The End of Dreams

The Gifted and the Cursed #3

by Marcus Lee

'What the gods give with one hand, they take away with the other, for if you are gifted, you shall also be cursed.'

The End of Dreams is the nervewracking and glorious conclusion to The Gifted and The Cursed trilogy.

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As Daleth the Witch-King and his horde ready themselves for the final battle, a small alliance prepares for a desperate last stand.

However, the alliance is weak and fractured, led by a king interested only in retaining his wealth and a lord commander consumed by his thirst for revenge. With a seemingly unbeatable army before them, invisible foes amongst them, and broken hearts between them, the alliance appears destined to fall.

Yet in these dark times, her light almost extinguished, a peasant huntress is soon to be queen. But if she can find what was lost, she might prove to be more powerful than two kings combined.

This war will bring about the end of dreams, but for whom, the gods have yet to decide

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

403 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2021

About the author

Marcus Lee is a bestselling author of Fantasy novels full of magic, conquest, darkness vs light, and Machiavellian plot twists that you won't see coming.

Born and living in London, he has been a lover of fantasy since reading Homer the Odyssey and The Iliad as a seven year old. Now, as a father of one, he seeks to create worlds and stories that capture the imagination of a new generation of readers, to give back some of the magic he has so happily immersed himself in over the years.

Whenever Marcus' quill is at rest, he can be found wandering enchanted forests, or engaging in a variety of sports/playing computer games with his son.

Marcus can be contacted via his website: www.marcusleebooks.com

Reviews

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is with a certain sense of bitter-sweetness that I type of this review. The main reason for this is because I have really enjoyed following the journey of these incredible characters and am sad that it had to come to an end. But what an end it is! All of the tension that has been building up to this final installment comes to fruition in one of the best climactic stories I've had the pleasure of reading.

This final book picks up immediately following the siege of Tristan's Folly and the crazy battle that took place there. Many of our beloved main characters have been scattered in different places, some significantly battle-worn to say the least. Battle plans are being drawn for a potential epic showdown that could change everything with regard to the future of the freestates and its surrounding territories. The fate of everyone and everything rides on the strategies of only a few and who will prevail is very much a mystery in this terrific epic fantasy tale.

I went into this book with a great deal of anticipation because I knew that this would be the decisive story that would resolve what had come before for the good or bad. What I wasn't prepared for was just how amazing of a finish I was in for. Everything that you would expect of this book gets delivered tenfold and my adrenaline was pumping the whole time, that's for sure. I won't give away even a little bit of what happens, suffice to say though, you will not be disappointed.

The characters that I have grown to both love and hate: Daleth, Tristan, Taran, Maya, Rakan, are thrown into the maelstrom both emotionally and physically in this one. Taran and Maya's relationship is very much at the brink and their romance is tested like it has never been before by the overbearing and jealous King Tristan, who will stop at nothing to end the young lovers' relationship and have Maya all to himself as Queen. Throw in the fact that Taran and Tristan absolutely despise each other and I knew that when they ultimately came together, it was going to be absolute fireworks.

When the last page was turned in this one I was left a bit breathless, shattered, and ultimately fulfilled at the exceptional story that Marcus Lee has brought us. Too many times the last book in a series doesn't live up to the promise of the preceding books, but THE END OF DREAMS crushed it and then some. This is a series and a final book that will take you through numerous highs and lows before the dust settles. But in the end I am happy to say that The Gifted and the Cursed is a series that should make people stand up and take notice. If you enjoy epic fantasies that hearken back to the classic tales that made you want to read fantasy in the first place, then pick these books up. They truly are wonderful stories filled with magic, epic battles, and a tinge of the dark. I'm sad to see it all end but I relish the thought of what is to come from the talented mind of fantasy author Marcus Lee.

[S A M | The Book in Hand · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual this review an be found HERE and all of my other reviews an be found HERE

Hello Bookish Folk!

How are we all doing today? I hope you are all well.

Today I am once again thrilled to be one of the many incredible bloggers coming together to review Marcus Lee’s final book in The Gifted and the Cursed trilogy! This tour is hosted by Storytellers on Tour, who I have had the pleasure of working with on a few previous occasions, so definitely check out their site!

Here are a few things you can expect from this book:

A dark fantasy romance;
Epic battles;
A far reaching and magnificent world;
Deep, complex and nuanced characters; and
An utterly satisfying end to a great trilogy.

On to the full review…

I feel like I have been on such a journey with these books, from its characters and their journey all the way down to mine. I have the joy of saying that I have been able to participate in a book tour for each book from this series, and I am honoured to have been one of the many bloggers to have come together to share our thoughts on these books.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series as a whole and this final book was not a disappointment. I have loved, throughout reading this series, the the detail Lee puts into his writing, it is the little things I wouldn’t think of like Kalas’ armour being to bright to give appropriate camouflage, and it just adds that little extra to his writing that makes all the difference to the readers immersion into the book.

I also really enjoyed Lee’s knack for showing us the camaraderie amongst those who had survived Tristan’s Folly, and the introduction of new people into their ranks, though I did feel at times that anyone who wasn’t a part of their group were untrained simpletons and that at times felt a little unrealistic.

Lee manages to draw out some serious emotion towards the characters. Lord knows the moment I saw Yana’s name I was sighing at the bitch. Girl, please. He ain’t your man!! But then she surprises you and has you agreeing and appreciating certain aspects of the same damn character and it is such a real and human reaction. You don’t simply hate someone and instantly dislike every word out of their mouth and I like that Lee is able to showcase the complexity of several of his characters, especially within his darker less “good” characters.

Lawdd, help me but I just cannot get enough of Lee’s ability to blur the lines between what is typically good and evil! It allowed for us to see so many shades to several different characters every time we saw it from their eyes.

Damn, Daleth!

The man got darker in this instalment, suffering many near fatal wounds at the hands of Kalas he was bitter, showed slight signs of redemption, became even darker and more! I think that is what makes him a great villain, and while they were utterly despicable they were such a great addition to this character and story overall. I think Daleth was one of my favourite characters!

The characters that have filled the pages of this series are all great, some you love, some you hate and some you just can’t decide! But regardless of that I’m sad to see an end to their stories and happy because this was just such a satisfying ending!

It gives you everything!

It wraps up the tory brilliantly, it makes you sad, then happy, then sad again, then smug and so much more. It is simply one of those ending that is truly satisfying.

I don’t want to say much about the plot because you have so much to experience when you read this but know it is very satisfying, we travel and get to experience so much more of this incredible and vivid world Lee has created. It is a world that just keeps giving, I absolutely adored the insertion of the Horselords. I loved them, they are such a great addition to an already great book. It is the fear of their savage nature, the unknown and so much more that I enjoy about these elements and Lee managed to execute it so well, you were genuinely worried about the outcome of certain plot points surrounding them, so kudos to Lee for brilliantly weaving them into this story and with such suspense and tension.

I do have one gripe, and it is petty but the overuse of the word ‘for’ bugged me to no end. It was everywhere, I loved it in the other books because it wasn’t used nearly as much as it was in this book. I got to a point where I scowled each time I saw it.

However, despite my petty gripe this book and series in general is a fab one! When I think bak to the books of this trilogy I just smile, it is one of those trilogy that has a lot of scenes and moments that I love, I can pick out so many scenes that I LOVED and get excited about these books all over again!

You know the drill, On to the rating…

THE RANKS:

BUY THE HARDBACK | BUY THE PAPERBACK | BUY THE EBOOK | LIBRARY RENTAL OR SALE PURCHASE

I am happy to say that Tristan’s Folly is a BUY THE PAPERBACK! Yayyy

As I said in my review, I enjoyed this book. I have book one and two so it would be rude t not have the complete set!

ORDER HERE: Paperback | Kindle

You can also find Book Recaps and Bookish Lists over at my blog The Book in Hand

[Page Grey (Editor) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God, what an ending!!! I’m blown away.

I’m a lover of epic/high fantasy but it’s a genre I rarely read because I feel like I need a long period of time and a heck of concentration to read them but with this series, reading them is so easy because all books in this series is a page-turner. Or should I say, screen-turner? I mean I read an e-copy so…LOL.

Anyway, this is the final installment in The Gifted and the Cursed trilogy and I’m a bit sad to say goodbye to the characters but I’m also really glad for what the series was, especially this last book. The End of Dreams picks up right where book 2 ended. In short it’s the kind of beginning where everything seems hopeless but this book is far from hopeless. Here’s the thing, I think most readers are more familiar with the middle book syndrome being a filler but not many realize that third books or final books in series can also have issues with being a filler, especially in this genre where it’s going to end with a great war. Things can get boring while the main characters ready for the final battle, which usually last till the third quarter of the book. But that’s not the case in The End of Dreams. I didn’t find any part of this book boring.

I felt the tension builds till it became too much and finally everything clashes on the pages. The final battles are definitely amazing and very well-written. It was so satisfying. Seeing (reading) it unfolds was an awesome experience. But even the little battles that leads to the final war, and even those battles within the war, were so well-written that they were so realistic and I felt like I was watching them happen rather than just reading. Like I said, what an awesome experience.

I also love the ending that the author gave to each of his characters. Of course not all of them had an amazing ending but duh, that’s expected. But I think it’s the ending that they deserve (goodbye Tristan and Daleth). In book 2, I said the characters, the main ones and the new ones were all fleshed out. I wasn’t expecting that the characters have still more to give in book 3.Book 3 is usually about the plot while the characters act according to their well-established characterization. But no, even in their last moments on the page, the characters showed so much more than they already did. Most of the characters still gone through developments in this book.

The ending of this book kind of reminds me of the Shadow and Bone’s trilogy’sending where the main characters were…okay no spoiling but if you’ve read the first three Grisha books (meaning minus the Six of Crows duology and the ongoing King of Scars series) then you’ll have an idea of what I’m talking about. By hinting this isn’t actually spoiling anything because I’m not really talking about how the book ends, I’m referring to what is at the end, the kind of epilogue part though this book doesn’t have an epilogue just a chapter showing some of the characters’s lives after the war. I love it because I love it when characters don’t dwell on their success at the end of the book. I just love how satisfying it is to see the characters just live. I’m probably not making any sense but my main point is that this is a very satisfying ending for a series I really love.

I highly recommend this series to all fantasy lovers. This is a very well-written series with unforgettable characters. Plus they’re fast paced and page-turners.

[WS_BOOKCLUB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Storytellers on Tour for giving me the opportunity to read and review The End of Dreams. This book is available now. Not only that, the first book, Kings and Daemons, is currently free on Amazon Kindle (starting March third and ending on the seventh).

I am excited to be finishing what has been an awesome series. I’m also a little sad because, well, it’s ending. The Gifted and the Cursed series has been excellent from the start. And let me say, it ends brilliantly.

The End of Dreams starts pretty much right where Tristan’s Folly ended, and the reader is dropped smack into the middle of it. Our main players have been scattered to the wind, which can be a risky move, but worked perfectly here. It allowed the plot to grow and encompass everyone in ways that were both unexpected and fascinating. It also created a balance between physical battles and those of the mind.

One of the (many) things that I have appreciated about this series has been its tone. It is grim and dark, but this has always been offset by a layer of hope. This continued in The End of Dreams. Despite the challenges the characters faced, some which felt pretty insurmountable, they keep on going. That being said, the effects that things have had on the characters is made evident, with each of them handling it differently. Some of them found strength they didn’t know they had. Some found ways to cope that weren’t necessarily very smart. Each choice was fascinating and made perfect sense to the character’s personality. And that’s the thing. These characters were worth hoping for and being invested in. They were three-dimensional and unique.

Sometimes the final book in a series can seem small because everything is shrinking to a final confrontation. Not so with The End of Dreams. The world continued to grow and develop, as new characters and cultures were introduced. It made the stakes seem even more important. The book continued to highlight how things would effect everyone, not just the main characters.

The pacing was fantastic, with moments of character interactions liberally interspersed with fight scenes. And the fight scenes! They were raw and gritty, exactly what I love to see in a fantasy book. The tension built up to a crescendo, exploding at exactly the right moment. The ending came rushing up and I was left astounded and incredibly impressed. It finished perfectly. I am left feeling a little sad that it has ended, but that’s the mark of a great book: that it can leave a reader a little bereft when the adventure ends. I hope to see much more from author Marcus Lee in the future.

https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely inredible! What a way to finish and wrap up a trilogy! I really didn't want this to end but it had to and my goodness how satisfying the end is! Marcus Lee, I take my hat of to you sir this is a wonderful end to a wonderful trilogy! Check out my full review coming soon as part of the Storytellers on Tour blog tour.

[Westveil Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was granted a complimentary review copy of The End of Dreams by Marcus Lee via Storytellers on Tour as part of my participation in the March 2021 blog tour for this title. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Tour blog post: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...

The End of Dreams picks up right where Tristan's Folly left off, with The Witch King severely wounded, Tristan still plotting to keep his title, glory, and kingdom, and with Taran off to find a better option than supporting either king. Keep in mind that this is the third book in a trilogy and you should absolutely be caught up rather than jump in here. I was able to read the middle book without having read the first when I jumped in on that tour (I did get the first book after!) but I don't think anyone would be able to jump in here. There's a lot of world-building and prior politics needed from books one and two to appreciate what's going on here.

When I went into the second book blind, as mentioned, I assumed we're supposed to like King Tristan, and I left it confused because I didn't like either King Tristan or King Daleth. I'm no longer confused about it, but I did indeed continue to not like either king, and I'm finally confident that we're not supposed to, though I do like Daleth more than Tristan. Thank goodness we have option number three, Taran! If this book is about any character, in particular, it's Taran. And maybe Maya. This trilogy juggles a large and very diverse cast, but at the end of the book, it's Taran and Maya I'm left thinking about.

I absolutely loved how Daleth made use of shifter twins Jared and Gregor, and when these two received their missions early in the book I did not expect to enjoy Jared's murderous long con throughout the book as much as I did. Jared was a surprisingly interesting, compelling character in this one, and while he's clearly a villain and we're not supposed to cheer for him, I looked forward to his POV sections. I wish this book delivered more of Gregor fulfilling his assignment from Gregor's POV as well. It didn't involve as much movement or danger, but let's just say it could have been very entertaining.

Battle scenes and smaller fights in this book continue to be very well written. They feel raw, realistic, and deadly. They hold interest. There's plenty of description but it's not excessively gory either. I very much appreciate the fact that Lee is not afraid to kill important characters. I won't say who, obviously, that would be a major spoiler, but I promise a few of the ones you're attached to are not going to survive. Plenty of fantasy authors are heckled for arming their characters with plot armour, but Lee, not these books.

I also really appreciated all of the little humanizing details that made it into the final cut. I love it that Taran takes it upon himself to tend some plants when they're camped in one place for a while and discovers a missed calling. I love it that he makes light of his own scars. "I bet the good side of my face that..." That genuinely made me laugh!

This really is a great book and a wonderful conclusion to this trilogy. I'm rating it 5 stars, and there's very little to pick apart. I do like to try to find something to critique, though, so I'll critique something in vague terms to avoid spoilers. At some point a character finds herself pregnant and I believe it's for the first time. It's unclear how much time has passed between her knowing for sure and a scene where her being aware of the baby kicking is significant, but no one else knows she's pregnant yet so she's not showing. Having been pregnant, I must point out how unlikely that is! Feeling vague movement while not showing yet? Maybe. Maybe if she's very fit and doesn't put on much weight until the third trimester and her clothing is very loosely draped over that abdominal area. Feeling a kick? Nah, baby's too small if she's not showing yet. Very minor thing, and there's magic going on in this world so maybe the answer is magic, but let me pick on something, okay?

I highly recommend that all high fantasy fans, particularly those who enjoy epic world-changing war storylines, check out this trilogy! Marcus Lee is definitely an author to watch. Thanks again to Marcus Lee and Storytellers on Tour for letting me be a part of the tour and celebration of these great books. It has been a pleasure!

[FantasyBookNerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

With The End of Dreams, Marcus Lee's The Gifted & The Cursed comes to a close.

When it comes to the last of a series of books, we know that there will be an inevitable conclusion and the series will end. It's always bittersweet when we get to the final chapter of a series. On the one hand, you want to see how it all ends. Will good triumph over evil, or will there be a twist of events that will somehow change the outcome and give us an unexpected ending that we didn't see coming. There are a multitude of ways things can end, but end they will. And so it comes with The End of Dreams.

However, whilst the ending is important, it is not the be all and end all. The most important aspect is the journey to get there. Therein lies the joy! And, oh, what a journey this is.

The book starts immediately from where we last left our main characters. Taran, Rakan and Yana are escaping from the fortress of Tristan's Folly. Whilst Maya is fulfilling her obligation to Tristan that she made to keep Taran alive.

It's pretty fair to say, that at this present moment in time, mostly everyone is not happy about the current situation that they find themselves in. Well, except for Yana, who is quite happy that things seem to be going according to plan. In that Maya is off with Tristan and she has time to see her wily plans of making Taran her own come to fruition.

In amidst this, Taran has made the stupendously wise decision to continue to wear the amulet of the Witch King and repress all his emotions pertaining to the current state of his relationship with Maya. You know that isn't going to end well, don't you! However, Rakan tells him this and he completely ignores this advice. Suffice it to say, Taran walks a pretty dark path, believing that the most appropriate way to deal with the Witch King is be like the Witch King.

Meanwhile, Daleth is currently holding up, injured as a result of the events at Tristan's Folly. However, he is not entirely idle in his God given right to dominate the whole world and suck off its life energy so that he can live forever and sets off a series of plans so that his victory can be orchestrated.

Maya, on the other hand has decided that although she is not in the best place, what with Tristan wanting to get his wicked way with her (in more ways than one), she feels that the best course of action is to defy Tristan at every given turn and also make the best of her situation by doing what she does best, caring for others and thus telling them the truth about Daleth and his army.

I think that tells you enough about plot without giving too much away.

I have loved this series as whole and with each book, it has gone from strength to strength, and the End of Dreams is no exception. Marcus Lee delivers plots and subplots, weaving each one delicately to reach the final ending of what for me is a memorable series of books.

Again, he shows inexplicable skill in mounting tension, introducing new characters and subsequently completing this journey.

What I like about, Marcus Lee's writing is that he wears his heart on his sleeve. He loves epic fantasy in all it's forms. He is able to write about romance without it turning into mawkishness, he can write about other relationships, such as Rakan's care for his son and make it believable and he can satisfy even the bloodthirstiest of readers like me. That's a pretty good balancing act to perform if you ask me and he does it with style.

Now we have to talk about characters. Marcus Lee writes fantastically believable characters that are worth getting attached to. From Maya, with her beguilingly innocent view of the world to the despicable Tristan. Yes, I say Tristan, because whilst Daleth is the big bad, he's a smidgen less odious than Tristan, who I virtually hissed at every time he entered the stage.

One last thing that I have to mention, is that surprisingly, amongst all the plot and the characters, Marcus Lee manages to squeeze in some pretty awesome world building with the introduction of the Horse lords, which to me, reminded me of a mix between the Rohirrim, the Mongol Hoardes and the Knights of Solamnia and I thought were a welcome addition to the book.

So, we come to the close and I must say that this is a satisfying ending to a memorable series.

[Rowena Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is always something bittersweet about finishing a series. On the one hand, this is a world, and a cast of characters that you have spent time with, sharing their adventures from the beginning and you want to see where that journey ends, particularly in a narrative with as much at stake as here. On the other, it is an ending and means that it is time to say farewell to the series (at least until you embark on a reread, and I can safely say here and now that this will be a series that I will reread many times in the future). For me, The Gifted and the Cursed has been a series that I’ve enjoyed since the beginning, and The End of Dreams is a fantastic, breath-taking conclusion.

Deliciously dark fantasy was how I described the first book, and that feeling has permeated throughout the series. This is not an easy world, there is no plot armour, the threat is very real and present regardless of who or what you are in this world, but there has always been that undercurrent of hope. Whether through the magic, or through the characters and their choices and growth, as dark as things had been, there has been light, and I felt that was very much the case in this third book. As everything balanced on a knife’s edge, Lee managed to create wonderful, intimate moments of humanity and life, and reasons to keep fighting and living, regardless of how dire things could be. The ideas of rebirth, of loving in this world and the next, of the land itself renewing, all build on this idea of hope and are woven through the book, and keep that hope burning, while also helping to raise the stakes and tension.

The world has expanded in breadth and depth throughout the series, and The End of Dreams continues that trend as we are introduced to new characters, cultures and locations. I loved the Horselords and the time that we spent with them, and you have to appreciate Lee’s skill at bringing these new elements into the story and weaving them into the narrative until it feels as though they’ve always part of it. While the series is very much character-driven, the world is far more than a backdrop to their story, and there were many places especially within this final book, where the land itself has almost become a character in and of itself.

It was fantastic to return to the characters that we have come to know and love, especially in the wake of the events in Tristian’s Folly, as well as to meet some new characters. Once again, I am in awe at Lee’s ability to make the villains so multi-faceted, and there are times when you find yourself liking them more than those that you might be expected to cheer for in typical fantasy, and I love that play on expectations. Daleth is a character I’ve liked all along, and here we got to see more depth to his character and motivations, and really does elevate him as a villain, and he is one that I will remember for a long time. I also particularly enjoyed Jared’s chapters, another POV that you would not necessarily be supportive of, and yet he is so well-written and compelling, that you can’t help but be drawn into his parts, and I found myself anticipating his sections.

What makes The End of Dreams so satisfying is that even as the characters – particularly our main ones – continue to grow into themselves, their roles and choices, and we get to see their relationships develop to match these changes, Lee brings it all together. Through all the twists and turns, and losses, he manages to bring their arcs to fitting conclusions – not necessarily easy ones, some raw and painful, others beautiful and some truly fitting (and there may have been one character’s ending that I may have danced a little victory dance too). With such a large, diverse cast this could not have been an easy endeavour, and yet it was executed brilliantly, in a way that felt raw, and real and so, so satisfying.

Lee’s writing has always been a delight, from the characters and relationships that have carried so much of this story, to the world that he has built around them, to the action and tension that permeates the narrative. In Tristian’s Folly, he did a fantastic job with the siege, and yet I feel that at The End of Dreams he has managed to take that to another level yet again. There were some spectacular action scenes throughout the book, and the variety, both in scale – from individual blow by blow combat to larger-scale battle scenes and cavalry charges, were gripping and had me on the edge of my seat. The stakes were ever-present, the threat very real, so each scene – whether it was a fight, a personal moment between the characters and anything in between carried weight and moved us forward.

The End of Dreams was everything I wanted and more and is a wonderful ending to a fantastic series. I am sad that this adventure is over, and yet if it has to end this is the way to do it. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves high fantasy, character-driven stories, and a trilogy that takes the best of fantasy and has turned it into something truly memorable.

[Cassidee Lanstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I would like to thank Storytellers on Tour for the opportunity to finish out the Gifted and the Cursed series with them. I’d also like to congratulate Marcus on putting out three books in less than a year! What a feat.
Marcus Lee has done it again with The End of Dreams. He writes with such an established voice, you’d think that he puts out trilogies on a regular basis. You can tell that he really hit his stride in this installment. The Gifted and the Cursed has been grim and brutal, but there’s so many opportunities for the light of these characters to shine through. Maya and Taran have really developed into themselves. We have watched them grow into assured, confident people and now they have the fate of the world in their hands. I found my attention constantly drawn to them and eager for their next appearance. Daleth and Tristan are as multi-faceted as ever. Rakan starts showing a streak of vulnerability that I love to see in him. By this novel, many of these characters feel like your buddies and you will be holding your breath to see how they fare. Lee does not lack in the suspense department.
This series has been accelerating towards this explosive finale and it did not disappoint. Grab a glass of whisky and be prepared to nurse a bruised heart. Lee does not care about your feelings; trust me when I say nobody is safe. The action quite literally never stops and The End of Dreams will leave you astonished. Refreshing and extremely fast-paced, it won’t take you long to devour. I love that throughout all of this commotion, Lee finds ways to show tenderness in his characters. The relationship between Maya and Taran goes through a lot in this series, but you’ll find that your heart bursts whenever you’re reading about them. All in all, this was an extremely satisfying end to The Gifted and the Cursed series. You might be a bit battered by the end of it, but that just speaks to Marcus and his abilities as an author. This won’t be the last we see of him and his amazing storytelling abilities.
Kings and Daemons (Book 1 of The Gifted and the Cursed) is available on Kindle Unlimited and is also a free download for the next 5 days. Check it out here.

[Barbara May · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone's collection

I loved all 3 books , A must read for anyone's collection.
Great writing the author kept me glued to my seat with my nose in the book.

[Wayne Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful end to a wonderful series

[Mr K Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful, action packed trilogy

I hope that there are more tales in the pipeline, loved every word of it, excellent, beautiful, inspiring fantasy novels

[Peter S McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

An escape from the present.Peter

A lovely series of books allowing us to escape from this vivid blighted world. A seriously good read, thoroughly recommend.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in The Gifted and The Cursed series. Kings and Daemons is currently free on Amazon for a limited time (and the whole series is available to read on Kindle Unlimited).

As this is the third and final book in The Gifted and The Cursed trilogy, this review will contain some spoilers for the rest of the series! It starts straight after the conclusion of Tristan’s Folly, with our heroes readying themselves for their final battle against Daleth the Witch-King.

I was super excited to read this and find out how Marcus might be able to conclude his epic series — if (and how) Daleth might be defeated, and of course whether Taran and Maya might be reunited at last. And The End of Dreams certainly hasn’t disappointed! The whole book was well-paced, keeping me hooked until the very last page.

As before, we get to see more about Tristan and about Daleth, and the similarities between the two is really well-written. Tristan is supposed to be the ‘good guy’ but he is so infuriating! The twin brothers, Jared and Gregor, are also a great addition. Daleth is a truly fearsome opponent and this adds an additional level of malice to the story!

My only complaint about The End of Dreams is that there is a lot more romance than in the previous books — all of it feels realistic and tasteful, but this is my personal preference. I’ve never been a fan of anything too soppy!

This whole series has been a delight to read. While there are some very dark scenes, there’s lots of fun and romance too. I have really enjoyed following Taran, Maya and Rakan’s story and it’s bittersweet to now be at the end. It was great to see how the different threads were tied up, and this is an incredibly satisfying conclusion to The Gifted and The Cursed series. I can’t wait to read more from Marcus in the future!

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

deceit, miscommunication, misunderstandings

Literally the entire premise of the last book and a half is based on betrayal, deception, misunderstandings, and miscommunication. It’s just so frustrating to read so many of the characters choices are immature, irresponsible, and petty. I’m not even sure I like any of these characters anymore. I was frustrated with book 2, and it ended up skimming through it to the last page just to see if maybe it would get better here in book 3. But it’s not looking promising. I think I’ll skim through to the end of this one and just see how it turns out.
There is plenty of adventure and suspense sort of if that’s what you like.

[Dimitar Chinchikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stakes are higher in the final book. There's new intriguing characters introduced and very cool new magic / gifts. The finale is nothing short of epic - definitely did not see that one coming!
Hoping the author gives us more books.

[Penn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this, great story well told, with a great ending. The characters are sympathetic and believable

The only issue is that I have finished this and now have to find something else to read

[Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah okay

Well I really liked the book , in fact I liked the whole series . But while I'm a sucker for a happy ending it has to make sense. And the last chapter of this book made absolutely no sense to me. I would recommend reading the series but be wary of the final chapter.

[Neil Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

simply impossible to put down

What a fantastic fantasy, one of the best trilogy’s I have read in a very long time. What a great movie this would make. Might even challenge Lord of the Rings and game of Thrones…..

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful conclusion to a great series!!