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The Tarot Sequence #3
The Hourglass Throne
As Rune Saint John grapples with the challenges of assuming the Sun Throne, a powerful barrier appears around New Atlantis’s famed rejuvenation center. But who could have created such formidable magic . . . what do they want from the immortality clinic . . . and what remains of the dozens trapped inside?
Though Rune and his lifelong bodyguard Brand are tasked with investigating the mysterious barrier, Rune is also busy settling into his new life at court. Claiming his father’s throne has irrevocably thrown him into the precarious world of political deception, and he must secure relationships with newfound allies in time to keep his growing found family safe. His relationship with his lover, Addam Saint Nicholas, raises additional political complications they must navigate. But he and Brand soon discover that the power behind the barrier holds a much more insidious, far-reaching threat to his family, to his people, and to the world.
Now, the rulers of New Atlantis must confront an enemy both new and ancient as the flow of time itself is drawn into the conflict. And as Rune finds himself inexorably drawn back to the fall of his father’s court and his own torture at the hands of masked conspirators, the secrets that he has long guarded will be dragged into the light—changing the Sun Throne, and New Atlantis, forever.
The climax of the first trilogy in the nine-book Tarot Sequence, The Hourglass Throne delivers epic urban fantasy that blends humor, fast-paced action, and political intrigue.
Though Rune and his lifelong bodyguard Brand are tasked with investigating the mysterious barrier, Rune is also busy settling into his new life at court. Claiming his father’s throne has irrevocably thrown him into the precarious world of political deception, and he must secure relationships with newfound allies in time to keep his growing found family safe. His relationship with his lover, Addam Saint Nicholas, raises additional political complications they must navigate. But he and Brand soon discover that the power behind the barrier holds a much more insidious, far-reaching threat to his family, to his people, and to the world.
Now, the rulers of New Atlantis must confront an enemy both new and ancient as the flow of time itself is drawn into the conflict. And as Rune finds himself inexorably drawn back to the fall of his father’s court and his own torture at the hands of masked conspirators, the secrets that he has long guarded will be dragged into the light—changing the Sun Throne, and New Atlantis, forever.
The climax of the first trilogy in the nine-book Tarot Sequence, The Hourglass Throne delivers epic urban fantasy that blends humor, fast-paced action, and political intrigue.
375 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2022
211 people are currently reading
6521 people want to read
About the author
K.D. Edwards
15 books2,664 followersAuthor of the Tarot Sequence and the Tales from New Atlantis. Published by Pyr. Reader of Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA, Mystery, Graphic Novels, and LGBT+.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 925 reviews
February 21, 2022
KD Edwards was able, with this first trilogy, to enter an uncharted niche of market (Adult urban fantasy that do not focus on romance) in a incredibly successful and crafted way. The Hourglass Throne is the perfect conclusion of the trilogy, indeed many plot lines are still open, and Oh am I excited to see what’s coming next, I am in dire need of book four... and five, six and so on. All the strong elements that made the first two books so charming are here, amplified.
Edwards’s style is compelling, this book is fast paced but with enough introspection, never a dull or boring moment. The action scenes are well positioned and clear, so fun to follow even from my perspective (a reader that usually do not care for action).
The worldbuilding is on point, the tarot element is so cleverly declined, new Atlantis an adequate background that has so much to show yet. This world capture the reader and it’s hard to let it go and go back to reality.
But, the real selling point of this book is represented by the characters and their relationship. Oh, what the Found Family trope can do when well managed. For all the readers that love this trope: You cannot miss on this one. This element, carefully build through the first two books and the various novels here flourish completely. It’s so refereshing to see a book that is moved by something else than romantic love (even if Addam and Rune are a beautiful match and so well inserted in the context). The relationship between Brand and Rune is, as always, the heart of the book. But the duo is no more alone and they are surrounded by a loving family and I am here for it. And for the action.
The plot is quite typical for the author, mystery, investigation, a tiny bit of dealing with past trauma, action. It's a structure that never gets old and the author is able to write a captivating, fast paced story.
I loved. You will love it. I need book four
(I highly recommend to read the short stories available on the author’s website that are helpful to unravel some changes from book two to book three)
Arc kindly provided by the publisher via Edelweiss
Edwards’s style is compelling, this book is fast paced but with enough introspection, never a dull or boring moment. The action scenes are well positioned and clear, so fun to follow even from my perspective (a reader that usually do not care for action).
The worldbuilding is on point, the tarot element is so cleverly declined, new Atlantis an adequate background that has so much to show yet. This world capture the reader and it’s hard to let it go and go back to reality.
But, the real selling point of this book is represented by the characters and their relationship. Oh, what the Found Family trope can do when well managed. For all the readers that love this trope: You cannot miss on this one. This element, carefully build through the first two books and the various novels here flourish completely. It’s so refereshing to see a book that is moved by something else than romantic love (even if Addam and Rune are a beautiful match and so well inserted in the context). The relationship between Brand and Rune is, as always, the heart of the book. But the duo is no more alone and they are surrounded by a loving family and I am here for it. And for the action.
The plot is quite typical for the author, mystery, investigation, a tiny bit of dealing with past trauma, action. It's a structure that never gets old and the author is able to write a captivating, fast paced story.
I loved. You will love it. I need book four
(I highly recommend to read the short stories available on the author’s website that are helpful to unravel some changes from book two to book three)
Arc kindly provided by the publisher via Edelweiss
September 24, 2023
HELLO THE BRAND RUNE ADDAM DYNAMIC IS SO……
This whole book was insane but my jaw genuinely dropped during the last scene their relationship dynamic is insane polyamorous relationship reveal when?? Kd Edwards I have questions.
More detailed thoughts can be found here:
https://youtu.be/vi-oO9zwlNA
This whole book was insane but my jaw genuinely dropped during the last scene their relationship dynamic is insane polyamorous relationship reveal when?? Kd Edwards I have questions.
More detailed thoughts can be found here:
https://youtu.be/vi-oO9zwlNA
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2021
Weaving intricate politics, fast action, and high magic with the powerful themes of loss and found family, K.D. Edwards' Tarot Sequence burns even hotter in the Hourglass Throne. Just when you think you've got a handle on where the plot is going he detonates another surprise or reveals a world-changing secret in his long game. Don't sleep on this series. I can't wait to see where it goes.
January 6, 2022
Okay so everyone knows this is my favorite series ever but HOT DAMN DID MISTER EDWARDS STEP HIS BUSSY UP WITH THIS ONE. I CRIED HAPPY AND SAD TEARS AND ALL THE EMOTIONS AND AHHHHHHHH.
-
I got an E-ARC this morning and spent the ENTIRE day in bed reading this absolutely fabulous novel.
-
It answered SO MANY questions while also opening the door for many more for the rest for the series.
- we had:
ACTION
DRAMA
SMOOCHES
CRYING
TEARS
BIG SAD
BIGGER HAPPY
AHHHHH JUST EVERYTHING YOU WANT OUT OF A BOOK AND MORE 😭😭😭
PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD READ THIS SERIES AHHHHHH
-
I got an E-ARC this morning and spent the ENTIRE day in bed reading this absolutely fabulous novel.
-
It answered SO MANY questions while also opening the door for many more for the rest for the series.
- we had:
ACTION
DRAMA
SMOOCHES
CRYING
TEARS
BIG SAD
BIGGER HAPPY
AHHHHH JUST EVERYTHING YOU WANT OUT OF A BOOK AND MORE 😭😭😭
PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD READ THIS SERIES AHHHHHH
May 23, 2022
The writing was good as usual and the plot unpredictable and interesting, with some questions finding an answer and new ones opening the way for the rest of the series. This was also the book where Rune’s “secret” was revealed: it was done well, it didn’t come completely out of nowhere, while still managing to surprise and move me. I liked a lot the parts that involved
Now it comes the awkward part, where I try to explain why I’m most likely stopping here with a series that I’ve consistently rated between 3.5 and 4 stars, short stories excluded. I can’t bring myself to give this book less than 4 stars, because I can see that objectively it deserves them and I enjoyed reading big parts of it, but there are aspects of this series I’ve been struggling with for a while. I tried to hang in there, but it seems to be getting worse.
After making a huge effort to adjust to something I wasn’t expecting in the first book, I stayed for Rune and Brand and their relationship, in addition to an interesting plot and despite my complete disinterest in Addam and a tepid tolerance of most things related to the kids. There are developments in this book that don’t fill me with a lot of hope for where this series is going. and some events——have definitely lessened my enthusiasm for I’ve also been told that the plan for the next book(s?) is to give a lot more page time to the kids and I struggled so much already with the short stories because they were very kid-focused that I can’t really see a full-length book working for me, if their issues are going to take the precedence. I’d prefer to cut my losses now, before I end up reading something I can’t unread or I simply lose any remaining interest in these characters.
Now it comes the awkward part, where I try to explain why I’m most likely stopping here with a series that I’ve consistently rated between 3.5 and 4 stars, short stories excluded. I can’t bring myself to give this book less than 4 stars, because I can see that objectively it deserves them and I enjoyed reading big parts of it, but there are aspects of this series I’ve been struggling with for a while. I tried to hang in there, but it seems to be getting worse.
After making a huge effort to adjust to something I wasn’t expecting in the first book, I stayed for Rune and Brand and their relationship, in addition to an interesting plot and despite my complete disinterest in Addam and a tepid tolerance of most things related to the kids. There are developments in this book that don’t fill me with a lot of hope for where this series is going. and some events——have definitely lessened my enthusiasm for I’ve also been told that the plan for the next book(s?) is to give a lot more page time to the kids and I struggled so much already with the short stories because they were very kid-focused that I can’t really see a full-length book working for me, if their issues are going to take the precedence. I’d prefer to cut my losses now, before I end up reading something I can’t unread or I simply lose any remaining interest in these characters.
May 10, 2024
RTC when my soul comes back into my body and I know how to human again. Have some gifs of my feelings in the mean time.
I am overwhelmed, THIS WAS A MASTERPIECE EVEN IF PARTS SHIT ME TO TEARS. Special thanks and shout out to KD Edwards for writing this book and ruining my life, ily babe 🥰💞
IG: the_unintelligible_reader 💖
I am overwhelmed, THIS WAS A MASTERPIECE EVEN IF PARTS SHIT ME TO TEARS. Special thanks and shout out to KD Edwards for writing this book and ruining my life, ily babe 🥰💞
IG: the_unintelligible_reader 💖
February 15, 2024
Oh, so we're just going to casually change the trajectory of my life and then just fuck off into the ether, leaving me a broken shell of a person? Okay...cool, cool, cool...
HOW THE FUCK am I supposed to operate as a functioning member of society until MAY, K.D.!? EXPLAIN TO ME THAT. And you're telling me there's going to be SIX of these *shakes book violently* motherfuckers!? MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT. IT'S TOO MUCH GOOD. TOO MUCH JOY.
This one put me well over the limit of how much amazingness I can take before I start to short circuit and my brain implodes in on itself like a dying star. I big-time ugly cried. Fergie was so, so very wrong. Big girls do cry. And not just a dainty, ladylike tear or two - no, no, no, we're talking full on wiping-copious-amounts-of-snot-on-my-sleeve-because-I-am-too-distraught-to-get-up-and-get-a-tissue crying.
There is magic in these books that cannot be explained and I am viciously honored that I got the chance to meet these characters and take a peek into this world.
Catch me in May when The Misfit Caravan comes out. Or don't, actually, because if this one was anything to go by, all signs point to me falling apart once again and I am so looking forward to it.
HOW THE FUCK am I supposed to operate as a functioning member of society until MAY, K.D.!? EXPLAIN TO ME THAT. And you're telling me there's going to be SIX of these *shakes book violently* motherfuckers!? MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT. IT'S TOO MUCH GOOD. TOO MUCH JOY.
This one put me well over the limit of how much amazingness I can take before I start to short circuit and my brain implodes in on itself like a dying star. I big-time ugly cried. Fergie was so, so very wrong. Big girls do cry. And not just a dainty, ladylike tear or two - no, no, no, we're talking full on wiping-copious-amounts-of-snot-on-my-sleeve-because-I-am-too-distraught-to-get-up-and-get-a-tissue crying.
There is magic in these books that cannot be explained and I am viciously honored that I got the chance to meet these characters and take a peek into this world.
Catch me in May when The Misfit Caravan comes out. Or don't, actually, because if this one was anything to go by, all signs point to me falling apart once again and I am so looking forward to it.
January 13, 2022
"What do you lead, Rune Sun?"
Rune Saint John's trial by fire started twenty years ago for him.
It's safe to say The Hourglass Throne is the readers' first trial by fire.
I mark periods of my life by the books I read. Snapshots of me flipping through pages in vivid technicolour settings are burned into my brain when other memories have faded. I think we all do it in one way or another. Those of us who are in love with stories and people made of pulp and ink.
They are, as a character once described in The Last Sun, Where-Were-You moments. Where were you when this extraordinary thing happened? Where were you when you were four and have barely formed a sense of self, and you held the Little Prince's hand as he fell back to his planet? Where were you at that age of both awkward and fearless, and a ragged man with fire for eyes was shadowboxing Hitler in a German basement?
Where were you when K.D. Edwards tore your heart out and burned it, sprayed its ashes across a field existing in that space - that sacred space you sink to when blackness pushes through and tears lose meaning. And out from it emerged something unspeakably frail and precious.
The first half of the book is solid setup. It builds momentum with an ominous trail of bodies, the appearance of a terrifying new enemy, and sifts through the all-too-real consequences of leadership and parenthood Rune is forced to face. For the first time since the fall of the Sun Throne, Rune and Brand have access to resources they didn't dare dream of, and their first priority is the safety of their newfound family, which only seems to be getting larger by the week. All the beloved cast are back in play, with Lady Death and Addam receiving some special narrative attention. Not quite the calm before the storm, but something of a steady drizzle.
And then enters the second half.
The second half of The Hourglass Throne is akin to snatching lightning from the sky and biting into it raw. It's blood, sweat, and tears stretched out over blazing fire and hammered into a crown. A hair-raising procession of threads converging from previous books, events that deepen our understanding of New Atlantis and its players even as it upends it, and battles that literally reverberate through the floor because you can't stop pacing. It's terror and heartbreak. It's love. Love in the face of deafening demons and repressed fears. Love enough to fill this world a thousand times over until destroyed and create new universes in the remaining void. Love that redefines itself over and over.
The neverending gut punches and surprises are what readers will gravitate to and become stamped in memory. Pain, after all, has a way of overshadowing things. But it's the ache of simple moments - the grasping fingers of a boy who just wants to care for an ancient rhinoceros; a blithe joke tossed over shoulder, hiding weary relief; laughter spilling down rooftop, ricocheting across timestreams; a name, just one name; words, just two words - that prove to be momentous. They're touchstones. Anchors reminding the characters and readers that, whatever happens, they can always reach back to that still frame for strength. That for every searing pain, there's a whisper set into the shoulder. For every loss, the corner of a puzzle gently falls into place.
And the real magic of the book isn't in the incredible displays of breathtaking Atlantean magic (though there are plenty), but its furious commitment to carrying kindness like a torch through the most harrowing storms. So much so that when the lightning strikes and you grab it by your fingers, you welcome the hurt. Because you know you can survive it.
I've now done this for every book in the series so far - wild love letters whispered to my ceiling at three in the morning and, in the cold light of day, interpreted into something semi-resembling a review. It's bound to lose meaning somewhere, right? The books can't all be deserving of a Hamlet monologue. Praise things sparingly lest everything becomes good, which means that nothing is good. Or so critics say.
Well, as a critic...fuck the critics.
The Hourglass Throne concludes the first trilogy of The Tarot Sequence, and it's never been more apparent that the only writer Edwards has to surpass is himself. Not because the series is objectively the greatest work of fiction in history, or because there are no other books with exquisite world-building, dizzying action, or a deep dive into queer found family and bonds. But because no other series features all of that and is also willing to gently kiss your head as it slides a knife between your ribs and tells you one last fantastic joke. It understands, like few others, that in a world where solemn and sad sweep awards, life is a three-pronged scale of tears, laughter, and hugs, all in balance - and it is in that balance that you find profound meaning.
~~
Review copy provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
My previous reviews in the series:
The Last Sun (Book 1)
The Hanged Man (Book 2)
Rune Saint John's trial by fire started twenty years ago for him.
It's safe to say The Hourglass Throne is the readers' first trial by fire.
I mark periods of my life by the books I read. Snapshots of me flipping through pages in vivid technicolour settings are burned into my brain when other memories have faded. I think we all do it in one way or another. Those of us who are in love with stories and people made of pulp and ink.
They are, as a character once described in The Last Sun, Where-Were-You moments. Where were you when this extraordinary thing happened? Where were you when you were four and have barely formed a sense of self, and you held the Little Prince's hand as he fell back to his planet? Where were you at that age of both awkward and fearless, and a ragged man with fire for eyes was shadowboxing Hitler in a German basement?
Where were you when K.D. Edwards tore your heart out and burned it, sprayed its ashes across a field existing in that space - that sacred space you sink to when blackness pushes through and tears lose meaning. And out from it emerged something unspeakably frail and precious.
The first half of the book is solid setup. It builds momentum with an ominous trail of bodies, the appearance of a terrifying new enemy, and sifts through the all-too-real consequences of leadership and parenthood Rune is forced to face. For the first time since the fall of the Sun Throne, Rune and Brand have access to resources they didn't dare dream of, and their first priority is the safety of their newfound family, which only seems to be getting larger by the week. All the beloved cast are back in play, with Lady Death and Addam receiving some special narrative attention. Not quite the calm before the storm, but something of a steady drizzle.
And then enters the second half.
The second half of The Hourglass Throne is akin to snatching lightning from the sky and biting into it raw. It's blood, sweat, and tears stretched out over blazing fire and hammered into a crown. A hair-raising procession of threads converging from previous books, events that deepen our understanding of New Atlantis and its players even as it upends it, and battles that literally reverberate through the floor because you can't stop pacing. It's terror and heartbreak. It's love. Love in the face of deafening demons and repressed fears. Love enough to fill this world a thousand times over until destroyed and create new universes in the remaining void. Love that redefines itself over and over.
The neverending gut punches and surprises are what readers will gravitate to and become stamped in memory. Pain, after all, has a way of overshadowing things. But it's the ache of simple moments - the grasping fingers of a boy who just wants to care for an ancient rhinoceros; a blithe joke tossed over shoulder, hiding weary relief; laughter spilling down rooftop, ricocheting across timestreams; a name, just one name; words, just two words - that prove to be momentous. They're touchstones. Anchors reminding the characters and readers that, whatever happens, they can always reach back to that still frame for strength. That for every searing pain, there's a whisper set into the shoulder. For every loss, the corner of a puzzle gently falls into place.
And the real magic of the book isn't in the incredible displays of breathtaking Atlantean magic (though there are plenty), but its furious commitment to carrying kindness like a torch through the most harrowing storms. So much so that when the lightning strikes and you grab it by your fingers, you welcome the hurt. Because you know you can survive it.
I've now done this for every book in the series so far - wild love letters whispered to my ceiling at three in the morning and, in the cold light of day, interpreted into something semi-resembling a review. It's bound to lose meaning somewhere, right? The books can't all be deserving of a Hamlet monologue. Praise things sparingly lest everything becomes good, which means that nothing is good. Or so critics say.
Well, as a critic...fuck the critics.
The Hourglass Throne concludes the first trilogy of The Tarot Sequence, and it's never been more apparent that the only writer Edwards has to surpass is himself. Not because the series is objectively the greatest work of fiction in history, or because there are no other books with exquisite world-building, dizzying action, or a deep dive into queer found family and bonds. But because no other series features all of that and is also willing to gently kiss your head as it slides a knife between your ribs and tells you one last fantastic joke. It understands, like few others, that in a world where solemn and sad sweep awards, life is a three-pronged scale of tears, laughter, and hugs, all in balance - and it is in that balance that you find profound meaning.
~~
Review copy provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
My previous reviews in the series:
The Last Sun (Book 1)
The Hanged Man (Book 2)
September 15, 2023
I read it in just two sittings, with a much needed but reluctantly done sleep in between. The plot-worldbuilding tandem was truly something, but I just wish that character depth didn't have to suffer for it. And also, a teaser or a blurb for the next book would have been much, much appreciated. Gods know how long it'll be until we meet these Atlanteans again.
May 23, 2022
This was a great finale to this first trilogy of trilogies. None of my theories were right, lol, which I'm very glad about. And honestly, I had already given up on during my reread so that wasn't exactly a surprise.
Seeing Rune and Addam, and Brand, and the gang settling more into Sun Estate was a treat, and those parts provided some levity in between the roller coast ride of the plot. This starts off with a bang and doesn't really let up. But the main reason I was dreading this one was because Rune's secret was finally going to come out. Well, that and I'm ever on edge for an out-of-nowhere throuple developing between Rune, Addam, and Brand, since that would make zero sense, and I hope it's the latter and their dynamic doesn't change too much from what it is currently, because I really love how this series examines friendships and the various different ways people can love each other and form strong bonds, even when sex/romance isn't involved.
But as for Rune's secret, I had this nightmare scenario in mind which thankfully didn't come close to being true. I wasn't too far off in that The details just differed from what I'd had in mind. Future speculation:
I'm also glad that Future speculation:
After all those shorts with the stormpede of tykes, I was glad they weren't in this too much, just the right amount, and I really like how Anna is developing so far. Far less potential serial killer vibes here. Corbie still has potential mastermind vibes, though. 🤭 And I've changed my mind about an eventual Layne/Brand pairing. They're just too much like family now, so that would be weird.
One tiny quibble:
More future speculation:
Once again, Josh Hurley does a great job with the narration. There were a couple of places where it sounded like he changed recording equipment/location/whatever, but it wasn't too distracting. The quality was never bad, just different in a couple of places.
Seeing Rune and Addam, and Brand, and the gang settling more into Sun Estate was a treat, and those parts provided some levity in between the roller coast ride of the plot. This starts off with a bang and doesn't really let up. But the main reason I was dreading this one was because Rune's secret was finally going to come out. Well, that and I'm ever on edge for an out-of-nowhere throuple developing between Rune, Addam, and Brand, since that would make zero sense, and I hope it's the latter and their dynamic doesn't change too much from what it is currently, because I really love how this series examines friendships and the various different ways people can love each other and form strong bonds, even when sex/romance isn't involved.
But as for Rune's secret, I had this nightmare scenario in mind which thankfully didn't come close to being true. I wasn't too far off in that The details just differed from what I'd had in mind. Future speculation:
I'm also glad that Future speculation:
After all those shorts with the stormpede of tykes, I was glad they weren't in this too much, just the right amount, and I really like how Anna is developing so far. Far less potential serial killer vibes here. Corbie still has potential mastermind vibes, though. 🤭 And I've changed my mind about an eventual Layne/Brand pairing. They're just too much like family now, so that would be weird.
One tiny quibble:
More future speculation:
Once again, Josh Hurley does a great job with the narration. There were a couple of places where it sounded like he changed recording equipment/location/whatever, but it wasn't too distracting. The quality was never bad, just different in a couple of places.
June 29, 2022
It took me a long time to finish this book, because I wanted to truly savor it (instead of inhalling it, like I did with the previous two, LOL) and man, I did!
I loved It as much as the first two. I got excited, sad, happy, worried and everything in between, and that is exactly what I look for in a story: it has to make me feel.
Now, I will only add this: I WANT MORE! So, my dear K.D. Edwards, you have your work cut out for you, because nobody tells them like you do 😁
I loved It as much as the first two. I got excited, sad, happy, worried and everything in between, and that is exactly what I look for in a story: it has to make me feel.
Now, I will only add this: I WANT MORE! So, my dear K.D. Edwards, you have your work cut out for you, because nobody tells them like you do 😁
January 14, 2023
Wow, just WOW!! I am not a huge fantasy reader, but this series has been so action packed that it sucks you from book one, The Last Sun and doesn’t let up until the end of The Hourglass Throne Honestly, it was a bit overwhelming at first, but I highly recommend you download the Atlantean Archives from the author’s website because it will be a tremendous help and you will get understand the people/places, etc.
This definitely cannot be read as a standalone, you must start with book 1 where you will be introduced to Rune, Brand, Addam and the rag tag group that make up their new family.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Josh Hurley, was absolutely fantastic. Each character had a distinct voice, from a young child to a cranky ass old woman. Even the accents sounded spot on. If you have the chance, grab the audiobook!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
This definitely cannot be read as a standalone, you must start with book 1 where you will be introduced to Rune, Brand, Addam and the rag tag group that make up their new family.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Josh Hurley, was absolutely fantastic. Each character had a distinct voice, from a young child to a cranky ass old woman. Even the accents sounded spot on. If you have the chance, grab the audiobook!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
March 4, 2022
My emotions are all over the place. I feel empty and a bit broken. Maybe a lot.
I loved this book, from beginning to end, every laugh, every tear (there were many), every freaking twist. I just adore these characters. How much have they grown. So so much. They've been through so much, and they're closer than ever. I was so scared. A constant state of terror and worry. I worried at every page. At every single thing happening. Everything happens, there's so much to follow, things interconnecting when you least expect it. Rune's past ever present.
I know this is far from a review but if I start writing, I'll just write the whole book, spoilers and all.
Rune, he deserves the world. He will never be okay, I think, not in the sense we imagine. He will be fine, he will cope. He has his companion, Brand, he has his Addam, and he has his band of misfits, his "kids". His own found family. Friends that are much more than that. Allies new and old. Lord Tower, Lady Death, Ciaran. A new court, a place to start building something for himself and the people he loves. Rune loves so much. My heart breaks because of how much he loves. I'm getting emotional again. I will never recover from this book.
I'm both happy and heartbroken and I can't wait to have the book in my hands, but maybe a reread in audio will have to wait. I'm not ready, and I don't know when I'll be.
Amazing book, amazing story. All the stars. All the feelings.
I loved this book, from beginning to end, every laugh, every tear (there were many), every freaking twist. I just adore these characters. How much have they grown. So so much. They've been through so much, and they're closer than ever. I was so scared. A constant state of terror and worry. I worried at every page. At every single thing happening. Everything happens, there's so much to follow, things interconnecting when you least expect it. Rune's past ever present.
I know this is far from a review but if I start writing, I'll just write the whole book, spoilers and all.
Rune, he deserves the world. He will never be okay, I think, not in the sense we imagine. He will be fine, he will cope. He has his companion, Brand, he has his Addam, and he has his band of misfits, his "kids". His own found family. Friends that are much more than that. Allies new and old. Lord Tower, Lady Death, Ciaran. A new court, a place to start building something for himself and the people he loves. Rune loves so much. My heart breaks because of how much he loves. I'm getting emotional again. I will never recover from this book.
I'm both happy and heartbroken and I can't wait to have the book in my hands, but maybe a reread in audio will have to wait. I'm not ready, and I don't know when I'll be.
Amazing book, amazing story. All the stars. All the feelings.
June 18, 2022
Edwards' Tarot Sequence is one of the best series I have read in recent years. It's magic and found family and so very very queer! It's fun and lighthearted evenly mixed with trauma and hardship. The blend of themes is masterful and real. You will fall in love with Rune Sun and his Misfit Throne family. Max and Quinn and Anna and Corbie and Addam and Brand and Layne and everyone else added to the cast over the series. This is my comfort read.
The Hourglass Throne does everything the first two books did and heightens the stakes for our beloved characters. We unravel Rune's traumatic past and delve deeper into the mystery surrounding the fall of the Sun Throne. With each installment Edwards expands the world of New Atlantis in ways that feels like high fantasy but reads easy and well thought out so it doesn't overwhelm the core of this series: family and love and belonging.
Now we wait for book four. I am so excited!
The Hourglass Throne does everything the first two books did and heightens the stakes for our beloved characters. We unravel Rune's traumatic past and delve deeper into the mystery surrounding the fall of the Sun Throne. With each installment Edwards expands the world of New Atlantis in ways that feels like high fantasy but reads easy and well thought out so it doesn't overwhelm the core of this series: family and love and belonging.
Now we wait for book four. I am so excited!
May 23, 2022
My most anticipated book of the year didn't disappoint. The ending to the first trilogy of this Tarot Sequence was everything I was expecting and more. It had me glued to its pages and very anxious not being sure if I wanted to know what was going to come. I'm going to put everything under spoiler tags, so read under your own responsability.
There's still a lot of things to learn, and I'm looking forward to book four. I hope I can learn them with my fellow BReaders because with them the discussion is always so much fun!
There's still a lot of things to learn, and I'm looking forward to book four. I hope I can learn them with my fellow BReaders because with them the discussion is always so much fun!
March 4, 2024
A really good sequel with a riveting, and oftentimes emotional plot. I loved seeing Rune and Brand's interactions again.
Despite that, I don't think I'll be continuing this series any longer.
Though I genuinely appreciate seeing the kids' development in this book, I feel kind of apathetic towards them as a whole and I'm not interested in seeing them become a more significant part of the story in future instalments of The Tarot Sequence. It's a 'me' problem.
I also have mixed feelings on the whole dynamic between Rune, Brand and Addam.
All that aside, I still had a great time reading this and I'm really glad that this series exists.
Despite that, I don't think I'll be continuing this series any longer.
Though I genuinely appreciate seeing the kids' development in this book, I feel kind of apathetic towards them as a whole and I'm not interested in seeing them become a more significant part of the story in future instalments of The Tarot Sequence. It's a 'me' problem.
I also have mixed feelings on the whole dynamic between Rune, Brand and Addam.
All that aside, I still had a great time reading this and I'm really glad that this series exists.
July 6, 2022
I enjoyed it, but it seems like the main romance that got me into the series may be moving toward a more polyamorous representation. If so, I will be dropping this series. I have no interest in polyamory. I kinda wish I was warned way earlier that this might happen before I got invested in the main ship of these books. This is Book 3, you know? I think there should've been some more preparation before springing this sort of thing into the narrative. I don't know if it's moving in this direction for sure, but there are several nudging hints in the book. Even the author has hinted at some form of polyamory within the main couple during some QNAs. I think it's cool that other people, who might like this sort of thing, are getting a kind of representation that is quite rare in media. I'm just not a fan. I get no personal enjoyment from that kind of romance. And I'm already invested, so I'm a little pissed.
Good book otherwise, though. But not enough to hold me through that disappointment.
Good book otherwise, though. But not enough to hold me through that disappointment.
July 6, 2022
I need the next book NOW! RTC
December 31, 2022
Perfection.
August 5, 2022
The end of the first major arc in what promises to be a fascinating series, if we see it to the end of the author's planned nine books. You're not coming into this one cold; you'll have read the prior two books, so you know what to expect and this sub-finale doesn't disappoint. Rune and Brand and all their found family are as vital as ever. The worldbuilding continues to expand in tantalizing ways; I desperately want to learn more about the Star, an arcanum imprisoned in the earth, buried alive for a yet-unspecified crime.
The book opens a short time after New Atlantis has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic within their borders, which triggers a conundrum: it's irritating to be reminded of this eternal bugbeast, but if a contemporary book completely ignores its existence while clearly set in 2020-2022, it's equally aggravating. COVID has ruined literature. That's why I prefer secondary worlds.
The book opens a short time after New Atlantis has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic within their borders, which triggers a conundrum: it's irritating to be reminded of this eternal bugbeast, but if a contemporary book completely ignores its existence while clearly set in 2020-2022, it's equally aggravating. COVID has ruined literature. That's why I prefer secondary worlds.
April 9, 2021
I can’t wait for thisssss, no doubt it’s going to be INCREDIBLE!
K.D is a god damn genius and I just wished that we got multiple books a year. But I will take what I can get, I’m so invested!
Tbh I’m more excited about this than I was for any and all of the HP books by transphobic JK LOLING combined.
K.D is a god damn genius and I just wished that we got multiple books a year. But I will take what I can get, I’m so invested!
Tbh I’m more excited about this than I was for any and all of the HP books by transphobic JK LOLING combined.
May 20, 2022
I’m too emotional to write a coherent review but here’s my attempt:
WAAAAAAAGOORAGHAALO
FEELINGS.
This is the third novel in the Tarot Sequence, and fortunately it is not the last!! There is at least one more book confirmed and I’m literally so glad for that because when I read these books at the very end I’m like “please let there be another page please let there be more words!” and when it’s finished I just sit there and Think.
WAAAAAAAGOORAGHAALO
FEELINGS.
This is the third novel in the Tarot Sequence, and fortunately it is not the last!! There is at least one more book confirmed and I’m literally so glad for that because when I read these books at the very end I’m like “please let there be another page please let there be more words!” and when it’s finished I just sit there and Think.
May 15, 2024
3.755 stars (rounding down)
Warning: This is one crappy review.
How do you rate and review a book you've been on pins and needles waiting for since the end of 2019, and found it to be terribly disappointing? I'm not going into any depth as I'm stewing in my own sad juices at this juncture.
First disappointment: I thought Rune and Brand would finally be together in a complete sense. Not having the tepid placeholder Adamm inserted between them. Not . Not . If this is the case, I'm done. I can't believe I said that.
Second disappointment: I can't quite put my finger on it but the writing felt choppy at times. The segue from one major scene to another bumpy. The pacing and cadence were off. Not the smooth storytelling from the first two books.
Third disappointment: Kids. Too much focus on kids, and the gossip is that it's only going to get worse in book 4.
Was it the narrator? Would I feel differently about the book? I just can't rehash the story right now, especially not . So this is all I can offer. For now.
Warning: This is one crappy review.
How do you rate and review a book you've been on pins and needles waiting for since the end of 2019, and found it to be terribly disappointing? I'm not going into any depth as I'm stewing in my own sad juices at this juncture.
First disappointment: I thought Rune and Brand would finally be together in a complete sense. Not having the tepid placeholder Adamm inserted between them. Not . Not . If this is the case, I'm done. I can't believe I said that.
Second disappointment: I can't quite put my finger on it but the writing felt choppy at times. The segue from one major scene to another bumpy. The pacing and cadence were off. Not the smooth storytelling from the first two books.
Third disappointment: Kids. Too much focus on kids, and the gossip is that it's only going to get worse in book 4.
Was it the narrator? Would I feel differently about the book? I just can't rehash the story right now, especially not . So this is all I can offer. For now.
July 18, 2022
4 stars for the narrator.
3.5 stars for the story.
This one was not as good as the first two. There were a lot of things I didn't quite like. The whole majeure concept as well as the time stream just...idk...didn't quite work for me. I still love Rune and the whole family he is creating but I do feel as if the author is trying to force the romance between him and Addam on us. For me, Addam always seems more like an afterthought. Quinn is still one character I need more of. Kind of hate what Lady Time did to him. Who he is and all he encompassed made him such a likable character. Why take away one of the biggest things that makes him so unique away? I guess I have to see how that plays out.
Overall the book was entertaining. Not sure when the next will come out but I will definitely look into it before deciding if I stay with this series. I'm definitely invested in Rune and Brand as well as the kids. Everything else is just meh.
3.5 stars for the story.
This one was not as good as the first two. There were a lot of things I didn't quite like. The whole majeure concept as well as the time stream just...idk...didn't quite work for me. I still love Rune and the whole family he is creating but I do feel as if the author is trying to force the romance between him and Addam on us. For me, Addam always seems more like an afterthought. Quinn is still one character I need more of. Kind of hate what Lady Time did to him. Who he is and all he encompassed made him such a likable character. Why take away one of the biggest things that makes him so unique away? I guess I have to see how that plays out.
Overall the book was entertaining. Not sure when the next will come out but I will definitely look into it before deciding if I stay with this series. I'm definitely invested in Rune and Brand as well as the kids. Everything else is just meh.
December 17, 2021
Thank you to Edelweiss Plus for this ARC.
While The Hourglass Throne deals with a lot of hard topics, K.D. has a comprehensive list of content warnings here.
Spoiler free review!
TLDR: Seriously, please pick this book up. I cannot stress how great it is.
I've been a fan of this series for awhile and I was really looking forward to this book (have been for ages). Boy was this worth the wait! Truly an incredible trip of a book. I really loved it, all of the places it went (emotionally and physically), the friendships and character arcs, and especially the secrets revealed (and secrets kept). This is a truly satisfying end of the first trilogy arc in the Tarot Sequence.
Seriously, please pick this book up. I cannot stress how great it is. It made me gasp at multiple points because I was so shocked. It made me laugh with humor in unexpected places. I sent multiple all caps OH MY GOD OH MY GOD texts to my friends who also have an ARC. If you have theories about what's going to happen just throw them all out. Trust me, K.D. takes you for an absolutely incredible trip that will emotionally destroy you while also putting you back together again.
If this series has been on your TBR, just one of those series you know you'll get to eventually, please I am begging you to move it to the top of your list. You aren't going to want to miss out on this.
While The Hourglass Throne deals with a lot of hard topics, K.D. has a comprehensive list of content warnings here.
Spoiler free review!
TLDR: Seriously, please pick this book up. I cannot stress how great it is.
I've been a fan of this series for awhile and I was really looking forward to this book (have been for ages). Boy was this worth the wait! Truly an incredible trip of a book. I really loved it, all of the places it went (emotionally and physically), the friendships and character arcs, and especially the secrets revealed (and secrets kept). This is a truly satisfying end of the first trilogy arc in the Tarot Sequence.
Seriously, please pick this book up. I cannot stress how great it is. It made me gasp at multiple points because I was so shocked. It made me laugh with humor in unexpected places. I sent multiple all caps OH MY GOD OH MY GOD texts to my friends who also have an ARC. If you have theories about what's going to happen just throw them all out. Trust me, K.D. takes you for an absolutely incredible trip that will emotionally destroy you while also putting you back together again.
If this series has been on your TBR, just one of those series you know you'll get to eventually, please I am begging you to move it to the top of your list. You aren't going to want to miss out on this.
May 20, 2022
4.75 stars
this is one of my fave comfort series and has the perfect balance of heart-pounding action and drama with the most adorable found family, friendship (THE FRIENDSHIPS T_T) and romance <3
this is one of my fave comfort series and has the perfect balance of heart-pounding action and drama with the most adorable found family, friendship (THE FRIENDSHIPS T_T) and romance <3
March 20, 2023
k.d. Edwards you will be receiving next month’s therapy bill. that’s all.
July 19, 2022
4.5 stars (rounded up) ~ [8.20/10]
I remember when I first picked up a copy of The Last Sun, no-one I knew had read it, the reviews on GR were in the 100s if not the 10s and I spent the majority of my time after finishing badgering everyone to read it. And, now we're here at the culmination of this first trilogy arc and it's so lovely to see the dedicated following that Edwards has adopted since 2018 - he has some very passionate fans. And, I really do think it is well-deserved. He has carved out a space for himself in a sub-genre that is either usually heavily romance or extremely anti-romance (depending on the author) and struck a great balance between the two. That's why I often compare his books to Magic Bites because I think they have the same balance but also the same series trajectory, with each book improving on the last and fixing any issues related to world-building or characters that need more fleshing out.
The best thing about The Tarot Sequence are the MAJOR found family themes, something I think always hits a bit different and with more welly in queer books, iykyk. I love the friendship between Brand and Rune so much. I love the way that Rune and Addam talk about 'their kids'. I love the focus on Rune's healing through the happiness and joy he gets from those he loves. I'm intrigued about where the plotline with the bond is going because (without spoiling) I'd seen certain theories floating around twitter and I'm not totally opposed to it, but I will be nervous about what that will do to some relationships that I hold very dear just as they are.
There were moments in this book where I gasped out loud at certain events. There was an extremely fraught sequence in the middle where I thought my emotions were going to be crushed only for Edwards to pull a switcheroo on me and crush them in a different way. I've been very invested in this particular sub-plot and how it played into various character dynamics from the start an it's satisfying and soul-crushing to have most of the answers now! :(
The previous book in this series came out in 2019 and I probably could have done with a reread or recap of the first two before diving into this one because it's been quite a wait. I think perhaps this would've been another 5 star read for me if the finer details were more fresh in my memory, but I still enjoyed it immensely and it'll still be one of my favourite books of the year. It'll be interesting to see where the sequence goes next, especially if it focuses on different characters for a time. Whatever it is I will follow Edwards on the next adventure!
I remember when I first picked up a copy of The Last Sun, no-one I knew had read it, the reviews on GR were in the 100s if not the 10s and I spent the majority of my time after finishing badgering everyone to read it. And, now we're here at the culmination of this first trilogy arc and it's so lovely to see the dedicated following that Edwards has adopted since 2018 - he has some very passionate fans. And, I really do think it is well-deserved. He has carved out a space for himself in a sub-genre that is either usually heavily romance or extremely anti-romance (depending on the author) and struck a great balance between the two. That's why I often compare his books to Magic Bites because I think they have the same balance but also the same series trajectory, with each book improving on the last and fixing any issues related to world-building or characters that need more fleshing out.
The best thing about The Tarot Sequence are the MAJOR found family themes, something I think always hits a bit different and with more welly in queer books, iykyk. I love the friendship between Brand and Rune so much. I love the way that Rune and Addam talk about 'their kids'. I love the focus on Rune's healing through the happiness and joy he gets from those he loves. I'm intrigued about where the plotline with the bond is going because (without spoiling) I'd seen certain theories floating around twitter and I'm not totally opposed to it, but I will be nervous about what that will do to some relationships that I hold very dear just as they are.
There were moments in this book where I gasped out loud at certain events. There was an extremely fraught sequence in the middle where I thought my emotions were going to be crushed only for Edwards to pull a switcheroo on me and crush them in a different way. I've been very invested in this particular sub-plot and how it played into various character dynamics from the start an it's satisfying and soul-crushing to have most of the answers now! :(
The previous book in this series came out in 2019 and I probably could have done with a reread or recap of the first two before diving into this one because it's been quite a wait. I think perhaps this would've been another 5 star read for me if the finer details were more fresh in my memory, but I still enjoyed it immensely and it'll still be one of my favourite books of the year. It'll be interesting to see where the sequence goes next, especially if it focuses on different characters for a time. Whatever it is I will follow Edwards on the next adventure!
May 29, 2022
2.5/5
The Hourglass Throne by K.D. Edwards is my most disappointing read this year. I had been waiting with baited breath for this book for years. I read The Last Sun and The Hanged Man in September of 2020 and made all my friends read it. We all pre-ordered copies of the Hourglass Throne. In my excitement I must have built this book up in my head because read it was… underwhelming.
Covid-19 and Boring Magic
The worst thing about this book has to be the references to Covid-19. It feels shoehorned in and used for token inspirational speeches that would have been better served by alluding to something magical and UNIQUE to the world of the book. I don’t know about general readership, but bringing up Covid in a fantasy adventure sapped every ounce of magic and escapism out of my reading experience.
Additionally, the Covid references sourly date the book. Edwards did a great job in the first two book of making the story and characters modern, but with enough cultural distance that New Atlantis didn’t feel too tied to a specific year. The Hourglass Throne is ironically fixed in the timestream. It can’t be happening in any other time but 2020-2022.
The second worst thing about this book is the Arcana Majeure. It’s boring. In The Last Sun and The Hanged Man, Rune was so strapped for sigils that he had to be crafty. Every spell he stored was calculated and he used his spells sparingly and in combination to awesome efficacy.
Now he’s just burning through his life force and telling the magic what to do. There’s no showmanship. Putting frost into a wind spell to stop a rampaging gargoyle is way cooler than “I burned, days, weeks, months of my life”. Its the difference between a character spending a briefcase full of cash vs just putting something on a platinum credit card.
The Saving Grace
The thing that anchors this book and keeps it from falling completely flat on its face is the relationships. Every connection feels real and unique, but there is something so powerful in the relationship between Rune, Brand, and Addam. Maybe I would have liked to see some knocking boots between Rune and Addam, but the relationship building in this book is so solid I don’t feel like I’m missing out.
This book handles the difference between the companion bond and a lover with incredible nuisance and heart. I can tell that there is love flowing along every side of the triangle, and that the love is a beautiful and unique color. Its healthy, it’s warm, and it’s beautiful. Edwards makes it abundantly clear, Addam sitting between Rune and Brand on the roof, and telling Rune Brand is important to him, that their love isn’t competitive. It’s whole.
Final Thoughts
Despite the failing of The Hourglass Throne book, I’m going to read the rest of the series. I am hooked on the characters and the found family dynamic. I hope that the next books will be free of cringe covid references and that the magic will start feeling cool again.
The Hourglass Throne by K.D. Edwards is my most disappointing read this year. I had been waiting with baited breath for this book for years. I read The Last Sun and The Hanged Man in September of 2020 and made all my friends read it. We all pre-ordered copies of the Hourglass Throne. In my excitement I must have built this book up in my head because read it was… underwhelming.
Covid-19 and Boring Magic
The worst thing about this book has to be the references to Covid-19. It feels shoehorned in and used for token inspirational speeches that would have been better served by alluding to something magical and UNIQUE to the world of the book. I don’t know about general readership, but bringing up Covid in a fantasy adventure sapped every ounce of magic and escapism out of my reading experience.
Additionally, the Covid references sourly date the book. Edwards did a great job in the first two book of making the story and characters modern, but with enough cultural distance that New Atlantis didn’t feel too tied to a specific year. The Hourglass Throne is ironically fixed in the timestream. It can’t be happening in any other time but 2020-2022.
The second worst thing about this book is the Arcana Majeure. It’s boring. In The Last Sun and The Hanged Man, Rune was so strapped for sigils that he had to be crafty. Every spell he stored was calculated and he used his spells sparingly and in combination to awesome efficacy.
Now he’s just burning through his life force and telling the magic what to do. There’s no showmanship. Putting frost into a wind spell to stop a rampaging gargoyle is way cooler than “I burned, days, weeks, months of my life”. Its the difference between a character spending a briefcase full of cash vs just putting something on a platinum credit card.
The Saving Grace
The thing that anchors this book and keeps it from falling completely flat on its face is the relationships. Every connection feels real and unique, but there is something so powerful in the relationship between Rune, Brand, and Addam. Maybe I would have liked to see some knocking boots between Rune and Addam, but the relationship building in this book is so solid I don’t feel like I’m missing out.
This book handles the difference between the companion bond and a lover with incredible nuisance and heart. I can tell that there is love flowing along every side of the triangle, and that the love is a beautiful and unique color. Its healthy, it’s warm, and it’s beautiful. Edwards makes it abundantly clear, Addam sitting between Rune and Brand on the roof, and telling Rune Brand is important to him, that their love isn’t competitive. It’s whole.
Final Thoughts
Despite the failing of The Hourglass Throne book, I’m going to read the rest of the series. I am hooked on the characters and the found family dynamic. I hope that the next books will be free of cringe covid references and that the magic will start feeling cool again.
February 19, 2024
No words… just… wow wow wow…👏👏👏
There will be A LOT of spoilers ahead, ohmygod I won’t express them well, for this book and TJ Klune’s The Lightning Struck Heart books. Be warned.
There will be A LOT of spoilers ahead, ohmygod I won’t express them well, for this book and TJ Klune’s The Lightning Struck Heart books. Be warned.
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