It Ends with Knight

Nena Knight #3

by Yasmin Angoe

In this thrilling conclusion of the Nena Knight series, the trained assassin will have to confront the ghosts of her past…before she becomes one herself.

Until his untimely death, Nena’s mentor was the backbone of the Tribe. With his leadership position unfilled and despite the Tribe’s newfound misgivings about her, Nena has stepped into a new role she never wanted.

Politics is an entirely new venture for her, and now one of the Tribe’s own has been kidnapped, forcing her back to her origins as an assassin. But the only person qualified for such a rescue mission is Nena Knight—and a new team whose trust in her continues to waver.

Determined to harness the power of her former role to succeed in her new one, Nena must also face what she left behind. Old fears, resentments, and anger threaten the precarious hold Nena has on her new life as she realizes that the past—and the people from it—are never far behind.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Fantasy, Adult

381 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2023

About the author

Yasmin Angoe is an action and psychological suspense thriller author, Library of Virginia People’s Choice Award Fiction Finalist, and Anthony-award nominee of the critically acclaimed Her Name is Knight and Not What She Seems. Her Knight series has been featured in The New York Times, Oprah Daily, The Guardian, PopSugar, and Woman’s World book club, and the series is currently optioned for a feature. Yasmin is the recipient of the 2020 Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Emerging Writers of Color and has been nominated for the Anthony Awards and the Library of Virginia’s People’s Choice Award. She is a proud member of organizations such as Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, International Thriller Writers, and the Women’s National Book Association. Hailing from Northern Virginia, Yasmin Angoe is a first-generation Ghanaian American and a former English teacher and instructional coach,
She received a Kirkus review calling Her Name Is Knight, “A parable of reclaiming personal and tribal identity by seizing power at all costs".

Reviews

[Marleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This final installment of the Nena Knight series suffered from the same thing the previous book did: it kind of dragged most of the book and picks up towards the final 25%. But while the second book in this series, They Come At Knight, had a pretty compelling mystery at the centre of it with a lot of excitement and plot twists in said final quarter, that wasn't the case with this book. Yes, the plot picked up a lot towards the end, but it wasn't enough for me to say I enjoyed this book a lot as a whole after finishing it.

The characters are just as endearing as in the previous books in the series. And Nena is still the fierce queen I've come to know and love. But the author did her a little bit dirty with describing and explaining every single thing that happened. Because as a reader the "red herrings" are so obviously described, you see the conclusion to this mystery coming from miles away. And honestly, it makes Nena look a bit stupid. Especially since she's supposed to be like this ninja-assassin person who's also supposed to have grown in her job to oversee this important mission.

I just really missed the smart construction of the mystery in the previous book(s). For me it was a bit meh.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third and final book in the Knight series and it stays consistent with the other two and is everything I love about this series. It continues Nena’s journey on healing from her past, while fighting for her the future she wants. She juggles her personal life, her life within The Tribe, and the inevitable social politics that go along with both. As with the other two books her past continues to haunt her threatening the progress she’s made emotionally and mentally. Nena is on her own on this mission as the leader, and learning to trust herself and her instincts which is especially important when so many snakes may lay in the grass waiting to strike. This series is consistently exciting and the third book was a great ending, though I am sad the series is over!

*thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Nena. I looooved books 1 and 2, but I struggled so much with this book. It took me almost 4 months to read it. I thought about DNFing it a few times, but I loved Nena and the rest of the characters that I knew I had to see her story through. And damn am I glad I did!!

I fully understand why she started second-guessing every single decision she had to make. That does not mean it didn't annoy me so much to watch this strong woman shrink. It broke my heart to watch her shrivel and question herself relentlessly, but it made me so happy and proud when she stood on herself again. Ugh, it was beautiful.

This story was so beautiful and interesting. That ending, though!! I loved Nena's story.

[The Resistance Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow…the best trilogy!

This is by far the best trilogy I’ve ever read in years! This came full circle with an open ending that had me smh in a good way! I had needed a moment of silence for Nena and the ending! The audiobook was a great listen because it gave the characters life! Great job on the audio!

[Erykah Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5. I need more Court and Georgia. I need another book!!! I don’t wanna wait. 🥰🥰🥰😘

[Amanda F · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect ending to a wonderful trilogy. I loved folliwng Nena and her extended family and friends in this series and I will continue to read from this author.

[Alana Tomlin Denton]

Unforgettable read!! Didn't want it to end.

Attention Hollywood: this series should definitely be a Netflix show, movie or series!

I count the days until the next book releases and am extremely sad that this is supposed to be the end of Nena's series.

Please, oh please branch out with stories of the rest of the key players! Elin, Keigle, Georgia, etc ...

Here's my review of the book:

If you like non -stop action you have arrived at the right place!

Nena is now struggling with the aftermath of everything that transpired in Book 2. She knows in her head she made the right decisions. But, her self-doubt, self-worth, and purpose is a big reason she struggles so much.

Is she the right person for the job? Is she being shown favoritism (nepotism), does she belong, etc.
While those that surround her see nothing but the survivor and strong woman she is and the conqueror who needs to take her rightful place and position. The bouts of self doubt interfere with her ability to be as successful as she should be.

Something we can all identify with and learn a valuable lesson.

Again, truly one of my favorite series out there. If you want to see a strong female lead, this is it. If you would like to see a book that introduces you to sections of the world you have never traveled, here is that book.

[Steven Netter · Rating 4 out of 5]

READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books



Make sure to check out the full review

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot of “dead space” in the middle of the book that I did not enjoy. There was so much time spent rebuilding characters to create a new villain. The ending sort of came together and picked back up again but the first to books in the series would have sufficed. I’m not sure we needed a third book, maybe a novella.

[Lilibet Bombshell · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Her Name is Knight first came out, I snapped it up because of the cover, but I ended up loving it because it was just a really captivating, entertaining, enjoyable book. Same with They Came at Knight. And now we have this book, the last of what is one of the best trilogies I’ve ever read when considered as whole: It Ends With Knight.

If you take this book away from the other two I think it’s stronger than They Come at Knight and is almost on par with Her Name is Knight. The reason this title gets four stars instead of five isn’t because the book is bad: it’s because the book was predictable. I do need to add in, however, that since I read so many thriller and suspense novels I may just be too…inured to the things that happen in thrillers that may surprise other people. Maybe I’m just kind of primed for them and when they happen I’m just not surprised anymore. After all, genre fiction has building blocks. The trick to writing is in how authors use those building blocks.

As usual, Yasmin Angoe’s prose and worldbuilding is excellent. I feel as if the challenge with writing the character of Nena Knight is how to write her as both a mature, wicked assassin but also writing her as someone who is still very unaccustomed or even naive to a lot of things in the western world without making her sound like an idiot or making it seem forced. Nena has endured quite an emotional and psychologically taxing journey through these three books, and Angoe has done a great job walking the tightrope between keeping Nena consistent in her role as an assassin and letting her non-Tribe self grow and develop.

The plot was interesting, with Nena’s father asking her and her team to take on a different role than they normally do (AKA, not killing people) in order to protect tanzanite mining interests for the Tribe in Tanzania. Nena balks at the idea, since usually this sort of mission is something her sister takes on; but since her sister has the baby at home they’re asking Nena to do it.

Most of the book has Nena battling impostor syndrome, ruminating deeply on (what she sees as) her past mistakes, thinking back on her beginnings, questioning her future with Dispatch, and contemplating her relationship with Cort and her place with Georgia, Cort’s daughter.

It’s entertaining, engaging, emotional, has a lot of action, has some funny moments, and is the conclusion to a great story. Do yourself a favor and read the whole trilogy in a row if you have the time. It’s a great time.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Book Series/Espionage Thriller/Found Family/General Fiction/Kindle Unlimited/Political Thriller

[Olivia Solbrig · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Angoe continues to keep me on the edge of my seat with this third installment of the Nena Knight series. I have truly fallen in love with this cast of characters from the very first book, especially Nena. She continues to grow and heal in spite of the atrocities in her past, but Angoe also allows Nena to continue fighting for herself and others in the midst of her healing. She is kind, but she is also strong and deadly. I love to see female characters that exist in this category, as many times it is easier to write them as one or the other.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys high-action thrillers, but also to anyone who is looking to immerse themselves in the complicated politics of post-colonial Africa. I have learned so much from this series! Angoe has quickly become a favorite in my collection.

[thee.millennialreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format: 🎧

It wasn’t as exciting as the 1st and 2nd installment, but it was interesting seeing Nina take on a new role within the tribe. I believe I feel let down because there wasn’t much on her and Cort like in the previous installments. I was expecting a little bit more than what the author gave. I’m a sucker for romance 🤷🏾‍♀️

There was also a lot of reiteration of past events that I feel could have been left out as it is a trilogy, so readers should remember those key events as they were the center of those past installments.

[Jada Randell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt as if this book wasn't needed.

It didn't really add much to Nina's story, The bad guy was pretty obvious and if it wasn't for Brigitte it would not have anything to do with Nina's past.

I feel like the story would have been paced the exact same without brigitte's inclusion, except for the ending of course, which to me seemed kind of rushed.

It was a well-written book by an author that I really like. But I think this could have stayed at a two book series and did not need the third book

[Crimson · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!

Now I know you’re not going to end this book like this!!!! Ma’am, you cannot be serious. What happened? How did he take the news???? Yasmin Angoe……you ate girly. I loved this entire series and I want more. The suspense was like no other. Y’all read this damn series!!!!!

[T. Carter Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like what Angoe has done with this series with a bad-ass, unapologetically Africa-focused cast. That said, this installment seemed at times to lag with misdirections that were telegraphed too readily and a rapid run to the end game that could have been more shown than told. Still an enjoyable read and I hope it isn't the last we'll see of the Knights.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does it end?

I hope not! Nina Knight has been through so much and Yasmine Angoe made sure the reader was there through the good and the bad. This third book was different because of the growth we’ve seen in our main character. I hope to read more about Nina and read more from Ms. Angoe.

[Candice Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.85

[Tukaloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[amandalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

A satisfying conclusion to this trilogy.

[Debi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Elba · Rating 2 out of 5]

So disappointing. Almost DNF. I really enjoyed the plot and backstory of the previous books, but this one was full of trite cliches, and stereotypical shallow characters.

[Nilesh Jasani · Rating 2 out of 5]

"It Ends With Night" proves another disappointment. The narrative simply does not progress, instead meandering through a series of relatively uninteresting events and interactions that hold little relevance. Much of the book is bogged down by a retelling of past events from the previous instalemts, which fails to add depth or intrigue to the current storyline.

When the plot finally shifts with Knight’s move to Africa, the central mystery that unfolds is disappointingly foreseeable. The author nearly reveals the twist right from the beginning, making the eventual revelation feel anticlimactic and only surprising to the lead character rather than the reader.

Furthermore, the action scenes lack the dynamism and excitement expected in a thriller of this nature. The climax and resolution are equally lackluster, leaving much to be desired and resulting in an overall sense of disappointment.

A disappointing end to a series that had so much promise in the first book.

[aishareadsnrambles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
🥷🏾🥷🏾
Yasmin Angoe has done it again🥹🥹. I can't believe I'll be saying goodbye to Nena and the amazing characters in this book. I hope there is more coming where it came from
🥷🏾🥷🏾
When I reviewed the first two books in the series, I said it was a book written by an African for Africans. I was overjoyed finally seeing Africa(with named countries) instead of some authors just writing ' so and so went to Africa(irks me). I hope the author comes with more books about Africa.
🥷🏾🥷🏾
Finally, our badass heroine finally found the closure and peace she was looking for. She also eliminated all the people responsible for all the trauma and heartbreak she went through. It was the HEA I was looking for.
🥷🏾🥷🏾
In this trilogy, we went to Tanzania. I was able to learn of tanzanite, a gem I've never heard of. Nena was sent there to finalize a treaty about a mine. I loved reading it because there was a mystery involved, and I also saw how Nena was moving on with her life after what happened in the second book.
🥷🏾🥷🏾
The only thing I wanted was more of Cortland, I didn't get enough, and I missed him. I wished the perp hadn't been a stereotypical bad white man; racist and misogynistic.
🥷🏾🥷🏾
I really loved this book and the entire series, I'm very sure you would like it too. Try them out! I know this is the last in a trilogy, but I don't mind if there's more, I still want more and more of Nena

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a five star book for me until the epilogue.

SPOILERS

The first book is set up into Before and After, bouncing back and forth between the two time periods throughout the book.

In the Before we see how Aninyeh the daughter of a village chief in Ghana watches her whole family get murdered and she is trafficked to horrible man by her uncle. She escapes by killing the man. The she finds her adoptive family the Knights head The Tribe an international organization with the purpose of advancing Africa - who also happen to have a network of assassins.

In the After we see how Nena Knight is a leader within the organization heading up her own team of assassins. When she is ordered to kill a man who in her mind does not deserve it and whom she met and after years of filling no connection with men she feels a spark with him. On the day she was to carry out her order she sees one of the man who is responsible for trafficking her and kills him instead. According to The Tribe he was supposed to dead and that leads Nena on her own mission that ends with her killing the men responsible for trafficking her and a lot of other twist in turns.

In book 2
We learn that the men responsible for trafficking her could not have gotten so high up in the organization without a trader working in The Tribe. Going back to Ghana and the place where it all began the embark on a plan to find the trader and it turns out that it was one of her closest allies. She takes him out and things should be settled at this point. She is building a relationship with Cort Baxter and his daughter the man she was supposed to kill and her family is accepting of him. So everything should be good right. Well…

In book 3
Nena is now taking over for the trader and everyone is suspicious of her. They made the decision to not tell people of his treason and so people think she is the trader. She is now taking on more political task within the organization and she comes face to face with the one woman she met in the process of being trafficked who in book one Nena describes as being worse than all the others and her father has instructed her not to kill her. A bunch of stuff happens and the woman becomes a problem later on and everything comes full circle when all the people who caused Aninyeh harm in the Before are taken out.


Now that would be a 5 star ending but the freakin epilogue left us with an unnecessary WTF moment that is basically hinting at another book. When all I needed was a sweet moment between Nena and the Baxters with her getting her happily ever after. I was way too invested in this story for this epilogue. I needed the peace that would come from a happy scene not the plot twist we got.

I might think about this tomorrow and change my mind but for now the epilogue is why I cannot give this book 5 stars. Book one though - absolutely a 5 star read.

[Jennifer B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am truly heartbroken to see the Nena Knight series come to an end. I have been a fan of Echo since book 1 and have loved all 3 books. I truly feel this series needs to be made into a TV series.

In this book, Nena has taken over Witt’s role as head of dispatch. We don’t get to see as much of Nena the badass as we did before because she is in a different unfamiliar more political role. Her father Noble sends her to Tanzania to supervise negotiations between the Tanzanian government and the local miners who is lead by a man named Judah. It’s the mission of the Tribe to see to it that the miners and people of Tanzania get a fair deal. As with capitalism, everyone has their hands in the pot and doesn’t care about anyone but themselves. That’s where Francis Dublin and his wife Bridgit (an evil person from Nena’s past) comes in. I’m glad that Noble told her about Bridgit’s role before she got there so Nena wouldn’t be surprised but I hate that he sent Nena and not Elin knowing the ties that Bridgit had to Nena’s past. I mean I know Elin just had a baby but having a baby doesn’t disable you! Im glad Delphine told him so and speaking of the mom, who knew she was still such a badass herself, the way she helped Nena in the end!

I loved the story line. The way she describes the African people and their traditions and how Europeans still try to exploit them and how the tribe was put in place to fight for and protect the people of Africa.

I knew the whole time that the Dublins were bad news so it was no surprise to find out Francis was behind everything (because I knew Judah definitely didn’t turn on his people) and I wish Nena had shot him dead in the warehouse were they went to save the little girl as soon as he shot the kidnapper that was about to talk. I was surprised by what Bridgit ended up doing in the end. The way she kept coming to Nena trying to talk to her I thought she was trying to make amends but it shows you can’t trust anyone. I’m glad she got her Karma! Now lil adopted bro Keigel stayed true by helping to dump the body in the Everglades or wherever gatorland they left her. Keigel needs his own series!

The theme of parenting a teenager that isn’t yours was good. I loved to see how Cort, Nena and Georgia’s relationship have grown. With her being out of the country most of the book, they didn’t play as big a part as they did in the previous book but I’m glad Nena was showing Georgia how to defend herself and she used it to break that girls nose. That winch had it coming!

Now the ending 😩 I wanted so bad to see how Billie reacted to not only finding out Witt was his father but that Nena killed him! I need more 😩😩😩

Bravo on a series well done and I look forward to more from this author. I will never stop recommending this series to others!

[Anjie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nena Knight's improbable evolution from traumatized child to elite "dispatcher" (bodyguard/investigator/assassin) concludes in her third novel, "It Ends with Knight." Along the way author Yasmin Angoe took readers from a proud Ghanaian village to the Paris basement of a child trafficker to a sophisticated London townhouse, to a stylish but unassuming home in Miami. Nena's assignments come from her employer, the Tribe, headed by her adopted parents. The first novel was rich in world-building and great at recounting Nena's childhood trauma and her current emotional distance. It was also grounded in a thrilling mission with lots of action. The follow-up novel was a bit of counterbalance, investing more time in Nena's emotional arc but still supported by a decent mystery, betrayal and action. Frankly when I turned the final page on book two, I thought Nena's story was done. Maybe it should have been. "It Ends with Knight" has the advantage of a main character I was comfortable with, and introduces three others I liked. But other returning characters weren't fleshed out; in fact, two major players in Nena's world regressed to cardboard cutouts. This mission takes her and her strike team to Tanzania, where a town is hit with a wave of violence as it tries to protect a natural resource wanted by several global corporations. A timely real world conflict that's given somewhat thoughtful treatment. But the main villain is a cliche, a missed opportunity. As is a character who had the potential to provoke Nena on multiple levels... sadly there wasn't much nuance. Nena is still appealing and we get more insight into her efforts to shed her past to make room for happiness and love. I'll say I'm glad to read the resolution of Nena's story-- as long as this is really the end. No fourth book needed.

[JenBsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. On one hand, I wish I had been able to read the trilogy back to back (this one wasn't released when I finished the first), but then there was quite a bit of "recap" included in the story, which I might have found too repetitive if I had.

This installment was more like the first book, with two timelines, the main (3rd person/past tense) and a "BEFORE" (past) ... ironically told in present tense/first person, and with a heavier accent (here, it's the prologue, and then doesn't come into play again until after chapter 20). The audio TOC and the Kindle TOC were off because of the prologue (shown in audio as chapter 1, then chapter 1 is listed as chapter 2 ... WHY can't the audio copy match the print TOC???) The "before" chapters aren't actually listed, so after every "before" chapter, the audio chapter# and the kindle copy # got more and more off. I did really appreciate the slight shift in narration though, as well as tense, as it really helped keep the present/past storylines separate.

Even with the little recaps, I didn't remember everything that had happened in book 1 and 2. I would have done better to have read them back to back. There was a lot of action and it kept my interest, but these sequels didn't quite live up to the first book, which was the standout of the series.

Didn't have any of the words I'm tracking, but I noticed "debacle" (Hubs had used it recently, as had a friend's Hubs, we commented that it isn't used that often), and had two Tetris Blocks similes ...

Some proFanity (x18), and violence.

[Talia C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Yasmin Angoe for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This final book of the series was a little different compared to the other two books. This one dealt with a lot of politics due to that I found it more complex to figure out and totally follow. You could tell right away who the bad guy was.. in all honesty, he was presented as a rich, pompous, bigot who attempted to push his weight at every encounter possible. The storyline and showing how he was portrayed was perfect for the diplomatic reason she was in the African Country. I do enjoy how her relationship with Cort and his daughter had grown from book one to now. It showed growth and maturity but also the struggles of trying to help raise a child that isn't yours.

I don't think the ending of this with the African tribe they were looking to bring on board was satisfying enough. It was like she had solved the problem and then left. I jus think the aftermath should have continued to play out. The last couple chapters are where the real ending happened and that was much more satisfying. You never did find out who took over for Keigal's rival gang though, only reason I bring it up is because there was the one member that seemed like he wanted to work things out with him but couldn't until his boss was taken care of.. just a minor loose end.

I will recommend this book to all of my followers with the warning that because it is mainly politics in this book, it is boring if not understood for a good portion of the book.

[Mickey Rena · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my favorite

This 3rd installment is my least favorite of the 3.

May contain spoilers…

We spent 2 whole books being told how good Nena is at her job only to get to book 3 and have her completely coming undone at every turn. Sure, she was shocked by the revelation that she’d meet someone from her past, but that happened in Book 1, twice, and besides going off script for her dispatch, she never let her guard down and remained, for all intents and purposes, in complete control.

I was disappointed in the last fight scene from Book 2, and this book seemed to pick up where that one left off. If Nena was so disheveled that she made mistakes in that fight, why would Noble promote her and then sign her up for this next job so soon after?

This book started with the drama behind the letter from Whit and then we go through the whole book before we hear about it again. And the placement makes it feel like a literal afterthought.

There’s also the drama with Court being angry about the training. And this story line too was held hostage until the end of the book and it’s apparently resolved?

This story revolves around Judah and…what becomes of him? It’s like he faded into nothing. Meanwhile “Montana” just won’t go away, literally.

And then that last scene? What’sherface just flips and shows up at the exact right time to catch Nena off guard and…what?!

Lastly, I never felt like this in the other two books, but with this one, I felt like I needed a web diagram with pictures and names to keep up. Was every one of these characters necessary?

[reading escapist · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of the first two books of the Nena Knight series, I was anticipating the final book. The story of Nena's tragic childhood, her adoption into the Knight family, and training/missions for the Tribe are further explained in this final installment of the series. During this book, Nena moves to a position of leadership in the the Tribe and faces one of her enemies from her childhood while dealing with the political and emotional effects of Witt's (Nena's former mentor) death. Although I liked Nena in a leadership role and the mission that she led her team through, I did not like how she was thrust into the politics of the Tribe. Politics isn't one of Nena's strong points (it is what her sister Elin usually deals with) and it was uncomforatable to read her grappling with politics while developing her leadership skills with her team. It seemed like she was being asked to perform the the jobs of two people. However, I did enjoy the developement of her relationships with Cort and Georgia, her maturation as a leader, several of the new characters that were introduced, and the return of other characters (such as Keigal, Elin and Delphine). The story also ended with an opening for another book/series that I would definitely read. I'm looking forward to more from this author. I would also like to "thank NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review."