal meld of action, compassion and humor, cooked together with solid writing. Writing feels solid to me, achieving a balance between humor, atmosphere and action. Listen to a demon play the blues: "This was the real blues, down-home raw and ragged, drenched with sweat and sex and the bloodied edge of a switchblade. Out on the dark and silent street, his music still echoed in the back of my mind, floating and fading like a dream that slips away on waking."
I won't sum the plot, except to say this book is the culmination of The Lauren Problem began in books one and two. Stopping Lauren takes Faust and the team through a number of hurdles in such a way as to keep my attention without feeling like it's wasting time. The plotting also nicely evades the escalating bigger-badder villain plot-trap, which in turn sidesteps the need for Faust to become more and more magically endowed. Magic tends to be used creatively, but not necessarily powerfully in this world--Faust's go-to weapon is a deck of cards.
There's also a decent amount of humor, occasionally situational--a scene heavy on the sexual foreplay could have annoyed but instead had me laughing out loud at its cleverness. For a urban fantasy, I thought it had some surprisingly solid emotional moments, whether it was Pixie expressing doubt at the new knowledge of the magical world, Faust considering how far he will go to bring Lauren down, or managing the delicate emotional state of a friend's daughter. I enjoyed it.
"I wasn't sure which way she'd lean in the end, which of her parents she'd take after, and I really didn't care. What mattered to me was that she knew she had choices, and she knew she was loved."
Four-and-a-half
March 9, 2019
The Living End by Craig Schaefer and narrated by Adam Verner is a great addition to the series. Half-human demon mobsters, someone using magic and chemicals to kidnap homeless people, lab experiments, and lots of other supernatural craziness happiness going on. But Daniel is on it with his demon girl friend! Great story and narration!
March 6, 2018
*** 4.44 ***
"... “A witch, a sorcerer, and a fucking demon from hell say I’m not trustworthy.” “You’re a psychopath,” I said. She shrugged. “I’ve been told that means that I know the difference between right and wrong, I just don’t care. Hey, that description sound like anybody you know, Faust?” ..."
I don't think I need to repeat myself in saying how good Craig Schaefer is at making books that explode in your brain, filling it with action, mystery, pure Pulp brilliance and characters that have you rooting for them despite or because of all of their great failings. I love the demon - hound Cait, who is at present dealing with her "feelings", since obviously this is very new and unexpected for her. I love the always broke and on the hunt for a scam Faust, whom you just can't help but fall for, despite his dubious character and pension for magical rackets, and I love the gang of misfits they have gathered around them, loyal and forgiving, as only true friends could be. And Shaefer is really good at creating a character and giving their finer points to us with the minimal of descriptions and plenty of showing through their actions. In short, he is good!!!
"... “I realize you’re a politician, so this is a new concept for you. ‘Cooperating’ means actually doing what you’re supposed to, not just saying you will and then weaseling out.” ..."
So, what I am trying to say is that if you have not read Daniel Faust or Harmony Black series, you are missing out on a good, paranormal pulp mysteries bursting with action and characters who pop right off the page. I think he is one of the few authors who create an action movie in my brain as soon as I read the first page. Everything is bigger then life but life-like nonetheless, and so absurd, but so believable in its absurdity. Faust is a conman and as such Shaefer relies on the con to make the stories work, while with Harmony, who is an FBI agent, he does more the police procedural thing, but always with the paranormal and magic flair that exist in his world.
"... “Now bottle your hatred and store it in your heart’s pantry for a thirstier day.” ..."
I hate the villain of the series so far, Lauren Carmichael, with passion!!! She is a smart, strong, educated and influential woman and in regular circumstances, like if she wasn't trying to destroy the world as we know it and make herself into its ruler-goddess, I would have had mad respect for her. However, the beeaaatttccchhh is cray-cray! Sad how the words mad genius have so much sturdy base to stand on... So, Lauren and several magical scientists never give up their crazy skims and are back in Las Vegas to finish the job once and for all. However, they are not counting on Faust's ability to always land on his feet no matter what you throw at him, and once again they underestimate his and his friends ability to mess with forces much stronger than them. Their gang plays recklessly with all or nothing odds, but you can count on them to play with a card up their sleeve:):):) You have to read it in order to experience the adrenaline of living on the edge!
"... “Seems to me you’ve got two choices: one, you can get in a gunfight with the United States government—because that always ends well—or you can run downstairs, get as many of your boys out through the emergency exits as you can, and order the rest to surrender. Your call, but bail money’s a lot cheaper than a tombstone.” ..."
I will recommend this author to all who love action, good plots and the old Pulp feeling:):):)
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!
"... “A witch, a sorcerer, and a fucking demon from hell say I’m not trustworthy.” “You’re a psychopath,” I said. She shrugged. “I’ve been told that means that I know the difference between right and wrong, I just don’t care. Hey, that description sound like anybody you know, Faust?” ..."
I don't think I need to repeat myself in saying how good Craig Schaefer is at making books that explode in your brain, filling it with action, mystery, pure Pulp brilliance and characters that have you rooting for them despite or because of all of their great failings. I love the demon - hound Cait, who is at present dealing with her "feelings", since obviously this is very new and unexpected for her. I love the always broke and on the hunt for a scam Faust, whom you just can't help but fall for, despite his dubious character and pension for magical rackets, and I love the gang of misfits they have gathered around them, loyal and forgiving, as only true friends could be. And Shaefer is really good at creating a character and giving their finer points to us with the minimal of descriptions and plenty of showing through their actions. In short, he is good!!!
"... “I realize you’re a politician, so this is a new concept for you. ‘Cooperating’ means actually doing what you’re supposed to, not just saying you will and then weaseling out.” ..."
So, what I am trying to say is that if you have not read Daniel Faust or Harmony Black series, you are missing out on a good, paranormal pulp mysteries bursting with action and characters who pop right off the page. I think he is one of the few authors who create an action movie in my brain as soon as I read the first page. Everything is bigger then life but life-like nonetheless, and so absurd, but so believable in its absurdity. Faust is a conman and as such Shaefer relies on the con to make the stories work, while with Harmony, who is an FBI agent, he does more the police procedural thing, but always with the paranormal and magic flair that exist in his world.
"... “Now bottle your hatred and store it in your heart’s pantry for a thirstier day.” ..."
I hate the villain of the series so far, Lauren Carmichael, with passion!!! She is a smart, strong, educated and influential woman and in regular circumstances, like if she wasn't trying to destroy the world as we know it and make herself into its ruler-goddess, I would have had mad respect for her. However, the beeaaatttccchhh is cray-cray! Sad how the words mad genius have so much sturdy base to stand on... So, Lauren and several magical scientists never give up their crazy skims and are back in Las Vegas to finish the job once and for all. However, they are not counting on Faust's ability to always land on his feet no matter what you throw at him, and once again they underestimate his and his friends ability to mess with forces much stronger than them. Their gang plays recklessly with all or nothing odds, but you can count on them to play with a card up their sleeve:):):) You have to read it in order to experience the adrenaline of living on the edge!
"... “Seems to me you’ve got two choices: one, you can get in a gunfight with the United States government—because that always ends well—or you can run downstairs, get as many of your boys out through the emergency exits as you can, and order the rest to surrender. Your call, but bail money’s a lot cheaper than a tombstone.” ..."
I will recommend this author to all who love action, good plots and the old Pulp feeling:):):)
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!
April 8, 2018
I'm glad to say that this series is picking up , it's getting better and better , Daniel is evolving as character he's more confident and devious than before and his deck of cards is starting to grow on me .... looking forward to the next book...
February 2, 2016
This third instalment in the Daniel Faust series was just as much fun to read as the first two books in the series were. Craig Schaefer has done a fantastic job of seamlessly blending some hilarious dialogue and happenings into a very dark and gritty Vegas set UF noir. The story was fast paced and filled with action, drama, and plenty of cool supernatural happenings!
Life is not proving easy for Daniel Faust, ex-gangster and sorcerer for hire, as he has a whole host of problems to deal with. His nemesis Lauren Carmichael and her crazed enforcer Meadow Brand continue to press on with their plans for world domination. FBI agent Harmony Black still wants both Daniel and his ex-boss the half demon gang kingpin of Las Vegas Nicky Agnelli, behind bars. Daniel's ex-girlfriend Jennifer is feeling twitchy about the whole FBI situation and is mustering her own forces as she senses Nicky might be vulnerable. Daniel's friend Pixie wants his help in tracking down a spate of missing homeless people, and just for good measure the smoke faced men are back!
Daniel himself is a likeable and witty lead who is super easy to root for despite the fact that he is no angel.
All in all this was a very enjoyable read.
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: Adam Verner gives another good performance with the audio.
Life is not proving easy for Daniel Faust, ex-gangster and sorcerer for hire, as he has a whole host of problems to deal with. His nemesis Lauren Carmichael and her crazed enforcer Meadow Brand continue to press on with their plans for world domination. FBI agent Harmony Black still wants both Daniel and his ex-boss the half demon gang kingpin of Las Vegas Nicky Agnelli, behind bars. Daniel's ex-girlfriend Jennifer is feeling twitchy about the whole FBI situation and is mustering her own forces as she senses Nicky might be vulnerable. Daniel's friend Pixie wants his help in tracking down a spate of missing homeless people, and just for good measure the smoke faced men are back!
Daniel himself is a likeable and witty lead who is super easy to root for despite the fact that he is no angel.
All in all this was a very enjoyable read.
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: Adam Verner gives another good performance with the audio.
June 1, 2025
I love re-reads; after reading the later books in this series, there's a whole new lens to everything.
The Living End, I think, marks the place where Craig Schaefer really started to hit his stride with this series. It's not that I don't also love the first two books - I'm an unapologetic fangirl about anything he writes - but you can feel when an author starts to relax into a story more, and that's absolutely how I felt reading this book.
Rounding off the last part of the inital storyline that kicked off the series, this book is where we really get to some of the fun stuff - the smoke-faced men, who are as chilling as their garbled language is entertaining, smiling missionaries who are just as ominous as you'd think, and the complete lack of limits to a psychopath looking for entertainment - they're all mixed in perfect balance to stand in the way of Faust and his family of choice, as they seek to prevent the end of the world. It's also where we get to see a lot more Harmony Black, and that's always extra points from me.
There's a lot of heart in these books, and a lot of believing in better things even with absolutely no reason to do so, plus some of the most inventively creepy alternate planes and beings that inhabit them (for now...), that I've ever managed to find. This book is a standout in a fantastic series.
The Living End, I think, marks the place where Craig Schaefer really started to hit his stride with this series. It's not that I don't also love the first two books - I'm an unapologetic fangirl about anything he writes - but you can feel when an author starts to relax into a story more, and that's absolutely how I felt reading this book.
Rounding off the last part of the inital storyline that kicked off the series, this book is where we really get to some of the fun stuff - the smoke-faced men, who are as chilling as their garbled language is entertaining, smiling missionaries who are just as ominous as you'd think, and the complete lack of limits to a psychopath looking for entertainment - they're all mixed in perfect balance to stand in the way of Faust and his family of choice, as they seek to prevent the end of the world. It's also where we get to see a lot more Harmony Black, and that's always extra points from me.
There's a lot of heart in these books, and a lot of believing in better things even with absolutely no reason to do so, plus some of the most inventively creepy alternate planes and beings that inhabit them (for now...), that I've ever managed to find. This book is a standout in a fantastic series.
May 8, 2016
Another fast'n'fun read in Daniel Faust series. Recommended to all UF fans.
December 5, 2014
The events of the first two books come to a head in The Living End. And what an end! Daniel Faust's arch-nemesis Lauren Carmichael is on the verge of remaking the world in her image. Her twenty year plans have finally come to fruition. Now all she needs is a mass human sacrifice that will allow her to channel the life energy needed to bridge the fabric of reality itself. And all that stands between her and her brave new world is Daniel.
Despite the fact that the Faust books fall into the urban fantasy trap where the world itself is constantly on the line, I really like these books. Although Daniel and his companions are involved in this existential struggle Faust doesn't come across as "The One." I think it is because he gets by not on sheer power and magical brawn. Sure, he is a bit of a sorcerer, but I don't get the impression that he is particularly powerful. He is constantly outmatched by other mages. Instead, Daniel gets by on his wits. Faust is a con-artist. He out-thinks, out-plays and out-scams his enemies. He gambles against a demon and wins. He plays a con on a US Senator. And the cons are clever. There are no cheap plays on the part of the author to move along the story or reliance on stale formula.
And then there are his companions. Although Daniel is clearly the lead, he is surrounded by a host of interesting, unique characters. Front and center is Caitlin, his Demon girl friend. She manages to convey both menace and gentleness that meshes well with the way Demons are portrayed in Daniel's world. But there are others, too. Pixie, Jennifer, Nicky, etc. All avoiding to feel like generic supporting characters. They feel real.
The book also has a nice sense of humor. I especially enjoyed the shout out to the Bechdel test when Caitlin tells Daniel: "Yes, pet. When two women have a conversation, it's only natural to assume they're talking about you." That made me chuckle, especially when they started talking about him in excruciating detail to drive home the point.
IV stars out of V. My only real knock on the book is that it did get off to a slow start. I suppose that may be the nature of a scam. You don't go in guns blazing. You have to set it up and let it roll. All in all, highly recommend these books if you are looking for something new in Urban Fantasy.
Despite the fact that the Faust books fall into the urban fantasy trap where the world itself is constantly on the line, I really like these books. Although Daniel and his companions are involved in this existential struggle Faust doesn't come across as "The One." I think it is because he gets by not on sheer power and magical brawn. Sure, he is a bit of a sorcerer, but I don't get the impression that he is particularly powerful. He is constantly outmatched by other mages. Instead, Daniel gets by on his wits. Faust is a con-artist. He out-thinks, out-plays and out-scams his enemies. He gambles against a demon and wins. He plays a con on a US Senator. And the cons are clever. There are no cheap plays on the part of the author to move along the story or reliance on stale formula.
And then there are his companions. Although Daniel is clearly the lead, he is surrounded by a host of interesting, unique characters. Front and center is Caitlin, his Demon girl friend. She manages to convey both menace and gentleness that meshes well with the way Demons are portrayed in Daniel's world. But there are others, too. Pixie, Jennifer, Nicky, etc. All avoiding to feel like generic supporting characters. They feel real.
The book also has a nice sense of humor. I especially enjoyed the shout out to the Bechdel test when Caitlin tells Daniel: "Yes, pet. When two women have a conversation, it's only natural to assume they're talking about you." That made me chuckle, especially when they started talking about him in excruciating detail to drive home the point.
IV stars out of V. My only real knock on the book is that it did get off to a slow start. I suppose that may be the nature of a scam. You don't go in guns blazing. You have to set it up and let it roll. All in all, highly recommend these books if you are looking for something new in Urban Fantasy.
November 11, 2016
4.5 stars. Best book in the series so far. So much action right from the start. Great storyline and cast of characters with a nice lead in to the next book. Recommended.
June 2, 2016
The Living End is an outstanding wrap-up to the first Daniel Faust story arc which began with The Long Way Down and continued in Redemption Song.
Just like the first two volumes, this one is chock full of a fascinating mythology, conspiracies galore, plot twists that will turn you round-and-round (like a record, baby), and evil villains set out for world domination and destruction.
My favorite part of this book (of the series, really) is how the author sets up the plot like a caper in Ocean’s 11/12/13: every member of the good guys has a part to play in the tons of moving parts, many of which are distractions, deceptions, and misdirection, all timed perfectly to bring about the con or heist. Except in this case, the plan is preventing the evil villain from opening up a gateway to another world, effectively ending our world and terminating all life on the planet. Of course, plans this complex never go as planned, forcing the good guys to scramble and improvise. And this is where this series, and the author, excels!
As much as I hate books-into-TV-shows, this series has a ton of potential on the small screen if someone were to set out to do this one (HBO? Netflix? Are you listening?). Heck, maybe even the big screen.
Ultimately, this is such a fun series! I’m looking forward to reading more about Daniel Faust and his team, as well as the spin-off series starring FBI Agent Harmony Black.
Just like the first two volumes, this one is chock full of a fascinating mythology, conspiracies galore, plot twists that will turn you round-and-round (like a record, baby), and evil villains set out for world domination and destruction.
My favorite part of this book (of the series, really) is how the author sets up the plot like a caper in Ocean’s 11/12/13: every member of the good guys has a part to play in the tons of moving parts, many of which are distractions, deceptions, and misdirection, all timed perfectly to bring about the con or heist. Except in this case, the plan is preventing the evil villain from opening up a gateway to another world, effectively ending our world and terminating all life on the planet. Of course, plans this complex never go as planned, forcing the good guys to scramble and improvise. And this is where this series, and the author, excels!
As much as I hate books-into-TV-shows, this series has a ton of potential on the small screen if someone were to set out to do this one (HBO? Netflix? Are you listening?). Heck, maybe even the big screen.
Ultimately, this is such a fun series! I’m looking forward to reading more about Daniel Faust and his team, as well as the spin-off series starring FBI Agent Harmony Black.
January 12, 2018
The Living End solidifies Daniel Faust series as my current favorite Urban Fantasy. While I’m not a hardcore UF reader, I’m no stranger to the genre. I know the classics. I await Peace Talks impatiently. I’m open to UF stuff in general.
In third book of the series, plot tightens and all threads started in previous books come together, the closer we get to the climax.
Lauren Carmichael’s plans come to fruition. There are few nefarious forces at play here. Some would love to turn the world into a lump of the charcoal. Ruling the world is enough for others. Hell is ready to start contingency plans that wouldn’t turn well for the human race.
Like the previous two installments, the book is quick, full of twists and exciting scenes of breakneck action. New antagonists appear and they’re definitely not light-weight. Meadow Brown continues to be a psycho and Lauren goes from a mad raving lunatic to something much worse. Homeless people disappear from the streets. You can’t even imagine what awaits them. It’s not chicken and salad, though.
We’ve all seen this kind of stories before In books and in movies. A crazy person wants to change / destroy / rule the world / become goddess / deity / whatever. It may sound silly. It may sound cliché. But when done well, it’s also fun. And Craig Schaefer knows very well how to make it in a proper way. He’s here to entertain. He’s not afraid of pulp culture references and aesthetique.
The writing is solid and the plotting uses heist elements nicely. We usually learn what Daniel's got up his sleeve at the same time his enemies do. He's a magician. It's part of his schtick. I enjoy being surprised by Daniel ingenuity and creativity. These series offers a well balanced mix of breakneck action, crazy twists, drama, and humor. I especially enjoyed new character called Calypso. Think of him as a Demon rock star. He’s been here for ages. He plays his games. He also plays blues:
It’s not Ulysses guys. But it has an ambiance I enjoy. It also has a kind of situational humor that tends to make me laugh or, at least, smile.
There are, also, characters. With each book, I feel more attached to them. Daniel is the anti-villain - a con artist, thief and former gangster living in the shadows of Las Vegas, Faust uses black magic and bullets to get what he wants. He has a Magnum called Judge, go figure. His crew of grifters and rogues is more than cool. I still know little about them. Bentley and Corman are retired grifters, Jennifer is a drug dealer with some dope blood magic, Mama Margaux's family had ties to the Duvalier regime in Haiti, and Caitlin...well, Caitlin serves the powers of Hell. They're nice people, though. Especially Caitlin, when she doesn’t eat you piece by piece or literally wrest your heart out of the ribcage, that is.
Even though Daniel is the main character, women in Schaefer’s books are much stronger than men. If you’re an alpha-male you may have a problem with Daniel’s darling calling him her “pet” and basically treating him as her property. Daniel is cool with it, though. I’m cool with it as well. I like strong feminine characters.
Speaking of which, am I the only one who thinks that Baron Navaarasi is cool?
Overall, TLE was the satisfying book that ties up the first arc of Faust series and opens quite a lot of possibilities for his future. New players enter the game and I’m pretty sure that the danger will only escalate in following books.
In third book of the series, plot tightens and all threads started in previous books come together, the closer we get to the climax.
Lauren Carmichael’s plans come to fruition. There are few nefarious forces at play here. Some would love to turn the world into a lump of the charcoal. Ruling the world is enough for others. Hell is ready to start contingency plans that wouldn’t turn well for the human race.
Like the previous two installments, the book is quick, full of twists and exciting scenes of breakneck action. New antagonists appear and they’re definitely not light-weight. Meadow Brown continues to be a psycho and Lauren goes from a mad raving lunatic to something much worse. Homeless people disappear from the streets. You can’t even imagine what awaits them. It’s not chicken and salad, though.
We’ve all seen this kind of stories before In books and in movies. A crazy person wants to change / destroy / rule the world / become goddess / deity / whatever. It may sound silly. It may sound cliché. But when done well, it’s also fun. And Craig Schaefer knows very well how to make it in a proper way. He’s here to entertain. He’s not afraid of pulp culture references and aesthetique.
The writing is solid and the plotting uses heist elements nicely. We usually learn what Daniel's got up his sleeve at the same time his enemies do. He's a magician. It's part of his schtick. I enjoy being surprised by Daniel ingenuity and creativity. These series offers a well balanced mix of breakneck action, crazy twists, drama, and humor. I especially enjoyed new character called Calypso. Think of him as a Demon rock star. He’s been here for ages. He plays his games. He also plays blues:
This was the real blues, down-home raw and ragged, drenched with sweat and sex and the bloodied edge of a switchblade. Out on the dark and silent street, his music still echoed in the back of my mind, floating and fading like a dream that slips away on waking.
It’s not Ulysses guys. But it has an ambiance I enjoy. It also has a kind of situational humor that tends to make me laugh or, at least, smile.
There are, also, characters. With each book, I feel more attached to them. Daniel is the anti-villain - a con artist, thief and former gangster living in the shadows of Las Vegas, Faust uses black magic and bullets to get what he wants. He has a Magnum called Judge, go figure. His crew of grifters and rogues is more than cool. I still know little about them. Bentley and Corman are retired grifters, Jennifer is a drug dealer with some dope blood magic, Mama Margaux's family had ties to the Duvalier regime in Haiti, and Caitlin...well, Caitlin serves the powers of Hell. They're nice people, though. Especially Caitlin, when she doesn’t eat you piece by piece or literally wrest your heart out of the ribcage, that is.
Even though Daniel is the main character, women in Schaefer’s books are much stronger than men. If you’re an alpha-male you may have a problem with Daniel’s darling calling him her “pet” and basically treating him as her property. Daniel is cool with it, though. I’m cool with it as well. I like strong feminine characters.
Speaking of which, am I the only one who thinks that Baron Navaarasi is cool?
Overall, TLE was the satisfying book that ties up the first arc of Faust series and opens quite a lot of possibilities for his future. New players enter the game and I’m pretty sure that the danger will only escalate in following books.
October 28, 2022
With the end of the third book, a main trilogy ark has been completed, villain defeated, etc etc.
While reading this book I had thoughs that it would be a perfect point to quit the series, as I do believe that 10 books are too much for a series, and at the same time I've felt a bit of a dip if not in quality, then in my own excitement in reading further adventures of Daniel Faust. But maybe that was just a side thought, because after finishing it, I'm pretty much sure I'll continue the series. Though the point about that minor dip is still valid and the rating is a very strong and solid, but still only 3* this time, nevertheless.
While reading this book I had thoughs that it would be a perfect point to quit the series, as I do believe that 10 books are too much for a series, and at the same time I've felt a bit of a dip if not in quality, then in my own excitement in reading further adventures of Daniel Faust. But maybe that was just a side thought, because after finishing it, I'm pretty much sure I'll continue the series. Though the point about that minor dip is still valid and the rating is a very strong and solid, but still only 3* this time, nevertheless.
January 8, 2018
4 Stars
The Living End was another excellent addition in the Daniel Faust series. Dark, moody, and fast paced, it solidified this series as one of my favorite urban fantasy series out there.
The third book in the ongoing stories of Faust, The Living End continued his struggle against Lauren Carmichael and her plans to gain power. Additionally, his friend and tech wizard Pixie asks for his help as dozens of her regulars at the soup kitchen are going missing. As Faust digs deeper into Lauren’s scheme, he ends up in a race to stop her before her deadly plan takes out him and everyone he loves.
This was a fun book. Like the previous two installments, it read quickly with a number of exciting and tense scenes. There were a few new bad guys for Faust to contend with that had some new abilities that made for some interesting confrontations.
Faust also continues to be different than many protagonists. While he tries to do what he sees as the right thing, there is a darker side to him that is absent from many leading characters. I think the author finds a good balance between keeping Faust likable while giving him a bit of an edge.
The only thing keeping the rating from being even higher is that the books seem to lack a bit of depth. Some of the events seem to come together a bit too cleanly and things are resolved almost too easily. For me though, this is a very minor issue. As someone who just started reading UF in the last year, it’s become my go to for quick, fun reads in between longer and more complex epic fantasy (my favorite genre). So this is hardly a major issue for me. I will definitely be reading the next book.
The Living End was another excellent addition in the Daniel Faust series. Dark, moody, and fast paced, it solidified this series as one of my favorite urban fantasy series out there.
The third book in the ongoing stories of Faust, The Living End continued his struggle against Lauren Carmichael and her plans to gain power. Additionally, his friend and tech wizard Pixie asks for his help as dozens of her regulars at the soup kitchen are going missing. As Faust digs deeper into Lauren’s scheme, he ends up in a race to stop her before her deadly plan takes out him and everyone he loves.
This was a fun book. Like the previous two installments, it read quickly with a number of exciting and tense scenes. There were a few new bad guys for Faust to contend with that had some new abilities that made for some interesting confrontations.
Faust also continues to be different than many protagonists. While he tries to do what he sees as the right thing, there is a darker side to him that is absent from many leading characters. I think the author finds a good balance between keeping Faust likable while giving him a bit of an edge.
The only thing keeping the rating from being even higher is that the books seem to lack a bit of depth. Some of the events seem to come together a bit too cleanly and things are resolved almost too easily. For me though, this is a very minor issue. As someone who just started reading UF in the last year, it’s become my go to for quick, fun reads in between longer and more complex epic fantasy (my favorite genre). So this is hardly a major issue for me. I will definitely be reading the next book.
September 3, 2019
3.5 stars.
The key to stage magic is playing on assumptions. You don’t need elaborate stages and thousand-dollar props to perform a good trick—you just need an audience ready and primed to be fooled.
“My choices are mine,” she said. “You helped see to that. And I choose you. Anyone who has a problem with that is welcome to challenge me on the plains of Limbo. Every notch on my hunting spear is the end of another fool’s story.”
I wanted a drink, but not here. Winter wasn’t my kind of place. I was about one demographic too old, one decade out of fashion, and two tax brackets too poor to hang with this crowd.
The key to stage magic is playing on assumptions. You don’t need elaborate stages and thousand-dollar props to perform a good trick—you just need an audience ready and primed to be fooled.
“My choices are mine,” she said. “You helped see to that. And I choose you. Anyone who has a problem with that is welcome to challenge me on the plains of Limbo. Every notch on my hunting spear is the end of another fool’s story.”
I wanted a drink, but not here. Winter wasn’t my kind of place. I was about one demographic too old, one decade out of fashion, and two tax brackets too poor to hang with this crowd.
August 23, 2022
Stars: 3.5 out of 5
I'm glad that my GR friends told me to stick with the series and that it gets better the further you progress through the books. They were right. I remember complaining that the stakes didn't seem all that dramatic in the previous books. I think the author heard me, because the stakes are, dare I say, earth-shattering this time.
I'm sure some of us wouldn't mind living in the garden of Eden, but I assure you that you wouldn't want to be anywhere near the place depicted in this book. Let's just say that it is so alien that humans aren't welcome. Neither is the rest of our biosphere, for that matter.
I also think that the characters are finally coming into their own after their introduction and setup in the first two books. I would even go as far as to say that the main romance story didn't make me cringe as hard as it did in the previous books, even though I'm still not a fan. But at least Caitlin is finally showing more depth than just the required love interests which makes her more interesting as a character. The love story also took a back burner in this book, which made for a much better story, in my opinion.
This was a fast passed story with high stakes, humor, engaging characters fighting against seemingly unsurmountable odds, so you can't help but root for them. The villains are variedly villainous and certain not very nice person from the previous books finally got her just deserts. Yay, team!
I will definitely check out the next book in the series.
I'm glad that my GR friends told me to stick with the series and that it gets better the further you progress through the books. They were right. I remember complaining that the stakes didn't seem all that dramatic in the previous books. I think the author heard me, because the stakes are, dare I say, earth-shattering this time.
I'm sure some of us wouldn't mind living in the garden of Eden, but I assure you that you wouldn't want to be anywhere near the place depicted in this book. Let's just say that it is so alien that humans aren't welcome. Neither is the rest of our biosphere, for that matter.
I also think that the characters are finally coming into their own after their introduction and setup in the first two books. I would even go as far as to say that the main romance story didn't make me cringe as hard as it did in the previous books, even though I'm still not a fan. But at least Caitlin is finally showing more depth than just the required love interests which makes her more interesting as a character. The love story also took a back burner in this book, which made for a much better story, in my opinion.
This was a fast passed story with high stakes, humor, engaging characters fighting against seemingly unsurmountable odds, so you can't help but root for them. The villains are variedly villainous and certain not very nice person from the previous books finally got her just deserts. Yay, team!
I will definitely check out the next book in the series.
February 6, 2016
This was a great third installment of the series. Daniel and his team were on top of things again. And there wasn't a single boring moment in the entire book! I'm keeping reading:)
January 31, 2017
Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
Overall Rating = 4 & 1/2 stars
CLASSIFICATION: Featuring a cast of anti-heroes and with a magician con-man as the protagonist, the Daniel Faust series is Richard Stark's Parker crossed with The Dresden Files and set in Las Vegas.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Living End is the third volume in the Daniel Faust series and brings to a close to the first arc of the series (Lauren Carmichael trilogy). This book like its predecessors has a host of plot threads that are set into play. In reviewing this book, I'll have to discuss some plot points from the previous titles so be warned those who detest even mild spoilers or haven't read the previous titles.
