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Shattered Sigil #3
The Labyrinth of Flame
The epic conclusion to the Shattered Sigil Trilogy--a tale of blood magic, spies, and wilderness adventure.
Dev's never been a man afraid of a challenge. Not only has he kept his vow to his dead mentor, rescuing a child in the face of impossible odds, but he's freed his mage friend Kiran from both the sadistic master who seeks to enslave him and the foreign Council that wants to kill him.
But Kiran's master Ruslan is planning a brutal revenge, one that will raze an entire country to blood and ashes. Kiran is the key to stopping Ruslan; yet Kiran is dying by inches, victim of the Alathian Council's attempt to chain him. Worse yet, Dev and Kiran have drawn the attention of demons from the darkest of ancient legends. Demons whose power Dev knows is all too real, and that he has every reason to fear.
A fear that grows, as he and Kiran struggle to outmaneuver Ruslan and uncover the secrets locked in Kiran's forgotten childhood. For the demons are playing their own deadly game--and the price of survival may be too terrible to bear.
Dev's never been a man afraid of a challenge. Not only has he kept his vow to his dead mentor, rescuing a child in the face of impossible odds, but he's freed his mage friend Kiran from both the sadistic master who seeks to enslave him and the foreign Council that wants to kill him.
But Kiran's master Ruslan is planning a brutal revenge, one that will raze an entire country to blood and ashes. Kiran is the key to stopping Ruslan; yet Kiran is dying by inches, victim of the Alathian Council's attempt to chain him. Worse yet, Dev and Kiran have drawn the attention of demons from the darkest of ancient legends. Demons whose power Dev knows is all too real, and that he has every reason to fear.
A fear that grows, as he and Kiran struggle to outmaneuver Ruslan and uncover the secrets locked in Kiran's forgotten childhood. For the demons are playing their own deadly game--and the price of survival may be too terrible to bear.
614 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2015
12 people are currently reading
912 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Schafer
5 books297 followersA voracious reader, Courtney Schafer took up writing when she found that fantasy books weren't published fast enough to satisfy her craving for new worlds full of magic and wonder. When not writing, Courtney figure skates, climbs mountains, squeezes through desert slot canyons, and skis way too fast through trees. To support her adrenaline-fueled hobbies and writing habit, she received a degree in electrical engineering from Caltech and works in the aerospace industry. After many years living and working in Colorado, she moved with her husband and son to Lake Hawea, New Zealand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
August 11, 2025
I backed the kickstarter for the author Courtney Schafer to finish the trilogy after the publisher of the first two books imploded.
I've been reading this simultaneously with Anthony Ryan's The Waking Fire - this book's been finished in much shorter time as it's a shorter (though far from short) book, and I have a physical copy. When I'm forced to read on my laptop I'm very easily distracted.
Much like the first two (excellent) books this one is in essence a huge, complex, multi-part puzzle. Though even more so!
Schafer has developed an intriguing series of magic systems, spells, and enchanted items, all of which put various constraints on what the characters can and can't do. Much of the book involves the picking apart and putting together of this great puzzle to achieve the desired end goal. That sounds as if it could be a rather dry and technical exercise, but it really isn't. You have to remember that the puzzle parts include blood mages, demons, bone mages, secret temples, other planes of existence etc...
The books are also marked out by a lack of combat - nobody swings a sword, there are no macho heroes. This isn't a bad thing at all. It's quite refreshing and there's plenty of nail-biting action.
A third trademark of the series is the focus on mountaineering and climbing. In this book we're in a more desert-like area with lots of wind-carved stone spires, twisting canyons etc, all beautifully described and making me recall many of the photos Schafer posts on twitter of her own adventures around Colorado's mountains.
One thing I did note that I didn't think had been prevalent in the previous books (but I could have missed) is that in this book practically everyone in the story is painted as bisexual and poly-amorous. I've no problem with that and it makes the romance threads quite complex - it just seemed to have passed me by in the previous books.
Although the trilogy could in no way be described as grim or dark it's despite the content rather than because of it. The main villain is as scary and cruel as you'll find, his methods very disturbing. And the whole tale seems to involve our heroes at the very limits of their strength, exhausted, crippled, poisoned, miserable, desperate, with one thing going wrong after the next.
Even so, there's plenty of underlying hope. With the exception of the main villains pretty much everyone is goodhearted, kind, selfless, and self-sacrificing to an extra-ordinary degree. Even the ones who get in Dev and Kiran's way seem just to have chosen to sacrifice themselves for a different (not worse) cause. Once in a while the bastard in me did start to cry out for a selfish, cynical git to turn up.
Anyway, Schafer is an excellent writer and I really enjoyed the book. The story was compelling, clever, and satisfying. Hooray!
You should go and buy the first one. It's an under-appreciated trilogy that deserves a look.
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Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
I've been reading this simultaneously with Anthony Ryan's The Waking Fire - this book's been finished in much shorter time as it's a shorter (though far from short) book, and I have a physical copy. When I'm forced to read on my laptop I'm very easily distracted.
Much like the first two (excellent) books this one is in essence a huge, complex, multi-part puzzle. Though even more so!
Schafer has developed an intriguing series of magic systems, spells, and enchanted items, all of which put various constraints on what the characters can and can't do. Much of the book involves the picking apart and putting together of this great puzzle to achieve the desired end goal. That sounds as if it could be a rather dry and technical exercise, but it really isn't. You have to remember that the puzzle parts include blood mages, demons, bone mages, secret temples, other planes of existence etc...
The books are also marked out by a lack of combat - nobody swings a sword, there are no macho heroes. This isn't a bad thing at all. It's quite refreshing and there's plenty of nail-biting action.
A third trademark of the series is the focus on mountaineering and climbing. In this book we're in a more desert-like area with lots of wind-carved stone spires, twisting canyons etc, all beautifully described and making me recall many of the photos Schafer posts on twitter of her own adventures around Colorado's mountains.
One thing I did note that I didn't think had been prevalent in the previous books (but I could have missed) is that in this book practically everyone in the story is painted as bisexual and poly-amorous. I've no problem with that and it makes the romance threads quite complex - it just seemed to have passed me by in the previous books.
Although the trilogy could in no way be described as grim or dark it's despite the content rather than because of it. The main villain is as scary and cruel as you'll find, his methods very disturbing. And the whole tale seems to involve our heroes at the very limits of their strength, exhausted, crippled, poisoned, miserable, desperate, with one thing going wrong after the next.
Even so, there's plenty of underlying hope. With the exception of the main villains pretty much everyone is goodhearted, kind, selfless, and self-sacrificing to an extra-ordinary degree. Even the ones who get in Dev and Kiran's way seem just to have chosen to sacrifice themselves for a different (not worse) cause. Once in a while the bastard in me did start to cry out for a selfish, cynical git to turn up.
Anyway, Schafer is an excellent writer and I really enjoyed the book. The story was compelling, clever, and satisfying. Hooray!
You should go and buy the first one. It's an under-appreciated trilogy that deserves a look.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
May 27, 2017
Demon's Maw
Great ending to this wonderful adventure-fantasy trilogy. Since it’s the last book it is really difficult to say anything about the plot without major spoilers. Suffice to say if you take all the action adventure, mystery, sense of danger and magic from the previous books – crank up the suspense, the pace, the intensity and level of threat – this is what you get. Highly recommended!
Veiled Temple
My only minor grumble is that some of the beautiful friendships that formed through this series I would have preferred to remain friendships without any romantic undercurrents. That said, there is very little romance in this series and it doesn’t affect the plot - so don’t let it discourage you.
The Portal
The imagery in this last book is incredible and I couldn’t resist the temptation to find fitting pictures to some of the places and characters. I hope it will make up for the lack of reflection on the plot.
Enjoy! :)
The Hunters
Ssarez-kai
February 5, 2016
Stunning. Just wow! Quest fantasy? Some. Epic? Undoubtedly. Utterly riveting? Definitely. No letup. Ms. Schafer, color me sold on whatever you write next.
“Revenge is to soothe the pain of the living, not bring back the dead. Shall I show you how pleasant it will taste?”
“Revenge is to soothe the pain of the living, not bring back the dead. Shall I show you how pleasant it will taste?”
May 11, 2017
I have once again been reduced to babbling incoherently. Words utterly fail me--I don't know if there is a way for me to describe just how much I loved these books.
This last one in the series was just as good if not better than the first two. The stakes are raised yet again, a seemingly impossible task considering the main problem is pretty much the same throughout the books (evil mage needs to be killed because he is a manipulative power hungry abusive asshole).
The characters are the strength here. I became so caught up in their stories, in their feelings, I'm finding it hard to move on from them. I feel like I want to keep reading about them forever. These are nuanced characters that, while inherently good, sometimes have to make tough decisions. The fact that they're always questioning themselves reminds us that they *are* good, even if they sometimes have to do not so great things.
I loved these books so very much. What an emotional rollercoaster they were. Even when things were dark (oh, and things often got so very dark, almost to the point of despair) the story was filled with hope and love and life. Because the characters just never gave up. I think maybe that's what I liked best about it.
This last one in the series was just as good if not better than the first two. The stakes are raised yet again, a seemingly impossible task considering the main problem is pretty much the same throughout the books (evil mage needs to be killed because he is a manipulative power hungry abusive asshole).
The characters are the strength here. I became so caught up in their stories, in their feelings, I'm finding it hard to move on from them. I feel like I want to keep reading about them forever. These are nuanced characters that, while inherently good, sometimes have to make tough decisions. The fact that they're always questioning themselves reminds us that they *are* good, even if they sometimes have to do not so great things.
I loved these books so very much. What an emotional rollercoaster they were. Even when things were dark (oh, and things often got so very dark, almost to the point of despair) the story was filled with hope and love and life. Because the characters just never gave up. I think maybe that's what I liked best about it.
April 5, 2021
I just pledged to the kickstarter and you should too! After problems with Night Shade Books, the whole kerfluffle with the buy-out and all that, Courtney Schafer decided to self-publish the final book in the trilogy. This is a great series, I highly recommended and we have the chance to help make it happen. Please consider pledging! (Do it for me if not for Courtney, I need an ending!)
Link to Kickstarter
Link to Kickstarter
April 7, 2016
This was great. Shattered Sigil fits a fairly rare niche: it's an epic fantasy, but with a small cast. It's got the threats to the world and the quests and the dangers of the many-volume series, but with a cast of essentially two protagonists, a small handful of significant allies, and a single villain.
And it works really, really well. Courtney's writing is tropey in the same way as someone like Michael J. Sullivan: she shows us why some of those tropes are classics, rather than telling a story where they feel stale.
The trilogy was easy to read, and I connected to everyone very quickly (and often wanted to strangle one of the protagonists; I consider this a good thing, because it meant that I really cared when Dev was being an ass. Seriously Dev, get your head on straight.)
The ending was very satisfying. It was fitting for the trilogy, and left me hoping that Courtney is planning to write more in this universe, because she certainly planted a few sequel hooks that I'm really curious about.
Strongly recommended overall.
And it works really, really well. Courtney's writing is tropey in the same way as someone like Michael J. Sullivan: she shows us why some of those tropes are classics, rather than telling a story where they feel stale.
The trilogy was easy to read, and I connected to everyone very quickly (and often wanted to strangle one of the protagonists; I consider this a good thing, because it meant that I really cared when Dev was being an ass. Seriously Dev, get your head on straight.)
The ending was very satisfying. It was fitting for the trilogy, and left me hoping that Courtney is planning to write more in this universe, because she certainly planted a few sequel hooks that I'm really curious about.
Strongly recommended overall.
March 1, 2017
Labyrinth of Flame is almost double the size of the two previous books, but none of that is extra fluff. The tension keeps ramping up and the stakes on both personal and world levels fitting have as well.
Of the three settings, the mountains and forests of Whitefire Crossing and Ninavel in Tainted City, I loved the desert in this book book the most. All are exceptionally well described and feel very real, as you might expect from an author who spends so much time outdoors, but the lure of the desert is strong for me, and there's something about having the additional "character vs. environment" conflict along with the more standard in fantasy "character vs antagonist" conflict that I deeply appreciate.
All of the new characters we meet in this book are excellent, and they contributed to the story in sometimes very surprising ways, which I definitely liked.
This also has one of my favorite endings ever. The entire series is a joy.
Of the three settings, the mountains and forests of Whitefire Crossing and Ninavel in Tainted City, I loved the desert in this book book the most. All are exceptionally well described and feel very real, as you might expect from an author who spends so much time outdoors, but the lure of the desert is strong for me, and there's something about having the additional "character vs. environment" conflict along with the more standard in fantasy "character vs antagonist" conflict that I deeply appreciate.
All of the new characters we meet in this book are excellent, and they contributed to the story in sometimes very surprising ways, which I definitely liked.
This also has one of my favorite endings ever. The entire series is a joy.
March 13, 2016
DNF-ed at about 75%. I don't usually DNF a book at this point, but this time it was just too much on my nerves...
I just had enough. Maybe I'm being too harsh. But I was really enjoying the story, I liked the characters but...the author managed to ruin the experience for me.
The main reason: the amount of angst/drama in this book is ridiculous. It's like the author specializes in torturing her characters mentally/physically. I had a problem with this in the 2nd book in the series, but now I wasn't that patient. And I wasn't in the mood for this. I lost count how many times I read about someone suffering from physical or mental (more often) distress/illness or poisoning etc. I mean, it kind of started dominating the story again. People were spending more time fighting some kind of pain than actually doing something useful. Maybe I'm exaggerating but I was getting a depressing feeling from this book. When Dev was captured and Ruslan started torturing him I stopped. It's not like I put down a book when I read about things like that. No, actually it takes a lot more than that to stop me from finishing a book. I can read dark books. But that's it. It's too much. There was a moment when I couldn't even put the book down, the story was so interesting and it was impossible to predict what was going to happen next...but then it got back to that angst/torture theme. I actually skipped the rest of the book and read few of the last pages to see if my favourite characters survived...I liked them too much not to check what happened to them...
So, it's a pity. The author has a huge talent, the magic in this book is really interesting, the story is very good, there are some great characters which I really liked but the amount of pain the characters suffered in this book started to make me sick...so I stopped. I'm not sure why it was all necessary. And Kiran...his life story was so tragic it surprised me that he could still stay sane...I think he should get 1st place among the most tortured characters in fantasy books...
I really liked the first book and I can recommend it to any fantasy fan.
The rest of the series...I wouldn't recommend to anyone unless you're ready for the things I mentioned. I think the disaster started when Ruslan captured Kiran and messed with his head and memories in 2nd book...it was a bad idea in my opinion. I never like things like that.
I have to mention one more thing. Looks like bisexuality and polygamy are quite common in the last book of the series. It seemed really strange to me because I wasn't getting this in the first two books. Sure, there were some little hints, but when it started to involve Dev, Cara and Kiran...all three of the main characters? Why? I thought I was reading about nice romance and really good friendship and in the end I got what...love triangle? I don't know if I should laugh or be angry with the author for fooling me...but it seemed a little unexpected...Sorry, but it's not a kind of thing I want to read about, but I ignored it for the sake of the story, because it was just some talking but still...I'm not annoyed because the author included characters like that in her book. I'm annoyed because I didn't know and I didn't expect it in the end...like I said...for the first 2 books I thought I was reading about love and friendship...and then...all the talking about partnership/marriage...that's not a surprise I wanted...but maybe other people liked this idea...at least Kiran found a new family...or whatever it is now...
I just had enough. Maybe I'm being too harsh. But I was really enjoying the story, I liked the characters but...the author managed to ruin the experience for me.
The main reason: the amount of angst/drama in this book is ridiculous. It's like the author specializes in torturing her characters mentally/physically. I had a problem with this in the 2nd book in the series, but now I wasn't that patient. And I wasn't in the mood for this. I lost count how many times I read about someone suffering from physical or mental (more often) distress/illness or poisoning etc. I mean, it kind of started dominating the story again. People were spending more time fighting some kind of pain than actually doing something useful. Maybe I'm exaggerating but I was getting a depressing feeling from this book. When Dev was captured and Ruslan started torturing him I stopped. It's not like I put down a book when I read about things like that. No, actually it takes a lot more than that to stop me from finishing a book. I can read dark books. But that's it. It's too much. There was a moment when I couldn't even put the book down, the story was so interesting and it was impossible to predict what was going to happen next...but then it got back to that angst/torture theme. I actually skipped the rest of the book and read few of the last pages to see if my favourite characters survived...I liked them too much not to check what happened to them...
So, it's a pity. The author has a huge talent, the magic in this book is really interesting, the story is very good, there are some great characters which I really liked but the amount of pain the characters suffered in this book started to make me sick...so I stopped. I'm not sure why it was all necessary. And Kiran...his life story was so tragic it surprised me that he could still stay sane...I think he should get 1st place among the most tortured characters in fantasy books...
I really liked the first book and I can recommend it to any fantasy fan.
The rest of the series...I wouldn't recommend to anyone unless you're ready for the things I mentioned. I think the disaster started when Ruslan captured Kiran and messed with his head and memories in 2nd book...it was a bad idea in my opinion. I never like things like that.
I have to mention one more thing. Looks like bisexuality and polygamy are quite common in the last book of the series. It seemed really strange to me because I wasn't getting this in the first two books. Sure, there were some little hints, but when it started to involve Dev, Cara and Kiran...all three of the main characters? Why? I thought I was reading about nice romance and really good friendship and in the end I got what...love triangle? I don't know if I should laugh or be angry with the author for fooling me...but it seemed a little unexpected...Sorry, but it's not a kind of thing I want to read about, but I ignored it for the sake of the story, because it was just some talking but still...I'm not annoyed because the author included characters like that in her book. I'm annoyed because I didn't know and I didn't expect it in the end...like I said...for the first 2 books I thought I was reading about love and friendship...and then...all the talking about partnership/marriage...that's not a surprise I wanted...but maybe other people liked this idea...at least Kiran found a new family...or whatever it is now...
February 4, 2018
I wavered between three and four stars for most of this book. On the one hand, there were some truly exciting parts and some gasp out loud shocks, the group's flight three the crevasse, for instance, wow! But, on the other hand, this book felt way too long to me. By the end I was like, another obstacle? Seriously? Just get the to Ruslan showdown already! But the ending was absolutely perfect and tipped this firmly over into four stars.
January 3, 2020
If you’ve followed my reviews or see me around on Twitter or Facebook, you’ve probably heard me rave about the two previous books in the Shattered Sigil series, The Whitefire Crossing and The Tainted City. I adored them. So very much. They inspired dozens of conversations with friends, speculation about how the series would end, and yes, plenty of discussions about shipping certain characters, too (you know the ones I’m talking about). It got me excited in the way few other series have managed to do in recent years, and I had amazingly high hopes for The Labyrinth of Flame.
And despite how high my hopes were, Schafer still managed to surpass them.
The book starts shortly after where The Tainted City left off, with Dev and Kiran making their way to Prosul Akheba, trying to keep a low profile so that neither Ruslan nor demons find them. Kiran is still missing the memories burned away by Ruslan, is reliant on a dwindling supply of a drug, and must face the fact that some part of him is undeniably connected to the demons that dog their footsteps. As if dodging Ruslan and demons wasn’t enough, there’s a tribe of Shaikar-worshippers chasing them, and the solution to all of their problems might be buried in memories Kiran didn’t even suspect he held.
It’s a layered plot of chaos and desperation, and pretty much as of about 1/3 of the way through, the pace doesn’t let up for a second. “One more chapter” syndrome hits hard. There are new reveals and new dangers around every turn, the plot gets even more full of twists and complications, and yet it never once feels like things are over the top, or like the author is trying to one-up anything previously done. The story all flows naturally, it all makes sense, and it isn’t filled with big impressive events just for the sake of big impressive events. It’s beautifully done, and I enjoyed just how much I was on the edge of my seat for most of the reading.
It is, however, really difficult to talk about the plot of the book because so much happens, so many things change, that it’s tough to give context without also giving spoilers. I could talk about how Kiran develops his confidence and his power, or how Dev might finally have learned to stop living in a convoluted web of deceit caused by making too many promises to too many people, but to say more than that would risk spoiling some major plot twists, or else remaining pointlessly vague. I often find that some of the best books are the hardest to review; they’re better read than read about.
There are definitely things that I can talk about without introducing too many spoilers. I love, for instance, how Melly got a decent-sized role in The Labyrinth of Flame, where in previous books she got a couple of scenes and largely existed as Dev’s motivation. Here, she finds strength and plays an active part of the story, not content to be a tag-along or to be shunted to the side because of her age. I love the parallels between Kiran and Ruslan, and how they both take the “I’m doing this for your own good” path even as they approach from opposite ends. I love seeing how Ruslan and Lizaveta are more than just generic villains; they always were, even in previous books, but you get to see more of their past here and more of how they think and what influences them, and it’s a wonderful piece of insight into how twisted by grief and power a person can become.
I love the way the book challenges cultural norms all over the place, but particularly I like how it does this with romance and relationships. A presentation of people who don’t typically follow a pattern of only choosing one partner at a time but instead are rather polyamourous (and more fluid in their associated sexuality, at least sometimes, and depending on the person) is wonderful to see in fiction, not because I believe that’s the only proper way to have a healthy relationship, but because it breaks molds and shows that there are more ways to have a healthy relationship than just monogamy. I love to see this stuff explored, and I love that Schafer explored it with respect and compassion.
The same thing can be said for sexuality, in that there’s a surprisingly amount of positive bisexual representation in this book. It’s not something you see that often, to be truthful; usually characters that break sexual molds are almost always gay, and bisexuality doesn’t get brought up that often. But here you not only have a main character who’s perfectly okay with romance and sex with either gender, but multiple main characters who feel that way. And it’s presented as absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. No surprise, no comments of, “I didn’t know you felt that way,” no revelation, nothing. Just acceptance of that’s how some people are, and that’s how some characters themselves are, and what’s so weird about that?
Which brings me to the book’s ending, and I have to say this: the ending of The Labyrinth of Flame is quite possibly the most satisfying ending to a series I’ve ever read. It ties up everything wonderfully, leaves room for the future, and left me with flailing around like an idiot over what happens to the people I ship. Seriously, I don’t think there’s any possible better way for this book and this series to have ended. It closed on a high note, filled with hope and optimism even for difficult tasks ahead, and I’m going to be honest with you all — I actually just went and reread the last chapter again while writing this, because I love the ending that much. It left me with the first book hangover I’ve ever experienced, and despite having just reread the first two books in the series in preparation for reading this one, all I wanted to do when it was over was pick up The Whitefire Crossing and start over, so that I didn’t have to leave the world and characters behind.
Fantasy just doesn’t get much better than this!
"You are my anchor stone; abandoning you would mean ripping out the best part of myself."
And despite how high my hopes were, Schafer still managed to surpass them.
The book starts shortly after where The Tainted City left off, with Dev and Kiran making their way to Prosul Akheba, trying to keep a low profile so that neither Ruslan nor demons find them. Kiran is still missing the memories burned away by Ruslan, is reliant on a dwindling supply of a drug, and must face the fact that some part of him is undeniably connected to the demons that dog their footsteps. As if dodging Ruslan and demons wasn’t enough, there’s a tribe of Shaikar-worshippers chasing them, and the solution to all of their problems might be buried in memories Kiran didn’t even suspect he held.
It’s a layered plot of chaos and desperation, and pretty much as of about 1/3 of the way through, the pace doesn’t let up for a second. “One more chapter” syndrome hits hard. There are new reveals and new dangers around every turn, the plot gets even more full of twists and complications, and yet it never once feels like things are over the top, or like the author is trying to one-up anything previously done. The story all flows naturally, it all makes sense, and it isn’t filled with big impressive events just for the sake of big impressive events. It’s beautifully done, and I enjoyed just how much I was on the edge of my seat for most of the reading.
It is, however, really difficult to talk about the plot of the book because so much happens, so many things change, that it’s tough to give context without also giving spoilers. I could talk about how Kiran develops his confidence and his power, or how Dev might finally have learned to stop living in a convoluted web of deceit caused by making too many promises to too many people, but to say more than that would risk spoiling some major plot twists, or else remaining pointlessly vague. I often find that some of the best books are the hardest to review; they’re better read than read about.
There are definitely things that I can talk about without introducing too many spoilers. I love, for instance, how Melly got a decent-sized role in The Labyrinth of Flame, where in previous books she got a couple of scenes and largely existed as Dev’s motivation. Here, she finds strength and plays an active part of the story, not content to be a tag-along or to be shunted to the side because of her age. I love the parallels between Kiran and Ruslan, and how they both take the “I’m doing this for your own good” path even as they approach from opposite ends. I love seeing how Ruslan and Lizaveta are more than just generic villains; they always were, even in previous books, but you get to see more of their past here and more of how they think and what influences them, and it’s a wonderful piece of insight into how twisted by grief and power a person can become.
I love the way the book challenges cultural norms all over the place, but particularly I like how it does this with romance and relationships. A presentation of people who don’t typically follow a pattern of only choosing one partner at a time but instead are rather polyamourous (and more fluid in their associated sexuality, at least sometimes, and depending on the person) is wonderful to see in fiction, not because I believe that’s the only proper way to have a healthy relationship, but because it breaks molds and shows that there are more ways to have a healthy relationship than just monogamy. I love to see this stuff explored, and I love that Schafer explored it with respect and compassion.
The same thing can be said for sexuality, in that there’s a surprisingly amount of positive bisexual representation in this book. It’s not something you see that often, to be truthful; usually characters that break sexual molds are almost always gay, and bisexuality doesn’t get brought up that often. But here you not only have a main character who’s perfectly okay with romance and sex with either gender, but multiple main characters who feel that way. And it’s presented as absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. No surprise, no comments of, “I didn’t know you felt that way,” no revelation, nothing. Just acceptance of that’s how some people are, and that’s how some characters themselves are, and what’s so weird about that?
Which brings me to the book’s ending, and I have to say this: the ending of The Labyrinth of Flame is quite possibly the most satisfying ending to a series I’ve ever read. It ties up everything wonderfully, leaves room for the future, and left me with flailing around like an idiot over what happens to the people I ship. Seriously, I don’t think there’s any possible better way for this book and this series to have ended. It closed on a high note, filled with hope and optimism even for difficult tasks ahead, and I’m going to be honest with you all — I actually just went and reread the last chapter again while writing this, because I love the ending that much. It left me with the first book hangover I’ve ever experienced, and despite having just reread the first two books in the series in preparation for reading this one, all I wanted to do when it was over was pick up The Whitefire Crossing and start over, so that I didn’t have to leave the world and characters behind.
Fantasy just doesn’t get much better than this!
"You are my anchor stone; abandoning you would mean ripping out the best part of myself."
December 27, 2015
This, the third novel in Courtney Schafer's Shattered Sigil series followed a strange path to publication. I read the first two books in the series after /r/fantasy on reddit recommended it so highly. At the time it was published by Night Shade books. After the 2nd book was released, Night Shade went insolvent and declared bankruptcy. This put the 3rd book into limbo as Courtney no longer had a publisher. Luckily she decided to pursue self publication and set up a kickstarter for "Labyrinth of Flame". I backed it enthusiastically as I was eager to read the conclusion to Dev and Kiran's story. As soon as I got the email with my ebook I started reading voraciously. Only had one hickup when my Kindle corrupted my file. So, I took a break and read a couple other books before returning and finishing Labyrinth.
So, is it any good? Honestly, its great! The plot is really dense to almost be Dickensian. So much happens in each chapter that it keeps the action going. It almost feels like this series is a trilogy of trilogies since so much happens in each novel. But even though the plot is so thick, Courtney Schafer still manages to develop her characters. Of course some aren't developed to the same degree as Dev and Kiran, but each one gets enough to feel unique and like a full person and not just a plot device.
The ending is satisfying and worth the trip, as it ends in fitting way that brought a smile to my face. I'm curious if she plans to write any more novels in this world as the left some clues at the end that could be used for some really interesting follow ups.
So, is it any good? Honestly, its great! The plot is really dense to almost be Dickensian. So much happens in each chapter that it keeps the action going. It almost feels like this series is a trilogy of trilogies since so much happens in each novel. But even though the plot is so thick, Courtney Schafer still manages to develop her characters. Of course some aren't developed to the same degree as Dev and Kiran, but each one gets enough to feel unique and like a full person and not just a plot device.
The ending is satisfying and worth the trip, as it ends in fitting way that brought a smile to my face. I'm curious if she plans to write any more novels in this world as the left some clues at the end that could be used for some really interesting follow ups.
June 18, 2016
Not bad, but it was rather lengthy..
March 16, 2018
This series. Whoo, man, this series. It was one helluva journey with Dev and Kiran. It's been a while since I've worried and felt so bad for characters in a series like I did with these two. The writing was top notch, and I wouldn't hesitate to read something else from this author.
February 21, 2020
Actual stars 4.5.
May 30, 2016
THE LABYRINTH OF FLAME is a fantasy adventure turducken--an ordeal inside a gauntlet inside a crucible. Consider yourself warned: This book practically leaves no room for a pause. Take off the Fitbit or it will keep beeping, cautioning that your heart is racing beyond safe parameters. Schafer is relentless, unyielding, and not the least bit merciful to the story's two leads: Dev and Kiran. Barely would they escape one peril before the next one rears its ugly head. Sometimes, they don't even have the luxury of an ephemeral respite. Dev and Kiran are driven beyond the limits of physical exhaustion and constantly find their very minds and souls in eternal jeopardy. It is no wonder for their mission is daunting, if not impossible. They must save the world, keep their loved ones safe, defeat their enemies, and keep their souls intact and unfettered. It reminds me of the song 'Brave Sir Robin' from Monty Python. Sing-along with my Dev and Kiran reboot--
not much food to eat
poisoned water to drink
traitors from near and far
rivers melting the skin
wacky tribesfolk to dodge
canyons going to flood
Ruslan fast at their heels
demons after their blood
Yet Schafer's love for her characters shines bright in the way she created Dev for Kiran, and Kiran for Dev, joining them together in a symbiotic bond of aid, friendship and love. The bond is simultaneously a yoke willingly shouldered and a liberating devotion forged and continually reinforced by and through crises.
Dev and Kiran's foes also deserve a mention. They are formidable--powerful, cunning, resourceful, in many ways more than a match for the heroes. While they are the villains in the tale, they are not unreasonable, whimsical automatons. Schafer demonstrates that they, too, know something of loyalty, friendship and devotion though perhaps often misdirected and misused. You can understand their drive and motivation on some level. Further, Ruslan, Mikail and Lizaveta's lives are intricately woven with those of Dev and Kiran and their association is not always undesirable. There are interpersonal relationships coloring the tale beyond the life and death, worldly repercussions. Neither are Dev's and Kiran's other foes inconsequential or two-dimensional. Rather, they have their own legitimate, even noble, reasons for pursuing an objective that is diametrically opposed to that of our heroes. I shall say no more about these other foes. I might have said too much already.
The other characters are noteworthy as well. The people that Dev and Kiran encounter are not decorative, incidental or insignificant. Cara, Melly, Marten, Lara and a long list of others--their words, choices, actions and even their very presence have very real impact on Dev and Kiran and their objective. As with the main foes, their lives intersect with Dev's and Kiran's on a substantial and often personal level. They are all integral to the narrative and without any of whom the tapestry would not be complete.
Other than exploring friendship and family--by blood and by choice—the LABYRINTH OF FLAME also delves into the concept of power and its many levels. One motivated by an unrestrained desire for power will always leave injury, death and destruction in his wake. Wielded alone, power can be fearsome; wielded with others, it can be magnified or diminished. Power also includes influence, especially over others, to which much care must be given as good intention is insufficient to guarantee a favorable outcome.
Finally, THE LABYRINTH OF FLAME demonstrates that relationships are, and shall always remain, complex. Enemies can be chivalrous as well as villainous. Allies can present an intractable hindrance as much as comfort and aid. Friends can be found in unexpected or inconvenient places. Family can—and will—often be difficult. Yet relationships are how a person grows and develops and how one demonstrates that growth and development, whatever direction it may take.
The end of a series can be a rather melancholy event, the realization that you have to put paid to your time with a world, a host of characters and a story that has entertained, intrigued and captivated you. There is also satisfaction, however, to seeing a story through to its conclusion and the satisfaction is great indeed when a story ends as this one did—leaving no stones unturned, leaving no character unfulfilled, leaving the reader sated yet with still enough to wonder about and hope for more.
One last thing. Do not try to eat the book. It's NOT an actual turducken.
Thank you, Courtney Schafer. I will forward my therapy and anti-anxiety medication bills forthwith.
not much food to eat
poisoned water to drink
traitors from near and far
rivers melting the skin
wacky tribesfolk to dodge
canyons going to flood
Ruslan fast at their heels
demons after their blood
Yet Schafer's love for her characters shines bright in the way she created Dev for Kiran, and Kiran for Dev, joining them together in a symbiotic bond of aid, friendship and love. The bond is simultaneously a yoke willingly shouldered and a liberating devotion forged and continually reinforced by and through crises.
Dev and Kiran's foes also deserve a mention. They are formidable--powerful, cunning, resourceful, in many ways more than a match for the heroes. While they are the villains in the tale, they are not unreasonable, whimsical automatons. Schafer demonstrates that they, too, know something of loyalty, friendship and devotion though perhaps often misdirected and misused. You can understand their drive and motivation on some level. Further, Ruslan, Mikail and Lizaveta's lives are intricately woven with those of Dev and Kiran and their association is not always undesirable. There are interpersonal relationships coloring the tale beyond the life and death, worldly repercussions. Neither are Dev's and Kiran's other foes inconsequential or two-dimensional. Rather, they have their own legitimate, even noble, reasons for pursuing an objective that is diametrically opposed to that of our heroes. I shall say no more about these other foes. I might have said too much already.
The other characters are noteworthy as well. The people that Dev and Kiran encounter are not decorative, incidental or insignificant. Cara, Melly, Marten, Lara and a long list of others--their words, choices, actions and even their very presence have very real impact on Dev and Kiran and their objective. As with the main foes, their lives intersect with Dev's and Kiran's on a substantial and often personal level. They are all integral to the narrative and without any of whom the tapestry would not be complete.
Other than exploring friendship and family--by blood and by choice—the LABYRINTH OF FLAME also delves into the concept of power and its many levels. One motivated by an unrestrained desire for power will always leave injury, death and destruction in his wake. Wielded alone, power can be fearsome; wielded with others, it can be magnified or diminished. Power also includes influence, especially over others, to which much care must be given as good intention is insufficient to guarantee a favorable outcome.
Finally, THE LABYRINTH OF FLAME demonstrates that relationships are, and shall always remain, complex. Enemies can be chivalrous as well as villainous. Allies can present an intractable hindrance as much as comfort and aid. Friends can be found in unexpected or inconvenient places. Family can—and will—often be difficult. Yet relationships are how a person grows and develops and how one demonstrates that growth and development, whatever direction it may take.
The end of a series can be a rather melancholy event, the realization that you have to put paid to your time with a world, a host of characters and a story that has entertained, intrigued and captivated you. There is also satisfaction, however, to seeing a story through to its conclusion and the satisfaction is great indeed when a story ends as this one did—leaving no stones unturned, leaving no character unfulfilled, leaving the reader sated yet with still enough to wonder about and hope for more.
One last thing. Do not try to eat the book. It's NOT an actual turducken.
Thank you, Courtney Schafer. I will forward my therapy and anti-anxiety medication bills forthwith.
September 8, 2025
Sadly, this is still my least favourite of the trilogy. Will keep the rating, though it's more of a 3,5.
Schafer's writing flows really well and is a joy to read. The world she's created in this series is fantastic and has been solid all the way through, definitely one of the series' strongest parts.
Plotwise, while there are several great stuff, it still dragged a little at parts. This one is a chonkster compared to the previous two books so a lot more is squeezed in. With a little cutting and trimming it could have been much better.
Both main characters, Dev and Kiran, has gone through lots of development through the series. This time reading the series I was more drawn towards Dev. It feels like you get more close to him since he's written in first PoV and Kiran in third (and even three books in, the PoV switch is jarring). I also found Dev's chapters more interesting and I enjoyed his character more. He's cynical and sarcastic and sometimes doesn't know when to shut up.
The villain grew more boring with each book. In book one he's still veiled in mystery. All that is known is he's this terrible blood mage. But as the mystery disappeared, so did the appeal. A little too OP, a little too few weaknesses and not enough interesting background and motivation to make him interesting.
The ending was alright. Not super sure I like where some relationships are headed at the end of the book. A bit too cheesy and happy-schmappy.
Still a strong recommend. Book one remain one of my favourite books!
Schafer's writing flows really well and is a joy to read. The world she's created in this series is fantastic and has been solid all the way through, definitely one of the series' strongest parts.
Plotwise, while there are several great stuff, it still dragged a little at parts. This one is a chonkster compared to the previous two books so a lot more is squeezed in. With a little cutting and trimming it could have been much better.
Both main characters, Dev and Kiran, has gone through lots of development through the series. This time reading the series I was more drawn towards Dev. It feels like you get more close to him since he's written in first PoV and Kiran in third (and even three books in, the PoV switch is jarring). I also found Dev's chapters more interesting and I enjoyed his character more. He's cynical and sarcastic and sometimes doesn't know when to shut up.
The villain grew more boring with each book. In book one he's still veiled in mystery. All that is known is he's this terrible blood mage. But as the mystery disappeared, so did the appeal. A little too OP, a little too few weaknesses and not enough interesting background and motivation to make him interesting.
The ending was alright. Not super sure I like where some relationships are headed at the end of the book. A bit too cheesy and happy-schmappy.
Still a strong recommend. Book one remain one of my favourite books!
October 26, 2017
This was an incredibly satisfying conclusion to an excellent trilogy. The author, Courtney Schafer, went through a lot of shenanigans when the publisher of the first two books of her Shattered Sigil Trilogy went under, thankfully she was able to run a Kickstarter project to self-publish The Labyrinth of Flame. I was happy to be one of the backers, although I never got around to reviewing the book until now. In this book the reader learns a great deal more about the background of Kiran, and more about the different powers in this book's world. There's so many interesting things that the author does with these characters throughout the book, all the way to the excellent end. How she chose to end it, was very satisfying and all of the different things that happen, especially towards the end was really fun to read. I'd highly recommend this series, as it's something very different from most fantasy, and a joy to read.
March 16, 2016
This is a great trilogy. I am so insanely happy I got this book via Kickstarter. It was, as the books before, an fantastic and exciting read.
One thing I'm pretty sad about is, that I'm not much of a climber, not even really much of a hiker, so I couldn't really hold a picture in my mind of all descriptions of the Varkevian canyons and other mountainy locations.
One fun fact, while I was reading the series, I was studying for my organic chemistry exam. And I really tried, but nathahlen, the word for none magical people is pretty much the same as naphthalen, an aromatic compound. Never ever forgetting that one now.
One thing I'm pretty sad about is, that I'm not much of a climber, not even really much of a hiker, so I couldn't really hold a picture in my mind of all descriptions of the Varkevian canyons and other mountainy locations.
One fun fact, while I was reading the series, I was studying for my organic chemistry exam. And I really tried, but nathahlen, the word for none magical people is pretty much the same as naphthalen, an aromatic compound. Never ever forgetting that one now.
May 10, 2016
I don't know what took me so long to read this book, I backed the Kickstarter and have had both the digital and paperback copies for a long time now. A really fantastic conclusion to the series and I'm glad I was able to help with my small contribution to get it published.
Read
December 24, 2015A ratchet up in intensity, and a finish that lives up to the promise of the first volume.
May 22, 2016
It's eh. Not bad
June 26, 2017
Awesome read. Awesome series. Words fail me.
December 4, 2019
Hate saying goodbye to these characters.
July 23, 2018
Okiedokies...
I've not had much time recently to write any reviews.. (just became a dad a month ago!) but i've been slowly making my way through these brilliant books in the moments i do have..
And damn it was worth it!
These were very very character driven stories - practically the whole plot revolves around a revenge-bond between an evil mage and his apprentice (trying to escape the very bad relationship). But also the friendships and how the apprentice learns to not be evil :) And all the relationships he encounters and learns from along the way!
There are mountains and deserts, blood-mages, magically-shielded countries. Demons and magical governments. And intrigue and double crossing and all that wonderful stuff.
I wrote a review for the first book but damn, this is one series where the books keep getting better! Honestly one of the few times where the author really nails the ending - this was everything that was promised by the initial premise - and more!!!
I've not had much time recently to write any reviews.. (just became a dad a month ago!) but i've been slowly making my way through these brilliant books in the moments i do have..
And damn it was worth it!
These were very very character driven stories - practically the whole plot revolves around a revenge-bond between an evil mage and his apprentice (trying to escape the very bad relationship). But also the friendships and how the apprentice learns to not be evil :) And all the relationships he encounters and learns from along the way!
There are mountains and deserts, blood-mages, magically-shielded countries. Demons and magical governments. And intrigue and double crossing and all that wonderful stuff.
I wrote a review for the first book but damn, this is one series where the books keep getting better! Honestly one of the few times where the author really nails the ending - this was everything that was promised by the initial premise - and more!!!
May 16, 2019
3.5 stars. Dragged a bit in the middle, and I was honestly bored of the main villain. Was much more interested in the desert and the demons. With bonus politics! :D At least they finally ended the villain, with THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP. I mean, and some blood magic and some demon fire, but mostly friendship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2021
Iconic.
Literally not a moment of down time since the second book began.
Such a complex world from the landscapes, to the magic, to the romances!! And the characterization is just amazing
I am so glad I gave this series a second chance because wow did it leave me stunned. Probably up on my all time faves list
Literally not a moment of down time since the second book began.
Such a complex world from the landscapes, to the magic, to the romances!! And the characterization is just amazing
I am so glad I gave this series a second chance because wow did it leave me stunned. Probably up on my all time faves list
February 19, 2018
Clever, dense, character thick fantasy, with the heroes stretched to breaking
September 5, 2020
These books are really wonderful. I’ve been so irritated during the last few series I’ve read for various reasons (unbelievable plot holes, complete misunderstanding of human nature, terrible female characters, etc), but this was just a pleasurable read the whole way through. Very entertaining!
April 11, 2021
Worthy conclusion of the epic adventure. Sometimes I felt that the calvary of Dev and Kiran could not be worse - but I was surprised after every second page how it could in reality and was seriously puzzled how they could turn those odds by the time...
October 14, 2021
3.5 I really enjoyed this book and series, but I felt this one was very... frantic. This author kept up a consistent pace throughout, but it was pretty unrelenting. Also so much happening and a lot of pain and torture.
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