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Gryphon Insurrection #7
Opinicus
“The king’s talons are around your throat, and what you really need is someone who can bite them off at the wrist…”
Just when victory seemed inevitable for the Seraph King, his forces withdrew to the far reaches of the continent. Now the seas are full of treacherous flamingos, the poison reeve’s assassins stalk the desert, and the armies of the Golden Sky hunt gryphons across the air.
Yet not all is lost. The mysterious, black-eyed cave pride has agreed to guide Zeph through the deep places of the continent, into eyries and dens forgotten by time, to reach the Seraph King before his evil plan comes to fruition.
The hope of the continent weighs heavily upon the wings of one small forest gryphon.
Opinicus is a full-length creature fantasy novel full of subterranean cave gryphons, epic gryphon battles, and a lone rancher attempting to collect a late fee on a rental bird.
Just when victory seemed inevitable for the Seraph King, his forces withdrew to the far reaches of the continent. Now the seas are full of treacherous flamingos, the poison reeve’s assassins stalk the desert, and the armies of the Golden Sky hunt gryphons across the air.
Yet not all is lost. The mysterious, black-eyed cave pride has agreed to guide Zeph through the deep places of the continent, into eyries and dens forgotten by time, to reach the Seraph King before his evil plan comes to fruition.
The hope of the continent weighs heavily upon the wings of one small forest gryphon.
Opinicus is a full-length creature fantasy novel full of subterranean cave gryphons, epic gryphon battles, and a lone rancher attempting to collect a late fee on a rental bird.
440 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2022
4 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
K. Vale Nagle
12 books52 followersK. Vale Nagle is alarmingly hard to kill.
After surviving several pulmonary embolisms and multiple organ failure, Vale kicked their writing into high gear and saw their first short story and novel publications. When they're not writing creature fantasy or fighting for their life, they enjoys reading, archery, and exploring the Rocky Mountains with a tabby cat by their side.
After surviving several pulmonary embolisms and multiple organ failure, Vale kicked their writing into high gear and saw their first short story and novel publications. When they're not writing creature fantasy or fighting for their life, they enjoys reading, archery, and exploring the Rocky Mountains with a tabby cat by their side.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 4, 2025
It’s very difficult for me to decide if I think Opinicus, the newest Gryphon Insurrection novel from author K. Vale Nagle, is the best in the series yet. Surely, that the answer isn’t clear cut is a testament to the strength of the series as a whole. At the same time, Opinicus has some of the best writing of the series to date, and the ending sequence is probably the high water mark of the series so far; the turning point of the entire story and one of the defining moments of the entire saga.
Vale Nagle has become a personal favorite author of mine, and also a personal friend (on that note, this review may be biased, so take it with a grain of salt), and it’s been incredible to watch her develop as a writer. Opinicus is perhaps the most pure display of their talent at plotting and worldbuilding yet, as after the rude awakening of the invasion of the Crackling Sea eyrie in Crackling Sea the Ashen Weald and the friends we’ve followed for so long are plunged directly into the world of conflict between the Blackwing Reeve and the Seraph King. While the battles in Crackling Sea felt new and tense and scary, the invasions of the Seraph King’s lands by Reeve Rybalt and his troops feel like business as usual, and the war torn landscapes we enter have a sense of twisted normalcy to them; the atrocities happening here have long since faded into what is considered to be an every day occurrence, and the goal now is no longer to prevent them, but to stop them.
Most of Opinicus follows the quest of Zeph, Kia and Cherine through the cave systems beneath the surface of Belamuria, but they are merely the spearhead of a much larger operation, one that is much more complex than any operation to date and rests entirely on a few groups of characters we’ve come to know and love succeeding – but things are never that simple, are they? There were a couple of times reading Opinicus that I worried things were becoming too predictable; that either the plan would succeed, or that the ways in which it would fail would be easy to see coming. In a sense, I was right, but in a much more important sense I was wrong. There were some things I saw coming, but the climax of Opinicus left me reeling in a way that none of the previous books had. It is, I think, the defining moment of the series; the tipping point where the final arc of the story finally comes into sight, and the overall meaning of everything that has happened is brought into sharp focus. We’ve reached the darkest point of Belamuria’s story, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
As I write this review, I’m recovering from Covid-19, so it’s a little bit difficult for me to focus on a structured review. So instead, I’m just going to ramble about things I liked. The worldbuilding is as good as ever, with new revelations shedding light on the continents shrouded and mysterious past, as well as what lies in wait beyond the vast oceans that surrounds it. Further mysteries are teased within the dark depths of the caves beneath the continent, and in general the caves provide some of the best and most entertaining backdrops in the series yet. The characters are strong, and their relationships by this point are developed enough to consistently be a source of joy every time they interact. Re-entering this world feels like coming home to friends and family that you haven’t seen in some time, and I really hope they turn out okay.
Certain side plots also provide ample opportunity for new types of gryphon and opinici to take the spotlight; the city-dwelling crow gryphons, the colorful and eccentric motmot gryphons, the delightfully strange and surprisingly complex cave gryphon prides, and the hardy and steadfast silver hawk opinici of the Argent Heights. Entire new places are traveled to, and the king’s lands are finally explored to some degree, and all of it is bursting with hidden stories and dramas and complexities that the story wisely doesn’t get too bogged down in but still shows us glimpses of to give even more texture to this intricate and fascinating world.
I said in my review of Crackling Sea that this series really feels like a playground for Vale Nagle, and nowhere does that feel more apparent than in Opinicus, yet at the same time, Opinicus is some of the most strong and focused writing and worldbuilding from the series yet. It has pretty much everything I’ve come to love from this series, and I’m absolutely dying to see more and find out what happens to these characters I’ve so come to love.
Vale Nagle has become a personal favorite author of mine, and also a personal friend (on that note, this review may be biased, so take it with a grain of salt), and it’s been incredible to watch her develop as a writer. Opinicus is perhaps the most pure display of their talent at plotting and worldbuilding yet, as after the rude awakening of the invasion of the Crackling Sea eyrie in Crackling Sea the Ashen Weald and the friends we’ve followed for so long are plunged directly into the world of conflict between the Blackwing Reeve and the Seraph King. While the battles in Crackling Sea felt new and tense and scary, the invasions of the Seraph King’s lands by Reeve Rybalt and his troops feel like business as usual, and the war torn landscapes we enter have a sense of twisted normalcy to them; the atrocities happening here have long since faded into what is considered to be an every day occurrence, and the goal now is no longer to prevent them, but to stop them.
Most of Opinicus follows the quest of Zeph, Kia and Cherine through the cave systems beneath the surface of Belamuria, but they are merely the spearhead of a much larger operation, one that is much more complex than any operation to date and rests entirely on a few groups of characters we’ve come to know and love succeeding – but things are never that simple, are they? There were a couple of times reading Opinicus that I worried things were becoming too predictable; that either the plan would succeed, or that the ways in which it would fail would be easy to see coming. In a sense, I was right, but in a much more important sense I was wrong. There were some things I saw coming, but the climax of Opinicus left me reeling in a way that none of the previous books had. It is, I think, the defining moment of the series; the tipping point where the final arc of the story finally comes into sight, and the overall meaning of everything that has happened is brought into sharp focus. We’ve reached the darkest point of Belamuria’s story, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
As I write this review, I’m recovering from Covid-19, so it’s a little bit difficult for me to focus on a structured review. So instead, I’m just going to ramble about things I liked. The worldbuilding is as good as ever, with new revelations shedding light on the continents shrouded and mysterious past, as well as what lies in wait beyond the vast oceans that surrounds it. Further mysteries are teased within the dark depths of the caves beneath the continent, and in general the caves provide some of the best and most entertaining backdrops in the series yet. The characters are strong, and their relationships by this point are developed enough to consistently be a source of joy every time they interact. Re-entering this world feels like coming home to friends and family that you haven’t seen in some time, and I really hope they turn out okay.
Certain side plots also provide ample opportunity for new types of gryphon and opinici to take the spotlight; the city-dwelling crow gryphons, the colorful and eccentric motmot gryphons, the delightfully strange and surprisingly complex cave gryphon prides, and the hardy and steadfast silver hawk opinici of the Argent Heights. Entire new places are traveled to, and the king’s lands are finally explored to some degree, and all of it is bursting with hidden stories and dramas and complexities that the story wisely doesn’t get too bogged down in but still shows us glimpses of to give even more texture to this intricate and fascinating world.
I said in my review of Crackling Sea that this series really feels like a playground for Vale Nagle, and nowhere does that feel more apparent than in Opinicus, yet at the same time, Opinicus is some of the most strong and focused writing and worldbuilding from the series yet. It has pretty much everything I’ve come to love from this series, and I’m absolutely dying to see more and find out what happens to these characters I’ve so come to love.
June 26, 2022
It’s sometimes difficult to elucidate everything that makes this series shine, but I’m sure as heck gonna try. Firstly, it’s always exciting meeting new people and exploring new locations. There’s also a satisfaction to both pleasant and unpleasant surprises, the latter I believe being more difficult to pull off, but which Vale does with aplomb. Even as the series is drawing to a close: there’s an exciting uncertainty to how it will all play out; there’s the nervous energy of how events will culminate; and there’s a worry for the well-being of all our favorite characters. Also, is that not a hallmark of a well-crafted story? That I feel so many emotions when reading the story, and I care about what occurs to the characters? That I’m left wanting for more? Opinicus lives up to being a penultimate title. It’s a pleasure to adore.
How I Use the Rating System
1: There is no 0 on the provided scale, so I use this as a 0. I find no redeeming qualities and would not suggest the title to anyone for any reason.
2: I hated the work and regret wasting my time reading it, but find or understand that it has some value.
3: Average. I don’t regret having read it, but what I received as an experience was nominal.
4: I enjoyed or found value in the title, but it’s not something I would recommend to everyone, or I would not consider rereading it, or there was a significant flaw that prevented it from being a 5.
5: I enjoyed it so thoroughly I would reread it and recommend it to just about anyone. Or I found it so valuable that I felt it deserved such a rating.
How I Use the Rating System
1: There is no 0 on the provided scale, so I use this as a 0. I find no redeeming qualities and would not suggest the title to anyone for any reason.
2: I hated the work and regret wasting my time reading it, but find or understand that it has some value.
3: Average. I don’t regret having read it, but what I received as an experience was nominal.
4: I enjoyed or found value in the title, but it’s not something I would recommend to everyone, or I would not consider rereading it, or there was a significant flaw that prevented it from being a 5.
5: I enjoyed it so thoroughly I would reread it and recommend it to just about anyone. Or I found it so valuable that I felt it deserved such a rating.
January 20, 2024
Well, definitely can't wait for Pride Lord! Everything's hit the fan, and we need to know what happens next!
November 7, 2022
Okay, I know I said that The Crackling Sea had taken the title of my favorite book in the Gryphon Insurrection series (and I don’t doubt I’ve said it for others as well), but Opinicus has given it a serious run for its money! The action doesn’t let up once, there are so many places to explore and new gryphons to meet, and it all culminates in the most epic, large-scale battle I’ve yet seen in the series. My heart was racing by the time I reached the end.
As usual, this book takes readers across several different storylines: Zeph, Kia, and Cherine’s cave adventure, Foultner’s espionage, Stripes’ attempt at being an assassin, Pip and Lei’s perilous journey north, Ellore and Bruen’s undercover attempt to take down the Crackling Sea Eyrie, and Rybalt and Iony’s ever-busy and ever-destructive schedule. I know that’s a long list but every character still gets their moment in the spotlight.
Also interesting were some details on the seraphs, and the seraph king’s own rise to power, as well as the mysteries surrounding the Stormtail starlings. But my favorite part of this particular book had to be Zeph and Kia’s unbreakable friendship, which remains strong even under duress.
There are so many cliffhangers that come along with the end of this book, and now I cannot wait for Pridelord to be released!
As usual, this book takes readers across several different storylines: Zeph, Kia, and Cherine’s cave adventure, Foultner’s espionage, Stripes’ attempt at being an assassin, Pip and Lei’s perilous journey north, Ellore and Bruen’s undercover attempt to take down the Crackling Sea Eyrie, and Rybalt and Iony’s ever-busy and ever-destructive schedule. I know that’s a long list but every character still gets their moment in the spotlight.
Also interesting were some details on the seraphs, and the seraph king’s own rise to power, as well as the mysteries surrounding the Stormtail starlings. But my favorite part of this particular book had to be Zeph and Kia’s unbreakable friendship, which remains strong even under duress.
There are so many cliffhangers that come along with the end of this book, and now I cannot wait for Pridelord to be released!
January 25, 2023
This series has been getting better with every book, and it cumulates in a fantastic ending that has been promised for many books now - and there are still more to come!
Sure, there are times when it can be difficult to keep track of all the characters, but I don't think that's a failing of the author. The story and cast are so grand by necessity that something is always going to get lost along the way.
The events, worldbuilding, and the characters are all incredible.
Sure, there are times when it can be difficult to keep track of all the characters, but I don't think that's a failing of the author. The story and cast are so grand by necessity that something is always going to get lost along the way.
The events, worldbuilding, and the characters are all incredible.
February 26, 2024
I think Opinicus is my favourite of GryphIns so far!! This absolutely blew me away!
Pros:
- the cave gryphons! I adored them, and the journey was captivating to read about! What made it even better was that it gave Zeph, Cherine, and Kia some time to shine after being in the dark for quite a while in the previous entries. The Silkmouth gryphons were also quite fascinating.
- FOULTNER! She was amazing in this book! Her internal struggles were quite a highlight, and I was on the edge of my seat reading her chapters!
- Stripes was great and I enjoyed reading her POV! I'm headcanoning her as asexual. Fight me.
- the Seraph King's chapters were a much needed insight into his head. Even though he's not a morally grey character (more like a typical villain) it was still interesting to read about!
- THE ENDING!!!!!!!!
Cons:
- the starlings again. they just irritate me so much. get a brain for goodness sake. I was almost glad Kia and Zeph used them to their advantage. Good riddance.
- Rybalt was ok in this book, but he was still annoying, and his dialogue made me want to punch him. I ship him and Iony though. Bromance baby!!
- not really a con per se, but what's going to happen to the Nighthaunt now?
Overall, I cannot wait for Pridelord! I need it now!!
Pros:
- the cave gryphons! I adored them, and the journey was captivating to read about! What made it even better was that it gave Zeph, Cherine, and Kia some time to shine after being in the dark for quite a while in the previous entries. The Silkmouth gryphons were also quite fascinating.
- FOULTNER! She was amazing in this book! Her internal struggles were quite a highlight, and I was on the edge of my seat reading her chapters!
- Stripes was great and I enjoyed reading her POV! I'm headcanoning her as asexual. Fight me.
- the Seraph King's chapters were a much needed insight into his head. Even though he's not a morally grey character (more like a typical villain) it was still interesting to read about!
- THE ENDING!!!!!!!!
Cons:
- the starlings again. they just irritate me so much. get a brain for goodness sake. I was almost glad Kia and Zeph used them to their advantage. Good riddance.
- Rybalt was ok in this book, but he was still annoying, and his dialogue made me want to punch him. I ship him and Iony though. Bromance baby!!
- not really a con per se, but what's going to happen to the Nighthaunt now?
Overall, I cannot wait for Pridelord! I need it now!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews