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The Darkest Hand Trilogy #3
The Risen
The final, thrilling instalment of Tarn Richardson’s Darkest Hand trilogy (‘a remarkably original premise [with] damn fine characters’ David Moody), The Risen serves up a fittingly visceral, relentlessly gripping and action-packed climax to this epic series of dark fantasy.
1917. War and revolution are consuming the world, and the apocalypse is imminent. The world is desperate for a hero who can push back the relentless tide of darkness, and save humanity from the return of the Antichrist. But where is Poldek Tacit, the only man capable of defeating these terrifying forces? As old allies unite in a frantic race to unmask the Antichrist and thwart his plan to bring everything into his power, the Darkest Hand continues to terrorise the innocent – while in the Vatican’s vaults long-buried secrets are about to be unveiled, and humanity’s chance of redemption from the forces of evil hangs by a single thread...
1917. War and revolution are consuming the world, and the apocalypse is imminent. The world is desperate for a hero who can push back the relentless tide of darkness, and save humanity from the return of the Antichrist. But where is Poldek Tacit, the only man capable of defeating these terrifying forces? As old allies unite in a frantic race to unmask the Antichrist and thwart his plan to bring everything into his power, the Darkest Hand continues to terrorise the innocent – while in the Vatican’s vaults long-buried secrets are about to be unveiled, and humanity’s chance of redemption from the forces of evil hangs by a single thread...
352 pages, Paperback
Published May 18, 2017
4 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Tarn Richardson
12 books60 followersTarn Richardson is the author of The Darkest Hand trilogy, published by Duckworth Overlook in Europe and Australia, and Overlook Press in the US and Canada.
Consisting of THE HUNTED (free prequel novella), THE DAMNED (2015), THE FALLEN (2016) and THE RISEN (2017), The Darkest Hand trilogy unleashes the flawed but brilliant Inquisitor Poldek Tacit upon a Europe engulfed by the First World War. The Damned was one of the Book Depository's 'Books of 2015'.
Having grown up in Somerset, he now lives in Salisbury with his wife, the portraiture artist Caroline Richardson.
Consisting of THE HUNTED (free prequel novella), THE DAMNED (2015), THE FALLEN (2016) and THE RISEN (2017), The Darkest Hand trilogy unleashes the flawed but brilliant Inquisitor Poldek Tacit upon a Europe engulfed by the First World War. The Damned was one of the Book Depository's 'Books of 2015'.
Having grown up in Somerset, he now lives in Salisbury with his wife, the portraiture artist Caroline Richardson.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 11, 2017
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Note: This review is not merely a review about The Risen, but also a thoughtful reflection upon the whole trilogy. I'll do my best to avoid major spoilers in this review.
Let me start this review by saying what a pleasure it has been to read all of the novels in The Darkest Hand Trilogy. This amazing trilogy has turned out to be one of the best horror-fantasy series I've ever had the pleasure of reading, because it's something different and extremely well written. The author's way of combining various elements impressed me very much.
Tarn Richardson's The Risen is the third and final novel in The Darkest Hand Trilogy. The Risen concludes the trilogy in an outstanding way and delivers a wholly satisfying and gripping ending that will please everybody who has read the previous novels. I have nothing but praise for this novel, because it's perfect in every regard and the culmination of the story is stunningly good.
The Damned and The Fallen wonderfully paved the way for the events in The Risen, because The Damned introduced the characters to readers and The Fallen continued to bring more depth and action to the storyline. Now, The Risen delivers the rest of the goods and surprises readers with its story. The complex and strong story arc is brought to a satisfying end in this novel.
I can't help but be amazed at how much time and effort Tarn Richardson has put into this trilogy. He has clearly spent time researching historical details, because everything feels as authentic as possible. He has also invested a lot of time into characterisation and has made sure that the characters are intriguing and well-portrayed.
This trilogy has an epic scope, because the happenings range from fighting against werewolves to the horrors of the First World War and everything culminates to the coming of Antichrist. The happenings become increasingly complex and fascinating as the story unfolds towards the ending, and the large cast of characters adds complexity to the story arc.
With this novel being the final novel in the trilogy, everything is tied together in a brilliant way. The author pulls together several subplots, threads and unanswered questions from the previous novels and delivers a thrilling ending.
Here's a bit of information about how the story begins in this novel:
In the prologue, the events take place on the Adriatic Sea in 1915. A rotting corpse is pulled out of the sea by crew members of a small coastal battleship. Soon the corpse shudders and groans... In Uzhok, Ukraine, Igor is fleeing down the forest road from a thing that pursues him. He is trying to get to the church so that he might stand a chance against his pursuer. When he arrives at church, he announces that he has seen Poldek Tacit who is supposed to be dead... Isabella, Henry and Sandrine hear that Poré is collecting the word of Archangel Michael. Poré's men have burnt down churches as they've searched for things so that nobody can use the word of Michael against them... In Venice, the Inquisitors dig up a body of an Inquisitor that has been buried in a wooden casket. The head Inquisitor recites a spell and the body comes to life so that a question can be asked. He asks if Tacit is alive and receives a positive answer... In the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, Poré and the wolves who have flocked to his banner are travelling towards the final church that he needs to reach. He knows that he has a destiny to stop the Antichrist from returning to the world. He wears the pelt of Frederick Prideux and is imbued with strength and prowess... In the Vatican City, the Seers - the Catholic Sisters blessed with the skill of second sight - wail and cry. They understand that the Apocalypse is coming and it is nigh...
This is all I'll reveal about the story, because I don't want to write any major spoilers. I'll only mention that this is the beginning of an excellent and highly enjoyable story, the culmination of which is worth waiting for.
The characterisation is once again excellent. I am honestly amazed at the author's ability to create fascinating characters and his enthusiasm to write convincingly about their deeds and lives. The major characters are fully fleshed-out and the minor characters are intriguing. The struggles the characters go through and the choices they make are explored well. The author's descriptive writing style emphasises the characters' anguish and moral choices in a fascinating way.
Poldek Tacit is definitely one of the best anti-heroes ever to appear in speculative fiction novels. He's a truly unique character, because he's suffered a lot and is very determined to do what he wants to do, despite what others might think about his actions. At the beginning of this novel, Tacit is thought to be dead, but he does not die so easily. Although his friends and enemies think he has died, he has not and is alive.
In this novel, Tacit feels everything that he has endured and the burden of the past torments weighs heavily upon him. He has suffered a lot, but is still alive. He has come back only for Isabella, but is dragged back into the middle of the terrifying events that threaten the world. Tacit's role in these events is exciting.
Isabella has changed remarkably since losing Tacit. She has become brutal and manifests signs of anger and savagery. There's now something berserk about her behaviour that is uncharacteristic of her. The author lets his readers see how much the recent events have affected Isabella and what she has become, because she is not the same person as she used to be. I found Isabella's change fascinating, because the author handles this matter admirably.
Poré is an especially interesting character, because he has a clan of wolves, Hombre Lobo, at his command. He poses a threat to the Darkest Hand, but he himself is a severe threat to the world. His plans are as corrupt and threatening as the Darkest Hand's plans. What he unleashes upon the world fascinated me, because it is connected to a real historical event. The scenes in which Poré burns down the churches are truly memorable.
Events related to the battle against the Antichrist and the Apocalypse are handled exceptionally well, because everything has been leading towards these events. It's great that the author has not rushed with the story, but has taken his time to tell it as well as possible. The revelation that the Antichrist hides in the Vatican is excellent and creates tension to the story arc. I won't go into details about this thing, but I can say that the events are fascinating.
The bloody, gory and brutal scenes are well-created and are an important part of the story. I like the author's sense of style, because he knows how to write about these scenes in a captivating way. He doesn't alienate his readers with senseless violence, but shows how desctructive violence can be and how much damage it can do to the world. It's great that he dares to explore what violence can do to people and how they can change because of it, because it adds depth to the novel.
One of the things that I've loved since the first novel is the author's confident and alluring way of writing about religious elements and issues concerning the church. He never preaches about religious elements, but handles them believably. He deftly explores the machinations of the Catholic Church and shows how brutal and ruthless Inquisitors and corrupted Priests can be. In this novel, the battle for the Vatican is handled exceptionally well and the events feel polished and satisfyingly detailed.
Another important thing why I love this trilogy is the author's ability to write about various places in a convincing manner. It was fascinating to read about the happenings in the different parts of the world.
I like Tarn Richardson's evocative writing style very much. In my opinion, he's one of the few horror-fantasy authors who know how to write good and vivid prose. He fluently describes what is happening and how the characters face dangers. He easily creates a foreboding atmosphere and effortelessly maintains tension and even intensifies the atmosphere when necessary. He's a gifted storyteller who has a voice of his own and who captivatingly evokes a distinct sense of place and time.
Because I loved each of the novels in The Darkest Hand Trilogy, I look forward to reading what Tarn Richardson writes next, because he's an excellent speculative fiction author. (With this novel and its predecessors, Tarn Richardson has found a permanent place on my reading list.)
If you haven't yet had the opportunity to read anything by Tarn Richardson, I strongly urge you to read his novels, because you'll be hard-pressed to find anything as good and fascinating as them. I recommend reading these novels in publishing order: 1) The Damned, 2) The Fallen and 3) The Risen, because otherwise you'll miss out on a lot of details and won't understand the subtle complexities of the story.
The Darkest Hand Trilogy is a compelling and vivid horror-fantasy trilogy with plenty of depth and historical accuracy. It's a stunning achievement in captivating storytelling, because the unfolding story is both rewarding and entertaining. In this trilogy, plot twists, terrifying events and scenes of carnage come together with an unmatched power. If you have a taste for dark stories and enjoy reading horror-fantasy fiction, you won't regret reading this trilogy.
The Risen is a perfect final novel to The Darkest Hand Trilogy. It's satisfyingly dark, the characters are interesting and the story is exceptionally good. Trust me when I say that you don't want to miss this novel, because it's brilliant entertainment to everyone who loves dark and well written stories. You'll be doing yourself a big favour by reading it.
Highly recommended!
Note: This review is not merely a review about The Risen, but also a thoughtful reflection upon the whole trilogy. I'll do my best to avoid major spoilers in this review.
Let me start this review by saying what a pleasure it has been to read all of the novels in The Darkest Hand Trilogy. This amazing trilogy has turned out to be one of the best horror-fantasy series I've ever had the pleasure of reading, because it's something different and extremely well written. The author's way of combining various elements impressed me very much.
Tarn Richardson's The Risen is the third and final novel in The Darkest Hand Trilogy. The Risen concludes the trilogy in an outstanding way and delivers a wholly satisfying and gripping ending that will please everybody who has read the previous novels. I have nothing but praise for this novel, because it's perfect in every regard and the culmination of the story is stunningly good.
The Damned and The Fallen wonderfully paved the way for the events in The Risen, because The Damned introduced the characters to readers and The Fallen continued to bring more depth and action to the storyline. Now, The Risen delivers the rest of the goods and surprises readers with its story. The complex and strong story arc is brought to a satisfying end in this novel.
I can't help but be amazed at how much time and effort Tarn Richardson has put into this trilogy. He has clearly spent time researching historical details, because everything feels as authentic as possible. He has also invested a lot of time into characterisation and has made sure that the characters are intriguing and well-portrayed.
This trilogy has an epic scope, because the happenings range from fighting against werewolves to the horrors of the First World War and everything culminates to the coming of Antichrist. The happenings become increasingly complex and fascinating as the story unfolds towards the ending, and the large cast of characters adds complexity to the story arc.
With this novel being the final novel in the trilogy, everything is tied together in a brilliant way. The author pulls together several subplots, threads and unanswered questions from the previous novels and delivers a thrilling ending.
Here's a bit of information about how the story begins in this novel:
In the prologue, the events take place on the Adriatic Sea in 1915. A rotting corpse is pulled out of the sea by crew members of a small coastal battleship. Soon the corpse shudders and groans... In Uzhok, Ukraine, Igor is fleeing down the forest road from a thing that pursues him. He is trying to get to the church so that he might stand a chance against his pursuer. When he arrives at church, he announces that he has seen Poldek Tacit who is supposed to be dead... Isabella, Henry and Sandrine hear that Poré is collecting the word of Archangel Michael. Poré's men have burnt down churches as they've searched for things so that nobody can use the word of Michael against them... In Venice, the Inquisitors dig up a body of an Inquisitor that has been buried in a wooden casket. The head Inquisitor recites a spell and the body comes to life so that a question can be asked. He asks if Tacit is alive and receives a positive answer... In the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, Poré and the wolves who have flocked to his banner are travelling towards the final church that he needs to reach. He knows that he has a destiny to stop the Antichrist from returning to the world. He wears the pelt of Frederick Prideux and is imbued with strength and prowess... In the Vatican City, the Seers - the Catholic Sisters blessed with the skill of second sight - wail and cry. They understand that the Apocalypse is coming and it is nigh...
This is all I'll reveal about the story, because I don't want to write any major spoilers. I'll only mention that this is the beginning of an excellent and highly enjoyable story, the culmination of which is worth waiting for.
The characterisation is once again excellent. I am honestly amazed at the author's ability to create fascinating characters and his enthusiasm to write convincingly about their deeds and lives. The major characters are fully fleshed-out and the minor characters are intriguing. The struggles the characters go through and the choices they make are explored well. The author's descriptive writing style emphasises the characters' anguish and moral choices in a fascinating way.
Poldek Tacit is definitely one of the best anti-heroes ever to appear in speculative fiction novels. He's a truly unique character, because he's suffered a lot and is very determined to do what he wants to do, despite what others might think about his actions. At the beginning of this novel, Tacit is thought to be dead, but he does not die so easily. Although his friends and enemies think he has died, he has not and is alive.
In this novel, Tacit feels everything that he has endured and the burden of the past torments weighs heavily upon him. He has suffered a lot, but is still alive. He has come back only for Isabella, but is dragged back into the middle of the terrifying events that threaten the world. Tacit's role in these events is exciting.
Isabella has changed remarkably since losing Tacit. She has become brutal and manifests signs of anger and savagery. There's now something berserk about her behaviour that is uncharacteristic of her. The author lets his readers see how much the recent events have affected Isabella and what she has become, because she is not the same person as she used to be. I found Isabella's change fascinating, because the author handles this matter admirably.
Poré is an especially interesting character, because he has a clan of wolves, Hombre Lobo, at his command. He poses a threat to the Darkest Hand, but he himself is a severe threat to the world. His plans are as corrupt and threatening as the Darkest Hand's plans. What he unleashes upon the world fascinated me, because it is connected to a real historical event. The scenes in which Poré burns down the churches are truly memorable.
Events related to the battle against the Antichrist and the Apocalypse are handled exceptionally well, because everything has been leading towards these events. It's great that the author has not rushed with the story, but has taken his time to tell it as well as possible. The revelation that the Antichrist hides in the Vatican is excellent and creates tension to the story arc. I won't go into details about this thing, but I can say that the events are fascinating.
The bloody, gory and brutal scenes are well-created and are an important part of the story. I like the author's sense of style, because he knows how to write about these scenes in a captivating way. He doesn't alienate his readers with senseless violence, but shows how desctructive violence can be and how much damage it can do to the world. It's great that he dares to explore what violence can do to people and how they can change because of it, because it adds depth to the novel.
One of the things that I've loved since the first novel is the author's confident and alluring way of writing about religious elements and issues concerning the church. He never preaches about religious elements, but handles them believably. He deftly explores the machinations of the Catholic Church and shows how brutal and ruthless Inquisitors and corrupted Priests can be. In this novel, the battle for the Vatican is handled exceptionally well and the events feel polished and satisfyingly detailed.
Another important thing why I love this trilogy is the author's ability to write about various places in a convincing manner. It was fascinating to read about the happenings in the different parts of the world.
I like Tarn Richardson's evocative writing style very much. In my opinion, he's one of the few horror-fantasy authors who know how to write good and vivid prose. He fluently describes what is happening and how the characters face dangers. He easily creates a foreboding atmosphere and effortelessly maintains tension and even intensifies the atmosphere when necessary. He's a gifted storyteller who has a voice of his own and who captivatingly evokes a distinct sense of place and time.
Because I loved each of the novels in The Darkest Hand Trilogy, I look forward to reading what Tarn Richardson writes next, because he's an excellent speculative fiction author. (With this novel and its predecessors, Tarn Richardson has found a permanent place on my reading list.)
If you haven't yet had the opportunity to read anything by Tarn Richardson, I strongly urge you to read his novels, because you'll be hard-pressed to find anything as good and fascinating as them. I recommend reading these novels in publishing order: 1) The Damned, 2) The Fallen and 3) The Risen, because otherwise you'll miss out on a lot of details and won't understand the subtle complexities of the story.
The Darkest Hand Trilogy is a compelling and vivid horror-fantasy trilogy with plenty of depth and historical accuracy. It's a stunning achievement in captivating storytelling, because the unfolding story is both rewarding and entertaining. In this trilogy, plot twists, terrifying events and scenes of carnage come together with an unmatched power. If you have a taste for dark stories and enjoy reading horror-fantasy fiction, you won't regret reading this trilogy.
The Risen is a perfect final novel to The Darkest Hand Trilogy. It's satisfyingly dark, the characters are interesting and the story is exceptionally good. Trust me when I say that you don't want to miss this novel, because it's brilliant entertainment to everyone who loves dark and well written stories. You'll be doing yourself a big favour by reading it.
Highly recommended!
May 28, 2017
Before I review this book and then give an overview of this Trilogy, I would like to say i have loved these books immensely. I have been amazed and blown away by this incredible trilogy, is a huge story, well researched and executed.
MY REVIEW: 5*
The Risen is the final book in "The Darkest Hand" trilogy. It is set in during The First World War, when war is ravaging Europe and its implications are felt across the world. The Vatican is dealing with its own internal war, the implications of this will affect the populations across the world. The Apocalypse is almost here. Those loyal to the Church will have to draw heavily on their reserves and resources as they battle the hordes. They will discover the truth behind a prophecy. That all is not as it appears and old foes will again play their part. The story takes you on a journey around the globe, showing how far evil and war can travel, but comes back full circle as the battle against the Antichrist reaches its climax.
With this book being the final in the trilogy, it pulls together all the subplots, previously unanswered questions from the earlier books. A small detail or conversation mentioned in those books, suddenly carries a great weight. A seemingly insignificant detail becomes a bombshell of realisation. Nothing has been missed out in this gory, brutal, bloody and truthful conclusion. The story has come full circle into an epic finale.
REVIEW OF THE TRILOGY:
I fell in love with a little e-book called "The Hunted". It had so many things going on its 45 pages, I couldn't help but wonder how it would transfer into a longer book, nevermind a trilogy of them. Tarn Richardson has brilliantly put together a huge story with a vast array of memorable and unique characters. I have loved some, loathed some and have been very wrong in my opinion of some. For me this shows what a great author he is, he has managed to bring his characters and his books alive for me in the words he has written. It is like reading a film. There has been a huge amount of research gone into this book and it shows, through the way he has intertwined his world into our own world history. For me he has pulled off one of the most amazing trilogies i have come across. I agree with Cal Moriarty's comment on the front cover, "Evokes the fantasy of Tolkien and the darkness of King" very deserving of this recommendation. For me these books are second only to The Lord of The Rings books, and they are my favourite.
You will not be disappointed when you read these books. Be warned however; you will become addicted, you will not want to miss a single word or sentence, if you skim over any passage (I don't think you will) you will miss a crucial detail. You will be immersed in a magnificently twisted and deep-rooted plot, that will be intertwined with treachery, conspiracy, immorality and also faith, loyalty, friendship and so much more.
I would recommend these books for readers of fantasy, dark fiction, horror, thriller and historical fiction.
MY REVIEW: 5*
The Risen is the final book in "The Darkest Hand" trilogy. It is set in during The First World War, when war is ravaging Europe and its implications are felt across the world. The Vatican is dealing with its own internal war, the implications of this will affect the populations across the world. The Apocalypse is almost here. Those loyal to the Church will have to draw heavily on their reserves and resources as they battle the hordes. They will discover the truth behind a prophecy. That all is not as it appears and old foes will again play their part. The story takes you on a journey around the globe, showing how far evil and war can travel, but comes back full circle as the battle against the Antichrist reaches its climax.
With this book being the final in the trilogy, it pulls together all the subplots, previously unanswered questions from the earlier books. A small detail or conversation mentioned in those books, suddenly carries a great weight. A seemingly insignificant detail becomes a bombshell of realisation. Nothing has been missed out in this gory, brutal, bloody and truthful conclusion. The story has come full circle into an epic finale.
REVIEW OF THE TRILOGY:
I fell in love with a little e-book called "The Hunted". It had so many things going on its 45 pages, I couldn't help but wonder how it would transfer into a longer book, nevermind a trilogy of them. Tarn Richardson has brilliantly put together a huge story with a vast array of memorable and unique characters. I have loved some, loathed some and have been very wrong in my opinion of some. For me this shows what a great author he is, he has managed to bring his characters and his books alive for me in the words he has written. It is like reading a film. There has been a huge amount of research gone into this book and it shows, through the way he has intertwined his world into our own world history. For me he has pulled off one of the most amazing trilogies i have come across. I agree with Cal Moriarty's comment on the front cover, "Evokes the fantasy of Tolkien and the darkness of King" very deserving of this recommendation. For me these books are second only to The Lord of The Rings books, and they are my favourite.
You will not be disappointed when you read these books. Be warned however; you will become addicted, you will not want to miss a single word or sentence, if you skim over any passage (I don't think you will) you will miss a crucial detail. You will be immersed in a magnificently twisted and deep-rooted plot, that will be intertwined with treachery, conspiracy, immorality and also faith, loyalty, friendship and so much more.
I would recommend these books for readers of fantasy, dark fiction, horror, thriller and historical fiction.
June 6, 2017
The Risen is the third book of The Darkest Hand trilogy by Tarn Richardson. I've read the The Damned and The Fallen previously (and I urge you to!) and was really looking forward to reading the final instalment when it landed, fortuitously, in my sweaty (taloned) paws.
The Risen is a very fitting conclusion to the trilogy, bringing all of the complex threads set up in the previous books together into an ending that builds on and successfully completes this epic story. Characters are developed well, bringing their experience with them into this book. There are a couple of previous characters that take more of a back seat, but visa versa, unexpected acquaintances are brought to the fore with skill. The patina of a well realised character with history that you have shared through the previous books is most vividly wrought in our favourite protagonist Poldek Tacit. Poldek has always been a blunt bull of a character, but this book see’s him with the weight of everything he has been through heavy on his exceptionally broad shoulders. Tarn manages to again marry truly gruesome events with a tenderness and love from Poldek that becomes a key theme in this final instalment.
This is by far the darkest, most chaotic of the three books that Tarn has created. There are scenes that some will find macabre in the extreme (the antichrist is obviously not a nice person!), but the style and tone of the book fit very well indeed. I defy you to read any of the books and not expect a blood soaked finale. I don’t think I am giving anything away to say that one is delivered by the bucket load! The story builds very well in pace right through to the end. Yet, through all the gore and gristle, there is still the top notch story and that goodness and love that cuts through.
This final instalment manages to inject new and unexpected story lines that take existing characters in new directions and although the backdrop of the first world war is not as vivid as in the other books, it is obvious that a lot of research went into the creation of events and timings to stitch reality in with this horror fantasy. Without giving away spoilers, the timing of one of the central plot mechanisms fits into the historical record exceptionally well. It’s one of those times where your horror fantasy book about werewolves and the devil manages to teach you history as well, and it’s a history that is as dark as the fantasy it's entwined within. In Fact the two work very very well hand in hand... given that both hands are dark... but which is the darkest???
The Risen is a very fitting conclusion to the trilogy, bringing all of the complex threads set up in the previous books together into an ending that builds on and successfully completes this epic story. Characters are developed well, bringing their experience with them into this book. There are a couple of previous characters that take more of a back seat, but visa versa, unexpected acquaintances are brought to the fore with skill. The patina of a well realised character with history that you have shared through the previous books is most vividly wrought in our favourite protagonist Poldek Tacit. Poldek has always been a blunt bull of a character, but this book see’s him with the weight of everything he has been through heavy on his exceptionally broad shoulders. Tarn manages to again marry truly gruesome events with a tenderness and love from Poldek that becomes a key theme in this final instalment.
This is by far the darkest, most chaotic of the three books that Tarn has created. There are scenes that some will find macabre in the extreme (the antichrist is obviously not a nice person!), but the style and tone of the book fit very well indeed. I defy you to read any of the books and not expect a blood soaked finale. I don’t think I am giving anything away to say that one is delivered by the bucket load! The story builds very well in pace right through to the end. Yet, through all the gore and gristle, there is still the top notch story and that goodness and love that cuts through.
This final instalment manages to inject new and unexpected story lines that take existing characters in new directions and although the backdrop of the first world war is not as vivid as in the other books, it is obvious that a lot of research went into the creation of events and timings to stitch reality in with this horror fantasy. Without giving away spoilers, the timing of one of the central plot mechanisms fits into the historical record exceptionally well. It’s one of those times where your horror fantasy book about werewolves and the devil manages to teach you history as well, and it’s a history that is as dark as the fantasy it's entwined within. In Fact the two work very very well hand in hand... given that both hands are dark... but which is the darkest???
August 18, 2018
More fantastic work and a craicin ending worthy of the series.
September 27, 2018
What a finale. Unlike the third instalments of other authors or directors, Tarn kept the energy going until the end. Loved all three books and can't wait until his next book.
December 22, 2020
Great trilogy I enjoyed the three books,and would highly recommend them.
April 9, 2018
Excellent finale to a gripping trilogy. Full review to follow on The Haunted Pen website.
June 6, 2021
This is a real world fantasy series that has all the hallmarks of epic adventure with the in-depth research and world building of historical fiction.
It is a series of books seemingly written for the screen, with each chapter a short, sharp burst of action or drama, as the action flips between the sweeping landscapes of war torn Europe to the dark and tense corridors of the Vatican city.
The cast of characters, fronted by Inquisitor Poldek Tacit, are brilliantly created, each has hidden depths, dark secrets lurking in the shadows of their past, some of which are revealed in this final chapter of the trilogy.
Tacit himself is a wonderful character. A scarred old warrior with a tortured past, a man with a destiny that has been hidden to him until now. His secret is the darkest of all. There is something inside of him, something desperate to get out. To defeat his enemies, it seems that Tacit must first overcome himself.
My only quibble with this instalment was that the constant changing of scene in the short chapters, at one point became quite confusing (Tacit was in Constantinople in one chapter, then Kiev, then back in Constantinople, then again in Kiev, without ever seeming to travel?) almost reminiscent of GR Martin moving an army across the world at the speed of sound to dig himself out of a plot hole! But it's a minor quibble and didn't derive from the overall enjoyment of the novel.
On the whole I love the concept of the church fighting a hidden war against a backdrop of the devastation of WWI. And last of all, I cannot finish a review of this book without bringing up the Spanish flu. A secret vial opened in China that spreads a deadly virus across the world - remind you of anything? Covid 19 and the devastating effect it's had on the world will be talked about for a thousand years, but the Spanish flu that ravaged the world at the end of WWI was every bit as deadly, and at a time where countries were so focused on killing each other and medical science was not as evolved as it is today, it must have been a truly terrifying time to be alive. Tarn weaves this into the plot brilliantly, I genuinely didn't see it coming.
As a trilogy I've found the three books to be fantastic, it is a story arc that could stand proudly with grimdark fantasy greats such as Joe Abercrombie whilst being every bit as immersive as anything written by Conn Iggulden, and I can't wait to see what Tarn writes next!
It is a series of books seemingly written for the screen, with each chapter a short, sharp burst of action or drama, as the action flips between the sweeping landscapes of war torn Europe to the dark and tense corridors of the Vatican city.
The cast of characters, fronted by Inquisitor Poldek Tacit, are brilliantly created, each has hidden depths, dark secrets lurking in the shadows of their past, some of which are revealed in this final chapter of the trilogy.
Tacit himself is a wonderful character. A scarred old warrior with a tortured past, a man with a destiny that has been hidden to him until now. His secret is the darkest of all. There is something inside of him, something desperate to get out. To defeat his enemies, it seems that Tacit must first overcome himself.
My only quibble with this instalment was that the constant changing of scene in the short chapters, at one point became quite confusing (Tacit was in Constantinople in one chapter, then Kiev, then back in Constantinople, then again in Kiev, without ever seeming to travel?) almost reminiscent of GR Martin moving an army across the world at the speed of sound to dig himself out of a plot hole! But it's a minor quibble and didn't derive from the overall enjoyment of the novel.
On the whole I love the concept of the church fighting a hidden war against a backdrop of the devastation of WWI. And last of all, I cannot finish a review of this book without bringing up the Spanish flu. A secret vial opened in China that spreads a deadly virus across the world - remind you of anything? Covid 19 and the devastating effect it's had on the world will be talked about for a thousand years, but the Spanish flu that ravaged the world at the end of WWI was every bit as deadly, and at a time where countries were so focused on killing each other and medical science was not as evolved as it is today, it must have been a truly terrifying time to be alive. Tarn weaves this into the plot brilliantly, I genuinely didn't see it coming.
As a trilogy I've found the three books to be fantastic, it is a story arc that could stand proudly with grimdark fantasy greats such as Joe Abercrombie whilst being every bit as immersive as anything written by Conn Iggulden, and I can't wait to see what Tarn writes next!
January 18, 2021
This one wasn't for me and I'm disappointed in how this part story was told. The first two books have a lot of promise. I enjoyed them and would recommend. With this one I skim read the last 49% just to see what happened.
The two stars are for the concept. The story itself is a good one and had lots of potential, it just failed for me. It was predictable and repetitive. "Tacit said nothing," is this a nod to Lee Child? If it is, it's not needed and overused and if it isn't, to be honest it's lazy story telling.
Tacit's character suddenly changes, he's better in the first two books. I understand how there's been an attempted character development, which was hard to grasp, then suddenly there's another change and he's ran off to be with the anti Christ and gave into the possession without any reader involvement.
Isabella...another character development. For me, they could have still loved one another but not gave into temptation and a stronger bond bourn as a result. Isabella just seems like a convenient side character to try and give Tacit another side. Not needed and would have been better as a long protagonist.
There's wolves and inquisitors climbing out of the woodwork. I'm surprised there was anyone to fight the war.
I'm struggling to finish this review on a positive, it's always disappointing to finish a series like this.
The two stars are for the concept. The story itself is a good one and had lots of potential, it just failed for me. It was predictable and repetitive. "Tacit said nothing," is this a nod to Lee Child? If it is, it's not needed and overused and if it isn't, to be honest it's lazy story telling.
Tacit's character suddenly changes, he's better in the first two books. I understand how there's been an attempted character development, which was hard to grasp, then suddenly there's another change and he's ran off to be with the anti Christ and gave into the possession without any reader involvement.
Isabella...another character development. For me, they could have still loved one another but not gave into temptation and a stronger bond bourn as a result. Isabella just seems like a convenient side character to try and give Tacit another side. Not needed and would have been better as a long protagonist.
There's wolves and inquisitors climbing out of the woodwork. I'm surprised there was anyone to fight the war.
I'm struggling to finish this review on a positive, it's always disappointing to finish a series like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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