Synopsis
Gabriel de León has lost his family, his faith, and his last hope of ending the endless night – the Holy Grail, Dior. With no desire left but vengeance, he and a band of loyal brothers journey into the war-torn heart of the Augustin Empire to claim the life of the Forever King.
Unbeknownst to the Last Silversaint, the Grail still lives – speeding towards Augustin’s besieged capital in the frail hope of ending Daysdeath forever. But deadly treachery awaits within the halls of power, and the Forever King’s legions march ever closer. Gabriel and Dior will be drawn into a final battle that will shape the very fate of the Empire, but as the sun sets for what may be the last time, there will be no-one left for them to trust.
Not even each other.
Review
Jay Kristoff likes to make us hurt.
Worst betrayal by an author ever. Five stars.
Non-spoiler series recommendation:
Kristoff’s writing is heart-wrenchingly descriptive and evocative. You know that terror you get when you trip or drop on a rollercoaster? I got that reading this.
A vampire series where the protagonist is a worn-down, broken man bent upon vengeance for the murder of his family at the hands of the Forever King.
Then he meets a spunky Dior who manages to annoy (worm) their way into his cold heart.
The spawn of a vampire and the potential saviour of the realm band together to stop the blotting out of the sun.
There is a talking sword, a valiant horse, and great friendships.
The language is crass, the humour dark, the horror gory and bloody.
Not to mention, it uses the story within a story framing narrative device. Gabriel is in the tower, a prisoner of the vampire Queen, relaying what happened before he is executed. Think Name of the Wind and Blood Song.
It isn’t going to be for everyone, but book one was my favourite book in the year of its release, and I continue loving this series.
“His back. My blade.”
Okay, vague descriptions over.
If you haven’t read books one and two – turn away.
No spoilers for book three:
Well, after that disaster of an ending, we are dealing with broken, revenge-driven characters – very similar to where we started off in book one.
Gabriel is still as brash and abrasive as ever. He is the most prideful and arrogant bast*rd there is. If you aren’t into that style, it might grate on you. I personally love how unique Gabriel’s voice was and how this shaped the story.
As you may know, I’m a sucker for siblings in fantasy.
The Last Silversaint and Last Liathe are serpents, filled with the same rank venom. Their fondness for deceit is equaled only by their hatred for each other.
So, toxic siblings who both think they’re in the right who loathe each other and held prisoner in the same castle pitted against each other in their accounting. Both are different types of monsters.
I enjoy how Kristoff plays them off each other, adding to the unreliable narration. He took this even further in this book, and I cannot wait for you all to experience it.
“It took a lot of love to hate her the way I do.”
The illustrations in this one might have some of my favourites. BEAUTIFUL. I need all books to have art that makes my heart hurt, please.
I won’t give anything away, but I went through so many emotions in that last 20%. If you want to chat (rant, sob, laugh), my Instagram DMs are open.
I just have to leave you with this one line:
“I was beginning to think it some morbid jest on your part. About the only occupation in Elidaen more dangerous than Horse With a Name is Woman Who Slept With Gabriel d—”
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