The previous titles have had Faust clash with both Lauren Carmichael and Harmony Black, due to his meddling, they both have felt repercussions in their plans. So they both are trying to get back at him albeit in completely different ways. Lauren has her sights set on her grand plan that Daniel disrupted so bitterly in The Long Way Down. She also has her personal psychopath Meadow Brand who hates Faust for reasons that are cosmetic but are important to her nonetheless. Lauren's new plan that's set into motion, is the culmination of her efforts from the past two decades.
Harmony on the other hand is a law-abiding officer who is simply doing her job and is the Ahab to Faust's Moby. She might not be as vehement as Ahab was but she's dedicated to putting behind bars, folks who operate on the other side of the law. Daniel is set in her sights because of the events in Redemption Song due to which an honest man's life was upended and ruined. She begrudges his cavalier attitude and wants an end to his nefarious activities. Due to the actions of both these ladies, the law is coming down hard on the gangs in Las Vegas and it has Nicky Angelli in its sights because of his position as the magical Cosa Nostra head. This sets off a survival mechanism in many players' minds and foremost is Jennifer whose drug enterprise has been taking some serious hits due to all the legal issues.
All of these plot threads are set into motion and there's a lot more happening which will bring to a close the first arc in this highly absorbing series. I very much enjoyed this book as it's action packed (even much more than Redemption Song) and it builds up on the events from the last two books, bringing to a successful conclusion all of the stories that have been set up. In this aspect, Craig Schaefer really shows off his storytelling & plotting skills as the readers get the big payoff that has been in the making from the first book. I like it when authors really plot things well and it seems that Craig Schaefer really has all of his ducks in a row. There's also minor things introduced in the book which I believe will fuel the next arc. This is highly indicated in the epilogue which has been the case in all the books so far.
It was fun to read Daniel fight against both Harmony and Lauren, though they both are on different ends of the moral spectrum. Harmony Black is such a terrific character and even though she's an antagonist to Faust (from a plot perspective), you have to admire her tenacity and moral strength. I'm glad she's got her own spinoff series as I can't wait to read about the world & Faust from her POV. Daniel Faust as always is the solo narrator and he's back to his amoral self. This book though is a bit better now that his relationship with Caitlin is strengthened. He also wants to bring to an end to Lauren Carmichael for her murderous actions but to truly end her, he needs to find out her history and her source of powers. All of this is very fascinatingly revealed in this volume and I hope the author further explores some of the concepts, worlds & history that he introduces within.
This book is one of the most action-packed ones of the series. The climax deals with some pretty major sequences and also has some tinges of horror to it. I loved how the author really dug into the main antagonist's past as well as show some fascinating world-building bits. After reading the next couple of books, I realize how crucial these bits are and how much they go into the overall picture. Another plus point of this series is the gorgeous cover art and this book has one that specifically ties into one crucial plot point and adds to the creepiness factor. As far as any drawbacks, I didn't find any besides major ones. This book draws on a lot of threads from the past two books and while giving them a resounding climax, it also makes sure that the epilogue lays the groundwork for the forthcoming sequels.
CONCLUSION: All in all this book is a superb read and brings to a throughly solid conclusion to the Lauren Carmichael arc of the Daniel Faust series and it just highlights how well plotted and written this series is (so far). In this regards, it fares much better than the Dresden Files if you directly compare the first 3 books. This series is shaping up to a fascinating read and each book just seems to up the ante. Craig Schaefer is rapidly becoming my favorite author and so far he hasn't disappointed me in the least. The Living End has a fantastic conclusion and is a book that will resonate with its readers for its dark storyline, action-packed plot & a morally loose protagonist who will do his best to accomplish what he thinks is right.
Overall Rating = 4 & 1/2 stars
CLASSIFICATION: Featuring a cast of anti-heroes and with a magician con-man as the protagonist, the Daniel Faust series is Richard Stark's Parker crossed with The Dresden Files and set in Las Vegas.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Living End is the third volume in the Daniel Faust series and brings to a close to the first arc of the series (Lauren Carmichael trilogy). This book like its predecessors has a host of plot threads that are set into play. In reviewing this book, I'll have to discuss some plot points from the previous titles so be warned those who detest even mild spoilers or haven't read the previous titles.
The previous titles have had Faust clash with both Lauren Carmichael and Harmony Black, due to his meddling, they both have felt repercussions in their plans. So they both are trying to get back at him albeit in completely different ways. Lauren has her sights set on her grand plan that Daniel disrupted so bitterly in The Long Way Down. She also has her personal psychopath Meadow Brand who hates Faust for reasons that are cosmetic but are important to her nonetheless. Lauren's new plan that's set into motion, is the culmination of her efforts from the past two decades.
Harmony on the other hand is a law-abiding officer who is simply doing her job and is the Ahab to Faust's Moby. She might not be as vehement as Ahab was but she's dedicated to putting behind bars, folks who operate on the other side of the law. Daniel is set in her sights because of the events in Redemption Song due to which an honest man's life was upended and ruined. She begrudges his cavalier attitude and wants an end to his nefarious activities. Due to the actions of both these ladies, the law is coming down hard on the gangs in Las Vegas and it has Nicky Angelli in its sights because of his position as the magical Cosa Nostra head. This sets off a survival mechanism in many players' minds and foremost is Jennifer whose drug enterprise has been taking some serious hits due to all the legal issues.
All of these plot threads are set into motion and there's a lot more happening which will bring to a close the first arc in this highly absorbing series. I very much enjoyed this book as it's action packed (even much more than Redemption Song) and it builds up on the events from the last two books, bringing to a successful conclusion all of the stories that have been set up. In this aspect, Craig Schaefer really shows off his storytelling & plotting skills as the readers get the big payoff that has been in the making from the first book. I like it when authors really plot things well and it seems that Craig Schaefer really has all of his ducks in a row. There's also minor things introduced in the book which I believe will fuel the next arc. This is highly indicated in the epilogue which has been the case in all the books so far.
It was fun to read Daniel fight against both Harmony and Lauren, though they both are on different ends of the moral spectrum. Harmony Black is such a terrific character and even though she's an antagonist to Faust (from a plot perspective), you have to admire her tenacity and moral strength. I'm glad she's got her own spinoff series as I can't wait to read about the world & Faust from her POV. Daniel Faust as always is the solo narrator and he's back to his amoral self. This book though is a bit better now that his relationship with Caitlin is strengthened. He also wants to bring to an end to Lauren Carmichael for her murderous actions but to truly end her, he needs to find out her history and her source of powers. All of this is very fascinatingly revealed in this volume and I hope the author further explores some of the concepts, worlds & history that he introduces within.
This book is one of the most action-packed ones of the series. The climax deals with some pretty major sequences and also has some tinges of horror to it. I loved how the author really dug into the main antagonist's past as well as show some fascinating world-building bits. After reading the next couple of books, I realize how crucial these bits are and how much they go into the overall picture. Another plus point of this series is the gorgeous cover art and this book has one that specifically ties into one crucial plot point and adds to the creepiness factor. As far as any drawbacks, I didn't find any besides major ones. This book draws on a lot of threads from the past two books and while giving them a resounding climax, it also makes sure that the epilogue lays the groundwork for the forthcoming sequels.
CONCLUSION: All in all this book is a superb read and brings to a throughly solid conclusion to the Lauren Carmichael arc of the Daniel Faust series and it just highlights how well plotted and written this series is (so far). In this regards, it fares much better than the Dresden Files if you directly compare the first 3 books. This series is shaping up to a fascinating read and each book just seems to up the ante. Craig Schaefer is rapidly becoming my favorite author and so far he hasn't disappointed me in the least. The Living End has a fantastic conclusion and is a book that will resonate with its readers for its dark storyline, action-packed plot & a morally loose protagonist who will do his best to accomplish what he thinks is right.
March 30, 2020
I'm torn between giving this book 3 or 4 stars, but I liked it better than number 2. I was confused at the beginning because I did not remember the bad guys from the previous book. It seemed like the book just started in the middle for some reason, and that first incident still doesn't make much sense to me.
But it got better after that, for sure
I do like this series, and will continue
But it got better after that, for sure
I do like this series, and will continue
November 3, 2021
This review was originally posted on RockStarlit BookAsylum!
Actual rating: 4.5*
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve read the first two books, The Long Way Down and Redemption Song in the Daniel Faust series, so my memories were quite a bit hazy. But between those and the third lone, The Living End, I’ve read one of Craig Schaefer‘s trilogies, The Wisdom’s Grave (reviews of Sworn to the Night, Detonation Boulevard and Bring the Fire are linked) and Ghosts of Gotham – all of which I enjoyed, so I think we can safely say he is definitely one of my favourite authors at this point.
Due to the long brake between books, it took me a bit of time to get back into the story and straight out who is who in my head. I guess I could just go and Google the summary of the first two books, but that would have been just too easy. Nonetheless, I picked the crumbs up and soon enough I was able to let myself be immersed in Daniel’s world once again. One of the main draws of this series on me is that I have great memories from my very brief Las Vegas trip in 2014 and I’m always happy to visit that place. Even if I only do so in my head. And through Daniel Faust’s eyes, which makes the city much more interesting – and probably more dangerous too. In a way.
The Living End picks events up not too long after the ending of the Redemption Song. Lauren Carmichael is on the run, Daniel and Jennifer try to stay away from Harmony Black FBI Agent, and Nick is not too happy about things going on in his territory. And if Daniel didn’t have enough problems yet, he is asked by a friend to look into the disappearances of homeless people. Which leads to even more trouble and some unexpected truths. But it wouldn’t be Daniel Faust if he couldn’t bullshit his way out of some really tight situations.
Plot-wise there is definitely a LOT going on. I’m not even going to try to cover them, because you have to experience it yourself. Plotlines seemingly not to do anything with each other weave into an intricate story but then again, that’s pretty much expected if you are familiar with Craig Schaefer‘s work. Simple and easy is definitely not his style. The story moves at a break neck speed, there is hardly any time to take a breath. More than once I ended up listening way more than I intended, because each ending of a chapter just made me go “okay, just one more, I need to know what happens next”.
We have old and new characters alike, but despite of the large set of them, they are always easy to distinguish from each other. It also has to be noted that the way Schaefer’s universe merge with the different characters is just awesome. We have Harmony Black for example who also has her own series, or Senator Roth makes an appearance here who is also a key character in The Wisdom’s Grave trilogy. But you don’t necessarily have to know about this in order for The Living End to be enjoyable as hell.
Back when I started reading the Daniel Faust series and Caitlin showed up to become Daniel’s partner, I remember rolling my eyes and thinking “oh no, is this going to be one of those series where the MC picks up a woman in each installment?” – I mean, come on, it was a real fear. To my immense relief this is absolutely not the case. In fact, one of my favourite aspect of this book was the way they interacted with each other, how we can watch their relationship building, how they deal with the consequences of their choice. And can I just say how fucking much I loved the gambling part? And the concert scene afterwards? Holy shit. That was just so goddamn brilliant!
The Living End did nothing but grew my love for both Craig Schaefer‘s writing and Daniel Faust. But if I had to criticise something, then it would be the somewhat anti-climatic ending. Don’t get me wrong, the twists were awesome and very well done, but felt like that despite the long build up the end game ended just in a heartbeat and didn’t brought that kind of adrenaline I was waiting for. But it might have been because I stopped listening at a weird place the day before and wasn’t quite ready to end yet. Anyhow, I definitely will continue with the series.
The Living End lives up to its predecessors, and then takes things to a higher level. The break neck pace, the characters, the stakes are going to drive your adrenaline level up and make you want more. The Daniel Faust series gets better by each book and I’m so here for the rest. It’s a must read for any UF lover out there. Beware, it’s highly addictive!
Actual rating: 4.5*
“Yeah, I was familiar with demonic posession. The drug coursing through my veins, hauling me through flashes of stark memory, forcing me to feel it all over again. Creatures of toxic waste burrowed like maggots in my brain, pissing behind my eyeballs, sratching bone and carving filthy graffiti inside my skull.”
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve read the first two books, The Long Way Down and Redemption Song in the Daniel Faust series, so my memories were quite a bit hazy. But between those and the third lone, The Living End, I’ve read one of Craig Schaefer‘s trilogies, The Wisdom’s Grave (reviews of Sworn to the Night, Detonation Boulevard and Bring the Fire are linked) and Ghosts of Gotham – all of which I enjoyed, so I think we can safely say he is definitely one of my favourite authors at this point.
Due to the long brake between books, it took me a bit of time to get back into the story and straight out who is who in my head. I guess I could just go and Google the summary of the first two books, but that would have been just too easy. Nonetheless, I picked the crumbs up and soon enough I was able to let myself be immersed in Daniel’s world once again. One of the main draws of this series on me is that I have great memories from my very brief Las Vegas trip in 2014 and I’m always happy to visit that place. Even if I only do so in my head. And through Daniel Faust’s eyes, which makes the city much more interesting – and probably more dangerous too. In a way.
The Living End picks events up not too long after the ending of the Redemption Song. Lauren Carmichael is on the run, Daniel and Jennifer try to stay away from Harmony Black FBI Agent, and Nick is not too happy about things going on in his territory. And if Daniel didn’t have enough problems yet, he is asked by a friend to look into the disappearances of homeless people. Which leads to even more trouble and some unexpected truths. But it wouldn’t be Daniel Faust if he couldn’t bullshit his way out of some really tight situations.
Plot-wise there is definitely a LOT going on. I’m not even going to try to cover them, because you have to experience it yourself. Plotlines seemingly not to do anything with each other weave into an intricate story but then again, that’s pretty much expected if you are familiar with Craig Schaefer‘s work. Simple and easy is definitely not his style. The story moves at a break neck speed, there is hardly any time to take a breath. More than once I ended up listening way more than I intended, because each ending of a chapter just made me go “okay, just one more, I need to know what happens next”.
We have old and new characters alike, but despite of the large set of them, they are always easy to distinguish from each other. It also has to be noted that the way Schaefer’s universe merge with the different characters is just awesome. We have Harmony Black for example who also has her own series, or Senator Roth makes an appearance here who is also a key character in The Wisdom’s Grave trilogy. But you don’t necessarily have to know about this in order for The Living End to be enjoyable as hell.
Back when I started reading the Daniel Faust series and Caitlin showed up to become Daniel’s partner, I remember rolling my eyes and thinking “oh no, is this going to be one of those series where the MC picks up a woman in each installment?” – I mean, come on, it was a real fear. To my immense relief this is absolutely not the case. In fact, one of my favourite aspect of this book was the way they interacted with each other, how we can watch their relationship building, how they deal with the consequences of their choice. And can I just say how fucking much I loved the gambling part? And the concert scene afterwards? Holy shit. That was just so goddamn brilliant!
“Calypso’s hands played the guitar like it was a lover’s body. Like they only had one night left in the world together and every second, every aching, wailing note had to make up for a lost lifetime. This was the real blues, down-home raw and ragged, drenched with sweat and sex and the bloodied edge of a switchblade.”
The Living End did nothing but grew my love for both Craig Schaefer‘s writing and Daniel Faust. But if I had to criticise something, then it would be the somewhat anti-climatic ending. Don’t get me wrong, the twists were awesome and very well done, but felt like that despite the long build up the end game ended just in a heartbeat and didn’t brought that kind of adrenaline I was waiting for. But it might have been because I stopped listening at a weird place the day before and wasn’t quite ready to end yet. Anyhow, I definitely will continue with the series.
The Living End lives up to its predecessors, and then takes things to a higher level. The break neck pace, the characters, the stakes are going to drive your adrenaline level up and make you want more. The Daniel Faust series gets better by each book and I’m so here for the rest. It’s a must read for any UF lover out there. Beware, it’s highly addictive!
June 29, 2017
4 Stars
Living End by Craig Schaefer is a fantastic third book in the Daniel Faust series. Many people draw comparisons of this book to that of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, but this one leans more to the 'R' Rated side than does the really 'PG' Dresden Files. I confess that the whole urban fantasy series has become my guilty pleasure reads. My love for the genre elevates everything I read. I only know that right now, I cannot seem to get enough from a genre filled with everything from ghosts and spirits, to Wolves and vamps, Gods and Demons, and sorcerers and cops. I love it.
Our main protagonist Daniel Faust is a sorcerer, a Thief, and pretty much not a good guy. He is however perfect for our lead role. Faust is not 'PG'. I loved the pacing, the world building, and the magic. I only wish that there was more. Caitlyn is a fantastic character and she pretty much steals all the pages that she is on.
These are not good people.
"Meadow barked out a laugh."A witch, a sorcerer, and a fucking Demon from Hell say I'm not trustworthy.""
This is a good edition to the Faust series but overall just a little bit less than the first two books. I liked the story and the twists and the exciting conclusion. My biggest problem with this book is that Daniel did not do much at all in this book. I was looking for more.
The writing was great as usual and made for an easy page Turner.
Highly recommended!
Living End by Craig Schaefer is a fantastic third book in the Daniel Faust series. Many people draw comparisons of this book to that of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, but this one leans more to the 'R' Rated side than does the really 'PG' Dresden Files. I confess that the whole urban fantasy series has become my guilty pleasure reads. My love for the genre elevates everything I read. I only know that right now, I cannot seem to get enough from a genre filled with everything from ghosts and spirits, to Wolves and vamps, Gods and Demons, and sorcerers and cops. I love it.
Our main protagonist Daniel Faust is a sorcerer, a Thief, and pretty much not a good guy. He is however perfect for our lead role. Faust is not 'PG'. I loved the pacing, the world building, and the magic. I only wish that there was more. Caitlyn is a fantastic character and she pretty much steals all the pages that she is on.
These are not good people.
"Meadow barked out a laugh."A witch, a sorcerer, and a fucking Demon from Hell say I'm not trustworthy.""
This is a good edition to the Faust series but overall just a little bit less than the first two books. I liked the story and the twists and the exciting conclusion. My biggest problem with this book is that Daniel did not do much at all in this book. I was looking for more.
The writing was great as usual and made for an easy page Turner.
Highly recommended!
January 9, 2017
Eh, just eh, again. I'm seriously contemplating not reading the rest of the series. I'm just not caught onto the characters or the plot it's just a bunch of shitty people doing shitty things trying to make themselves feel better about being shitty. There doesn't seem to be a single redeemable person in the entire book. Well Melanie maybe Melanie she might be the only redeemable person and she's in for but two sentences in every book.
August 19, 2017
4 stars [actual rating: 4.25]
May 27, 2020
A highly entertaining sequel with breakneck pacing and slick action. It also gives more insight into the world that Schaefer is building through these novels. A few mysteries are unveiled, and some are left unanswered to keep the story going. This novel is the culmination of the storyarc that we came across in the previous two books. As always the writing is lucid and witty, and there are some well-thought liners in the narrative.
It begins with a case of missing homeless people, Daniel investigating the cause, and also the FBI on his tail and the criminal underworld of Vegas. There are the usual UF quotients, but done in a fun way that enhances the plot and enjoyment of the story. The magic and action is used in an ingenious way, and it's pretty effective and feels real. I love how Schaefer has subverted the mythical elements and used them into his own advantage, and it creates a really interesting twist to the world and the overarching plot of the entire series.
The characters are intriguing and inhabit in a morally grey area, which makes them more well-rounded and complex. I personally love all of them. But, my favourites are Caitlin and Daniel. They're hot, and freaking badass. Another character which I found amazing was Calypso, the demon rockstar. He plays the guitar, makes deals, and sing blues. Schaefer writes about the effect of Calypso's music very beautifully. The antagonist was the standard one, a woman caught in the lust for power and trying to remake the world in her own image by destroying it. Lauren Carmichael was good, but, she lacked the convincing appeal of a villain. She just seemed to be a power-hungry maniac.
The action was quite explosive. And, as I said, some questions still remains to be answered. The epilogue clearly sets up for another showdown with the real villain. I'm interested in knowing more about the smoke-faced men, and the destroyed worlds. Faust and his team saved the day, but I think that our doomed hero (?) is on the verge of Canon balling into further problems. I've finished the next book, and I'm right.
It begins with a case of missing homeless people, Daniel investigating the cause, and also the FBI on his tail and the criminal underworld of Vegas. There are the usual UF quotients, but done in a fun way that enhances the plot and enjoyment of the story. The magic and action is used in an ingenious way, and it's pretty effective and feels real. I love how Schaefer has subverted the mythical elements and used them into his own advantage, and it creates a really interesting twist to the world and the overarching plot of the entire series.
The characters are intriguing and inhabit in a morally grey area, which makes them more well-rounded and complex. I personally love all of them. But, my favourites are Caitlin and Daniel. They're hot, and freaking badass. Another character which I found amazing was Calypso, the demon rockstar. He plays the guitar, makes deals, and sing blues. Schaefer writes about the effect of Calypso's music very beautifully. The antagonist was the standard one, a woman caught in the lust for power and trying to remake the world in her own image by destroying it. Lauren Carmichael was good, but, she lacked the convincing appeal of a villain. She just seemed to be a power-hungry maniac.
The action was quite explosive. And, as I said, some questions still remains to be answered. The epilogue clearly sets up for another showdown with the real villain. I'm interested in knowing more about the smoke-faced men, and the destroyed worlds. Faust and his team saved the day, but I think that our doomed hero (?) is on the verge of Canon balling into further problems. I've finished the next book, and I'm right.
August 3, 2025
This is the third volume of Daniel Faust urban fantasy, set in the present-day Las Vegas. The protagonist is formally a magician/private eye, but actually more a person who can make problems disappear.
This time the story starts with two characters from the previous book (yes, it turns more and more into a series, not standalone books): Eugene Planck was the only other survivor of an archeological expedition to Nepal, where Lauren Carmichael got a part for her plan to deify herself. Lauren is a kind of Faust’s arch-enemy. Now she gruesomely kills Eugene, just after informing him: “Daniel Faust,” she said, “died fifteen minutes ago.”
Actually, (as anyone checking the total number of volumes in the series), he is alive and kicking. After surviving an assassination attempt, Faust tries to help his genius hacker and social activist Pixie, who, if not hacking bad guys, volunteers at a soup kitchen for the homeless. And now they are almost out of homeless!
Faust has some side quests, investigates the vanishings and finds out a new cabal led by Lauren (who else?) at its another attempt at world dominance. While it sounds predictive, it actually isn’t. Another great story!
This time the story starts with two characters from the previous book (yes, it turns more and more into a series, not standalone books): Eugene Planck was the only other survivor of an archeological expedition to Nepal, where Lauren Carmichael got a part for her plan to deify herself. Lauren is a kind of Faust’s arch-enemy. Now she gruesomely kills Eugene, just after informing him: “Daniel Faust,” she said, “died fifteen minutes ago.”
Actually, (as anyone checking the total number of volumes in the series), he is alive and kicking. After surviving an assassination attempt, Faust tries to help his genius hacker and social activist Pixie, who, if not hacking bad guys, volunteers at a soup kitchen for the homeless. And now they are almost out of homeless!
Faust has some side quests, investigates the vanishings and finds out a new cabal led by Lauren (who else?) at its another attempt at world dominance. While it sounds predictive, it actually isn’t. Another great story!
July 6, 2022
And with that epilogue, I am officially Terrified. This didn't feel quite as good as the first two, but there was a lot going on and I have to give Heather massive props for keeping it all moving.
I get sucked so deeply into this world that the random pop culture references throw me for a loop. They don't necessarily pull me out of the story, but they are an excellent reminder that this series is supposed to take place in *our* world. Nicky Agnelli and his Yelp reviews are the one that comes to mind here, but any time something crops up like that I always laugh out loud because it's so unexpected and hilarious.
I need to find a This Machine Kills Fascists sticker, stat.
I get sucked so deeply into this world that the random pop culture references throw me for a loop. They don't necessarily pull me out of the story, but they are an excellent reminder that this series is supposed to take place in *our* world. Nicky Agnelli and his Yelp reviews are the one that comes to mind here, but any time something crops up like that I always laugh out loud because it's so unexpected and hilarious.
I need to find a This Machine Kills Fascists sticker, stat.
February 15, 2016
This review is probably going to sound pretty negative, so I'll preface it by saying that this book is generally at the same level of the previous two. If you enjoyed the first two books in the series (as I did), you'll probably enjoy this one too (as I did).
As I was reading through this book, I came to a couple of conclusions. The first was that I liked the Daniel Faust series. The second, however, I also liked it measurably less than both Dresden Files and The Rivers of London, both series in the UF genre that share quite a lot in common with the Daniel Faust series. This review is going to be a dissection of why that is.
With the Redemption Choir and Sullivan out of the way, this book re-focuses on Lauren Carmichael's villainy. This is where the thin characterizations start to catch up to the plot, because while we know The Stakes of The Final Battle, there isn't much emotional investment in the climax. Lauren Carmichael has been characterized in pretty broad strokes, and there's really not much there to hate besides her standard super-villain megalomania. Her actual puppy kicking was delegated to resident psychopath Meadow Brand, who I wanted to see get her comeuppance way more than Lauren herself.
So if I'm not particularly invested in seeing the villain lose, then am I really cheering for the hero? I'm not, not because of Faust's ambiguous morality, but because I don't really feel like I know enough about Daniel Faust to be really rooting for him. Schaefer's plots are all really lean, every scene is in service to the plot one way or another. I generally enjoy this, but I think he takes it to a bit of an extreme...you spend almost no down-time with Faust the character and don't get a clear sense of him as a person. I'm cheering for him as a hero trying to stop the apocalypse, but not as Daniel Faust who has triumphed through his adversities to achieve his goals.
To expand on that previous point, I feel like I have a pretty good sense of Harry Dresden's and Peter Grant's personalities. I can list off some traits and quirks of the characters as people, while with Faust I can't really point to much outside of his character archetype level traits (fiercely protective of his friends, not opposed to getting his hands dirty, relies on super-complicated plans with a lot of moving parts).
This review does make it sound like I'm more negative about the book / series than I actually am, as I indicated in the beginning of the review. I do enjoy reading these books and will pick up the rest of the series as they come out, I'm just trying to figure out why I like them but don't love them.
As I was reading through this book, I came to a couple of conclusions. The first was that I liked the Daniel Faust series. The second, however, I also liked it measurably less than both Dresden Files and The Rivers of London, both series in the UF genre that share quite a lot in common with the Daniel Faust series. This review is going to be a dissection of why that is.
With the Redemption Choir and Sullivan out of the way, this book re-focuses on Lauren Carmichael's villainy. This is where the thin characterizations start to catch up to the plot, because while we know The Stakes of The Final Battle, there isn't much emotional investment in the climax. Lauren Carmichael has been characterized in pretty broad strokes, and there's really not much there to hate besides her standard super-villain megalomania. Her actual puppy kicking was delegated to resident psychopath Meadow Brand, who I wanted to see get her comeuppance way more than Lauren herself.
So if I'm not particularly invested in seeing the villain lose, then am I really cheering for the hero? I'm not, not because of Faust's ambiguous morality, but because I don't really feel like I know enough about Daniel Faust to be really rooting for him. Schaefer's plots are all really lean, every scene is in service to the plot one way or another. I generally enjoy this, but I think he takes it to a bit of an extreme...you spend almost no down-time with Faust the character and don't get a clear sense of him as a person. I'm cheering for him as a hero trying to stop the apocalypse, but not as Daniel Faust who has triumphed through his adversities to achieve his goals.
To expand on that previous point, I feel like I have a pretty good sense of Harry Dresden's and Peter Grant's personalities. I can list off some traits and quirks of the characters as people, while with Faust I can't really point to much outside of his character archetype level traits (fiercely protective of his friends, not opposed to getting his hands dirty, relies on super-complicated plans with a lot of moving parts).
This review does make it sound like I'm more negative about the book / series than I actually am, as I indicated in the beginning of the review. I do enjoy reading these books and will pick up the rest of the series as they come out, I'm just trying to figure out why I like them but don't love them.
August 18, 2015
DNF at about 30% in or so. I tried to give it another chance after putting it away for some months but nope.
The first two books were... okay. But what reaaaaally irks me is the forced romance. The incredibly old succubus, who, by her nature, should not fall for anyone, instantly falls in love with her rescuer... kind of clashes with her being a strong female, since although everyone keeps saying how dangerous and scary she is all she does is be supportive to the main character and get rescued by him and never do anything evil (or at least nothing worse than the other heroes). This was making me crazy already in the first book, and here I just can't take it anymore - suddenly they trust eachother with no restraint (although she is EVIL and SUPER OLD and IMMORTAL and Daniel has EXTREMELY traumatizing experience with demons!). What kept me going was the mysterious hotel/murderhouse being built but even that is kinda meh. I just don't feel any urge or reason to continue reading this.
Flat characters, tons of plot holes, stuff happening not because it makes sense but because plot, I guess.
The first two books were... okay. But what reaaaaally irks me is the forced romance. The incredibly old succubus, who, by her nature, should not fall for anyone, instantly falls in love with her rescuer... kind of clashes with her being a strong female, since although everyone keeps saying how dangerous and scary she is all she does is be supportive to the main character and get rescued by him and never do anything evil (or at least nothing worse than the other heroes). This was making me crazy already in the first book, and here I just can't take it anymore - suddenly they trust eachother with no restraint (although she is EVIL and SUPER OLD and IMMORTAL and Daniel has EXTREMELY traumatizing experience with demons!). What kept me going was the mysterious hotel/murderhouse being built but even that is kinda meh. I just don't feel any urge or reason to continue reading this.
Flat characters, tons of plot holes, stuff happening not because it makes sense but because plot, I guess.
January 24, 2022
This is definitely one of my favorites in the series. There are so many exciting things happening and the arc involving Lauren is finally coming to an end. Overall, my favorite part has to be the relationship between Daniel and Caitlin. I love that she is constantly being pulled between her nature as a sucubus and her love for Daniel. I cannot believe that she almost murdered him in his sleep so that she would be able to keep him with her forever, because she already knows where he's going. It's definitely a lot messed up, but beautiful in a strange way. Which leads to the ending which was absolutely adorable. Funny how they just saved the world and now they're discussing sharing a drawer in her home. Plus, like always, there were a ton of laughs, sarcasm, magic, and a whole lot of action. I cannot wait for the series to keep going and I hope that it never ends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews