Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Wars of the Realm #3

Light of the Last

Rate this book
MP3 CD Format To Fight What Others Can’t You Must See What Others Don’t After an accident left him temporarily blind, Drew Carter didn’t just regain his sight. He now sees what others can’t imagine–an entire spiritual realm of mighty beings at war. Forget the gift, Drew just wants his life back. Part of that involves Sydney Carlyle, a woman he is inexplicably drawn to. When he’s offered the chance to become a CIA agent, it seems the way to redeem his past. The only problem–his visions of the supernatural realm are increasing in frequency. It’s up to the warrior angel Validus and his hand-picked team of heavenly agents to protect the unbelieving Drew. Validus now knows that the young man is at the epicenter of a global spiritual war, and the angels must use a millennia of battle experience keep Drew alive, for the Fallen want him dead. Surrounded by spiritual warriors and targeted by demons, Drew’s faced with an impossible decision that will forever alter the destiny of America...and his own soul.

1 pages, MP3 CD

First published February 16, 2016

45 people are currently reading
902 people want to read

About the author

Chuck Black

32 books747 followers
Chuck Black first wrote Kingdom’s Edge to inspire his children to read the Bible with renewed zeal. This captivating expanded parable led him to write the Old Testament allegories, Kingdom’s Dawn, Kingdom’s Hope, Kingdom’s Call, and Kingdom’s Quest. Chuck's currents works include the Knights of Arrethtrae series, Call to Arms, and his series in progress, Wars of the Realm.

Chuck is a former F-16 fighter pilot and currently works as an engineer for a firm designing plastic consumer products and has coinvented eleven patented construction products now being sold internationally. He has a degree in electrical and electronic engineering and served eight years in the United States Air Force. Chuck and his wife have six children and live in North Dakota.

It is Chuck’s desire to serve the Lord through his work and to inspire people of all ages to study the scriptures in order to discover the hope and love of a truly majestic King and His Son.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
746 (66%)
4 stars
262 (23%)
3 stars
73 (6%)
2 stars
27 (2%)
1 star
12 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
Profile Image for Sisters Three.
134 reviews112 followers
July 10, 2023
Ahhhhhhhhh, this was great!!!!!!!! The suspense at the end is hard though...so many scenes where you don't know whether to scream or cry or both! This series has just been so awesome to read! We're sad to see it come to an end, but the end is very satisfactory...like, ahhhh.
Oh, it's over...that makes us sad we were so attached to Drew, Sydney, Ben, Validus, Persimus, and well, just everyone!!!! So, so, so, good!!! We'll miss reading this series, but at least we can read them whenever we want!!!!
Profile Image for Morgan's Endless Bookshelf.
430 reviews49 followers
December 8, 2024
What a fun ride! The scene where Drew gets saved was so incredible! I will say that I wish we knew whether Ben got saved or not, cause I don't remember that happening. But the twist about who Drew really is? So good!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kaytlin Phillips.
Author 17 books249 followers
July 10, 2023
I LOVE this series so much! I LOOOOOVE Chuck Black's books in general, but this series is so AWESOME! It is one of my favorite book series! (Which anyone who knows me is rolling their eyes because that's a long list, but still)

Characters:
Drew Carter and his arch in this book...my goodness! I love it! It's just sooooo good, so well done, and he's just a great guy...and ack! I love it!
Sydney, as always, is a darling! I love this girl, her faith is just inspiring, and I love that she sticks to her values and never caves, even if she wants to.
Ben is just....he's great guys! Funny and just great!
Agent Reed is also one of my favorites in this book...he's not in it a ton, but I still really like him!
Validus and his band of angels are FANTASTIC! I mean, it's awesome!!!!
And all the side characters throughout the book are done fantastically well, and I really love Drew's mentor Jake!

Themes:
Just because you're a good person doesn't mean you'll go to heaven. That pride goeth before a fall, because in order to truly know God we have to be humble and sometimes we have to break before we can be humbled. It's a fantastic book!

Romance:
There is some touches of romance, but not much. It's very vague and just you know, there...this is a series written for boys so it's not swoony, just present. Nothing detailed, but still super sweet!

Language:
N/A

Overall:
This is a great book about the fight of angels and demons, the lengths people in power will go to remain in power, the need to fight for our freedoms and to stand up for what is right. The whole plot at the end is just...wow! That plot at the end is just....yes! We need to be aware and realize that often, those in power have only themselves and their own agenda in mind. But also remember, that God is ultimately in control!
This is a fantastic book for teen readers that is full of action, suspense, faith, and conspiracy! I love it! Recommended for ages 13+
Profile Image for Lilly.
155 reviews14 followers
December 18, 2024
Wow what a series The War Of The Realms was.

The characters were all so well done. I appreciated Drew and Sidney both. Especially Sidney, which surprised me as I often have a hard time liking the female protagonist in stories like this. And Ben was such a goofy nerdy sidekick. Though above all Validus and Percimus were my favourites in the entire series and were so well written. That ending for them… I actually had tears 😭
The whole plot and setting of the storyline had me wholly immersed and anticipating the next portion.
As for the spiritual aspects of this book: at first I was dubious due to it being a fictional series including the spiritual realm. But by the end of the first book I came to love it.
Chuck Black again, as in all his books, wove a masterful story that portrays it a tactful and creative way. Which made me ponder the importance and significance of the spiritual realm and how blessed I am as a believer to have the warriors of God on my side to protect me in the realm I cannot see but can sense and see the impact of in our world.
Additionally to this, this last book especially shows the beauty of Salvation through Drew’s life and the impact we should have on others as believers. We may not be called to speak to thousands but wherever God has planted us we MUST live out the call. In word and deed.
Profile Image for Emma.
490 reviews2 followers
April 23, 2020
Woww... that was epic. I really don’t know how else to describe it. It was action packed for sure! Soo much happened. It was like watching an epic Marvel movie. Like as I read, it was playing out in my head as a movie and it was so neat.

This isn’t the type of book I normally pick up. I never read sci-fi type books. They just really aren’t my thing. I’m more of a historical fiction kind of girl but I do like mystery and action and this did it for me.
Also, I normally wouldn’t read this kind of book. I’m just cautious when it comes to books that deal with biblical things like this. But I really, really appreciate how the author states in each of the books that what he has written should only point us to digging deeper into the Word where the truths are found. Also, the readers guide at the end is nice to have.

Now all of that aside, I love these characters so much. I feel so close to them. I mean, I’ve followed their journey since they were in high school and just following Drew and his friend’s journey has been soo cool. Like I was right there with him when all of the stuff started happening.

I liked Drew in this book more than I ever have before. Or I realized how much I like him. His character development was amazing. That was one of my favorite parts. Getting to see him grow and change, through his struggles and everything. It’s very believable. It’s not like he changes overnight. There’s time for him to change, really change.

Sydney is one of the most amazing female characters I have ever met and read about. She inspired me so, so much. From the first time I met her and totally got so excited when I found out she was homeschooled to all of the times she was so grounded in her faith, that inspired so much. No matter what her heart wanted, she never backed out on her faith and she kept God first in her life. She is one of the best fictional role models for girls ever.

All of the side characters are so fun. Ben, Piper, all the NetTech crew. They were awesome. I really wish there was a book about Ben and Piper... like a LOT.

There were times I laughed, lots of times I was on the edge of my seat, I teared up in several places (which rarely happens), and I got really excited. It was the most epic, amazing conclusion to this trilogy. The ending was so great and really inspiring.
A beautiful thing about these books, as well as others by Chuck Black, is they do get me more excited to read the Bible. And that’s what it’s all about.
Profile Image for Autumn Nicole.
Author 4 books26 followers
November 21, 2023
*hyperventilates*

"This world is temporary, ours is eternal. Which one do you suppose is more real? Men do not find God in the fullness of their own confidence. Only the humble in heart find Messiah."

Full Review: I know there is a balance between ignoring the spiritual realm, and hyper-focusing on the spiritual realm. I feel like these books are the best of the best when it comes to spiritual warfare books (though, I'll admit I haven't read many... so I guess I should read a few more. ;) ).

For me, they inspire me, encourage me, and challenge me to PRAY. to really pray. and to pray a lot. Because PRAYER WORKS! And as amazing as we know it is, we don't do it enough. Because it's hard, really hard, and we can't always see how God moves when we pray. It's an act of faith. But it is undeniable that prayer is powerful. So, so, powerful. And I think you should read these books for that message, if nothing else.

But you will also get an epic, powerful, wild ride of a story. The plot line is so mind blowing, you just sit there when it's over and stare at the wall for a few hours. I read these books back in 21, and then listened to the audiobook this year. I knew the just of what happens in them, but it'd been a while, so I had forgotten details. Listening to them was so fun, because I could listen while I worked, and consume them in just a couple days' time. And there were times I just wanted to scream with glee over HOW GOOD THESE BOOKS ARE.

Also, we got my dad hooked on them, and he's basically had the last book on repeat for the last couple of weeks. 😂😍
Profile Image for Raechel Lenore.
Author 4 books28 followers
February 27, 2016
O.O

Oh wow! How do I even begin to review this amazing book?! I loved it. So much so. Truly fantastic. I am a HUGE fan of Chuck Black and have been eagerly awaiting this third (and I believe, final?) book in The Wars of the Realm series – it’s finally here!! And SO worth the wait. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing, and the plot was so extensive and amazingly crafted. That is some serious God-given talent Mr.Black has!
Okay yeah, can I say what an extensive plot-line this book has, and the series as a whole? I was so impressed. Just about every story-thread was brought to completion and wrapped up so nicely. There was ONE story line I so badly want to continue though….I won’t say which for fear of spoiling it for you readers. But yes, another book series for two specific characters would be pretty…epic.
I really liked how it entwined both character-point-of-views of Drew Carter, and Validus. Both were engaging and equally exciting and enthralling.
And I just love how it’s about Spiritual Warfare. So amazing, and such a great, necessary reminder. Wow.
The technology shown in this book was incredible too. :) Amazing all the way around.
This book was just SO big! And I don’t mean in size. It just blows me away.
Usually I am fairly adept at writing helpful reviews, but when it comes to Chuck Black’s books….I love them too much to form a coherent sentence! I just want to shout at everyone “Read these books!!!!” :)
I appreciate how Mr.Black states in the beginning that “this is speculative fiction and it’s not intended to confuse or diminish the truth of God’s holy and inspired Word.” He does an excellent job depicting what the Bible does tell us and how he interprets what the Bible is silent on.
The one and only thing I had a different thought on was that sometimes the angels seemed more ‘angry’ than fierce as the Bible says they are, and that it sometimes portrayed that there aren’t enough angels to do spiritual battle for us, and I believe that God does provide enough. However, this wasn’t negative, nor did it affect my love for these books. Just a personal thought. And of course, as Chuck Black says himself: only God knows the whole story!! :)
The characters were so great, and I loved returning to them. Sydney is an amazing young woman and I hope I can be as much of a prayer warrior as she is (even though she’s fiction! :D).
So yes, absolutely amazing and I loved it soooo very much!!! I cannot wait to read this whole series over again.
~~~~~
I received a complimentary copy from the publishers and Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review which I have given.
Profile Image for Ivy Miranda.
66 reviews41 followers
November 20, 2021
The finale novel in the Wars of the Realm and the culmination of everything that the angel Validus and the Heavenly Host have prepared for since Christ left Earth. Drew Carter's whole life has been one of unfortunate circumstances. However, his strength of character and desire for justice in a cruel filled world compels him to do good even when the odds are against him. The extraordinary lab explosion that left him temporarily blind, but eventually gifted with hypersensitive senses and reflexes have served him well.

However, he is still the only person who can witness the ongoing war between the alien dark and light warriors that come from another realm. One that he cannot explain, but somehow in the midst of the madness and turmoil, Drew Carter will find the path to understanding who these people are and the reason they seem to be in a constant battle for his life.

Picking up where the Cloak of the Light left off, Drew is apprehended by the FBI, but instead of jail he is sent to a highly secured training facility where he is molded into an 'invisible agent.' Drew is then assigned off the radar missions that the FBI wouldn't dare touch. Throughout all this, Validus is faithful in his promise to protect Drew while bringing together a small contingency of warrior angels who assist him in his task.

The dark invaders are still ruthless in their constant pursuit for Drew Carter. When Drew comes across sensitive information that could be detrimental to not only the United States, but the rest of the world, he must use every resource necessary from science to faith to protect his country. Validus and his small angelic force will raid every corner of the Earth to fulfill a long secreted prophecy and bring to light all that Drew Carter was born to be and the man he is meant to become.

While it has a slow start Light of the Last really wrapped up Drew's exciting story while leaving some unanswered questions that could have been perfect for a companion series. I enjoyed the Wars of the Realm primarily for the characterization of the angels and possibilities of what Heaven might be like. Validus' story alone was so entertaining in his journey from a lowly angel to a well respected commander in the Heavenly Host. And then of course, Drew Carter, our noble hero, who turned the adversity in his life into preparation for both physical and spiritual warfare and the continuation of Biblical prophecy.
Profile Image for Leah Good.
Author 2 books202 followers
February 25, 2016
You're going to spend the first half of this book desperately wanting to tell Drew (the main character) that he's not crazy, and the second half trying to read fast enough to keep up with the cascade of action.

I'm not even sure how to classify this book. Superhero? Spiritual warfare? Political thriller? It's all three!

It's been years since a lab accident resulted in Drew Carter's visions of alien invaders--his term for the angels and demons he can now see. Now he's draw the attendtion of the American government. Always a patriot at heart, Drew is excited to serve in the CIA despite the underhanded way he's drafted into service. His problem is, he doesn't know who he can trust. When a psyciatric exam tells him his visions are conjured by his subconscious, he doesn't even trust himself. Drew is isolated from his family and the girl he loves, and he's coming undone.

Meanwhile the force of angels tasked with protecting Drew is locked in the battle of the ages. Apollyon is loosing the forces of darkness in a desperate attempt to prevent the salvation of one man. Validus and his team must hold nothing back. The fate of the world is in the balance.

This is another one of those books that I could go on and on about because I love the main character so much. Besides, what Christian marvel fan wouldn't get excited about a superhero-esque story with a spiritual warfare twist? However, I'm not going babble because you should read it for yourself. Go back to book one, push through the first 50 pages (which I found boring), and enjoy the journey.
Profile Image for Hailey Rose.
Author 5 books107 followers
June 28, 2016
This book definitely held more of the speculative/futuristic side, but it was still awesome. And Sydney---I LOVE HER!!!! She's amazing. Drew is too, of course. :) I loved seeing what happened with their relationship. Jake is such a cool character as well, and how he supported Drew in everything he did was so neat. I will definitely be recommending this series!
Profile Image for Pristine.
164 reviews5 followers
June 11, 2023
hi mr chuck black i’m wondering when the follow up series to this is in the works 🤨


{Full review to come}
Profile Image for Kimmie Blevins.
9 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2018
I loved this series! It was my second time reading this series and I like it even more now. I enjoyed how Black incorporated the Bible into just about everything and it also helped me understand angels a lot more.
Profile Image for Kassie Cox.
208 reviews5 followers
June 20, 2025
What an amazing ending to this series!!!
This series was such a fun adventure! Chuck Black is an amazing story teller, like wow! An amazing clear presentation of the Gospel given as well!
Profile Image for Kelly.
Author 1 book18 followers
December 25, 2018
My son and I finished the "Wars of the Realm"  trilogy just before our Christmas break. Light of the Last is the final book of this trilogy by Chuck Black, and I found it to be just as good as the first two.

Drew has come to his limit. He just wants his normal life back, but there is a higher plan. Those who have been assigned to keep Drew safe have their hands full as Drew is the target of two different powerful forces.

When it becomes apparent that the United States is also a target, Drew and his friends may be the only ones who can save the day.

The things that Drew goes through in this trilogy really kept me turning pages. Chuck Black did an excellent job of weaving parts of history and believable political issues throughout this series, as well as some spiritual truths.

I was so involved in the story and cared so much about the characters that I spoke out in frustration at some of Drew's choices, and I cried at some of the sad scenes. I loved the characters in this series and I cheered for them through all three books. There was suspense, intrigue, adventure, danger, and a touch of romance in these books, and I highly recommend them. They are on my list of favorites.
Profile Image for Alayna Hudson.
3 reviews
June 19, 2023
This book managed to become one of my absolute favourites in just the last quarter of it. The entire story is well crafted, but everything is wrapped up beautifully at the end in a way that left me awestruck. There were loose ends tied up that I didn’t even remember existed, and there’s an incredible sense of God’s calling. Given my lack of knowledge on the government agencies of America, I’m impressed with how well Chuck Black managed to explain it all in a way that didn’t interrupt the story. The relationships between characters are explored even further, and the suspense is almost always high. Overall, it sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions that I hope to revisit the next time I read this.
Profile Image for Ntebogeng Archer.
117 reviews
August 2, 2018
I am hoping the way the book ends means there's a fourth installment? Fingers-crossed.

What a great read. I will certainly be reading more from Mr Black! This has been one engaging, action packed, dazzled with cool technology kinda series. A merge of many realms, genres, and so wonderful!
Profile Image for Mr. Brock.
10 reviews
May 24, 2021
Although the characters in this book are a bit older than college age, I will allow my 8th grader to read this book. The physical violence is not large in detail and the spiritual violence represents angels vs demons. It is definately a ficion book and should be approached with such a mindset. Great coversation starter to discuss spiritual warfare.
the romantic relationship is purely characterized as such that I would love for my children to look up to the female character as a Christ-like woman to be saught and show Christ-like confidence in.
Great fiction trilogy!
188 reviews2 followers
February 14, 2016
In this third book in Chuck Black's "Wars of the Realm" series, Drew finds himself in custody related to a campus shooting where he was present. FBI agents believe he was part of the planning and the possibility of 40 years in prison is rather sobering. He certainly can't admit that he's seeing invisible invaders ever since a science lab experiment went very wrong. His friend Ben is still in hiding following the disaster and Drew is doing his best to thwart the evil only he seems to be able to see.

A mysterious "Mr. Ross" comes to Drew's rescue by offering him his freedom in exchange for cutting all ties with family and friends and working with the government on highly secretive operations. All the survival skills he learned from his stepfather make him one of the most qualified recruits and soon he's working on the most dangerous missions. But he's not always sure who he can trust and who is really calling the shots. And he still isn't sure who the invaders are that only he can see.

In between missions, Drew is keeping an eye on Sydney Carlyle. Could the key to understanding the invaders be connected to the faith that she so strongly adheres to? As invading forces conspire to thwart Drew at every turn, will he live long enough to find the answers? And can he keep safe the ones he loves and the country he serves?

The book won't make much sense if you have not read at least the first book in the series. Book 2 fleshes out more details but doesn't propel the story line all that much (mainly offering an alternate perspective of the events in Book 1). For those who like political thrillers with a spiritual element, Light of the Last will deliver an unforgettable experience.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Light of the Last for the purpose of review from Blogging for Books.
Profile Image for Yo Leo Ficción Cristiana.
209 reviews19 followers
February 22, 2016
description

RESEÑA COMPLETA EN ESPAÑOL

These books are my most wanted to be translated into Spanish
, and not just because I loved this story from beginning until the end, but because I believe that this series would be perfect for varied tastes because it has action, suspense, romance, supernatural elements, and also it’s a young adult book.

Unlike many other books, this series focuses on someone who isn’t a believer so it’s more than interesting to see how he tries to understand his abilities and how he deals with all that information.

I loved the romance. Syndey Carlyle is the opposite of Drew, but has an unwavering faith, so she complements Drew and in many cases, she understands better what happens to him.

The second book focuses on the invaders and there is almost little appearance of Drew and his friends, but the adventures they have in history, are so compelling that always leave you in suspense. However, in the final book, the protagonists of two realities intersect and adventures are unstoppable.

Wars of the realm is a captivating series that hooks you from the first page and you cannot stop thinking about it even when you've finished reading. Chuck Black has written a wonderful series that shows the spiritual reality and inspires you to believe more in God and believe that prayer is a powerful tool.

-I recieved a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion-
284 reviews1 follower
February 4, 2016
It has come down to what Validus understands to be the final event. He, along with Tren and the other angels, must protect Drew Carter. They are going to face an all out war in order to keep Carter safe long enough to hear and accept the gospel. Will they be able to do it. Chuck Black tell the story in Light of the Last.

Validus and his team have to fight overwhelming forces in the spiritual realm, while Carter has to do the same in the physical realm. None of them give up, even when the pain is severe. There are many great lessons about spiritual life in Light of the Last. Loving others and wanting what is best for them, prayer, doing what is right even when it costs you, and the fact that there is a spiritual war going on around us are all addressed in this story.

To complement the great message, Black has written another great story. There is plenty of action, and it easily grabs and holds your attention. Though the main part of the plot involves spiritual warfare, you can also find different genres woven into the story: political thriller, suspense, even some romance if that is what you like to see in stories. None of these overwhelm the message of trusting God and believing in Christ for salvation. They do serve to make the story more real.

I received a free copy of this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review
Profile Image for R.J..
Author 4 books79 followers
June 30, 2016
I received this book from the author/publisher for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.

In this third installment of the Wars of the Realm series, Light of the Last has the perfect amounts of suspense and believable characters to keep it’s plot engaging and thrilling, causing many to call it the best book of the series.

The intense battles of the supernatural realm (angels and demons) keep the book from having a lot of physical bloodshed, however the graphic battles are still very intense because demons fight with much deadlier weapons and with much deadlier consequences. In addition to this suspense, the plot line also deals with large amounts of terrorism, diseases, and plots against America that are incredibly believable.

There is not any cussing (that I caught) and the romance was very mild, only containing a few kisses (not considerably detailed). The scenes featuring demons do tend to be very dark and may cause unwanted fear in younger readers, but this book is extremely eye-opening to the reality of the supernatural realm all around us, and for that it is very well done.

Overall, this book (along with the entirety of the series) is a wonderful read and I give it a full 5 out of 5 stars; recommending it to an audience of 16+.

This review was originally published on Literature Approved. (http://literatureapproved.wordpress.com)
Profile Image for Olivia Cornwell.
Author 4 books19 followers
December 14, 2016
Full review here: http://oliviasinkspots.blogspot.com/2...

I really enjoyed this. I've loved the whole trilogy, and this last one was quite satisfying, even if it didn't end like I expected. The action and the danger blossomed into ways I hadn't expected, but it was fascinating to watch. There wasn't as many POV scenes with Validus and the angels as I'd hoped, but that's okay.

I also liked Drew's development. I like seeing him grow, and that it didn't happen too fast. His getting involved with CIA things kind of intrigued me in that area, just for simply learning about it, and maybe using CIA-ness in my own stories. B)

Overall, I loved this and I really want more. XD
Profile Image for serena482*.
135 reviews
June 29, 2016
Another one of Chuck Blacks AMAZING books! Chuck Black is just SOOOO talented! I have read and LOVED every one of his books. Light of the Last was really amazing! Cloak of the Light is still my favorite but this one follows close behind it. :D I just LOVED it! :D The main characters are Drew and the Angel Validus. Drew is on mission after mission of danger. And if that's not enough he is also wanted and hunted. Will he make it out alive? Find out by reading the book, and the whole series of course!! :D This book is definitely for an older audience as are the other ones. There is killing and terrorist, and if you are freaked out about Ebola DO NOT read it. Just a suggestion. :) So ya it is a bit violent in certain parts. I would recommend it to ages 14-up, maybe 13-up.
Profile Image for Jeretta Hall-Robinson.
519 reviews24 followers
March 15, 2016
Chuck Black does it again! This series was indeed fantastic. There was a small part where it kind of dragged toward the middle, but I felt like it only did that due to the heavy espionage happens and it really only lasted like one chapter before we were back into action. Of course, I wanted more from Validus' perspective, but it was nice to see him and Carter working together. This is a great Christian series for teens, especially for guys. It's full of action, faith, mystery, and hope.

So many good things happened in the book. And some sad toward the end. I am very hopeful that this series (or at least a sub-series) continues!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.