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Endling
Endling (noun): the last surviving member of a species whose death consequently means the extinction of that species.
Safety is the gospel.
Survival is god.
And nature will enchant you to your end.
For Nico, anything is worth escaping the dangers of the wilderness and its strange keeper, the Wilderman, a figure whispered in legends to claim more than lives. Nico trades everything—his family, his home, and all he has known—for a safe life in Sanctius City. Not even his brother’s final message, a collection of folktales, can lure him from his beloved steam-run city.
When the population plummets and the wilderness encroaches on his safe haven, the tales in his brother’s scroll begin to look alarmingly familiar. Still loyal to Sanctius City’s creed of safety and survival, Nico clings to the world he trusts—until everything he knows collapses in a pile of iron and ash.
Nico is the endling. And the hunter of souls has come for him.
As illusion and reality become indistinguishable and gods and monsters invite him to the table, Nico must decide which path leads to life and which leads to destruction.
A pilgrimage tale for modern readers, in the spirit of The Pilgrim’s Progress and C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy.
Safety is the gospel.
Survival is god.
And nature will enchant you to your end.
For Nico, anything is worth escaping the dangers of the wilderness and its strange keeper, the Wilderman, a figure whispered in legends to claim more than lives. Nico trades everything—his family, his home, and all he has known—for a safe life in Sanctius City. Not even his brother’s final message, a collection of folktales, can lure him from his beloved steam-run city.
When the population plummets and the wilderness encroaches on his safe haven, the tales in his brother’s scroll begin to look alarmingly familiar. Still loyal to Sanctius City’s creed of safety and survival, Nico clings to the world he trusts—until everything he knows collapses in a pile of iron and ash.
Nico is the endling. And the hunter of souls has come for him.
As illusion and reality become indistinguishable and gods and monsters invite him to the table, Nico must decide which path leads to life and which leads to destruction.
A pilgrimage tale for modern readers, in the spirit of The Pilgrim’s Progress and C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2026
About the author
Elicia Johnson
7 books18 followersWhen she isn't playing with words, you'll find Elicia with a drink in her hand on an adventure with her family. From the mountains to the sea and back to her farm, she's always looking for the most beautiful way to live.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 21, 2026
Super unique genre-blended story! Christian mythology mixed with steampunk, and post-apocalyptic.
April 24, 2026
If you are looking for a story that will give you all the feels, this is it! It will make you laugh, tear up, annoyed, excited, maybe surprised, also a bit creeped out, sad, and happy. I'm sure there are other feels I'm forgetting! The end made it worth it all!
"Like many things, the old tales are a container for truth. Stories are like baskets, woven with intricate language and beautiful ornaments to deliver truth to their recipient. Or like a tapestry, whose core of warp and weft runs strong and true throughout, though threads of mere adornment all but hide their existence."
I am grateful for this container of truth!
"Like many things, the old tales are a container for truth. Stories are like baskets, woven with intricate language and beautiful ornaments to deliver truth to their recipient. Or like a tapestry, whose core of warp and weft runs strong and true throughout, though threads of mere adornment all but hide their existence."
I am grateful for this container of truth!
June 14, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a very unique steampunk Christian allegory, and I love how it weaves mythologies and concepts throughout the book.
There were a few things that were a bit difficult for me to follow. I still don’t quite understand how old the main character was (late teens, 20s, 30s?) and that left me feeling ungrounded. I also had a hard time following the first few chapters because they jumped in time so much. Also, it took me about half the book to realize that Nico was reading the scrolls from Tino throughout the book.
Overall, however, this was a great and completely clean debut novel by Elicia Johnson. I’ll definitely read more from her as she publishes more! If you’re interested in allegories and a unique spin on mythology, I definitely recommend this book.
Clean for all ages, but I think the maturity of being 13+ years old will make the book more interesting and engaging!
There were a few things that were a bit difficult for me to follow. I still don’t quite understand how old the main character was (late teens, 20s, 30s?) and that left me feeling ungrounded. I also had a hard time following the first few chapters because they jumped in time so much. Also, it took me about half the book to realize that Nico was reading the scrolls from Tino throughout the book.
Overall, however, this was a great and completely clean debut novel by Elicia Johnson. I’ll definitely read more from her as she publishes more! If you’re interested in allegories and a unique spin on mythology, I definitely recommend this book.
Clean for all ages, but I think the maturity of being 13+ years old will make the book more interesting and engaging!
May 26, 2026
Endling is a fantastic story that threads together mythology and Christian allegory, forcing the reader to confront their own tendencies to deny the true King. Nico's story is equally ancient and modern, and one that - perhaps ironically - will withstand time for years to come.
My favorite line from the story is, "...pretending the pain never happened isn't the same as healing." What truth. And even better, it's a deep reminder that our Savior - our Great Physician - recognizes our pain, and though He doesn't always take it away, He endures it with us. And that, I think, is a foundational message in this well crafted, truth-filled piece of literature.
My favorite line from the story is, "...pretending the pain never happened isn't the same as healing." What truth. And even better, it's a deep reminder that our Savior - our Great Physician - recognizes our pain, and though He doesn't always take it away, He endures it with us. And that, I think, is a foundational message in this well crafted, truth-filled piece of literature.
July 9, 2026
Elicia's story drew me in, a strange world to imagine myself in, and described with lightness and patience. I was particularly drawn to the interwoven myths. "Don't write off the old tales, my brother".
I had a synchronicity with Elicia, as she had visited and loved the same bookshop (Scéal Eile) in Ennis, Co. Clare in Ireland where my own book was launched.
I had a synchronicity with Elicia, as she had visited and loved the same bookshop (Scéal Eile) in Ennis, Co. Clare in Ireland where my own book was launched.
April 21, 2026
If you're looking for a book for all ages that's gripping, clean, and has a wonderful plot line than I 100% recommend this book!! This exciting steampunk and allegorical tale will have you turning the pages as fast as you can! I can almost guarantee that you'll be writing the quotes down! ;)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews