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Knights of the Borrowed Dark Trilogy #3
The Endless King
The final book in the award-winning Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy, perfect for fans of Skulduggery Pleasant.
'You have no idea what real war is . . . but I'm afraid you're going to find out.'
There's nothing like an apocalypse to kick off the school year.
Denizen Hardwick has travelled to Daybreak, the ancestral home of the Order of the Borrowed Dark, to continue his training as a knight. But lessons have barely begun before an unexpected arrival appears with news that throws the fortress into uproar.
The Endless King has fallen, his dark realm rising in a brutal civil war. When the conflict strikes closer to home, Denizen and his friends face their greatest challenge yet. For if Daybreak falls, so does the world . . .
'Action-packed, atmospheric and powerfully imagined' - Sunday Times
'You have no idea what real war is . . . but I'm afraid you're going to find out.'
There's nothing like an apocalypse to kick off the school year.
Denizen Hardwick has travelled to Daybreak, the ancestral home of the Order of the Borrowed Dark, to continue his training as a knight. But lessons have barely begun before an unexpected arrival appears with news that throws the fortress into uproar.
The Endless King has fallen, his dark realm rising in a brutal civil war. When the conflict strikes closer to home, Denizen and his friends face their greatest challenge yet. For if Daybreak falls, so does the world . . .
'Action-packed, atmospheric and powerfully imagined' - Sunday Times
416 pages, Paperback
Published March 22, 2018
25 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Dave Rudden
12 books194 followersI began my arts career as a storyteller in Dublin at nights like The Monday Echo and Milk & Cookies, before realising that it might be a good idea to try writing some of this stuff down.
From then, it was submitting to journals and anthologies, getting rejections, and then occasionally getting accepted by nice places like Bare Hands, the Stinging Fly and The Quotable.
In 2013 I won the Fantasy Book Review Short Story Prize, which was lovely, and I’ve had short stories short-listed for the Hennessy New Writing Award and the Bath Short Story Prize. I graduated from the UCD Creative Writing Masters with the first chapter of what would become Knights of the Borrowed Dark and signed with rockstar agent Clare Wallace of the Darley Anderson Children’s Agency soon after.
Since then, I’ve released the second two books in the KOTBD trilogy, written Doctor Who books for the BBC, and written plays and TV and music videos and RPGs .
I teach creative writing at UCD, currently serve as DCU’s Artist in Residence, and have travelled to more than nine hundred schools and libraries all over the world to talk about writing, mental health, and monsters. I also have two new series coming in 2025.
Follow me on Twitter at @d_ruddenwrites or on TikTok at @daveruddenwrites
From then, it was submitting to journals and anthologies, getting rejections, and then occasionally getting accepted by nice places like Bare Hands, the Stinging Fly and The Quotable.
In 2013 I won the Fantasy Book Review Short Story Prize, which was lovely, and I’ve had short stories short-listed for the Hennessy New Writing Award and the Bath Short Story Prize. I graduated from the UCD Creative Writing Masters with the first chapter of what would become Knights of the Borrowed Dark and signed with rockstar agent Clare Wallace of the Darley Anderson Children’s Agency soon after.
Since then, I’ve released the second two books in the KOTBD trilogy, written Doctor Who books for the BBC, and written plays and TV and music videos and RPGs .
I teach creative writing at UCD, currently serve as DCU’s Artist in Residence, and have travelled to more than nine hundred schools and libraries all over the world to talk about writing, mental health, and monsters. I also have two new series coming in 2025.
Follow me on Twitter at @d_ruddenwrites or on TikTok at @daveruddenwrites
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 19, 2025
still have minor questions about the worldbuilding and plot but honestly who cares??? 5 stars for enjoyment ( ˵ •̀ □ •́ ˵ )
March 22, 2018
This is the last book in the Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy which makes this by far my favourite YA fantasy series. It starts off as a very stereotypical orphan finds out he’s magical story but the themes (grief, revenge, trust, forgiveness, parenthood, duty, war and more) and the plot are more complex than most YA I’ve read as well as some adult books. I think this book is possibly my favourite book of all time, I had really high expectations for it and it surpassed those, and in addition to a great ending the trilogy got some great LGBTQ characters as well (just when I thought my love for this series couldn’t possibly be greater!)
June 6, 2018
Truly and enduringly great series. I'm going to be rereading these more than once and recommending them to all the reading ten-year-olds I know.
September 11, 2018
Worthy conclusion to a great series.
May 28, 2018
Look, this series was amazing.
Atmospheric, witty, tear-jerking and filled with edge of the seat moments.
The settings were not necessarily dark but smothered in fog; obscured between the jumpy shadows of flickering candle light. The tone held a weight I felt in the pit of my stomach.
The characters provided beautiful contrast to this noir appearing aura. They were witty and sceptical. As though real world people were dropped right in the middle of this story and not told their character specific lines. The characters are 3 dimensional and at time's Rudden showcases a terrifying amount of insight into the characters that reminds you that although they aren't the main character of the book, they are in their own lives.
The world set up is so tight knit. The lens on this world is small and focused, like sunlight through a magnifying glass. The descriptions are visceral, intoxicating in some places. Numerous times in this series I found myself so engulfed in the world that when I stopped reading it felt like my world was so pale in comparison.
There wasn't a single wasted page, characters or setting. If it didn't lend to character development - it leant towards setting exploration. If not that, then plot progress. If not that then working to clearly define the tone and theme of the story. This book felt constantly moving and changing with action after action.
I'm so glad I picked up the first book on a whimsy. I hold two series above all others - the Gone series by Michael Grant, and the Enemy series by Charlie Higson. KOTBD will now feature among these greats for me.
Thank you, Rudden. Seriously, can't wait to see what else you write, keep doing you!
Atmospheric, witty, tear-jerking and filled with edge of the seat moments.
The settings were not necessarily dark but smothered in fog; obscured between the jumpy shadows of flickering candle light. The tone held a weight I felt in the pit of my stomach.
The characters provided beautiful contrast to this noir appearing aura. They were witty and sceptical. As though real world people were dropped right in the middle of this story and not told their character specific lines. The characters are 3 dimensional and at time's Rudden showcases a terrifying amount of insight into the characters that reminds you that although they aren't the main character of the book, they are in their own lives.
The world set up is so tight knit. The lens on this world is small and focused, like sunlight through a magnifying glass. The descriptions are visceral, intoxicating in some places. Numerous times in this series I found myself so engulfed in the world that when I stopped reading it felt like my world was so pale in comparison.
There wasn't a single wasted page, characters or setting. If it didn't lend to character development - it leant towards setting exploration. If not that, then plot progress. If not that then working to clearly define the tone and theme of the story. This book felt constantly moving and changing with action after action.
I'm so glad I picked up the first book on a whimsy. I hold two series above all others - the Gone series by Michael Grant, and the Enemy series by Charlie Higson. KOTBD will now feature among these greats for me.
Thank you, Rudden. Seriously, can't wait to see what else you write, keep doing you!
January 16, 2024
A very good realistic mantra of the order; there is no beating the evil enemy forever only beating back, there is no reward for good only survival. This book brought me many directions and I wasn't sure I'd like where it ended up, if it could end up. While I was unsure of trusting Denizens limited training decisions, it did seem like only way to end end the premise of the series and maybe there is something to the unburdened by history ,both personal and order history, that may be worth seeing? Liked seeing the diversity that wasn't for its own sake and the badass queen Abigail with some important work by Simon and Darcie. The descriptive metaphors as always got my admiration and chuckles. My downsides? Was it right to completely close that knight purpose door? I'm still deliberating though the epilogue and thanks pages hint different, not to mention that endless Kings hsve fallen before. The dead broke me book 1 and 3 but I'm always wondering if it feels like enough for the end of a trilogy. The ship I wanted didn't happen but that's just personal choice I guess. Denizen annoyed me a bit this book and I wasn't always sure if new Cants or indeed a crush fully explained his behaviour by times, but I guess he's 14?? I'm wondering, even though the climactic stuff happened early on, was it all too soon? This is personal choice again though as i mostly wanted to see more crew adventures if I'm honest and less 11 years later, cute reference Dave.
July 27, 2018
Damn this book was such an amazing end and I loved it. Just one problem, at the library I borrowed it from, it said it was a Junior paperback right? They aren’t supposed to make teenagers cry. Well, this book made me cry. The loss of Vivian Hardwick is an arrow to my heart, especially when Denizen starts crying for his mother....I just wish he said something on the lines of “I love you” to his mother.....overall I loved this series and I’m sad that it has come to an end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2018
review to follow
June 1, 2018
Mr Rudden has spoken about how he views a trilogy. How the first book is like building a house, that the second is about furnishing it and that the final book is where you burn the house down. I am to some extent paraphrasing here but you get the idea.
In this final book he did not just burn the house down - he razed the ground it stood on and salted it.
In this final book he did not just burn the house down - he razed the ground it stood on and salted it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2018
Crazy good
Love the characters, their flaws and interactions. Really refreshing to see lgbt characters and their easy acceptance in this type of fiction. Love the pace of the adventure and the expansive possibilities of the Omniverse.
Love the characters, their flaws and interactions. Really refreshing to see lgbt characters and their easy acceptance in this type of fiction. Love the pace of the adventure and the expansive possibilities of the Omniverse.
April 12, 2018
With Knights of the Borrowed Dark and The Forever Court, Dave Rudden introduced us to Denizen Hardwick, the very reluctant hero of the piece, and injected Dublin and Ireland with a dark fantasy world at the fringes of our world. The lore and mythology behind the Order of the Borrowed Dark and the Tenebrous is clearly multi-faceted and the first two books felt like we were only scratching the surface of this world.
The Endless King wastes no time in setting up the epic plot that makes up this trilogy closer, bringing us to a whole new setting in Daybreak. Denizen, along with Simon and Abigail are due to begin their training here in earnest. We get a brief glimpse of this training, complete with night time rituals and full-on sparring, before all hell breaks loose as the main characters are scattered and/or broken as the story progresses.
From here, we follow the diverging stories of Denizen and his friends, as well as the fate of the Knights of the Borrowed Dark as they struggle to keep the Tenebrae away. Rudden writes in what is by now his trademark terrifyingly vivid style, relishing in putting the Knights and the students (Neophytes) through ever more perilous ordeals. A particular highlight early on takes place deep under Daybreak as Denizen, his mother Vivian, and the Neophytes attempt to flee. The action reads like a cross between Indiana Jones and the giant spiders from Lord of the Rings, with horror overtones.
There’s also plenty of time for ever darker humour, with some stonkers of lines like:
‘…Denizen was doing his best not to look at her in case it made it seem as if they were secretly plotting, which felt a bit like closing the stable door after the horse had turned into a Tenebrous and eaten everyone’s family.’
The best thing about this finale is that however close Dave Rudden must feel to his characters and this world, he is never afraid to go big and put everyone at risk of death at every opportunity. All of the characters are more developed over the course of the story too, in particular Vivian and Abigail.
The story ultimately belongs to the least likely of heroes though, in the form of Denizen, as he struggles to find a way to save his heritage, the Order, and restore some sort of balance to the world in which he lives.
Huge, dark and ambitious, never letting up in high-stakes action. A worthy and breathless conclusion.
The Endless King wastes no time in setting up the epic plot that makes up this trilogy closer, bringing us to a whole new setting in Daybreak. Denizen, along with Simon and Abigail are due to begin their training here in earnest. We get a brief glimpse of this training, complete with night time rituals and full-on sparring, before all hell breaks loose as the main characters are scattered and/or broken as the story progresses.
From here, we follow the diverging stories of Denizen and his friends, as well as the fate of the Knights of the Borrowed Dark as they struggle to keep the Tenebrae away. Rudden writes in what is by now his trademark terrifyingly vivid style, relishing in putting the Knights and the students (Neophytes) through ever more perilous ordeals. A particular highlight early on takes place deep under Daybreak as Denizen, his mother Vivian, and the Neophytes attempt to flee. The action reads like a cross between Indiana Jones and the giant spiders from Lord of the Rings, with horror overtones.
There’s also plenty of time for ever darker humour, with some stonkers of lines like:
‘…Denizen was doing his best not to look at her in case it made it seem as if they were secretly plotting, which felt a bit like closing the stable door after the horse had turned into a Tenebrous and eaten everyone’s family.’
The best thing about this finale is that however close Dave Rudden must feel to his characters and this world, he is never afraid to go big and put everyone at risk of death at every opportunity. All of the characters are more developed over the course of the story too, in particular Vivian and Abigail.
The story ultimately belongs to the least likely of heroes though, in the form of Denizen, as he struggles to find a way to save his heritage, the Order, and restore some sort of balance to the world in which he lives.
Huge, dark and ambitious, never letting up in high-stakes action. A worthy and breathless conclusion.
April 12, 2018
I enjoyed the first two books in the Knights of the Borrowed Dark Trilogy but I loved this last one so much more! An epic good versus evil battle that throws you from one shocking moment to the next with next to no time to catch your breath. A key character dies fairly early on and I immediately felt that awful ‘oh my God!’ shock and almost outrage that you get when a favourite character is killed off, but there’s no time to mourn, it’s on to the next scene (although I did have time to shed a tear). I found the ambivalent feelings engendered by Mercy fascinating and the friendships described were touching , which makes one precipitant death in the final battle scene even more of a sledgehammer to the reader’s feelings. All in all, one hell of a ride!
March 30, 2018
Sometimes, rarely, you come across a series with a conclusion that's so beautiful that it leaves you breathless. You let yourself invest a part of yourself into this world, this story, these characters, and when you reach the end it leaves you full because that whole journey was worth it.
This series has been a part of me for a year and a half now. It got me back into reading and writing, it helped me cope with grief, it's given me such joy, and while it's always bittersweet when a series you love like this ends, I couldn't have asked for anything more.
This series has been a part of me for a year and a half now. It got me back into reading and writing, it helped me cope with grief, it's given me such joy, and while it's always bittersweet when a series you love like this ends, I couldn't have asked for anything more.
April 9, 2018
This book is brilliant. It’s the third of the Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy and it delivers on all the sparkling promise of the first two. Fast paced, intense, dark and captivating, it is on par with (and often better than) Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and The Knife of Never Letting Go. Read this book. Rated: all of the stars in this galaxy (and the next).
September 28, 2019
a really slow paced one but finally, I got through it! A worthy conclusion to the series but at some points of this book, I got really confused though
October 6, 2024
This is the final book of the trilogy, and overall, I think the guality matches the other two books and the overall series, which is average, not bad per se but not amazing either juno so it has been a fun read but not one that leaves much substance but that's not a bad thing because it has been a joy to read this trilogy.
I must say, thought my biggest disappointment was the lack of the uriel who I thought was left on such a cliffhanger in the last book that I thought it was a real shame that we never got to check back in with but their is hint that their was a second war that he was involved when we get a brief update on the character in the future but it was something that I was looking forward so it is unfortunate that we never got to see that spefic story line
I enjoyed the story in this book because it was fast, exciting, and action-packed, so it was really fun once the dam has broken juno it just becomes this crazy whirlwind of chaos that you can't help but get wrapped up which enables us to connect the characters desperation to find a solution seeing it really does feel like the world is ending.
I must say I never spoke much about the side characters, but they made the book for me with them even out ranking the main character because I loved seeing their devotion to each other and loved seeing them stick together juno they did not abandon each other and tried to keep each other safe so it great to see this unity and commerade during a time of war
I must say I was disappointed with the love story in this book, which I never minded in the last two books but I thought this love story did a really disservice to the main character to be honest in my eyes, he became too wrapped up with it and he at times came off like that she was all he cared now I know he had noble intentions but in my eyes he still looked after her a lot better then he did for his friend's so he turned me off him to a certain extent but I could understand why he did what he did. I did love, though, how his ending came full circle juno he ended up in the same place he was in at the start of this series but just in a different capacity.
I must say, thought my biggest disappointment was the lack of the uriel who I thought was left on such a cliffhanger in the last book that I thought it was a real shame that we never got to check back in with but their is hint that their was a second war that he was involved when we get a brief update on the character in the future but it was something that I was looking forward so it is unfortunate that we never got to see that spefic story line
I enjoyed the story in this book because it was fast, exciting, and action-packed, so it was really fun once the dam has broken juno it just becomes this crazy whirlwind of chaos that you can't help but get wrapped up which enables us to connect the characters desperation to find a solution seeing it really does feel like the world is ending.
I must say I never spoke much about the side characters, but they made the book for me with them even out ranking the main character because I loved seeing their devotion to each other and loved seeing them stick together juno they did not abandon each other and tried to keep each other safe so it great to see this unity and commerade during a time of war
I must say I was disappointed with the love story in this book, which I never minded in the last two books but I thought this love story did a really disservice to the main character to be honest in my eyes, he became too wrapped up with it and he at times came off like that she was all he cared now I know he had noble intentions but in my eyes he still looked after her a lot better then he did for his friend's so he turned me off him to a certain extent but I could understand why he did what he did. I did love, though, how his ending came full circle juno he ended up in the same place he was in at the start of this series but just in a different capacity.
June 19, 2019
A solid conclusion to this trilogy and an enjoyable read.
Is it my favourite? No, I think the first is my favourite of the bunch, but this was certainly packed with action.
And my darling man Grey was back! And rocking a Hawkeye cut from what I could gather. He wasn't there as much as I would have liked and I'd also would have liked to have had more of a solid ending for him than what we got, especially after what he went through, not only in the first book but this one as well, but that's just my Grey-bias shining through and we had some great moments with him and for that I am happy.
Though it wasn't all enough to pique my interest and sometimes it felt like the pacing was a bit skewed, but you get that with anything that is winding down a series revolved around such stakes.
The book itself is a thrill ride of action and consequences, but I found myself tiring of reading Abigail's parts, they just weren't interesting to me, but hey I'm a grown ass woman and this book was written for people significantly younger than I am so maybe they'll get a thrill out of her arc within this story.
I also wish Simon played more of a part as sometimes it just felt like he was kind of there, but I do like the little nods to him and Uriel.
Also RIP Vivian, you were an awesome mum when you had a chance.
Denizen was cool too.
Mercy had always been a 'whatever' character to me, though I did like the revelation about her, that was nicely segued in.
All in all, solid conclusion to the trilogy.
Is it my favourite? No, I think the first is my favourite of the bunch, but this was certainly packed with action.
And my darling man Grey was back! And rocking a Hawkeye cut from what I could gather. He wasn't there as much as I would have liked and I'd also would have liked to have had more of a solid ending for him than what we got, especially after what he went through, not only in the first book but this one as well, but that's just my Grey-bias shining through and we had some great moments with him and for that I am happy.
Though it wasn't all enough to pique my interest and sometimes it felt like the pacing was a bit skewed, but you get that with anything that is winding down a series revolved around such stakes.
The book itself is a thrill ride of action and consequences, but I found myself tiring of reading Abigail's parts, they just weren't interesting to me, but hey I'm a grown ass woman and this book was written for people significantly younger than I am so maybe they'll get a thrill out of her arc within this story.
I also wish Simon played more of a part as sometimes it just felt like he was kind of there, but I do like the little nods to him and Uriel.
Also RIP Vivian, you were an awesome mum when you had a chance.
Denizen was cool too.
Mercy had always been a 'whatever' character to me, though I did like the revelation about her, that was nicely segued in.
All in all, solid conclusion to the trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2023
Book: The Endless King
Read By: Ebook
Author: Danielle l Jensen
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Recommend: Yes
Spice: 🌶️️
< b>Age recommendation: 18-30+ Years
My feelings:
With its vibrant cover and intriguing title, "The Endless King" trilogy had all the makings of a perfect read for younger teens. As I delved into the first book, I found myself quickly turning pages and eager to see where the story would take me. However, as an older reader, I couldn't help but feel that the writing was a bit too simplistic and lacked depth. Nonetheless, I still found myself enjoying the series for its charming storyline and lovable characters. One of my favorite things about this series was its accessibility."The Endless King" was refreshing in its straightforward language and easy-to-follow plot. After finishing the first book, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue with the series. But curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to give the second book a chance. While it didn't necessarily improve upon the issues I had with the first book, I still found myself invested enough to finish the series and see how it all ended. Overall, "The Endless King" was a quick and enjoyable read that would make a great addition to any teen's bookshelf.
Read By: Ebook
Author: Danielle l Jensen
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Recommend: Yes
Spice: 🌶️️
< b>Age recommendation: 18-30+ Years
My feelings:
With its vibrant cover and intriguing title, "The Endless King" trilogy had all the makings of a perfect read for younger teens. As I delved into the first book, I found myself quickly turning pages and eager to see where the story would take me. However, as an older reader, I couldn't help but feel that the writing was a bit too simplistic and lacked depth. Nonetheless, I still found myself enjoying the series for its charming storyline and lovable characters. One of my favorite things about this series was its accessibility."The Endless King" was refreshing in its straightforward language and easy-to-follow plot. After finishing the first book, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue with the series. But curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to give the second book a chance. While it didn't necessarily improve upon the issues I had with the first book, I still found myself invested enough to finish the series and see how it all ended. Overall, "The Endless King" was a quick and enjoyable read that would make a great addition to any teen's bookshelf.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2018
This series was screaming to be a lot longer. It could of easily found it's way well into the magical school genre. Spoilers Ahead. Mercy could of joined the magical school they were at and they could have found a way to get rid of the cost (maybe through Mercy). The cants could have been then used for things other than fighting and he could have created a whole magical universe. The Tenebrae could have been something a lot more scarier than a multiverse junkyard and the glimpse could have been a specially dark area in it. Mercy and Denizens love life could have been fleshed out more and a few other couples could have come together Simon and Abigail or Simon and Darcie. I feel the end battle came too soon and could have happened at the end of a book 7 or even a book 10. I would have given it 5 stars if not for wanting more of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2018
The Endless King was the perfect ending for the Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy. As with the first two books, the standard of writing is excellent. I tried to take my time with this as I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Denizen or Simon or any of the other characters. The terror and action was really ramped up in this one. When Denizen and the Order go to Daybreak they find their world descend into chaos and destruction at the hands of the Tenebrai. This books sees the return of Mercy into Denizen's already complicated life. I loved that the book ended up on a hopeful note even though I was sad to that it's the end of my journey with Denizen and the KOTB. An outstanding ending to a dark and fantastical Middle Grade series.
October 17, 2018
Wow. This book is for a YA audience, but I really enjoyed it. It is the darkest of the trilogy, as our new wizards-in-training get into some serious battles. It's beautifully written, and there's a lot of human relationships in the book (as in the others) not simply warriors and battles.
So worth a read.
So worth a read.
September 29, 2021
An interesting end to the series. Four and a half stars rounded off to five. The half star was lost because the author decided to (in this last book) flesh out some of the supporting characters, and it felt forced. Otherwise, a satisfying end.
May 6, 2024
finally finished The Endless King after having only read the first 2 books years ago which captivated my mind when I was younger, I'm very glad to have finished it. This is one of my favorite Magic systems and will no doubt remain in my brain for a while to come
December 2, 2024
Denizen nastavlja sa svojom obukom, ne bi li bio spremniji za borbe koje mu tek slede. Ako se mračne sile podignu izvan svojih uobičajenih granica, neće biti dobro. Kraj jednog dobrog serijala za decu.
February 18, 2018
Just as good as the previous Knights of the Borrowed Dark titles
April 22, 2018
A fantastic finish to an exciting trilogy! I love the way it plays with the tropes of YA fantasy, but still has all of its own character - a delightful read!
April 27, 2018
Super end to a super seriea, wish I could give this to my 10 year old self.
June 5, 2018
Wonderful, exciting, powerful, dark, emotional, sad, hopeful, action packed, upsetting and fast paced. Excellent end to a brilliant trilogy. Kudos, Dave Rudden, I loved this book.
July 5, 2018
A good end to the trilogy although there is still more I would like to know!
July 11, 2018
An absolutely stunning, emotionally hard-hitting, beautifully poetic conclusion to the Knights of the Borrowed Dark series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews