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Gods & Monsters #5
The Last Supper Before Ragnarok
THE APOCALYPSE IS OLD NEWS.
Tanis Barlas, snake-woman assassin. Cason Cole, the killer of gods. Louie Fitzsimmons, the last known Prophet. And Rupert Wong, a chef who just wants to eat his instant noodles and stay home.
The Greek Pantheon has been obliterated, and gods and monsters across the globe are looking to fill the vacuum. But Rupert, Case, Fitz, and Tanis have bigger problems to deal with.
It’s time to answer the biggest question of all: Where did the father gods go?
Tanis Barlas, snake-woman assassin. Cason Cole, the killer of gods. Louie Fitzsimmons, the last known Prophet. And Rupert Wong, a chef who just wants to eat his instant noodles and stay home.
The Greek Pantheon has been obliterated, and gods and monsters across the globe are looking to fill the vacuum. But Rupert, Case, Fitz, and Tanis have bigger problems to deal with.
It’s time to answer the biggest question of all: Where did the father gods go?
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2019
68 people are currently reading
563 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Khaw
126 books2,938 followersCassandra Khaw is an award-winning game writer.
Their recent novella Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a British
Fantasy, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, and Bram Stoker
Award finalist. Their debut collection Breakable Things is now
out.
Their recent novella Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a British
Fantasy, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, and Bram Stoker
Award finalist. Their debut collection Breakable Things is now
out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
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June 16, 2019Tremendous conclusion to the story of Rupert Wong, cannibal chef and reluctant immortal (dies a lot but can't stay dead). It's exceedingly gory, highly eschatological, with a lot to say about the internet, climate disaster, extinction, and our slide to the end. But, with hope! Which makes a nice change.
The writing is turned up to 11 while the plot whips along (a rare and precious combo) and it's a fantastic ride. The whole series is a boon.
The writing is turned up to 11 while the plot whips along (a rare and precious combo) and it's a fantastic ride. The whole series is a boon.
August 6, 2019
I'm mildly annoyed to see that this is the third book in a series. There's certainly nothing on either the front or the back covers to indicate this. Yes, the Goodreads description mentions it, but I’m not in the habit of looking up books on Goodreads before deciding whether or not to read them. It would just slow me down.
So the end of the world is imminent, as you’d guess from the title. The only folks who stand a chance of stopping it are a ragtag band consisting of Rupert--a chef who’d just rather stay home (understandable, since he dies a lot), Cason--a suburban dad and half-son of the Devil,Tanis--half lamia and deadly assassin, Fitz--a prophet, and Amanda--the personification of the Internet. They're up against almost incomprehensible power, and all they’ve got on their side is a prophecy …
This novel feels like Neil Gaiman’s American Gods as rewritten by Clive Barker and Harlan Ellison. It's got Barker’s sense of beautifully dark supernatural menace and fearlessness in going as far into the gore and/or sex as needed to tell the story. And it's got Ellison's sense of emotional weight, nuance, and precision.
This was quite an enjoyable book. Be warned that it does get gory in some spots. There are some fine characters here, including one of the most enjoyable depictions of Coyote I’ve ever read. I just wish I’d read the other two books in the series first. It's not that I mind starting with the third book. I just would appreciate knowing that fact going into it. Knocking one star off the review for that bit of publishing negligence. Still, highly recommended!
So the end of the world is imminent, as you’d guess from the title. The only folks who stand a chance of stopping it are a ragtag band consisting of Rupert--a chef who’d just rather stay home (understandable, since he dies a lot), Cason--a suburban dad and half-son of the Devil,Tanis--half lamia and deadly assassin, Fitz--a prophet, and Amanda--the personification of the Internet. They're up against almost incomprehensible power, and all they’ve got on their side is a prophecy …
This novel feels like Neil Gaiman’s American Gods as rewritten by Clive Barker and Harlan Ellison. It's got Barker’s sense of beautifully dark supernatural menace and fearlessness in going as far into the gore and/or sex as needed to tell the story. And it's got Ellison's sense of emotional weight, nuance, and precision.
This was quite an enjoyable book. Be warned that it does get gory in some spots. There are some fine characters here, including one of the most enjoyable depictions of Coyote I’ve ever read. I just wish I’d read the other two books in the series first. It's not that I mind starting with the third book. I just would appreciate knowing that fact going into it. Knocking one star off the review for that bit of publishing negligence. Still, highly recommended!
June 12, 2019
This is the kind of story that I've seen a lot of writers attempt, but so many fail with. To include anything of the internet and the modern age without having those elements override your own style takes an amazing writer and Cassandra Khaw has proven herself to be that again and again. The Rupert Wong series is a roller-coaster of smart writing, deep world building, but with a sharp focus on characters and pacing that let's the story flow over you, never leaving you confused or bewildered about any aspect of it be it character motivation or story direction and that ease of reading is the result of so much work, such careful exacting effort and it is a joy to experience. This has been my favourite of the Rupert Wong series, I won't spoil any of it, there are enough synopsis out there, better written than I could do no doubt, but I will say this: It isn't what you'll expect at times, but it's exactly what you'll want. My heart was full reading this book, you'd expect that would be a common feeling, so many books attempt to tug at our atrophied heartstrings, but not to this degree, it leaves me without the words to say what I feel, which really says it all.
June 11, 2019
Last Supper Before Ragnorak is more traditional than the earlier installments, and it took me a couple chapters to wrap my head around that. Once I did, I was able to thoroughly enjoy it. Like the second installment, there are fewer Malaysian Chinese gods and more all the other gods. I do sort of miss the original setting since Asian-influences urban fantasy is rarer than multi-pantheons (at least when it comes to books written in English), but I really, REALLY liked the cast of characters for this one so it’s ultimately a minor complaint.
And as always, I’m in love with the writing and in awe at how well Khaw can write action—especially the ethereal (chthonic?) sort of action. There’s no slowing down of the plot, or having to go back and reread sections because of fuzzy writing here. Everything word used is descriptive and evocative and oh-so perfect.
Sorry to see the series end, but wouldn’t mind seeing some of the potential prequels if they ever come to be.
And as always, I’m in love with the writing and in awe at how well Khaw can write action—especially the ethereal (chthonic?) sort of action. There’s no slowing down of the plot, or having to go back and reread sections because of fuzzy writing here. Everything word used is descriptive and evocative and oh-so perfect.
Sorry to see the series end, but wouldn’t mind seeing some of the potential prequels if they ever come to be.
May 23, 2020
As always with Khaw some great characters, humour and points of view but as this was the finale of a wider series I’m not familiar with plus the main plot never really got going I didn’t think wholly successful
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/ch...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/ch...
July 18, 2019
New gods are appearing to replace those big dick father gods of past ages. The most nightmarish of the bunch are the gods that have evolved from the darker parts of the internet, a concept that could prevent you from a good nights sleep. Rupert and friends are tasked with a quest for a final confrontation. I recommend reading the prior books first. A fun, bizarre read.
January 10, 2021
Plot holes. cason was spelled carson at one point. I did not believe rupert was chinese. Nothing really indicated it besides his talk about food. The "climax" was boring and predictable. Swing and a miss from me I'm afraid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2020
I first became aware of Cassandra Khaw and her novel The Last Supper Before Ragnarok on Twitter, where folks whose opinion I respect, many of them authors, raved about it. Turns out they were absolutely right!
One thing, though, right off the bat. Reading this novel was a sometimes disorienting experience for me. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of the story, and there were things I had to puzzle out, connections I had to make, character motivations I had to work to understand. As it turns out, that’s on me, because The Last Supper Before Ragnarok is actually the third novel in a trilogy, Gods & Monsters. I’m generally (okay, always) a stickler for reading a series in order, so I have no idea how I missed this. I blame my Kindle, where I tend to skip over the stuff I’d probably notice on a book cover.
Also as it turns out, it didn’t really matter, because I loved this book. What’s it about? Glad you asked! A ragtag group—a quasi-immortal chef who keeps dying but can’t stay dead, a god killer, a snake woman assassin, and a prophet, along with the entire internet personified as a young woman—road trip in search of the father gods, the ancient deities, in order to stop ragnarok. Apocalyptic mayhem, and several meals, ensue.
The real star here is Khaw’s prose. Thrilling, muscular, violent and anarchic, her language shimmers and shouts. There are laugh-out-loud moments of humor that punctuate the propulsive plot, and quietly heartbreaking moments as well. The Last Supper Before Ragnarok travels some of the same ground as Neil Gaiman’s masterpiece American Gods, but it definitely does not suffer in comparison. This novel could not be different in outcome or execution. Khaw is a writer of uncompromising skill, and she’s distilling real magic here.
I wish I had read this trilogy in correct order, but make no mistake, the first two novels will be heading to the top of my TBR pile.
One thing, though, right off the bat. Reading this novel was a sometimes disorienting experience for me. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of the story, and there were things I had to puzzle out, connections I had to make, character motivations I had to work to understand. As it turns out, that’s on me, because The Last Supper Before Ragnarok is actually the third novel in a trilogy, Gods & Monsters. I’m generally (okay, always) a stickler for reading a series in order, so I have no idea how I missed this. I blame my Kindle, where I tend to skip over the stuff I’d probably notice on a book cover.
Also as it turns out, it didn’t really matter, because I loved this book. What’s it about? Glad you asked! A ragtag group—a quasi-immortal chef who keeps dying but can’t stay dead, a god killer, a snake woman assassin, and a prophet, along with the entire internet personified as a young woman—road trip in search of the father gods, the ancient deities, in order to stop ragnarok. Apocalyptic mayhem, and several meals, ensue.
The real star here is Khaw’s prose. Thrilling, muscular, violent and anarchic, her language shimmers and shouts. There are laugh-out-loud moments of humor that punctuate the propulsive plot, and quietly heartbreaking moments as well. The Last Supper Before Ragnarok travels some of the same ground as Neil Gaiman’s masterpiece American Gods, but it definitely does not suffer in comparison. This novel could not be different in outcome or execution. Khaw is a writer of uncompromising skill, and she’s distilling real magic here.
I wish I had read this trilogy in correct order, but make no mistake, the first two novels will be heading to the top of my TBR pile.
November 11, 2021
Dare I say quite average?!? I absolutely loved the first and second ‘Rupert Wong’ books and I am at a loss as to what happened here as the Wong Trilogy and Gods & Monsters Pentalogy comes to its completion, pending prequels or re-boots. I felt Khaw’s attempts to tackle/incorporate so many real-world social issues into what was - at least in the first two entries - a gore/eros/Cthulhu/demon/deity funfest just ran out of space and time. Pun intended, as always. Khaw’s writing is visceral and expansive and brilliant, which carried the razor-thin plot oftentimes. Still, I wanted something more concise and fantastical, but what I got was too much of the former and not enough of the latter. The dialogue was mind-numbingly frenetic, bordering on word-vomit, reminiscent of people talking at those in their vicinity instead of conversing with them. A smidgen annoying for me. The jokes are funny and smart, but rather unremarkable even so, like a goddess preaching to the converted. And I am still not entirely sure if Amanda as the personification of the Internet is progressive, transgressive, or sexist. Overall, this (probably final) installment read a bit too series-derivative, or maybe series-repetitive? A work of quality, if merely from a “compared-to-what-else-is-being-done” perspective, but a bit middling considering what I know Khaw is capable of producing.
July 17, 2019
Rupert Wong: Noun. Complex name for long suffering given mortal shape.
This book is an awesome journey. We do battle, sort of, with a dragon god while desperately trying to get the last of some awesome food down our gullet, are sought out by the internet (she goes by Amanda), deal with customs officers in unconventional ways, get eaten, officiate a short notice but lovely lesbian wedding, bump into some old favourites of the big league pantheons and bear witness to a humiliation that results in some unfortunateness involving rats. Twice.
I'm hoping this whetted your appetite (I'd also like to apologise, that was not a pun or intended and I feel bad enough for it having ever gotten typed but I roll as though I'm writing in ink so we're all going to have to live with it just sitting there like some fat and very crusty toad, eye balling us with mutual displeasure) for the story ahead because I only vaguely over-viewed what is to transpire and it's so much better than I can readily put into words.
The Last Supper Before Ragnarok; you're not going to want to miss it.
(Hi Amanda, sorry we've never bother to formally say hello before!)
This book is an awesome journey. We do battle, sort of, with a dragon god while desperately trying to get the last of some awesome food down our gullet, are sought out by the internet (she goes by Amanda), deal with customs officers in unconventional ways, get eaten, officiate a short notice but lovely lesbian wedding, bump into some old favourites of the big league pantheons and bear witness to a humiliation that results in some unfortunateness involving rats. Twice.
I'm hoping this whetted your appetite (I'd also like to apologise, that was not a pun or intended and I feel bad enough for it having ever gotten typed but I roll as though I'm writing in ink so we're all going to have to live with it just sitting there like some fat and very crusty toad, eye balling us with mutual displeasure) for the story ahead because I only vaguely over-viewed what is to transpire and it's so much better than I can readily put into words.
The Last Supper Before Ragnarok; you're not going to want to miss it.
(Hi Amanda, sorry we've never bother to formally say hello before!)
January 17, 2022
Compared to the first two books in the Rupert Wong series, this book is lacking. In the first two, he was clearly the protagonist, out of his depth but cobbling together a solution between page turning action. In this book, he's a side character despite it being from his point of view. Too much page time is devoted to other characters in this "rag-tag band off to save the world". Not to mention the complete 180 from book 2 (where Rupert cares most about self-preservation) to his sudden willingness to join up with strangers to save the world. It feels like the author had creative freedom in the first two books, but had to meet a checklist of publisher demands in this one.
My advice: if you haven't (like me) read the other books in this shared world and don't intend to, stick with the first two Rupert Wong books and ignore the epilogue at the end of the second one. It gives a very satisfying ending before the epilogue leads the reader into this disappointing third book.
I still highly recommend the first two Rupert Wong books (collected in Food of the Gods) as this story by Cassandra Khaw is one of the most inventive and funniest books I've read!
My advice: if you haven't (like me) read the other books in this shared world and don't intend to, stick with the first two Rupert Wong books and ignore the epilogue at the end of the second one. It gives a very satisfying ending before the epilogue leads the reader into this disappointing third book.
I still highly recommend the first two Rupert Wong books (collected in Food of the Gods) as this story by Cassandra Khaw is one of the most inventive and funniest books I've read!
March 29, 2021
Kind of like American Gods, but told from the "new gods" side.
This is an interesting sequel to Food of the Gods, but I did have some issues with how it seemed to skip certain pertinent details and dialogues. The events that are described seemed to be incomplete. I know that it is supposed to be like a diary retold by the physical representation of the Internet, but I think the internet needs to learn that details would help make the story a bit better.
In this book, we follow Rupert and a motley bunch of supernatural beings as they journey across America to face the "Father gods" and prevent them from destroying the world. The characters are well developed and have great interactions with each other, but the "final battle" is a bit confusing with what is happening. I would like to see a sequel to the ending of what happened to Rupert and his "new life."
Well done.
This is an interesting sequel to Food of the Gods, but I did have some issues with how it seemed to skip certain pertinent details and dialogues. The events that are described seemed to be incomplete. I know that it is supposed to be like a diary retold by the physical representation of the Internet, but I think the internet needs to learn that details would help make the story a bit better.
In this book, we follow Rupert and a motley bunch of supernatural beings as they journey across America to face the "Father gods" and prevent them from destroying the world. The characters are well developed and have great interactions with each other, but the "final battle" is a bit confusing with what is happening. I would like to see a sequel to the ending of what happened to Rupert and his "new life."
Well done.
August 25, 2019
I think I would have liked this one better as a novella. It started out as an amusing black comedy but the witty repartee between the troubled reluctant heroes wore thin after awhile without enough (for me) substance to keep it going. It was also very graphically violent so there was a lot I skimmed over rather quickly. I felt like I was missing a lot of the back story that presumably can be found in other stories about Rupert Wong but I didn't come away interested enough to look them up. I did enjoy the characterization of the Internet as Amanda, the newest goddess. And I always enjoy Coyote. There were definitely some fun moments. If you enjoy dark humor mixed with lots of violence and start with the first episode, this might be for you.
Book Pairings:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Book Pairings:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
June 19, 2019
I have read all the Gods and Monsters books and loved them. Snake Eyes is one of my top five favorite books period. I was both excited and a bit nervous when I found out about this. I love poor Rupert, but I was afraid of the blending of characters since each of the authors have such different voices.
I should have trusted more. This book is the perfect ending (though I will miss this world so much). The characters ring true and there is even Coyote. I wish we had gotten more Bee though. A toddler with mothers like that has to be something.
I recommend this book highly to any urban fantasy fan. Also read the other books that came before this one.
This is now in my top five too, and I hope to one day get it signed.
I should have trusted more. This book is the perfect ending (though I will miss this world so much). The characters ring true and there is even Coyote. I wish we had gotten more Bee though. A toddler with mothers like that has to be something.
I recommend this book highly to any urban fantasy fan. Also read the other books that came before this one.
This is now in my top five too, and I hope to one day get it signed.
August 2, 2021
I didn't realize this was the third in a series when I picked it up and I didn't really feel like I missed anything by skipping the first two. Over two-thirds of the book was really set-up and when the climax happened... well, I'm not entirely sure what happened but it all got resolved.
The writing was compelling and I never thought about putting it down, but there was a lot of exposition and wandering discussions that occurred throughout. Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the writing, but I'm still not 100% sure what happened and why.
The writing was compelling and I never thought about putting it down, but there was a lot of exposition and wandering discussions that occurred throughout. Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the writing, but I'm still not 100% sure what happened and why.
August 13, 2019
Delicious.
High-stakes urban fantasy (old gods! new gods! nameless horrors!) with lots of tension and gore told by a narrator with a wiseass sense of humor and a fairly pragmatic attitude (all things considered). It sticks the landing, too, which is good, since this is definitively the end of Rupert Wong's story.
High-stakes urban fantasy (old gods! new gods! nameless horrors!) with lots of tension and gore told by a narrator with a wiseass sense of humor and a fairly pragmatic attitude (all things considered). It sticks the landing, too, which is good, since this is definitively the end of Rupert Wong's story.
June 19, 2022
Although I jumped into this series at the last book I feel as though I’m not missing much. The lack of context, promise, progress and payoff severely hurt each paragraph, my connection to the characters, and the story as a whole. I was wildly fascinated by the concept, but the execution was poor. I did not finish the book, because I was so uninvested to turn the next page.
August 27, 2019
Rupert and some other heroes get together to to stop the world being taken over by bad new gods. Less showdown and more road trip than I expected. Also, I found it just a bit confusing. But it was quite enjoyable anyways.
November 19, 2019
I've told friends that if I read American Gods now, I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I did when I read it at 19. This book hits the sweet spot that Gaiman once did, except it's fresh and a lot more funny.
February 6, 2020
DNF - couldn’t get into this book and just realized why. It’s book 5 in a series. I had no idea who the characters were or the purpose of the story. How is it that there is no indication anywhere on this book that it is part of a series? Poor marketing. Not going to finish.
August 8, 2020
HOW DARE THEY USE MINAH AS A BARGAINING CHIP AGAAAAIN!!!
i'm so glad rupert was strong enough to resist the urge.
thank you so much cassandra khaw, for rupert wong. and also for giving him a non-despairing ending.
(the two-dicks scene was kind of my fave. next to the kbbq one.)
you are my hero.
i'm so glad rupert was strong enough to resist the urge.
thank you so much cassandra khaw, for rupert wong. and also for giving him a non-despairing ending.
(the two-dicks scene was kind of my fave. next to the kbbq one.)
you are my hero.
August 12, 2019
Dang good way to finish the story of Rupert Wong and the arc of the Gods and Monsters story. Khaw brings a presence to the taste and the presence of places and things and just nails it.
October 6, 2019
Didn't know this was the third book in a series. Woops
October 16, 2019
Similar to another comment below I didn’t realize this book was the third book in a series. The cover or inside didn’t make any indication of it... that being said still a good read.
November 9, 2019
Ugh. Gave up 65% of the way through.
December 15, 2019
A great conclusion to a wonderfully imaginative urban fantasy series.
August 17, 2020
not sure what i'm rating it yet, gonna have to sit with it
what i know for sure is that i want more rupert Immediately
what i know for sure is that i want more rupert Immediately
June 22, 2021
Potato chips for the folklore obsessed -- like me.
July 31, 2021
I was confused at first, but really enjoyed it. Probably would have liked it better if I had realized there are books before it in a series. 😂
April 9, 2022
Excellent piece of urban fantasy. And excellent taste in whisky
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews