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Greyfire: Book Three of the Neverborne Series
776 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2026
About the author
Ezekiel Eversand
5 books10 followersEzekiel Eversand was born in Southeast Texas, where he again resides after the global pandemic fatefully brought him back home from his exploits living in Las Vegas where he first published Kingfall. He is happily married to his beautiful wife Stephanie, his biggest supporter and best friend. He has been an avid lover of the fantasy and science fiction genre since he was a child. Telling the saga of the Neverborne Series and sharing the world of Penthara are his greatest passions in life.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 30, 2026
Another must read
It's very rare to find a book series where every book gets better. That's exactly what happens in this series. This book was even better than the first two and I consistently have found myself attached to people that I didn't really expect to really enjoy. Not only are the characters great but the emotional depth is amazing, the action is well written, the storyline doesn't have a bunch of slow portions in it and the way that this world and story are slowly unraveling is truly mind-boggling to me. I really look forward to book number four and I can't wait to see where this story goes.
It's very rare to find a book series where every book gets better. That's exactly what happens in this series. This book was even better than the first two and I consistently have found myself attached to people that I didn't really expect to really enjoy. Not only are the characters great but the emotional depth is amazing, the action is well written, the storyline doesn't have a bunch of slow portions in it and the way that this world and story are slowly unraveling is truly mind-boggling to me. I really look forward to book number four and I can't wait to see where this story goes.
August 28, 2026
Greyfire is Mr. EE's third entry in his Neverborne series, and it directly follows the events of BOTH Kingfall AND Spellblade, culminating in an epic climax that wraps-up and merges a lot of disjointed story threads from the two books. All your favorite characters from the first two books (those that survived, at least) are back and at it in this titanic TOME of a book. GRRM better watch out, because Mr. EE is catching up with the word counts!
This book is EPIC, and in more ways than just the genre. It is the bloodiest, brutal-est, magical-est book of the bunch. I know from discussions that Mr. EE has had that the idea of the final climax of THIS book is what spawned the entire series from its conception, so I'm confident it was such a surreal experience for him to finally write it (and it sure did pay off). I can't even give a justifiable short synopsis of the book because there is so much happening, but what I will say is that it ends with some true carnage.
Enough about me rambling, how was this book?
PROS:
- EPIC world: Like its predecessors, it should be no surprise that this book has a deep and fascinating world. You get to see new places, new factions, and new lore (especially about the magic) that enriches everything and helps bring Penthara to life. I can tell that Mr. EE has piles and piles of world-building notes strewn about his writing space, and it shows, because everything is so meticulously detailed. More on that, as this is now the third book, the expository shlum that may have turned you off in the first two entries is hardly present! While there are still things to explain and learn about with some of the new cultures, it is significantly reduced from the previous books, which leaves more time for STORY and ACTION and BAM, WHAM, KABAM! This world is epic, through and through, and he makes it seem like a living, breathing place that people actually live in.
- EPICER characters: Many familiar faces return for this book, and they are just as well-written as in the previous two books. There are some you want to kiss, some you want to punch, and some you want to do both with. The people are alive and thriving, with endless scheming, ploying, subterfuge, manipulation, and you name it. Big secrets are revealed all over the place, and the conspiracies between the characters know no ends, and it makes the book that much more dynamic (although some are just lost and clueless about everything, which is also entertaining in itself). Seeing how different characters meet and interact with each other in various wild scenarios was entertainment at its best, and seeing who comes out on top even more so. While most of the characters were brought over from the other books, the new ones were welcome additions that each brought their own bit of pizazz to the party, especially Tskai-Linh, who turned into one of my favorites by the end. What else is there to say? The characters are top-notch stuff, and I'd know which ones I'd want to kiss.
- EPICEST story and climax: As stated, the finale of this book was the defining moment that began the entire series, and let me tell you, it is EPIC. So many different characters and factions all collide in what can only be described as absolute mayhem. There are so many twists and turns it'll tie a snake into a knot. Fair warning: don't get attached to too many characters, because there's a non-zero chance that they get offed by the end of it all. The tension and build-up to reach the ending is superb, as in you know about what is going to happen, and where and why it will happen, but actually getting their is a tantalizing tease, which keeps every page on the way to that destination a riveting journey. And when it does happen, the action is epic and ruthless. Great set-ups, greater pay-offs, and it has me gnawing at my arm for the next book.
- The PROSE: I don't think I mentioned this in my previous two reviews, but this dude can WRITE. The way he puts words down on the page is truly something inspiring. I don't know how many thesaurus tabs he keeps open on his computer while he writes, but clearly it's impacting the writing in all the best ways.
- No SA: Finally, a dark fantasy book withoutrape. What a relief and a refreshing twist.
CONS:
- Distracting REPETITION: There is a saying in the writing world: "The worst thing you can do is tell the audience something they already know." Unfortunately, Mr. EE does do this a noticeable amount, where the same things is explained to different characters multiple times. In the world, I get it, because the character doesn't know the information yet. But I'm not the character, and as the reader it gets very distracting having the same explanation over and over. It took me right out of the story more than several times. If this doesn't bother you, then great, you're stronger than me. But it did detract from the reading experience. Thankfully, this is mostly in the first part, and the second part flows a lot more smoothly, in my opinion.
- Incomplete story?: Call me pedantic and nit-picky for this one, but as I finished the book, it is something I couldn't help but think about. The title of the first book was "Kingall", and it made sense within the context of the story. The title of the second book was "Spellblade", and guess what, there were Spellblades. The title of this book is "Greyfire", and after finishing the book, I just didn't get it in the context. The title is in reference to the Greyfire Revolution (I'm assuming), something I won't detail here for the sake of spoilers, but by the end, there were hardly any revolutions. In fact, the entire conflict and climax of part two was only tangentially related to the larger conspiracy. Now I know that there was supposed to be a part three of this book, and based on what Mr. EE has said and how this book ends, I can infer that it is HEAVILY related to the Greyfire Revolution, but it just wasn't feasible to fit into this already hefty 957-ish page bible. The publishers simply can't print books that thick (damn them for all eternity). I bet that Mr. EE would love DEARLY to have that missing third also included in this book instead of pushing it later to the fourth book, but such is the way of the book-printing world, and, as much as it really does pain me to say it, the fact that the "Greyfire" was missing from "Greyfire" did affect my reading.
Overall, I spent so much time debating giving this book either 4 or 5 stars. By all rights of the writing quality and characters and everything else, it absolutely deserves a 5. Don't get me wrong, despite the listed cons, this book is FANTASTIC, and I would EASILY place it above GRRM's ASOIAF saga, Tolkien's LOTR, Salvatore's Legend of Drizzt, and probably 95% of other epic fantasy stories you can name. Mr. EE is one of the best writers I have ever encountered. On half the days of the week, I probably would give it a 5 (it's a shame I'm writing this review on the other half). But for me, a true 5/5 makes me forget that I am even reading, and while that did happen for MUCH of this book, it also didn't happen for other parts of the book. I wish with all the power in me that Goodreads would allow half-star ratings so that I can give it a 4.5 and be done with it, but alas, it does not, so I give a solemn 4, yearning for the missing part three of the story and eagerly - and I mean EAGERLY - waiting for book 4 to arrive so I can rip it open and put my eyeballs back on Mr. EE's writing.
This book is EPIC, and in more ways than just the genre. It is the bloodiest, brutal-est, magical-est book of the bunch. I know from discussions that Mr. EE has had that the idea of the final climax of THIS book is what spawned the entire series from its conception, so I'm confident it was such a surreal experience for him to finally write it (and it sure did pay off). I can't even give a justifiable short synopsis of the book because there is so much happening, but what I will say is that it ends with some true carnage.
Enough about me rambling, how was this book?
PROS:
- EPIC world: Like its predecessors, it should be no surprise that this book has a deep and fascinating world. You get to see new places, new factions, and new lore (especially about the magic) that enriches everything and helps bring Penthara to life. I can tell that Mr. EE has piles and piles of world-building notes strewn about his writing space, and it shows, because everything is so meticulously detailed. More on that, as this is now the third book, the expository shlum that may have turned you off in the first two entries is hardly present! While there are still things to explain and learn about with some of the new cultures, it is significantly reduced from the previous books, which leaves more time for STORY and ACTION and BAM, WHAM, KABAM! This world is epic, through and through, and he makes it seem like a living, breathing place that people actually live in.
- EPICER characters: Many familiar faces return for this book, and they are just as well-written as in the previous two books. There are some you want to kiss, some you want to punch, and some you want to do both with. The people are alive and thriving, with endless scheming, ploying, subterfuge, manipulation, and you name it. Big secrets are revealed all over the place, and the conspiracies between the characters know no ends, and it makes the book that much more dynamic (although some are just lost and clueless about everything, which is also entertaining in itself). Seeing how different characters meet and interact with each other in various wild scenarios was entertainment at its best, and seeing who comes out on top even more so. While most of the characters were brought over from the other books, the new ones were welcome additions that each brought their own bit of pizazz to the party, especially Tskai-Linh, who turned into one of my favorites by the end. What else is there to say? The characters are top-notch stuff, and I'd know which ones I'd want to kiss.
- EPICEST story and climax: As stated, the finale of this book was the defining moment that began the entire series, and let me tell you, it is EPIC. So many different characters and factions all collide in what can only be described as absolute mayhem. There are so many twists and turns it'll tie a snake into a knot. Fair warning: don't get attached to too many characters, because there's a non-zero chance that they get offed by the end of it all. The tension and build-up to reach the ending is superb, as in you know about what is going to happen, and where and why it will happen, but actually getting their is a tantalizing tease, which keeps every page on the way to that destination a riveting journey. And when it does happen, the action is epic and ruthless. Great set-ups, greater pay-offs, and it has me gnawing at my arm for the next book.
- The PROSE: I don't think I mentioned this in my previous two reviews, but this dude can WRITE. The way he puts words down on the page is truly something inspiring. I don't know how many thesaurus tabs he keeps open on his computer while he writes, but clearly it's impacting the writing in all the best ways.
- No SA: Finally, a dark fantasy book without
CONS:
- Distracting REPETITION: There is a saying in the writing world: "The worst thing you can do is tell the audience something they already know." Unfortunately, Mr. EE does do this a noticeable amount, where the same things is explained to different characters multiple times. In the world, I get it, because the character doesn't know the information yet. But I'm not the character, and as the reader it gets very distracting having the same explanation over and over. It took me right out of the story more than several times. If this doesn't bother you, then great, you're stronger than me. But it did detract from the reading experience. Thankfully, this is mostly in the first part, and the second part flows a lot more smoothly, in my opinion.
- Incomplete story?: Call me pedantic and nit-picky for this one, but as I finished the book, it is something I couldn't help but think about. The title of the first book was "Kingall", and it made sense within the context of the story. The title of the second book was "Spellblade", and guess what, there were Spellblades. The title of this book is "Greyfire", and after finishing the book, I just didn't get it in the context. The title is in reference to the Greyfire Revolution (I'm assuming), something I won't detail here for the sake of spoilers, but by the end, there were hardly any revolutions. In fact, the entire conflict and climax of part two was only tangentially related to the larger conspiracy. Now I know that there was supposed to be a part three of this book, and based on what Mr. EE has said and how this book ends, I can infer that it is HEAVILY related to the Greyfire Revolution, but it just wasn't feasible to fit into this already hefty 957-ish page bible. The publishers simply can't print books that thick (damn them for all eternity). I bet that Mr. EE would love DEARLY to have that missing third also included in this book instead of pushing it later to the fourth book, but such is the way of the book-printing world, and, as much as it really does pain me to say it, the fact that the "Greyfire" was missing from "Greyfire" did affect my reading.
Overall, I spent so much time debating giving this book either 4 or 5 stars. By all rights of the writing quality and characters and everything else, it absolutely deserves a 5. Don't get me wrong, despite the listed cons, this book is FANTASTIC, and I would EASILY place it above GRRM's ASOIAF saga, Tolkien's LOTR, Salvatore's Legend of Drizzt, and probably 95% of other epic fantasy stories you can name. Mr. EE is one of the best writers I have ever encountered. On half the days of the week, I probably would give it a 5 (it's a shame I'm writing this review on the other half). But for me, a true 5/5 makes me forget that I am even reading, and while that did happen for MUCH of this book, it also didn't happen for other parts of the book. I wish with all the power in me that Goodreads would allow half-star ratings so that I can give it a 4.5 and be done with it, but alas, it does not, so I give a solemn 4, yearning for the missing part three of the story and eagerly - and I mean EAGERLY - waiting for book 4 to arrive so I can rip it open and put my eyeballs back on Mr. EE's writing.
August 24, 2026
Journey back into the vast, complex world of Penthara with Ezekiel Eversand’s third outing, Greyfire.
This book picks up right after the events of Kingfall in the North (but make sure you have read Spellblade as stories are colliding and characters are showing up) and it doesn’t skip a beat. The stakes are through the roof, war and conflict are everywhere, and every character is fighting for their lives in some way.
I loved this book. It’s got everything you would want in a High Epic Fantasy story. Tons of action, incredible world-building, emotional beats, deep and intriguing characters, and a story that is somehow monumental yet also so very accessible.
Eversand owns his world-building here. With Kingfall and Spellblade having done the heavy lifting, he is able to move more fluidly, keeping the pace immaculate while still giving us rich histories, vast political machines, and more. We get to see even more of the various cultures that make up Penthara and Eversand makes us feel the realness of every single one of them. Even the ones that feel incredibly barbaric on the surface are full of depth, purpose, and meaning. Eversand has honed his craft to make his world-building more natural to the story being told. There are no info dumps here, but pertinent information coming to us through the eyes of whichever POV we may be reading at the time.
And there are a LOT of POVs. In his style, Eversand weaves a huge tale through the POVs of supposed heroes and tortured enemies. There is no true black and white here either. Every character carries with them a grayness that borders darkness, but that is what makes them all so very real. Not a single POV is wasted, as each one drives the story forward, while never forsaking its humanity. Every single character has their own intentional and well-reasoned motivation, and whether we as a reader agree with it or not, it’s fascinating and so well done, making us root for some and rage at others.
While I thoroughly enjoyed Kingfall and Spellblade, it is evident that Eversand is growing as an author. His prose is on point and there isn’t any clunkiness here at all, even with the massive amounts of information specific to the world he has built. And there is a lot of it. This is NOT beginners fantasy. There is a degree of thought involved to keep up with the deluge of world-specific names, cultures, creatures, histories and more. Eversand is writing high fantasy here. But, he is doing it so well and it is never boring.
I would say fans of Brandon Sanderson’s VAST world building will find something to love here. Those that enjoy Joe Abercrombie’s nihilism and world weary characters can also find something to love. And ultimately, this series finds much in common with A Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones) by George R.R. Martin. And I say, without a moment’s hesitation, Eversand’s name belongs with theirs. If this series finds the right audience, there will be no stopping it.
If you are a fan of Dark High Epic Fantasy, you couldn’t ask for more. Onward, now.
This book picks up right after the events of Kingfall in the North (but make sure you have read Spellblade as stories are colliding and characters are showing up) and it doesn’t skip a beat. The stakes are through the roof, war and conflict are everywhere, and every character is fighting for their lives in some way.
I loved this book. It’s got everything you would want in a High Epic Fantasy story. Tons of action, incredible world-building, emotional beats, deep and intriguing characters, and a story that is somehow monumental yet also so very accessible.
Eversand owns his world-building here. With Kingfall and Spellblade having done the heavy lifting, he is able to move more fluidly, keeping the pace immaculate while still giving us rich histories, vast political machines, and more. We get to see even more of the various cultures that make up Penthara and Eversand makes us feel the realness of every single one of them. Even the ones that feel incredibly barbaric on the surface are full of depth, purpose, and meaning. Eversand has honed his craft to make his world-building more natural to the story being told. There are no info dumps here, but pertinent information coming to us through the eyes of whichever POV we may be reading at the time.
And there are a LOT of POVs. In his style, Eversand weaves a huge tale through the POVs of supposed heroes and tortured enemies. There is no true black and white here either. Every character carries with them a grayness that borders darkness, but that is what makes them all so very real. Not a single POV is wasted, as each one drives the story forward, while never forsaking its humanity. Every single character has their own intentional and well-reasoned motivation, and whether we as a reader agree with it or not, it’s fascinating and so well done, making us root for some and rage at others.
While I thoroughly enjoyed Kingfall and Spellblade, it is evident that Eversand is growing as an author. His prose is on point and there isn’t any clunkiness here at all, even with the massive amounts of information specific to the world he has built. And there is a lot of it. This is NOT beginners fantasy. There is a degree of thought involved to keep up with the deluge of world-specific names, cultures, creatures, histories and more. Eversand is writing high fantasy here. But, he is doing it so well and it is never boring.
I would say fans of Brandon Sanderson’s VAST world building will find something to love here. Those that enjoy Joe Abercrombie’s nihilism and world weary characters can also find something to love. And ultimately, this series finds much in common with A Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones) by George R.R. Martin. And I say, without a moment’s hesitation, Eversand’s name belongs with theirs. If this series finds the right audience, there will be no stopping it.
If you are a fan of Dark High Epic Fantasy, you couldn’t ask for more. Onward, now.
August 21, 2026
I was chosen as an ARC reader for this book.
The Neverborne series is excellent dark fantasy. Readers of Kingfall and Spellblade will jump back into the world of Penthara with ease as the intricate tales formed and forged in the previous two books finally come to a head.
We follow many different POVs in this book and most of these characters are ones we already know. Getting to read the completion of their storylines from where they left off in Kingfall was super satisfying. The new characters we see are also very well-crafted and enjoyable (Tskai-Lihn was an excellent addition to imbed more magic into this novel, something Kingfall lacked)
The build-up and payoff by the end of the book is excellent. The final battle(s) are gripping and epic and just so cool to read. The Terollar elvan are hands down my favorite part of the story and they're a really awesome interpretation of a barbaric but honorable race.
Greyfire almost reads like a final book, though it is far from it. I'm very excited to see how the series continues.
If there was one thing to complain about, despite the book already being so massive, is that I wish there was more of it!
The Neverborne series is excellent dark fantasy. Readers of Kingfall and Spellblade will jump back into the world of Penthara with ease as the intricate tales formed and forged in the previous two books finally come to a head.
We follow many different POVs in this book and most of these characters are ones we already know. Getting to read the completion of their storylines from where they left off in Kingfall was super satisfying. The new characters we see are also very well-crafted and enjoyable (Tskai-Lihn was an excellent addition to imbed more magic into this novel, something Kingfall lacked)
The build-up and payoff by the end of the book is excellent. The final battle(s) are gripping and epic and just so cool to read. The Terollar elvan are hands down my favorite part of the story and they're a really awesome interpretation of a barbaric but honorable race.
Greyfire almost reads like a final book, though it is far from it. I'm very excited to see how the series continues.
If there was one thing to complain about, despite the book already being so massive, is that I wish there was more of it!
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