The Killing God

The Great God's War #3

by Stephen R. Donaldson

Two kingdoms, ancient enemies, must stand alone against an implacable invader in the masterful conclusion of the Great God’s War epic from the New York Times bestselling author of the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant.

They are coming.

The kingdoms of Belleger and Amika had been fighting for generations. But then they learned of a terrible threat moving through them to destroy the Last Repository, an immense hidden library. To face this greater enemy, King Bifalt of Belleger and Queen Estie of Amika allied their lands and prepared for war.

They are at the door.

Now the time of preparation is over. Black ships and sorcery test the cannon that defend the Bay of Lights. Treachery and betrayal threaten the kingdoms. The priests of the Great God Rile sow dissent. And Estie rides for the Last Repository, desperate to enlist the help of their Magisters—and to understand the nature of her own magical gift.

They are here.

Bifalt hates sorcery as much as he loves Estie, and the discovery that she could become a Magister shatters him. But he must rally and fight. Belleger and Amika are all that stand between the Great God’s forces and his ultimate the destruction of the Last Repository and its treasure of knowledge.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Audiobook, War, Epic Fantasy

704 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2022

About the author

Stephen Reeder Donaldson is an American fantasy, science fiction, and mystery novelist; in the United Kingdom he is usually called "Stephen Donaldson" (without the "R"). He has also written non-fiction under the pen name Reed Stephens.

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION:

Stephen R. Donaldson was born May 13, 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio. His father, James, was a medical missionary and his mother, Ruth, a prosthetist (a person skilled in making or fitting prosthetic devices). Donaldson spent the years between the ages of 3 and 16 living in India, where his father was working as an orthopaedic surgeon. Donaldson earned his bachelor's degree from The College of Wooster and master's degree from Kent State University.

INSPIRATIONS:

Donaldson's work is heavily influenced by other fantasy authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Roger Zelazny, Joseph Conrad, Henry James, and William Faulkner. The writers he most admires are Patricia A. McKillip, Steven Erikson, and Tim Powers.

It is believed that a speech his father made on leprosy (whilst working with lepers in India) led to Donaldson's creation of Thomas Covenant, the anti-hero of his most famous work (Thomas Covenant). The first book in that series, Lord Foul's Bane, received 47 rejections before a publisher agreed to publish it.

PROMINENT WORK:
Stephen Donaldson came to prominence in 1977 with the The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, which is centred around a leper shunned by society and his trials and tribulations as his destiny unfolds. These books established Donaldson as one of the most important figures in modern fantasy fiction.

PERSONAL LIFE:
He currently resides in New Mexico.

THE GRADUAL INTERVIEW

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first two books of this trilogy hadn't really grabbed me, although I'd enjoyed them. Having read this final book, I'm actually tempted to read the entire trilogy again particularly as I won't now need to wait years for the writing of each book. In some ways the writing and ideas are disjointed and several of the character names are off putting (at least for me) but this third volume, the largest of the set, is classic Donaldson. Think of the relationship of "The Killing God" to the first two books in the trilogy in a similar vein to that between "A Man rides through" and "Mirror of her dreams". Not much happens in the earlier volumes, which are mainly scene setting, but the last is non-stop action which is hard to put down. The relentless battle across the world reminded me also of "The Illearth War". Without giving away anything of the plot, the book and trilogy end well. Wonderful.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I read the first Thomas Covenant book I knew that Stephen Donaldson was not a fast-easy-read author. It' takes time, some time it's a bit long winding, and sometimes you don' like the characters.
But i always remembered the stories, the characters, and the worlds.
This is the last book in the Great God's War series and there's all the pros and cons of Donaldson. You can love or hate it but you will not be indifferent.
I liked it and liked how the series ended.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the conclusion of another well written series of books (this one is the conclusion) by the author. I first read him a number of years ago starting with the Thomas Covenant series. It contains many of the elements that readers of fantasy would expect: two kingdoms, one good and one not so good, magic, heroes and heroines. There is good character development, but bear it in mind that it is not a quick read.

I received a free ARC copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

[Seon Ji (Dawn) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fighting and strategy. Bifalt and Estie get their HEA.

A bit predictable but entertaining.

Content concerns: blood gore violence cursing, alcohol. No sex. No cheating in the romance.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a fan of Stephen R. Donaldson’s Thomas Covenant series back in the day. So when I got the chance to read The Killing God, I jumped at it. (No, I hadn’t read the first two in the trilogy. Y’all know how I am sometimes.)

Here we see two countries, Belleger and Amika, historical enemies united by the marriage of Bifalt and Estie, preparing for war against the Great God Rile. Rile and his forces are coming for the Last Repository and all the knowledge it holds. While Bifalt prepares for war, Estie rides for the Last Repository, hoping to learn more about the power she holds and how she might use it to defend her people.

The relationship between Bifalt and Estie is strained. They parted on less than loving terms. Bifalt hates magic and it pains him to know that his wife could become a Magister. Estie longs to reconcile with her husband, but is driven to know more about this power of hers. What power is it? What can it do? What price will it exact from her?

We’ve got some good fantasy elements here: good versus evil, a conflicted hero (and heroine), a seemingly insurmountable quest. Donaldson uses them to good advantage and writes a story that, once it sucks you in, is hard to put down.

The Magisters’ powers were fascinating, and the price that each seemed to require the wielder to pay wasn’t always what you’d expect. Rile’s forces were also not the standard slash-and-burn soldiers. It was never a given that the good guys would win this one!

There wasn’t a lot of character development on the side of evil – they were just the Big Bad and had to be stopped. But the Magisters, Bifalt’s soldiers, Bifalt and Estie themselves, were all nicely written and made me care about what happened to them. Okay, some more than others. Some of the Magisters were just jerks and not terribly likeable, but I suppose wielding great power (and in some instances, carrying a very heavy burden for others) could make you that way.

The story does take a while to get rolling, and Rile’s motivation for wanting to wipe out the Last Repository wasn’t terribly clear to me. But that didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. I will go back and read the first two in the series, to see if Rile’s actions make more sense to me after reading the story as a whole.

Four stars, and I recommend The Killing God and The Great God’s War series to anyone who’s a fan of high fantasy, with main characters that make you care about how things turn out for them. Stephen R. Donaldson doesn’t give us a quick read, but he does give us a damn fine story here.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from Berkley and Netgalley. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.

[Philip Hoare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. What a finish to the trilogy and a great ending. Hope there is more to come from Stephen Donaldson.

[Vladimir Ivanov · Rating 3 out of 5]

ПРОСТИТЕ, ЕСЛИ СМОЖЕТЕ, МИСТЕР ДОНАЛЬДСОН...

Финал новой фентезийной трилогии г-на Дональдсона читается чуть пободрее, чисто благодаря тому, что завоевательное войско наконец дошло до многострадального королевства Беллегер и начало завоевывать. Батальные сцены немного скрашивают общее уныние.

Больше ничего хорошего сказать о книге не могу. Все остальное так же плохо, как и в предыдущих частях. Сюжет крайне прямолинейный — враг 700 страниц медленно надвигается, наши 700 страниц так же медленно отбиваются.

Персонажи натужно страдают по высосанным из пальца поводам. Например, одна из героинь открывает в себе магический дар телепатии на любом расстоянии (что в военное время довольно полезно). Но если пробудить этот талант, то она оглохнет. Ну ок, пробуждает дар, глохнет, общается жестами. Поехали дальше. Но тут оказывается, что глухота приносит людям чудовищные, ни с чем не сравнимые, запредельные душевные страдания, как будто у героини на глазах медленно жарят на огне ее детей. И огромная часть книги посвящена детальному исследованию ее страданий. Что это? Как вообще у автора родилась такая идея? Читаешь и только разводишь руками.

Когда Дональдсон раскрывает природу загадочного завоевателя, вообще изумляешься. Выясняется, что это теократическая диктатура, где правят адские священники в чорных робах с огромными золотыми крестами, и кто увидел этот крест, тот сразу попадает под гипнотический контроль, теряет личность и становится безмозглым рабом-марионеткой коварных попов и их злобного бога. А войной на титульное королевство они идут, оказывается, с целью сжечь все библиотеки, ибо любое научное знание противно слугам святого креста! Братцы, ну нельзя же так... Я сам обеими руками за хороший антиклерикальный мессадж в подростковой (да и взрослой) литературе, но настолько прямолинейные метафоры вызывают только испанский стыд.

Язык, которым все это написано, по-прежнему чудовищен:

<< Перед рассветом генерал созвал к себе всех колдунов. Последние два дня шел густой снег. И сейчас тоже шел густой снег. Весь город был в снегу. Было очень холодно. А на берегу моря, верно, было еще холоднее. Поэтому колдуны были тепло одеты в меховые шубы. Генерал пересчитал явившихся колдунов. Трое из восемнадцати владели магией засухи. Генерал не рассчитывал использовать их в бою. Их силы не могли дотянуться до вражеских позиций. Но он придумал им другое задание. >>

Видимо, пора признать, что дедушка уже старенький и читать его новые творения больше не надо. Лучше освежить в памяти его ранние вещи про Томаса Ковенанта или Gap Cycle, это Литература без всяких скидок.

А тут 6/10 с ОЧЕНЬ большой натяжкой. Без боевых сцен было бы 5 или даже 4.

[Major Havoc · Rating 4 out of 5]

The finale to the Great God's War is an action-packed adventure that never lets up until the last battle is complete. Truly an epic tale that takes all the characters that have been cleverly maneuvered into place in the previous two books and expertly executes an all-out war between the defenders of the Last Repository and the Great God Rile. It is a ton of fun, albeit your favorite characters are in peril 100% of the time, and many of them either don't make it, or make it but are never going to be the same.

The Killing God is a satisfying conclusion though it does leave you wanting to know more. Over the course of three books, I feel as if we have barely touched the surface of what this world has to offer. From Stephen R. Donaldson's own news page, I know the sales of the series were disappointing, but a lack of sales does not diminish the quality of the work. I will hold out hope for more - even some short stories or novellas would be embraced by this fan.

Speaking of Mr. Donaldson, he did mention having to cut 150k words from the original manuscript of this novel and that doing so would be "ruinous". Well, from the outside looking in, he did a fine job with his edit because for the most part the Killing God is a high-quality effort. I do wish he had fleshed out the Knights of Ardor a bit more, and I would love to know more about Rile himself, who remains an enigma throughout the series, but there is no slouching in the action. If you like epic battles, a heaping dose of long odds, a sparse, grim dark world, and fully fleshed out, interesting characters, look no further – the Great God’s War trilogy is the one for you!

[Metaphorosis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews

Summary
Belleger and Amika have finally found peace with each other. But war threatens from without, and it's a greater, more dangerous war than any of them could have envisioned.

Review
It pains me to admit that I have not [shudder] read the middle book of this trilogy. My impression is that I didn’t miss that much in terms of plot.

This series is titled The Great God’s War, and the martial aspect comes to fruition in this final volume, which is essentially one very long (600 page) collection of battle scenes. I found it wearing, especially because there’s no map to help envision the various strategic moves. After a while, I found it hard to stay interested in tactical decisions that lacked context and tended to blur together. In part, that’s because of the characters’ histrionics.

Any fan of Donaldson knows that his characters will tend toward the selfish and dramatic, with a likelihood of freezing under pressure. He set that template in Lord Foul’s Bane, and hasn’t strayed far from it since (though a bit more so in his short fiction). It’s become at least a trademark, if not a crutch. Here, he applies it in spades. Character after character is anguished by their need (and willingness) to sacrifice others, but taken aback by any suggestion that they pay a price themselves. And ‘anguish’ is the operative word here; characters have the choice of two responses: flat stolidity or wailing, tooth-gnashing anguish. Never does anyone say, “Sure. That will be mildly difficult, but we’ll give it a shot.”

At one point, Queen Etsie learns the nature of her undeveloped magic power, and the price for it. It’s a power that’s not terribly useful, and it’s not really clear why she feels driven to explore it. At the same time, the price, while certainly life-changing, is small compared to the stakes and terms that are constantly thrown around. Yet, paying that price seems to drive her to extremes of depression, as if someone had asked her to torture her children one by one. It’s on par with the generally overwrought feel of the book, and I found it really trying – especially as the Queen and King repeatedly ask others for the impossible, but cry their eyes out over paying any price themselves. That’s a bit exaggerated, but then, so is the book.

I’d ordinarily think that – as I suggested in a review of the first book, Donaldson is in a bit of a rut or even decline, but I felt the Thomas Covenant series ended fairly well. I do think that this most recent trilogy is not a success. From the awkward naming (Bellegerin and Amika as warring nations) to the overdramatic characters to the endless battle scenes to the loose threads, there’s a lot that could have been better.

A host of things unexplained in this concluding volume. The Final Decimate ends up underwhelming, and its nature unclear. The magic system as a whole begins to fall apart – or muddle together – at the end; what’s a decimate and what isn’t remains unclear, beyond the simple, formal designation. The nature and origin of the dreaded enemy? No attempt made to explain it at all. The motivations of the characters, beyond serving the plot? Well, they serve the plot, and, you know, this must be done, despite the vast, incalculable price. I guess.
The book is largely what I anticipated, based on the first in the trilogy, but longer and more angsty. I think that Donaldson is a talented writer, and I wish I could say that I’d loved this book or series, but I can’t. In my view, he’d do better to try something really different – not just a new genre (as in the Gap or The Man Who series), but something a little more lighthearted and without quite so much drama.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything by Stephen R. Donaldson is a treasure. I think I'd pay to read the man's grocery list. It probably involves some tortured, self-loathing broccoli challenged by an unstoppable army of arrogant, microwave dinners.

All that said, the Killing God trilogy reaches an immensely satisfying conclusion in The Killing God. Unlike Donaldson's other books, this series is a war novel, plain and simple. Overwhelmingly powerful adversary against underpowered defenders with insufficient time to prepare. Like Donaldson's other books, we have our self-loathing protagonist who finds redemption in the end. And we have a little romance as well, which was a nice touch.

I felt like this entire series could have been a parable for something larger. The enemy (the Killing God) is really a god of ignorance and mental enslavement who wants to destroy all remaining citadels of knowledge and learning. A series for our times, perhaps.

[PAUL S WEATHERLY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

Donaldson's usual, fine writing concludes this series well. A trilogy that got better and better as it went on. I'll never love another series as much as The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, but Donaldson doesn't disappoint.

[Gavin E Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victory from despair

Worth the wait a slow burn working towards a mighty crescendo! A typical Donaldson to snatch victory from despair. Worth the read!

[Eamonn Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Killing God’ is the third and final part of ‘The Great God’s War’, an epic fantasy trilogy by Stephen Donaldson. For it to make sense, you need to know something about parts one and two, so inevitable spoilers follow. I highly recommend reading the books instead.
The Seventh Decimate’ introduced Prince Bifalt of Belleger, a small kingdom permanently at war with neighbouring Amika and isolated from the rest of the world by its geography. Bifalt learned of the Last Repository, a huge fortress built into a desert cliff where sorcerers guarded a library containing all human knowledge. They were preparing for an assault by a barbarian horde, servants of some mysterious god and, to that end, wanted peace between Belleger and Amika, so the two nations could act as a buffer between them and the coming invasion.

Bifalt had no choice but to cooperate and ally himself with the Last Repository in order to defend his home country, but he bitterly resented being used. In book two, ‘The War Within’, he became King of Belleger and married Princess Estie of Amika, who became his queen. For the next twenty years, they readied their countries for the coming war. There’s a lot more to it, of course, with friends, loyal companions, rotten traitors, plots and the priests of the Great God Rile preaching peace, but that’s the gist of the first two books.

Now it’s war. The forces of the Great God Rile are attacking on several fronts. The main army comes by sea, overwhelming the defences Bifalt has prepared by sheer force of numbers, powerful sorcery and a bit of treachery. Most terrifying of all are the fanged horde, starving naked men with sharpened teeth who swarm across the countryside like locusts and ignore any wound short of death. Rile’s sorcery is compulsion and his followers throw their lives away recklessly. He has thousands of infantry, light cavalry, heavy cavalry and the aforementioned fanged devils against hundreds of soldiers fighting for Belleger and Amika. It’s not fair!
Bifalt is helped by the courage and resourcefulness of his loyal companions and also by the same qualities from unexpected quarters. A crisis brings out the best in some, even sorcerers. He has long known that he faced overwhelming odds and planned a strategy of guerrilla warfare and an organised retreat.

The Great God Rile pulls some unpleasant surprises, not just the fanged horde and his callous disregard for the lives of his own troops is shocking. Queen Estie plays a significant role in the drama and a high price, too. Nobody gets off lightly. It’s pleasant to escape into a world where royal princes are selfless heroes devoted to their people.

At 680 pages, ‘The Killing God’ is a substantial read but a gripping one all the way through and a wonderful conclusion to the story. My favourite epic fantasy is Donaldson’s ‘The Mirror Of Her Dreams’ but this runs it a very close second. I’m a fan of the genre but wary because reading it takes up too much of what Henry Thoreau called ‘life’ and one can enjoy a greater quantity of shorter works by a variety of authors in the same time.

However, it’s great to lose yourself in a big story now and then and this is one of the best. Highly recommended. I’m tempted to read all those Thomas Covenant books, but I’d have to take a year off to do it.

[Ken Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Donaldson does a creditable job in tying up the story of Amika and Belleger and the battle for the Last Repository against the forces of the Great God Rile, who promises peace and serenity within (only with certain significant downsides for many).

It is a very l o n g story, occasionally plodding, but with some sparkling intervals, sadly often too short. Donaldson's publisher had asked that the text be cut by about 100,000 words, and the writer railed against this, eventually agreeing to a smaller slice by the editors knife. I would have voted for more extensive surgery, which would have resulted in a better and less flabby book.

The story commences right after the conclusion of 'The War Within', where the massed forces of the Great God contend against the defences of Belleger at the Bay of Lights, the priests of the Great God have been unmasked as agents of the enemy and Queen Estie of Amika has begun her journey to the Last Repository to discover her gift of sorcery(and what it will cost her). Back in Belleger King Bifalt is less perpetually angry but still full of doubt and resentments as he plans the defence of his kingdom. All of the key elements of the defence have their parts to play, from the reluctant general Klamath, Bifalt's dashing warrior brother Jaspid, his cohort of Magisters and his missing spymaster Elgart.

Altogether too long is spent describing the story of the defeat of the defences at the Bay of Lights during the first 200 or so pages. The interludes of interest concern Estie's experiences and frustrations at the Last Repository and its curiously obstinate and recalcitrant guardians. But finally the great army lands and the descriptions of the defence of Belleger's Fist and the trap laid therin are artfully crafted. Thence a sequence of battles and confrontations of various types gradually unveil the powers of the Great God's forces, and the valliant inadequacy of the defenders.

Sadly there is no insight into what passes for the thoughts of the invaders, all revelling in their inner peace (at least until they are required to provide sustenance to their starving compatriots!).
Further decimates are revealed in addtion to those common ones of Earthquake, Fire, Lightning, Pestilence, Drought and Wind. There is of course the Seventh Decimate of nullification of sorcery, but there is indeed and eigth - that of Coercion, beloved of the Great God. The key though is a Final Decimate, of awsome and fearsome power, but also of ultimate cost.

All these elements come into play at the final battle before the Last Repository, where in true Donaldson style, his characters must surpass themselves despite their fears and doubts. Because it would be a dull book if the conclusion was the triumph of ultimate evil, the fun for the reader is guessing how the elements and forces of good will be arranged to defeat the implacable and seemingly invicible forces confronting them. And Donaldson does a fine job here, is a satisfying and well plotted resolution. But there are still far to many battle sequences!

[Joe Kessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

If book 1 of this fantasy trilogy offered an allegorical fable, and the sequel delivered a stream of complicating intrigues amid some thankfully deepened worldbuilding, this closing volume brings everything together for an action-packed finale as the threatened war against an invading enemy finally breaks out into open bloody combat. There is a lot of fighting in this text, and I feel similarly as I did whenever Game of Thrones would build a season towards some epic episode-length battle sequence: that kind of spectacle is fine, but it's not really what interests me about the possibilities of the genre. I greatly prefer the quieter character moments before the swords are drawn over the specific military tactics available in the heightened reality of a magical realm.

While author Stephen R. Donaldson remains one of my favorite authors overall, I've just never warmed to this particular series of his, and I can't say that it ever poses the satisfying moral conundrums of his classic Thomas Covenant or Mordant's Need sagas. Outside of strict survival, the biggest question plaguing a protagonist in this title is whether a wondrous sorcery is worth its cost of her hearing (and specifically the ability to hold private conversations with her husband), an agonizing decision which reads as both mildly ableist and honestly somewhat silly even before the queen's librarian allies find her a guide to sign language that renders the whole thing moot.

I'm also underwhelmed by the ultimate villain of this piece, who after a lot of build-up turns out to be a simple warlord with a few special powers, unclear motivations, and no real personality on the page. Everyone calls him a god, but he's instead just sort of vaguely supernatural in the way of Xerxes in the movie 300 -- which isn't a bad reference point for the novel all-around, come to think of it.

I'm giving this installment the same 3-star rating that I did its predecessors, reflecting my bemused acknowledgement that the craft in its construction is plain despite not especially doing much for me as a subjective reader.

[Content warning for gun violence, suicide, cannibalism, and gore.]

This volume: ★★★☆☆

Overall series: ★★★☆☆

Volumes ranked: 2 > 1 > 3

Like this review?
--Throw me a quick one-time donation here!
https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--Subscribe here to support my writing and weigh in on what I read next!
https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
--Follow along on Goodreads here!
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...
--Or click here to browse through all my previous reviews!
https://lesserjoke.home.blog

[Ella (The Story Collector) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The forces of the Great God Rile have arrived in Belleger. Will the King’s preparations and sacrifices pay off in the defense of the Last Repository?

To be honest, I don’t really know why I’ve read this whole series. I don’t think it has been written particularly well, and I haven’t especially enjoyed any of the books. They certainly haven’t been terrible – I’ve read much worse – but they are very long-winded and lacking almost any heart which, as a devout fantasy lover, I find particularly hard to accept. It feels like the author wanted to achieve a The Lord of the Rings level of epic fantasy quest, but forgot to give the story any soul to go along with the words.

I truly believe that a better writer could have compressed this trilogy into one book or, if determined to spead it across three quite large instalments, could have at least made the story more exciting and the characters more compelling. As it is, The Killing God covers the Great God Rile’s invasion of Belleger and the Last Repository in a whopping 700+ pages. We are ‘treated’ to pages and pages of final preparations of the defense of the Bay of Lights and the movements of various armies, which don’t add anything to the story. Also, did the author forget about Amika? There was so much build up about relations between Belleger and Amika and the necessity for the two countries to work together in defense of the repository, and then Amika barely features in this book. The Queen and her soldiers do play a significant role, but Amika itself is completely bypassed by the enemy and we don’t even know if Prince Lome managed to escort the Bellegerin refugees there successfully or not. When the rest of the book is so overly detailed and repetitive, this seemed like a big oversight.

The essence of the plot is not bad, and the character development improved greatly after book #1, but most of the good points were lost within the unnecessary length and waffle.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[N.W. Moors · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Killing God is a fitting conclusion to this excellent series. The third book is a series of battles, something I don't always like, but there were just enough wins and losses to keep me interested. The stakes are high, and Donaldson doesn't believe in plot armor, as those who've read his other books know.
The writing style reminded me of his duology Mordant's Need, one of my favorite fantasies. It's not quite as dense as his later Covenant novels, yet it conveys the anguish of Estie, Bifalt, and the other characters as they struggle desperately to defeat the Great God Rile.
A central theme in the series is where magic fits in this world. Bifalt hates sorcery for good reasons, but he struggles as Estie awakens her gift and becomes a sorcerer. The Magisters have always stayed behind the lines, protecting themselves in previous wars and allowing the soldiers to take the brunt of any assault. Finally, they are united, and I liked how they learned to work together, just as Belleger and Amika did in previous books. There are some fantastic characters involved in the fighting - too numerous to mention - but each one contributes to the war effort.
There's another theme regarding religion. How many of Rile's people worship him freely, or is it the result of his Decimate of coercion? It's an interesting debate.
As I mentioned, the characters are varied and so likable. Their sacrifices are immense, but they unite to save the Last Repository, despite traitors and other obstacles. I've really enjoyed this series and I can't wait to see what Mr. Donaldson comes up with next.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Killing God
By Stephen R. Donaldson

This is the third and final book in the Great God's War series. It is another of Donaldson's typical fantasies. It has heros and villains, victories and defeats – and many interesting characters that Donaldson makes the reader care about. King Bifalt and Queen Estie are the main story here. They are from two warring kingdoms who marry early on in the series in order force their kingdoms to unite in opposition to the Great God, an evil tyrant bent on subjecting all the world to his power.

In their world are "regular" people and Magisters, who have sorcerous powers of various kinds. King Bifalt hates and distrusts the Magisters, with good reason as explored earlier in the series. Unfortunately, as also explained earlier, his queen, without her knowledge, is a potential sorcerer. This is the main conflict in this final chapter.

But there are many other interesting characters and subplots having to do with the king's brothers; his general of the army; and many people of both kingdoms who must work together to save their world.

Considering the complexity and length of each book in the series, Mr. Donaldson has done a masterful job of tying up all the various stories within stories here. I was sorry to see this series come to an end.

[Dimitri Karhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review includes spoilers! The book was OK, kept my interest, as I wanted to see how it all ends. However, I have an issue with the magic system, as it just leads me to conclude that the book is one big plot hole.



Upon reflection, it seems to me that the Library should have just relied on the 7th decimate from the start. For example, with the ship landing, the Library has this situation, which they allegedly created, where the enemy ships are funneled into one rocky landing area. So what to do about this? Well it is plain as day, and the Library knows this, that without sorcery, gunpowder is king. So why not plant some 7th decimate sorcerors with the defenders, shut down all sorcery, and pound the wooden ships with cannon and rifle fire. The ships and their contents would stand little chance.

Furthermore, wouldn't the 7th decimate shut down the 8th? And without the 8th, Rile basically has no army. Why wasn't this used earlier. Who cares if it shuts down the Library's sorcerors temporarily? They can always undo this magic later, and in the meantime, they can watch Rile's host abandon or turn on him.

[Colin Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third and final book in the series. Whilst the previous books focussed on the preparations for the arrival of the enemy, he has now arrived. The point of view varies throughout the book where a central character picks up the story from his/her point of view. In general, the timeline is linear, but there is some repetition to fill in gaps in understanding.

The central characters remain driven individuals who survive against the odds. They are not likeable characters and their attitudes are more akin to arrogance and stupidity. This does make the reading less interesting as the book becomes one where interest is in the events rather than those who are responsible for them.

The ending was predictable and sadly felt rushed and overtly coordinated.

Of all the series by this author, this was the only one that disappointed me. He is very good at drawing characters that are not likeable and making them more complex and with more potential than they first appear. Sadly here characters lurch rather than evolve.

Despite this, Mr Donaldson remains my favourite author

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 4/5 stars

The Killing God" is an amazing fantasy book that takes readers on a thrilling journey filled with numerous twists and turns.


While it may be lengthy, I found myself racing through the pages, eager to uncover each new revelation. Although I plan to revisit it slowly to fully appreciate its depth, this book has earned a permanent spot in my collection.

Donaldson's writing is highly detailed, immersing readers in a richly imagined world. While I'm not usually drawn to war narratives, the author's skillful storytelling kept me engaged despite my initial reservations.As someone who didn't read the first book, I now feel compelled to go back and explore its predecessor. Donaldson's masterful storytelling and intricate plot have won me over as a new follower, and I eagerly anticipate delving into his other works.

Overall, "The Killing God" is a four-star read that showcases Donaldson's prowess as a fantasy writer. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking an engrossing and immersive fantasy experience.

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the giveaway.

I'm a new Stephen Donaldson reader and honestly don't know if I'd have picked up this series if not for the giveaway but I'm definitely glad I did and not only that but stuck it out. When I saw I won this book I immediately went to borrow the first two books from my library. Off the bat I didn't feel the first book all that much but thank goodness I still picked up the second one because that's where I really started to get hooked. I loved the opening up to multiple character perspectives in the second and this book. Once you get into it the plot is good, a lot of action, character development, and even some romance but not so much that it takes over the plot. As someone who tends to read more fantasy than some other genres this series is a must. My only gripe is I wish there was more backstory with the Gods Rile's character, goals, motivation, etc.

Happy reading.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent read by Donaldson. The book never gets dull and it's great to see the development and growth of many of the main characters as the story progresses. Donaldson states on his website that a large chunk of this story had to be cut and revised to reduce costs for the publishers. The story is still well done but it's somewhat apparent that some short narratives of what you can imagine to be grand scenes may have replaced some full chapters in the original manuscript. Some might applaud this, as the book is already 700+ pages (my copy is actually 686), but I'd much prefer to read the author's complete and original vision. Well, I highly recommend it if you want the climax a great fantasy story. The first book in the series is much shorter and has a different feel to it, while second book is as good as this 3rd and final book.

[Boostamonte Halvorsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! What a series! Donaldson proves he is a master storyteller as well as a wordsmith. This book is like a culmination of all his works in one. It is almost like he wrote all the other works to get to the point in which he could tell this book. Not to diminish the other books/series -- they are all amazing. This one just blew me away! It starts slow and just builds and builds until you can't take anymore and then he rewards you in a way that just makes your soul feel on fire. It's hard to explain, but he writes sections that give you goosebumps in the best way possible! I hope this isn't his last novel or series, (he's 75 as I write this) but if it is, well done, Stephen, well done! You are a treasure! All your books are a gift, and I am enriched and filled with joy to have been able to read them! Thank you!

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen R. Donaldson does not disappoint. The Killing God brings this epic fantasy series to a dramatic conclusion and delivers on every metric possible. Personally, I preferred the original working title (The Last Repository), but “the suits” always think they know best based on market research and the almighty dollar (which is why the music business is full of lame pop stars who know little about music, but deliver the sellable image to the kiddos). This series has a great cast of characters, layers of plot and intrigue that are only slowly revealed, and a desperate war fought on multiple fronts using rifles, bombs, sorcery of various types and skill levels, and the weapons of medieval warfare. SRD has always made character development as important as anything else going on, and in this novel he brings all of these elements together for a very satisfying ending. Well done!

[Willem Posthuma · Rating 5 out of 5]

""Do?" retorted Sirjane Marrow fiercely. "Do? I expect them to die! Let them pile their bodies against Rile's advance. What choice do they have?""

There are three books in this series: the first is terrible written, contains lots of coincidences (for a novel with 500 pages is that terrible), I HATED the main character and I predicted the ending right. The second was so much greater, (the writingskills improve in every sentence) but it is just a set-up for the third. But THIS STORY.... It's one of the best books I have ever read. The development, the story, the violent, brutal and genius war, it definately deserves 5 stars. Unfortunately, you have to read the first book, so not many people have read this novel, but I would really recommend reading the other two, just so you can read this one.

[Benj · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely satisfying end to Donaldson's latest trilogy. His characters are always beset by self-doubt and guilt, but overcome these problems to win in the end.

As is so often the case with this type of fantasy, I am disappointed by the enemy, the Great God Rile. What's his backstory? How did he become so powerful? Why does he want to destroy The Repository? None of these questions are touched on - we just have to accept that he is BAD.

A couple of maps would have been helpful - one showing the overall configuration of the locations mentioned in the book, and a second showing a detailed picture of the area around The Repository.

[Jason Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Killing God
(The Great God’s War, Book 3)
<>iby Stephen Donaldson

At last the bad guy enters on the stage,
After twenty years of preparation.
Lightning strikes and cannons roar their rage:
In ice and snow comes fiery conflagration.
Desert riders join the fight with rifles.
The city meets its monstrous foe with guile.
Sorcery gives voice to she it stifles.
The library must face the Great God Rile.

For all that sounds exciting, too much story
Depends upon the reader’s forced connivance
And characters half-drawn, so final glory
Seems but the culmination of contrivance.
A cardboard creep and cranky king contested!
In either side I was not much invested.

[Catherine Braiding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. The ending felt a little rushed (e.g. I would have liked to hear how Lome faired in the aftermath), but I'm glad so many of my favourites found a satisfying resolution to their personal conflicts.

And Estie was great. It was really nice to see a woman in SRD's books who is only mildly traumatised in her backstory (or front story, for that matter). Worse, it was the kind of casual trauma from her parents that you don't even recognise as trauma until years later, which is really relatable.

[Fiona Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final part of The Great God's War and I do wish that fantasy authors provided a recap at the beginning. It has been a while since I read the pervious two so it took me quite a while to work out who was who, what was what, and where was where!

It is classic fantasy with battles between good and evil, special skills that help or don't, a mysterious library, and the good finally joining forces effectively against a common invader. And there's a pretty good love story. It's a satisfying end.