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The Last Trial
"The truth is a hard thing to set aside, even for appearance’s sake.”
The Heir of Avus, left to deal with the fallout of the Champions' success in the Trials, finds himself caught between an impending House war and a brewing rebellion. With a Patriarch intent on launching a brutal crusade, the lower rings on the verge of a riot, and ancestral madness returning to wreak havoc on the present, he has his hands full. As tensions only rise in a city bent on its own destruction, Milo starts to believe he’s the only man still trying to save it.
“Wanting something and having the courage to reach out and take it were two entirely different things."
Olympia was never very good at doing what she was told. With Dante and Adrian gone, she’s determined to discover what both the Vipers and the Bexleys were hiding. A Third Ringer couldn’t defeat all ten Trials without keeping a secret or two. But as Olympia uncovers the truth about the Champions’ lives in Sanctuary, she only finds herself with more questions and a set of unlikely allies. The city is falling apart and, somehow, Olympia might be the only one who can pull it back together again.
The Last Trial is a companion novel to The Second Sanctum and is intended to be read either after or in tandem with book two of The Sanctum Series. It covers events occurring within Sanctuary at the same time as the events in The Second Sanctum.
The Heir of Avus, left to deal with the fallout of the Champions' success in the Trials, finds himself caught between an impending House war and a brewing rebellion. With a Patriarch intent on launching a brutal crusade, the lower rings on the verge of a riot, and ancestral madness returning to wreak havoc on the present, he has his hands full. As tensions only rise in a city bent on its own destruction, Milo starts to believe he’s the only man still trying to save it.
“Wanting something and having the courage to reach out and take it were two entirely different things."
Olympia was never very good at doing what she was told. With Dante and Adrian gone, she’s determined to discover what both the Vipers and the Bexleys were hiding. A Third Ringer couldn’t defeat all ten Trials without keeping a secret or two. But as Olympia uncovers the truth about the Champions’ lives in Sanctuary, she only finds herself with more questions and a set of unlikely allies. The city is falling apart and, somehow, Olympia might be the only one who can pull it back together again.
The Last Trial is a companion novel to The Second Sanctum and is intended to be read either after or in tandem with book two of The Sanctum Series. It covers events occurring within Sanctuary at the same time as the events in The Second Sanctum.
- GenresFantasy
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2025
10 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
A.N. Horton
14 books129 followersA. N. Horton is a two-time award-winning author living in Nashville, TN with her husband, children, and moderately chunky Corgi. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, baking more cookies than her family can eat, and plotting crimes against her characters. Best known for crafting characters that steal her readers’ hearts as much as they shatter them, A. N. Horton is a cross-genre writer focused mainly on fantasy and romance with her upcoming urban fantasy series, The Third Ring, and her soon to be released historical romance novel, A Promise Kept.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 7, 2026
companion novel to the second sanctum and it was so nice to be back in this world. I loved the second sanctum so so much and this was truly a companion to it. It goes back to what's happening in sanctuary and we actually get Milo and Olympia's POVs through the whole thing. The author states that you don't need to read this before book 3 comes out, but I was happy to be back and see all the political maneuvering and more!
December 23, 2025
This is the companion novel to The Second Sanctum, and I loved getting to spend more time with these side characters and delve deeper into who they are. And see what was going on in Sanctuary! I really enjoyed seeing another side of both Milo and Olympia, and I’m hoping we’ll get more of them in book 3!
January 19, 2026
So I read this book on a tandem reading with The Second Sanctum and I'm not going to lie it was the best way to read this book. Because you get to see the action of both of the books happening at the same time. So this one is more about what's happening in sanctuary with Milo and Olivia. And I'm not going to lie I actually feel more in love with Olivia after this. I literally could not stand her in the first book in this one she gives herself a great redemption. Milo is Milo, all about the books all about learning and education and still doesn't believe in the gods, but you learn so much about him and fall in love with his character.
This storyline was crazy because you start to see how Cosmo starts to go more crazy into his god of complex. And what Milo and Olivia have to do to try to save sanctuary. But the deeper this book got with the second sanctum, the worst it got! After what happened at the end. I'm pissed! I'm so mad, pissed, crying and I just want to throw my book halfway across the room!!!! NOOOOO!!!!!! MY G NO!!!!!! That's all I'll say I need therapy after this. Read them as a tandem read. It's so much better!!!!!
This storyline was crazy because you start to see how Cosmo starts to go more crazy into his god of complex. And what Milo and Olivia have to do to try to save sanctuary. But the deeper this book got with the second sanctum, the worst it got! After what happened at the end. I'm pissed! I'm so mad, pissed, crying and I just want to throw my book halfway across the room!!!! NOOOOO!!!!!! MY G NO!!!!!! That's all I'll say I need therapy after this. Read them as a tandem read. It's so much better!!!!!
January 6, 2026
my rating: ★★★★
aesthetic: 🔔⛪️💙💍🐍🩸🗡️📝📚🔥💀
The Last Trial is a high-intensity, politically driven companion novel that deepens the already complex world of Sanctuary. Told through the perspectives of much-loved side characters from The Third Ring and The Second Sanctum, this story offers a gripping behind-the-scenes look at the events that shaped everything we thought we knew.
What stood out most was the shift in perspective. Seeing Sanctuary through familiar but previously secondary voices added emotional weight and nuance to the overarching narrative. The political maneuvering, moral ambiguity, and quiet desperation threaded through each chapter made this feel less like a supplement and more like an essential piece of the puzzle.
The dystopian atmosphere is heavy and immersive, layered with symbolism, power struggles, and the cost of loyalty. While the pacing occasionally slowed under the weight of its political detail, the intensity of the subject matter kept me invested throughout.
Overall, The Last Trial is a compelling expansion of the Sanctum universe — one that rewards readers who crave depth, context, and moral complexity, and adds meaningful gravity to the events of the main series.
aesthetic: 🔔⛪️💙💍🐍🩸🗡️📝📚🔥💀
The Last Trial is a high-intensity, politically driven companion novel that deepens the already complex world of Sanctuary. Told through the perspectives of much-loved side characters from The Third Ring and The Second Sanctum, this story offers a gripping behind-the-scenes look at the events that shaped everything we thought we knew.
What stood out most was the shift in perspective. Seeing Sanctuary through familiar but previously secondary voices added emotional weight and nuance to the overarching narrative. The political maneuvering, moral ambiguity, and quiet desperation threaded through each chapter made this feel less like a supplement and more like an essential piece of the puzzle.
The dystopian atmosphere is heavy and immersive, layered with symbolism, power struggles, and the cost of loyalty. While the pacing occasionally slowed under the weight of its political detail, the intensity of the subject matter kept me invested throughout.
Overall, The Last Trial is a compelling expansion of the Sanctum universe — one that rewards readers who crave depth, context, and moral complexity, and adds meaningful gravity to the events of the main series.
February 16, 2026
WOW!!! My mind is absolutely blown. The Last Trial can be read in tandem with Book 2 of the Sanctum series and I honestly wish I had done that.... but regardless I ate this book up.
We get Milo and Olympia's POVs and I loved getting into their minds + their first ring world. There are a lot of intricate politics and delicate situations they both need to navigate, along with some very emotional and devastating moments.
The last few chapters were really wild and it makes me even more excited for Book 3.
We get Milo and Olympia's POVs and I loved getting into their minds + their first ring world. There are a lot of intricate politics and delicate situations they both need to navigate, along with some very emotional and devastating moments.
The last few chapters were really wild and it makes me even more excited for Book 3.
February 6, 2026
Holy moly this book was good! It's recommended to be read as a tandem read and unfortunately I didn't listen to that recommendation, I know it would have had a better impact, but it was still an incredible story. I can't wait until the next book in this series!
January 13, 2026
4.5 stars
This is a companion novel to The Second Sanctum, but honestly i feel like it should be part of the main series. This book focuses on what is happening to everyone in the Sanctuary at the same time as everything that is taking place in The Second Sanctum. The two books can be read in tandem and i wish i had realised because i would have done that for sure.
I really enjoyed reading from Milo's and Olympia's points of view and i found Olympia in particular to be a great character and i enjoyed getting to know her more.
This was a great addition to the series and i can't wait to continue.
This is a companion novel to The Second Sanctum, but honestly i feel like it should be part of the main series. This book focuses on what is happening to everyone in the Sanctuary at the same time as everything that is taking place in The Second Sanctum. The two books can be read in tandem and i wish i had realised because i would have done that for sure.
I really enjoyed reading from Milo's and Olympia's points of view and i found Olympia in particular to be a great character and i enjoyed getting to know her more.
This was a great addition to the series and i can't wait to continue.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews