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The God-King Chronicles #3
The Godbreaker
The triumphant third and final part of the God-King Chronicles. The Godbreaker is the unmissable culmination of the series, filled with war-dragons, armoured knights, sea-faring raiders, dangerous magic and battle scenes.
War comes to Narida and Nothing Will Be The Same Again.
As the Black Keep Council prepares for war, journeying far to protect their lands and friend, The God-King and his sister try to keep Narida together in the face of betrayal while the Splinter King remains at large.
The Golden and his hordes of raiders press their advantage and sweep across the land with unholy powers.
Sacrifices will be made, and not everyone will make it back to Black Keep alive...
War comes to Narida and Nothing Will Be The Same Again.
As the Black Keep Council prepares for war, journeying far to protect their lands and friend, The God-King and his sister try to keep Narida together in the face of betrayal while the Splinter King remains at large.
The Golden and his hordes of raiders press their advantage and sweep across the land with unholy powers.
Sacrifices will be made, and not everyone will make it back to Black Keep alive...
665 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2022
18 people are currently reading
859 people want to read
About the author
Mike Brooks
79 books553 followersMike Brooks was born in Ipswich, Suffolk and moved to Nottingham when he was 18 to go to university. He’s stayed there ever since, and now lives with his wife, two cats, two snakes and a collection of tropical fish. When not working for a homelessness charity he plays guitar and sings in a punk band, watches football (soccer), MMA and nature/science documentaries, goes walking in the Peak District or other areas of splendid scenery, and DJs wherever anyone will tolerate him.
And, y’know, writes.
And, y’know, writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 13, 2022
This is the conclusion to the series, and I really enjoyed finishing this up. I've reviewed the first two and would recommend checking out those reviews too if you're interested in the series, but suffice to say this is a fairly satisfying ending with a lot still left to explore either in your mind or if the author wants to return to the world. I would certainly read more set in this world as by the end of this I feel like there's a lot of new directions that our characters are going...
Surprises, I have to say this series kept me guessing with where people would end up. Most of the time in series all the multi-POV characters end up coming together and they all have a big dramatic ending. In this, Brooks does something different by sending some characters on their own paths, although their story is relevant to the overall, they never 'meet' other characters but their decisions affect others.
I loved the way that so many of our characters grow over the course of the series. When we first meet them they are new to their places in life or their roles and they gradually learn and develop and change and I loved seeing that flourishing. The storylines challenge the characters and take a few wild twists which make it exciting to see how the characters will react.
This is a story of who should rule, who is justified, gods, dragons, and ordinary people trying to find acceptance. I highly recommend the series as a whole and will certainly be checking out future works by Brooks as I now have him firmly on my radar! 4*s for the whole series overall :)
Surprises, I have to say this series kept me guessing with where people would end up. Most of the time in series all the multi-POV characters end up coming together and they all have a big dramatic ending. In this, Brooks does something different by sending some characters on their own paths, although their story is relevant to the overall, they never 'meet' other characters but their decisions affect others.
I loved the way that so many of our characters grow over the course of the series. When we first meet them they are new to their places in life or their roles and they gradually learn and develop and change and I loved seeing that flourishing. The storylines challenge the characters and take a few wild twists which make it exciting to see how the characters will react.
This is a story of who should rule, who is justified, gods, dragons, and ordinary people trying to find acceptance. I highly recommend the series as a whole and will certainly be checking out future works by Brooks as I now have him firmly on my radar! 4*s for the whole series overall :)
April 14, 2024
The final book of this trilogy. Also very good. And quite a few plot bunnies at the end to allow for more entertaining books in this world. I have some favourites, whose books I would like to read.
All the loose ends are tied up nicely. Some shocking incidents. One particular shock was hard to come to terms with.
It was not the ending I had envisioned, but that isn‘t a bad thing. It‘s nice to read something that doesn‘t follow the beaten path.
Those were my initial thoughts. I need to digest it all for a bit, as I listened to the last 40% of the book very quickly (for me). Very good trilogy. I will keep my eyes open for more of the author.
All the loose ends are tied up nicely. Some shocking incidents. One particular shock was hard to come to terms with.
It was not the ending I had envisioned, but that isn‘t a bad thing. It‘s nice to read something that doesn‘t follow the beaten path.
Those were my initial thoughts. I need to digest it all for a bit, as I listened to the last 40% of the book very quickly (for me). Very good trilogy. I will keep my eyes open for more of the author.
July 12, 2022
After two five-star books, it saddens me to say that the end was only okay. Overall I did still like this book, it was entertaining and a quick, easy read despite it's length, but I did have some big problems with certain character decisions and some narrative choices. See spoilers for details.
June 2, 2025
A solid finale to an epic fantasy series with a unique take on language, gender, culture, and ultimately what it means to be human.
With epic battles, character growth (Las, in particular, came out of nowhere as a sudden fave), and several poignant moments, the series’ conclusion is decent, but leaves open plenty of threads for sequel series and spinoffs.
I had hoped for some character POVs to be more connected to others/the bigger plot, and some questions answered, but I suppose that’s part of the mysteries that have been left open.
I enjoyed my time with this unique trilogy and praise the immersive world building that Mike Brooks developed
With epic battles, character growth (Las, in particular, came out of nowhere as a sudden fave), and several poignant moments, the series’ conclusion is decent, but leaves open plenty of threads for sequel series and spinoffs.
I had hoped for some character POVs to be more connected to others/the bigger plot, and some questions answered, but I suppose that’s part of the mysteries that have been left open.
I enjoyed my time with this unique trilogy and praise the immersive world building that Mike Brooks developed
June 25, 2022
On my blog.
Rep: gay mc, nonbinary mcs, sapphic mc, trans side character
CWs: gore, violence
Galley provided by publisher
The Godbreaker is an epic ending to an epic series. It wraps up all the loose threads, while also leaving more to be explored (which, given that note at the end, I have hopes for). Basically, it was brilliant all round.
I won’t try summarise the plot here—not least because it was vast and expansive and not really something that you can cut down to a line or two. In the way all the best fantasies are, to be honest. To be as general and vague as possible, it was the culmination of all those more minor plot threads that had been bubbling away in the background of The Black Coast and The Splinter King.
There are several things I’ve loved about this series but number one is probably how it deals with language. A fair amount of the time in fantasy, societies look and think and speak like we do in the modern world. But in this one, Mike Brooks has put a lot of thought into how the three different societies of his world interact with one another, how they are similar and how they are distinct. And probably the most obvious indication of this is in their speech, and in the way there are several times that characters from each society butt up against those differences.
That attention to detail is present throughout the series in its worldbuilding. This is fantasy at its best, for me, the sort that absorbs you in both action and detail. Because, let’s be honest, this is a long book with a lot of POVs. You need to be fully engaged to want to read it (and then entire series, really). And Mike Brooks does just that.
Not only with the worldbuilding either, but also the characters. To take a moment for about the one negative thing I have to say about this book, it felt long in a way the previous two didn’t, so what kept me interested was the characters. Okay, yeah I had my favourites, and ones I cared less about reading about (which is another point. You go the entire book thinking that characters will all come together, but then. Some don’t), but they were still all compelling.
So really, the only negatives I had at all about this book were those minor ones I mentioned in the previous paragraph. And even those were barely blips compared to how much I enjoyed this book (and series as a whole). If you’re looking for your next epic fantasy read, let it be this one.
Rep: gay mc, nonbinary mcs, sapphic mc, trans side character
CWs: gore, violence
Galley provided by publisher
The Godbreaker is an epic ending to an epic series. It wraps up all the loose threads, while also leaving more to be explored (which, given that note at the end, I have hopes for). Basically, it was brilliant all round.
I won’t try summarise the plot here—not least because it was vast and expansive and not really something that you can cut down to a line or two. In the way all the best fantasies are, to be honest. To be as general and vague as possible, it was the culmination of all those more minor plot threads that had been bubbling away in the background of The Black Coast and The Splinter King.
There are several things I’ve loved about this series but number one is probably how it deals with language. A fair amount of the time in fantasy, societies look and think and speak like we do in the modern world. But in this one, Mike Brooks has put a lot of thought into how the three different societies of his world interact with one another, how they are similar and how they are distinct. And probably the most obvious indication of this is in their speech, and in the way there are several times that characters from each society butt up against those differences.
That attention to detail is present throughout the series in its worldbuilding. This is fantasy at its best, for me, the sort that absorbs you in both action and detail. Because, let’s be honest, this is a long book with a lot of POVs. You need to be fully engaged to want to read it (and then entire series, really). And Mike Brooks does just that.
Not only with the worldbuilding either, but also the characters. To take a moment for about the one negative thing I have to say about this book, it felt long in a way the previous two didn’t, so what kept me interested was the characters. Okay, yeah I had my favourites, and ones I cared less about reading about (which is another point. You go the entire book thinking that characters will all come together, but then. Some don’t), but they were still all compelling.
So really, the only negatives I had at all about this book were those minor ones I mentioned in the previous paragraph. And even those were barely blips compared to how much I enjoyed this book (and series as a whole). If you’re looking for your next epic fantasy read, let it be this one.
March 17, 2025
A solid 5 star series. Excellent story, brilliantl world building and, most notably, fantastic characters.
September 14, 2023
It might be a different setting, and for different stakes, but it was always the same game.
This opens with a rip roaring wave, quite literally. A tsunami floods the land, a prophecies warning of the Divine God’s return.
Of course, this doesn’t bode well for the coastal Black Keep, the City of Islands, or the low-level royal city.
Where the Divine prophecies come to head, we have followers, fanatics, and those swept up in the plight for justice? Power? Political gains? All must come to light.
The discussions around gender is simply astounding and it reminded me of Ruin of Kings by Jen Lyonns. I loved how this turmoil allowed for women to take some degree of power or rather uncover the secret of their true strength they’ve always had.
Anyone who stepped up to challenge the way things were risked being pulled down by their peers in the hope of reward, or out of fear that change would make things worse for them rather than better.
What I love about this series is how you can see Brooks’s own passion so clearly on the page.
He didn’t intend to glorify epic battles (which are indeed epic), but sought to deliver a series about understanding people who are different from you; one about trying to stop the fighting.
Marin is extremely funny to follow. His chapters are always sarcastic, self-defensive, witty, yet full of inner struggle as a scholar, a thief, a husband, and someone who wants what’s best for his kingdom.
I wanted all of these books to be longer and they’re already all 650+ pages long. Yet, they are extremely digestible and easy to fly through.
This is my least favourite of the trilogy sadly, yet I would still recommend it!
Although this nicely wraps up the trilogy, Brooks teases up with THE END… POSSIBLY.
I cannot wait to read more from Brooks.
I would recommend this if you liked The Ruin of Kings.
Bookstagram
This opens with a rip roaring wave, quite literally. A tsunami floods the land, a prophecies warning of the Divine God’s return.
Of course, this doesn’t bode well for the coastal Black Keep, the City of Islands, or the low-level royal city.
Where the Divine prophecies come to head, we have followers, fanatics, and those swept up in the plight for justice? Power? Political gains? All must come to light.
The discussions around gender is simply astounding and it reminded me of Ruin of Kings by Jen Lyonns. I loved how this turmoil allowed for women to take some degree of power or rather uncover the secret of their true strength they’ve always had.
Anyone who stepped up to challenge the way things were risked being pulled down by their peers in the hope of reward, or out of fear that change would make things worse for them rather than better.
What I love about this series is how you can see Brooks’s own passion so clearly on the page.
He didn’t intend to glorify epic battles (which are indeed epic), but sought to deliver a series about understanding people who are different from you; one about trying to stop the fighting.
Marin is extremely funny to follow. His chapters are always sarcastic, self-defensive, witty, yet full of inner struggle as a scholar, a thief, a husband, and someone who wants what’s best for his kingdom.
I wanted all of these books to be longer and they’re already all 650+ pages long. Yet, they are extremely digestible and easy to fly through.
This is my least favourite of the trilogy sadly, yet I would still recommend it!
Although this nicely wraps up the trilogy, Brooks teases up with THE END… POSSIBLY.
I cannot wait to read more from Brooks.
I would recommend this if you liked The Ruin of Kings.
Bookstagram
December 29, 2023
I really, really enjoyed this whole series. I love the characters that you've got in here—there's a quote on the front of a book which I think is really good, it says “Mike Brooks crafts a deeply human epic fantasy series” and it’s not wrong.
This third book is 600-700 pages, the two books preceding it are both of a similar size, so there's a big page count to get through. It's a big chunky epic but it's epic in the actual story sense as well. I also agree that it's a very human book despite that, with some really great characters, a really great human story within, and that's part of the reason that I loved it so much.
The worldbuilding was excellent, and overall, it was just a fantastic series. Each book built on what came before and they just got better and better, so not only was this my favourite of the series, but it was definitely one of my favourite books of recent years.
This third book is 600-700 pages, the two books preceding it are both of a similar size, so there's a big page count to get through. It's a big chunky epic but it's epic in the actual story sense as well. I also agree that it's a very human book despite that, with some really great characters, a really great human story within, and that's part of the reason that I loved it so much.
The worldbuilding was excellent, and overall, it was just a fantastic series. Each book built on what came before and they just got better and better, so not only was this my favourite of the series, but it was definitely one of my favourite books of recent years.
May 21, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher (Orbit UK) for providing me with an e-arc of this book. My opinions are my own.
Wow... I don't really know how to put in words how I feel about finishing this trilogy. But since this is a review I'm going to give it a try anyway :) There might be some small spoilers in this review.
Let me go back to the beginning first. I was just casually scrolling through Netgalley and saw a book that piqued my interest. It was about raiders not coming to, well, raid, but to find a new home in the country they'd been enemies with. That was a different point of view than a lot of traditional epic fantasy where good vs evil seems to be a big theme. Also, ohhh look, dragons! I requested The Black Coast from Netgalley and was happy to read the e-arc. I quickly fell in love with Daimon and Saana, and many other characters in the broad scope of this story. It was so refreshing to read about people trying to live together despite their differences, to try and make the best of it. To read about different cultures with their own traditions and way of life, and how they can influence and even help each other. I thought it was so important to see that one thing can be completely normal in one culture and be frowned upon in another. But this does not mean that one culture is necessarily better or worse than the other. They all have their pros and cons, so to speak. And they are just that: different. And by bringing people together, they can learn from each other and understand each other. So that ultimately there can be acceptance of people who are different from you. Acceptance instead of judgement, well, that's the ultimate dream, isn't it?
Fast forward to The Godbreaker. It starts off right where The Splinter King ends. I won't say too much about it because of spoilers, but let me say that I have enjoyed every minute of it (except for that one moment, whyyy 😭) and I thought that the ending truly fitted the story.
I finished The Godbreaker and I feel both sad and hopeful. Sad that it's over, hopeful because I feel that there is more story to tell in perhaps a new trilogy. I'd like to know more about Zhanna and her dragons, about Darel as an influential person in Idramar, about a certain brother and sister vying for the support of the people. I might like to know more about the Morlithians, too...
Go read these books. If you haven't yet, you are missing out.
Wow... I don't really know how to put in words how I feel about finishing this trilogy. But since this is a review I'm going to give it a try anyway :) There might be some small spoilers in this review.
Let me go back to the beginning first. I was just casually scrolling through Netgalley and saw a book that piqued my interest. It was about raiders not coming to, well, raid, but to find a new home in the country they'd been enemies with. That was a different point of view than a lot of traditional epic fantasy where good vs evil seems to be a big theme. Also, ohhh look, dragons! I requested The Black Coast from Netgalley and was happy to read the e-arc. I quickly fell in love with Daimon and Saana, and many other characters in the broad scope of this story. It was so refreshing to read about people trying to live together despite their differences, to try and make the best of it. To read about different cultures with their own traditions and way of life, and how they can influence and even help each other. I thought it was so important to see that one thing can be completely normal in one culture and be frowned upon in another. But this does not mean that one culture is necessarily better or worse than the other. They all have their pros and cons, so to speak. And they are just that: different. And by bringing people together, they can learn from each other and understand each other. So that ultimately there can be acceptance of people who are different from you. Acceptance instead of judgement, well, that's the ultimate dream, isn't it?
Fast forward to The Godbreaker. It starts off right where The Splinter King ends. I won't say too much about it because of spoilers, but let me say that I have enjoyed every minute of it (except for that one moment, whyyy 😭) and I thought that the ending truly fitted the story.
I finished The Godbreaker and I feel both sad and hopeful. Sad that it's over, hopeful because I feel that there is more story to tell in perhaps a new trilogy. I'd like to know more about Zhanna and her dragons, about Darel as an influential person in Idramar, about a certain brother and sister vying for the support of the people. I might like to know more about the Morlithians, too...
Go read these books. If you haven't yet, you are missing out.
January 22, 2024
Mike Brooks pretty much sticks the landing in this concluding part of The God-King Chronicles. Blood-shattering face-off between unholy demons? Check. Big, brave deaths? Yep. Meta references thwacking the reader gently on the back of the head as they race by? Definitely. And at the same time it all feels like the set-up for some future tale, as the epilogue shows us the way forward past Torgallen Pass. In all, a cleverly told epic (Brooks is well known for having some brutal kunnin' (sic) after all) that makes a lot of very salient points about the natures of invasion, change, and personal courage. A trilogy recommended to sit alongside the likes of The Winnowing Flame trilogy (Jen Williams) and Juliet E McKenna's Einarrin series.
February 6, 2024
3.5 Stars
My journey into The God-King Chronicles begin in November of 2022 with a small buddy read of The Black Coast. From that group I might have been the only one that has continued the series which I wrapped up in January of 2024. It's been a bit of a winding road as I continued to circle back around slowly got through the second and third books. I feel that The Godbreaker is a solid continuation of the series. I'll explain what I mean by that as the review continues.
The pacing of this book as well as the series overall is done well. There is plenty of ebb and flow throughout. I never felt like any of these books were really a slog to get through. The only thing that I've mentioned previously which is still an issue for myself when reading this story is the dialog. I do feel this is more of a me issue and it might actually help others immerse themselves into the story even more. For me it was just very distracting and kept me from really getting into that mode. I'm speaking of the use of phrases when a character is speaking of themselves and say things like "this man" or "your husband" or "this thane". This is probably my biggest hangup with the series.
The world building was the strongest aspect of this book and the series in general for me. This seemed like such a massive world even if we do get a bit more tunnel vision in the final installment here as we bring everything to a nice conclusion. We still have a good mix of magic and martial elements to the story. We have plenty of political and religious intrigue. All of these things check off some of my favorites when looking for a good fantasy read. I also didn't mind the slightly different take on dragons from the usual fantasy norm with this world.
The character development was solid as well. We have several good character arcs in The Godbreaker and bringing several full circle to that nice conclusion previously mentioned. There are some great characters in this tale, even if I couldn't find myself connecting deeply with any of them.
As you can see this looks like it would be right up my alley. But that one hang up was so big it just prevented me from settling into the story and feeling like I was there. It just constantly kept me on the surface where I felt at times I just didn't really care about the characters or the story. I don't want to discourage other readers from giving this series a try. I think if you fall into that camp where that type of dialog works for you, this might be a great epic journey for you to step into. I still don't regret reading any of these three books in the series. They still stack up as good in my mind, it's just not something I can see myself revisiting to perform a reread in the future.
My journey into The God-King Chronicles begin in November of 2022 with a small buddy read of The Black Coast. From that group I might have been the only one that has continued the series which I wrapped up in January of 2024. It's been a bit of a winding road as I continued to circle back around slowly got through the second and third books. I feel that The Godbreaker is a solid continuation of the series. I'll explain what I mean by that as the review continues.
The pacing of this book as well as the series overall is done well. There is plenty of ebb and flow throughout. I never felt like any of these books were really a slog to get through. The only thing that I've mentioned previously which is still an issue for myself when reading this story is the dialog. I do feel this is more of a me issue and it might actually help others immerse themselves into the story even more. For me it was just very distracting and kept me from really getting into that mode. I'm speaking of the use of phrases when a character is speaking of themselves and say things like "this man" or "your husband" or "this thane". This is probably my biggest hangup with the series.
The world building was the strongest aspect of this book and the series in general for me. This seemed like such a massive world even if we do get a bit more tunnel vision in the final installment here as we bring everything to a nice conclusion. We still have a good mix of magic and martial elements to the story. We have plenty of political and religious intrigue. All of these things check off some of my favorites when looking for a good fantasy read. I also didn't mind the slightly different take on dragons from the usual fantasy norm with this world.
The character development was solid as well. We have several good character arcs in The Godbreaker and bringing several full circle to that nice conclusion previously mentioned. There are some great characters in this tale, even if I couldn't find myself connecting deeply with any of them.
As you can see this looks like it would be right up my alley. But that one hang up was so big it just prevented me from settling into the story and feeling like I was there. It just constantly kept me on the surface where I felt at times I just didn't really care about the characters or the story. I don't want to discourage other readers from giving this series a try. I think if you fall into that camp where that type of dialog works for you, this might be a great epic journey for you to step into. I still don't regret reading any of these three books in the series. They still stack up as good in my mind, it's just not something I can see myself revisiting to perform a reread in the future.
October 5, 2022
4.5/5
By the hundred, The Godbreaker is a full on, hold tight here we go very worthy conclusion to this trilogy!! After a quick recap(thank you!), the story breaks out with a major disaster and just never stops. The flow of events and how the POV's are interwoven keeps you glued to the story as the tension builds because you are just waiting on something to befall a major character.
The reborn Nari continues to gather followers as the Golden continues his path of conquest and these two groups are on a collision course that will alter the face of Narida forever. Daimon, Saana, Darel, Jeya, Marin, Alazar and Tila are all swept into dangerous situations that force them to take risks and fight to survive the massive changes sweeping over them. Who will survive these two god-like forces to have a hand in making Narida a more equitable land for all to thrive in?
The world and characters that Mike Brooks has created here are wonderful and I so enjoyed getting to know them and see their individual journeys. All told, the conclusion was fulfilling and satisfying, with maybe a hint we might get more in the future?? Mar and Laz....yes please!! The fantastic LGBTQ rep in this story is definitely a highlight and would certainly recommend this series to fantasy fans.
Many thanks to Rebellion Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.
By the hundred, The Godbreaker is a full on, hold tight here we go very worthy conclusion to this trilogy!! After a quick recap(thank you!), the story breaks out with a major disaster and just never stops. The flow of events and how the POV's are interwoven keeps you glued to the story as the tension builds because you are just waiting on something to befall a major character.
The reborn Nari continues to gather followers as the Golden continues his path of conquest and these two groups are on a collision course that will alter the face of Narida forever. Daimon, Saana, Darel, Jeya, Marin, Alazar and Tila are all swept into dangerous situations that force them to take risks and fight to survive the massive changes sweeping over them. Who will survive these two god-like forces to have a hand in making Narida a more equitable land for all to thrive in?
The world and characters that Mike Brooks has created here are wonderful and I so enjoyed getting to know them and see their individual journeys. All told, the conclusion was fulfilling and satisfying, with maybe a hint we might get more in the future?? Mar and Laz....yes please!! The fantastic LGBTQ rep in this story is definitely a highlight and would certainly recommend this series to fantasy fans.
Many thanks to Rebellion Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.
January 17, 2023
I was really excited to read this book and find out how this story would end. Unfortunately, the many sprawling plot threads were never full meshed successfully. I like Brooks' worldbuilding, and he does some interesting things with culture and language particularly. His characters are hit or miss for me in terms of whether they grab my attention, but overall he does a good job of making them feel like real, fleshed-out people with their own complicated goals and motivations.
Ultimately, this series had too many big ideas, too many things going on at once, too many POV characters, and it failed to resolve them all satisfyingly.
Ultimately, this series had too many big ideas, too many things going on at once, too many POV characters, and it failed to resolve them all satisfyingly.
April 30, 2024
What an amazing series! I loved the characters, the dialogue, the 'dragons', the possibility of a spin off....
June 15, 2022
4.5 stars
The Godbreaker is the final book in the God-king chronicles and is a truly epic conclusion that brings everything together perfectly. Stakes are higher than ever as armies are on the move, a tsunami is on the horizon and homes + families are threatened.
I've really enjoyed this whole trilogy but this instalment was definitely my favourite. I'm really invested in all the characters and I thought the arcs of each character was very fitting and everything came together in a very satisfying way. In the splinter king I had a bit of an issue with all the POVs and how they felt very chop and change-y but in this book I felt they were much better structured, even though there were probably just as many different character POVs they were "clustered" so you followed only a couple for a bit and then switched which worked much better. Also there was a lot of set up in the splinter king and that definitely paid off big time in this book!!
My favourite characters are probably Darel, Marin, Alazar, Ravi and Zhanna and I was very happy with all their journeys throughout the book (although I wish we had gotten more of Zhanna and Yarmina hehe). The character moments and plot elements were balanced very well.
I never felt like the plot slowed down in this book, the beginning opens with the aftermath of the tsunami (which I actually loved this bit!!) and then the threat of the the golden and the "divine one" Tyrun escalates leading to a dramatic showdown. I also really liked how the book ends feeling concluded but with a lot of potential for future stories - it feels like the characters will keep on living even though you are not reading about them anymore.
I really enjoy all the themes in this series, especially the religious fanaticism elements (in this book in particular) and the over-arching theme of hope and belief in better for humanity.
In conclusion I would really recommend this trilogy for a refreshing take on epic fantasy with great loveable characters, a fun action packed story, a very queer-norm world with lots of queer characters and will leave you with a feeling of hope and joy whilst a bit bittersweet (which is my favourite way for books/series to end).
The Godbreaker is the final book in the God-king chronicles and is a truly epic conclusion that brings everything together perfectly. Stakes are higher than ever as armies are on the move, a tsunami is on the horizon and homes + families are threatened.
I've really enjoyed this whole trilogy but this instalment was definitely my favourite. I'm really invested in all the characters and I thought the arcs of each character was very fitting and everything came together in a very satisfying way. In the splinter king I had a bit of an issue with all the POVs and how they felt very chop and change-y but in this book I felt they were much better structured, even though there were probably just as many different character POVs they were "clustered" so you followed only a couple for a bit and then switched which worked much better. Also there was a lot of set up in the splinter king and that definitely paid off big time in this book!!
My favourite characters are probably Darel, Marin, Alazar, Ravi and Zhanna and I was very happy with all their journeys throughout the book (although I wish we had gotten more of Zhanna and Yarmina hehe). The character moments and plot elements were balanced very well.
I never felt like the plot slowed down in this book, the beginning opens with the aftermath of the tsunami (which I actually loved this bit!!) and then the threat of the the golden and the "divine one" Tyrun escalates leading to a dramatic showdown. I also really liked how the book ends feeling concluded but with a lot of potential for future stories - it feels like the characters will keep on living even though you are not reading about them anymore.
I really enjoy all the themes in this series, especially the religious fanaticism elements (in this book in particular) and the over-arching theme of hope and belief in better for humanity.
In conclusion I would really recommend this trilogy for a refreshing take on epic fantasy with great loveable characters, a fun action packed story, a very queer-norm world with lots of queer characters and will leave you with a feeling of hope and joy whilst a bit bittersweet (which is my favourite way for books/series to end).
June 16, 2022
So. It's the end of a trilogy, and I have to stop myself from marking the book down because it's the end and I don't want it to be! I thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 books in this series ("The Black Coast" and "The Splinter King"), so I was fairly certain that this book would also gather 5 stars. Writing, plot, characters, setting - all are superb, and I will miss them (until I get time to reread the series!).
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
December 8, 2022
5/5 stars.
I have not been so satisfied with an ending in a long time. The author has carefully woven plot threads through the trilogy and tied them in a need bow (though still left some unruly threads dangling). Saana started this series by journeying to Black Keep as a raiding clan and ended it... well that would be spoiling wouldn't it.
Full trilogy review to be published on FanFiAddict soon.
I have not been so satisfied with an ending in a long time. The author has carefully woven plot threads through the trilogy and tied them in a need bow (though still left some unruly threads dangling). Saana started this series by journeying to Black Keep as a raiding clan and ended it... well that would be spoiling wouldn't it.
Full trilogy review to be published on FanFiAddict soon.
December 28, 2022
Mike Brooks finishes the God-King Chronicles in “The Godbreaker.” The series is a mix of Game of Thrones meets the Witcher. Through reading the first two books, I was invested to see the outcomes of the many characters.
The Golden was also a character that had given me chills since Book 1. This book saw the many weaving storylines collide. And collide they did. As with the first two books, the storyline really picked up midway. The ending left me wanting more of this universe.
I’m happy how it ended. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC.
The Golden was also a character that had given me chills since Book 1. This book saw the many weaving storylines collide. And collide they did. As with the first two books, the storyline really picked up midway. The ending left me wanting more of this universe.
I’m happy how it ended. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC.
December 27, 2024
Took me a long time to finish this book; I don't exactly remember why I stopped reading in the first place , but some of the gënder cönventions cän be awkward to rëad. But I got back to it and it really sucked me back in; some things felt rushed and some things tied up nicely. Not a perfect book, but overall, I really liked the series. Would definitely read another one if it came out.
April 12, 2025
Epic conclusion! I really enjoyed most of the character arcs. I thought the plot was well-paced. I do hope the continuation that Brooks teases in the epilogue gets written. I love those characters and would like to learn more about that area of the world. More magic? Bring it on!
May 9, 2022
I have read all of Mike Brooks Warhammer books and he is one of my favourite authors in that world, this was my first book not Warhammer ….. you can see my stupidity shining through can’t you! I really should have read the previous books in this series to have got all the world and character building, my stupidity aside this is a really well told, exciting and engaging book that has made go straight to audible and try to get the first two books!
August 8, 2022
Deeply, deeply frustrating. As I have said about this series already the world building is second to none - the culture and speech-forms created by Mike Brooks are just wonderful.
But... I started this book worried about the significant plot bloat that happened in book 2 and sadly the weight of that bloat crushed this book. Simply there was just not enough room to finish everything, and that was fully evident around the 70% point where characters started teleporting, major events happened in-between chapters, major characters that defined key plot points died with a whimper and the ending was a political fudge that was left unresolved. The author needed 4-5 books to do this story justice, or he had to cut half the POVs and several of the less important plot lines.
And lastly the characters. Darel, Daimon, Zhanna, Saana, Tila (sort of) and Natan were great characters. The rest, including many POVs, I couldn't have cared less about. And that limited my ability to love the book. Jeya and Bulang in particular were utterly pointless.
But... I started this book worried about the significant plot bloat that happened in book 2 and sadly the weight of that bloat crushed this book. Simply there was just not enough room to finish everything, and that was fully evident around the 70% point where characters started teleporting, major events happened in-between chapters, major characters that defined key plot points died with a whimper and the ending was a political fudge that was left unresolved. The author needed 4-5 books to do this story justice, or he had to cut half the POVs and several of the less important plot lines.
And lastly the characters. Darel, Daimon, Zhanna, Saana, Tila (sort of) and Natan were great characters. The rest, including many POVs, I couldn't have cared less about. And that limited my ability to love the book. Jeya and Bulang in particular were utterly pointless.
April 22, 2023
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
While this was an enjoyable read, I ultimately didn't find it very satisfying, particularly given it's the end of a series, because the personal reading preferences that had been a bit underwhelming in THE BLACK COAST and THE SPLINTER KING were amplified here, and the book also felt like it had lost the focus and promise of the earlier books.
For a start, the disconnect between characters, which I'd expected to end in this finale by something bringing them all together, continued. Jeya and Buland (who gets a POV this book) never link up with the other characters at all. Plus their actions have exactly no bearing on anyone else's actions, even at a distance. In fact, the only time they link with the others remains to be a single action in the first book - which was an action taken by Tila that only truly impacts Jeya and Bulang, not anyone else. It just felt like I was reading a different book entirely smushed into this one whenever I reached them as they could have been utterly cut from the entire trilogy and the plot wouldn't have been affected.
The more disappointing/unsatisfying thing is that this series, from THE BLACK COAST, had been billed as a fantasy about opposing peoples learning to live together, which felt very unique and I loved that. However, that felt entirely forgotten in this book, to be replaced with a far more generic "two big evils devastate a country to fight one another." Plus the focus on this meant that most of the book (or so it felt) didn't actually involve the people of the black coast - Damion, Darel, Saana, and Zhanna (the POVs of that general concept) were absent for much of the book (or so it felt - I'd need to go a POV count but Darel was missing for half the book to be sure.) They are the people I'd always been most interested in but just weren't there.
Plus the major character death of the book seemed pointless, like it didn't move the story along (even to motivate characters as the character who made a big speech about taking a lesson from it, as the character then didn't actually have a chance to do that thing!) Not to mention the motive of doing the thing that led to the death didn't feel like it fit into the "living together despite differences" theme or character motivation at all.
In all, it just felt like the book had lost its way and pointlessly added two characters for three books (which come to almost 2000 pages!)
While this was an enjoyable read, I ultimately didn't find it very satisfying, particularly given it's the end of a series, because the personal reading preferences that had been a bit underwhelming in THE BLACK COAST and THE SPLINTER KING were amplified here, and the book also felt like it had lost the focus and promise of the earlier books.
For a start, the disconnect between characters, which I'd expected to end in this finale by something bringing them all together, continued. Jeya and Buland (who gets a POV this book) never link up with the other characters at all. Plus their actions have exactly no bearing on anyone else's actions, even at a distance. In fact, the only time they link with the others remains to be a single action in the first book - which was an action taken by Tila that only truly impacts Jeya and Bulang, not anyone else. It just felt like I was reading a different book entirely smushed into this one whenever I reached them as they could have been utterly cut from the entire trilogy and the plot wouldn't have been affected.
The more disappointing/unsatisfying thing is that this series, from THE BLACK COAST, had been billed as a fantasy about opposing peoples learning to live together, which felt very unique and I loved that. However, that felt entirely forgotten in this book, to be replaced with a far more generic "two big evils devastate a country to fight one another." Plus the focus on this meant that most of the book (or so it felt) didn't actually involve the people of the black coast - Damion, Darel, Saana, and Zhanna (the POVs of that general concept) were absent for much of the book (or so it felt - I'd need to go a POV count but Darel was missing for half the book to be sure.) They are the people I'd always been most interested in but just weren't there.
Plus the major character death of the book seemed pointless, like it didn't move the story along (even to motivate characters as the character who made a big speech about taking a lesson from it, as the character then didn't actually have a chance to do that thing!) Not to mention the motive of doing the thing that led to the death didn't feel like it fit into the "living together despite differences" theme or character motivation at all.
In all, it just felt like the book had lost its way and pointlessly added two characters for three books (which come to almost 2000 pages!)
July 5, 2024
Title: The Godbreaker
Author: Mike Brooks
Genre: Fantasy
My rating:3.75
Review:
"The Godbreaker," the thrilling conclusion to Mike Brooks' "God-King Chronicles," delivers a powerful and satisfying end to this epic fantasy series. Brooks masterfully weaves together the multiple narrative threads established in the previous books, bringing each character's arc to a poignant and impactful resolution.
The story continues to follow the key figures of the series, including Saana and Daimon, as they confront their greatest challenges yet. Saana's leadership is tested as the Tjakorsha face new threats, while Daimon grapples with his loyalties and the intricate web of political machinations. Their development is handled with depth, showing growth and resilience in the face of adversity.
Brooks' ability to create tension and maintain a gripping pace is evident throughout "The Godbreaker." The stakes are higher than ever, with the looming threat of the titular Godbreaker adding a sense of urgency and danger. The battles are intense and well-described, making for edge-of-the-seat reading.
The world-building remains a highlight, with Brooks further exploring the rich tapestry of cultures and histories that define his universe. The interplay between the Tjakorsha and the Brown Eagle clan, among other factions, is portrayed with realism and nuance, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.
The prose is crisp and evocative, balancing vivid descriptions with sharp dialogue and action. Brooks manages to convey the grandeur of the fantasy world while keeping the story grounded in its characters' personal struggles and triumphs. The pacing is expertly controlled, ensuring that each plotline is given its due attention without ever feeling rushed.
"The Godbreaker" delves into themes of power, identity, and sacrifice, challenging characters to confront their deepest fears and desires. The resolutions are both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving readers with much to ponder long after the final page.
In summary, "The Godbreaker" is a fitting and powerful conclusion to the "God-King Chronicles." Mike Brooks has crafted a trilogy that stands out in the fantasy genre, marked by strong character development, intricate plotting, and immersive world-building. Fans of the series will find this final installment both exhilarating and deeply satisfying, cementing Brooks' place as a notable voice in contemporary fantasy.
Author: Mike Brooks
Genre: Fantasy
My rating:3.75
Review:
"The Godbreaker," the thrilling conclusion to Mike Brooks' "God-King Chronicles," delivers a powerful and satisfying end to this epic fantasy series. Brooks masterfully weaves together the multiple narrative threads established in the previous books, bringing each character's arc to a poignant and impactful resolution.
The story continues to follow the key figures of the series, including Saana and Daimon, as they confront their greatest challenges yet. Saana's leadership is tested as the Tjakorsha face new threats, while Daimon grapples with his loyalties and the intricate web of political machinations. Their development is handled with depth, showing growth and resilience in the face of adversity.
Brooks' ability to create tension and maintain a gripping pace is evident throughout "The Godbreaker." The stakes are higher than ever, with the looming threat of the titular Godbreaker adding a sense of urgency and danger. The battles are intense and well-described, making for edge-of-the-seat reading.
The world-building remains a highlight, with Brooks further exploring the rich tapestry of cultures and histories that define his universe. The interplay between the Tjakorsha and the Brown Eagle clan, among other factions, is portrayed with realism and nuance, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.
The prose is crisp and evocative, balancing vivid descriptions with sharp dialogue and action. Brooks manages to convey the grandeur of the fantasy world while keeping the story grounded in its characters' personal struggles and triumphs. The pacing is expertly controlled, ensuring that each plotline is given its due attention without ever feeling rushed.
"The Godbreaker" delves into themes of power, identity, and sacrifice, challenging characters to confront their deepest fears and desires. The resolutions are both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving readers with much to ponder long after the final page.
In summary, "The Godbreaker" is a fitting and powerful conclusion to the "God-King Chronicles." Mike Brooks has crafted a trilogy that stands out in the fantasy genre, marked by strong character development, intricate plotting, and immersive world-building. Fans of the series will find this final installment both exhilarating and deeply satisfying, cementing Brooks' place as a notable voice in contemporary fantasy.
September 17, 2022
My thanks to Netgalley for sending me a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a big book. I have read the two previous books in this series and was understandably excited to be able to read this book and see how everything turns out. Overall I liked this book. The characters were just as engaging as in previous books and the story itself was often unpredictable and thus more engaging. Despite the death of one of my favorite characters in the series, I really, really liked the ending of this book. It tied up many of the loose plot points and even opened the door for Mr Brooks to revisit the wonderful world he created in the future. I do have two main criticism for this book however. Firstly, the final big battle was a little anticlimactic in my opinion. And I would have liked some more information about the two main "good/bad" guys and their respective pasts and abilities. My second criticism, and in truth it isn't so much a criticism of just this book but of the series as a whole, is the whole East Harbor story line. As far as I can tell, it didn't serve any actually purpose. Nothing that happened there throughout all three books directly or indirectly affected the "main" story. In any way. In truth, I had hoped that this book, being the finale, would bring together many of the characters we had met in previous book. And it did. But not for the characters of East Harbor. Their whole story line could be cut from the books and nothing would change. I think that's a shame and a missed opportunity on the part of the author. I would have been much happier had the author decided to take the East Harbor story line out of the series completely and turn it into its own novella. That I think would have freed the author up to delve deeper into the other amazing characters in the "main" story and helped improve the overall plot of not just this book but the entire series.
In conclusion, I liked this book. It was a good finale to the series and I really enjoyed the ending. While this book, and by extension this series, is not perfect, I would recommend any fantasy lover give it a go. It is well written and very imaginative. I can honestly say that I have never read anything like it before. .
This was a big book. I have read the two previous books in this series and was understandably excited to be able to read this book and see how everything turns out. Overall I liked this book. The characters were just as engaging as in previous books and the story itself was often unpredictable and thus more engaging. Despite the death of one of my favorite characters in the series, I really, really liked the ending of this book. It tied up many of the loose plot points and even opened the door for Mr Brooks to revisit the wonderful world he created in the future. I do have two main criticism for this book however. Firstly, the final big battle was a little anticlimactic in my opinion. And I would have liked some more information about the two main "good/bad" guys and their respective pasts and abilities. My second criticism, and in truth it isn't so much a criticism of just this book but of the series as a whole, is the whole East Harbor story line. As far as I can tell, it didn't serve any actually purpose. Nothing that happened there throughout all three books directly or indirectly affected the "main" story. In any way. In truth, I had hoped that this book, being the finale, would bring together many of the characters we had met in previous book. And it did. But not for the characters of East Harbor. Their whole story line could be cut from the books and nothing would change. I think that's a shame and a missed opportunity on the part of the author. I would have been much happier had the author decided to take the East Harbor story line out of the series completely and turn it into its own novella. That I think would have freed the author up to delve deeper into the other amazing characters in the "main" story and helped improve the overall plot of not just this book but the entire series.
In conclusion, I liked this book. It was a good finale to the series and I really enjoyed the ending. While this book, and by extension this series, is not perfect, I would recommend any fantasy lover give it a go. It is well written and very imaginative. I can honestly say that I have never read anything like it before. .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2022
The first two books were simple in scope, and a little predictable, but I still gave them both 5 stars and a place on my favorites shelf. The idea of diplomacy being the main conflict in a fantasy series is refreshing and welcome in a genre where the popular stories now are grimdark.
However, this one was not a satisfying conclusion for me. Things that were problems overlooked easily in the first two books were compounded in this one--there were so many povs, which I normally love, but they were so far apart any build up in one storyline would be lost by the time it came around again. The middle of the book was exhausting because of this, there was no raising stakes and only constant dialogue.
To get more specific, Jeya and Bulang's story probably should have wrapped up sooner than it did, or been taken completely out, as their second arc doesn't add much or answer any interesting questions. Tila also has several chapters that feels like the narrative dictates she's supposed to be there as an observer, and it shows because her actions are repetitive.
While the story did pick up in the second half, and there were several "oh sh*t" moments that held my attention, there were also multiple cases of things feeling forced or underwhelming.
At the end of a series, I prefer most questions to be answered and there to be only a few dangling threads for readers to ponder. This one answered very few of the big questions, and clearly is setting up for more books in this world. I'm unsure if I'll continue, given how unsatisfying the ending was for me.
However, this one was not a satisfying conclusion for me. Things that were problems overlooked easily in the first two books were compounded in this one--there were so many povs, which I normally love, but they were so far apart any build up in one storyline would be lost by the time it came around again. The middle of the book was exhausting because of this, there was no raising stakes and only constant dialogue.
To get more specific, Jeya and Bulang's story probably should have wrapped up sooner than it did, or been taken completely out, as their second arc doesn't add much or answer any interesting questions. Tila also has several chapters that feels like the narrative dictates she's supposed to be there as an observer, and it shows because her actions are repetitive.
While the story did pick up in the second half, and there were several "oh sh*t" moments that held my attention, there were also multiple cases of things feeling forced or underwhelming.
At the end of a series, I prefer most questions to be answered and there to be only a few dangling threads for readers to ponder. This one answered very few of the big questions, and clearly is setting up for more books in this world. I'm unsure if I'll continue, given how unsatisfying the ending was for me.
September 16, 2022
3.5, sadly I just can't justify rounding up
I just didnt find this conclusion satisfying. It took me a really long time to get into, it just felt meandering and I wasn't hooked by anything, especially because much of this book was from Tula's perspective and for some reason I just don't connect with that character.
I just felt the resolution was a bit lazy. The golden and Tyrun were made up to be this crazy powerful creatures, gathering following that was rupturing entire countries, and then they just.... Got killed? I don't know I would have expected something more, backstory for the Golden atleast. I also didn't appreciate bulang and Jeyas perspective as much as other books because I slowly started to realise they would nerver connect into the main narrative. I understand brooks wants to expand this universe and probably follow these characters again, but building up an entire side narrative just to add the little detail of a throne pretender that didn't even come to anything just feels unnecessary. Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed seeing the perspective from a different country and I really liked jeya and bulang throughout the trilogy, but I just wish they'd mattered more to the main perspective.As I said I understand wanting to expand but if you write a trilogy, please focus on making it a closed off trilogy first and foremost.
It saddens me because I love the ideas and worldbuiliding of this trilogy but this third book just felt a bit lazy and the pacing just felt very strange to me, it dragged for more than half the book and then just picked up a little at the end. Maybe brooks rushed this a bit too much, I know he had the Ideas for this book since he was a teenager but he only finished writing the first book 2020, releasing the whole trilogy withing 2 years was maybe a bit of a push. There were even quite a few spelling mistakes that just shouldn't have come through editing.
I'll definitely still read any more content from this world but for now I'm left a bit disappointed.
I just didnt find this conclusion satisfying. It took me a really long time to get into, it just felt meandering and I wasn't hooked by anything, especially because much of this book was from Tula's perspective and for some reason I just don't connect with that character.
I just felt the resolution was a bit lazy. The golden and Tyrun were made up to be this crazy powerful creatures, gathering following that was rupturing entire countries, and then they just.... Got killed? I don't know I would have expected something more, backstory for the Golden atleast. I also didn't appreciate bulang and Jeyas perspective as much as other books because I slowly started to realise they would nerver connect into the main narrative. I understand brooks wants to expand this universe and probably follow these characters again, but building up an entire side narrative just to add the little detail of a throne pretender that didn't even come to anything just feels unnecessary. Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed seeing the perspective from a different country and I really liked jeya and bulang throughout the trilogy, but I just wish they'd mattered more to the main perspective.As I said I understand wanting to expand but if you write a trilogy, please focus on making it a closed off trilogy first and foremost.
It saddens me because I love the ideas and worldbuiliding of this trilogy but this third book just felt a bit lazy and the pacing just felt very strange to me, it dragged for more than half the book and then just picked up a little at the end. Maybe brooks rushed this a bit too much, I know he had the Ideas for this book since he was a teenager but he only finished writing the first book 2020, releasing the whole trilogy withing 2 years was maybe a bit of a push. There were even quite a few spelling mistakes that just shouldn't have come through editing.
I'll definitely still read any more content from this world but for now I'm left a bit disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2023
(7.5/10) The average experience of reading any part of this series kept to a baseline level of very human storytelling, good humour, and thoughtful exploration of themes that I never stopped enjoying.
However, I didn't really feel like this book was successful in drawing together everything the series was trying to do. Through Book 2, the scope of the story expanded so dramatically that not all of these characters were able to be finalised with equal levels of care; as the needs of the sprawling, countrywide story took hold in this book, beloved characters would have their plot grind to a halt and really not gain much of a finish, while Marin, Alazar and Ravi got pretty much every second chapter. Like, I like those three, but they were not the main characters prior to this book, and it felt like they only became that way because the plot required it (although I did really enjoy the stories that Alazar and Ravi got in the end). Moreover, it felt like there was a disconnect between the author's theoretical desire to write a full-scope, high-fantasy plot that eventuates in a big war, and the author's actual strength of writing smaller-scale character arcs and relationships, resulting in the big war parts feeling fairly flimsy on the whole, never very fleshed-out.
I guess thematically the book was more successful; on a very broad level, this was certainly an appropriate set of events on which this story should end. I also really liked the way it started, as an inciting event that clearly set the final sequence in motion.
Also, I'm trying not to be too specific here, but just know that Jeya and Bulang never pay off. Their story never becomes relevant, is fairly consistently the least interesting (in part because nothing else rides on it), and just like... didn't need to be in these books. This was an arc I read very charitably through books 1 and 2 because I assumed it would pay off, and it was really conspicuous that it didn't in the end.
However, I didn't really feel like this book was successful in drawing together everything the series was trying to do. Through Book 2, the scope of the story expanded so dramatically that not all of these characters were able to be finalised with equal levels of care; as the needs of the sprawling, countrywide story took hold in this book, beloved characters would have their plot grind to a halt and really not gain much of a finish, while Marin, Alazar and Ravi got pretty much every second chapter. Like, I like those three, but they were not the main characters prior to this book, and it felt like they only became that way because the plot required it (although I did really enjoy the stories that Alazar and Ravi got in the end). Moreover, it felt like there was a disconnect between the author's theoretical desire to write a full-scope, high-fantasy plot that eventuates in a big war, and the author's actual strength of writing smaller-scale character arcs and relationships, resulting in the big war parts feeling fairly flimsy on the whole, never very fleshed-out.
I guess thematically the book was more successful; on a very broad level, this was certainly an appropriate set of events on which this story should end. I also really liked the way it started, as an inciting event that clearly set the final sequence in motion.
Also, I'm trying not to be too specific here, but just know that Jeya and Bulang never pay off. Their story never becomes relevant, is fairly consistently the least interesting (in part because nothing else rides on it), and just like... didn't need to be in these books. This was an arc I read very charitably through books 1 and 2 because I assumed it would pay off, and it was really conspicuous that it didn't in the end.
July 17, 2022
The last book in this trilogy takes a look at how long loyalty can survive when pressure is applied. The story is spread across viewpoints where the protagonists are in opposition to each other.
It starts with the smaller scale conflict which besets Daimon and Saana at Black Keep where a local lord is trying to take control, and it seems only Saana’s knowledge of the sea will save the day. The other smaller story is on the City of Islands where Bulang’s heritage as a pretender to the throne of Narida makes them both a prize and a threat to the various groups on the islands. The throne in question is currently held by the GodKing Natan a descendant of the divine Nari, but in the west, Tyrun, who claims to be the reborn Nari, is gathering an army which includes soldiers of the Godking. And then The Golden, a demon who now leads the Tjakorsha raiders, is leading an invasion fleet to Narida. And Natan’s sister Tila is trying to find a way to survive it all.
What I liked about this book was how events were unexpected and yet made sense. There were unanticipated deaths, but not just unanticipated in who died but how they died. The resolution was not the standard, one ruler is defeated and the rightful ruler claims the throne. But there were also observations about human character that were very accurate, a small throwaway one is how there were several characters called Natan, because of course a loyal subject would name a son after the king. Since the first book I’ve been pleased at how the story is a variation of the standard fantasy plots, and it continues that uniqueness while still having all of the intrigue and action of a good fantasy. I can see myself re-reading this trilogy in the future. And there is a hint there may be other stories to come in this world.
I had a copy of this book early through Netgalley
It starts with the smaller scale conflict which besets Daimon and Saana at Black Keep where a local lord is trying to take control, and it seems only Saana’s knowledge of the sea will save the day. The other smaller story is on the City of Islands where Bulang’s heritage as a pretender to the throne of Narida makes them both a prize and a threat to the various groups on the islands. The throne in question is currently held by the GodKing Natan a descendant of the divine Nari, but in the west, Tyrun, who claims to be the reborn Nari, is gathering an army which includes soldiers of the Godking. And then The Golden, a demon who now leads the Tjakorsha raiders, is leading an invasion fleet to Narida. And Natan’s sister Tila is trying to find a way to survive it all.
What I liked about this book was how events were unexpected and yet made sense. There were unanticipated deaths, but not just unanticipated in who died but how they died. The resolution was not the standard, one ruler is defeated and the rightful ruler claims the throne. But there were also observations about human character that were very accurate, a small throwaway one is how there were several characters called Natan, because of course a loyal subject would name a son after the king. Since the first book I’ve been pleased at how the story is a variation of the standard fantasy plots, and it continues that uniqueness while still having all of the intrigue and action of a good fantasy. I can see myself re-reading this trilogy in the future. And there is a hint there may be other stories to come in this world.
I had a copy of this book early through Netgalley
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