Synopsis
WHEN THE SAINTS FALL, THE SINNERS RISE.
Calamity has befallen the steam-powered city of Chime as the gods declare war on each other, choosing Chime’s streets as their battleground. Kayl has the means to end their reign for good and create a new world free from their whims. But recruiting an army against divine beings is no easy task, and as her allies fall one by one, Kayl is left to shoulder her burden alone.
Finally free from his own god’s shackles, Quen is bound in service to Chaos, who only wants revenge against Quen’s former master. Torn between his desire for vengeance and justice, Quen is no stranger to the gods’ cruelty and will do whatever it takes to see Kayl’s vision through—even if it destroys his soul.
To ensure a new future, Kayl and Quen must unite mortals against their makers and decide the gods’ fate before time itself comes to an end.
For the era of gods is over.
Review
It’s over.
I’ve raved about the previous two books in this gaslamp fantasy trilogy and to say that I was eager to read the finale is an understatement. And when the title is The End of Time, you know things are going to get spectacularly epic. Chaos and Time have been gearing up to do battle, and the other gods are taking sides in a war that might rip apart the worlds and even time itself – and the city of Chime might just be the battleground.
The stakes in this series have been high from the start, but somehow the author continues to escalate the tension and danger until you forget you’re reading a 700+ page tome. This is a hefty book, but there’s a lot of ground to cover through our three main viewpoints as they navigate the gods’ attempts to manipulate them and their allies. Kayl, Quen and Jinx might have some impressive abilities of their own, but the odds are still very much stacked against the mortals who remain subject to the whims of their all-powerful deities.
When the story starts off, Quen is imprisoned in Chaos, once again at the mercy of a god. Kayl wants to rescue him, but she’s also representing a god herself and trying to gather her old allies – all of whom are scattered and many are pawns to their own gods. Elsewhere, Jinx is being her usual chaotic self, as she tries to connect with her sister and struggles with her own relationship with her god. The character work in this series is amazing – even the most despicable characters are understandable and have motivations developed. But Kayl and Quen are the heart of this story, and their connection reaches new heights in this finale as they battle through tribulations together.
And wow, there are a lot of tribulations. As the story unfolds, we visit familiar places as well as the realms we haven’t already been to, and lots of old faces return, both mortal and gods. I’m impressed at how the author manages to keep things fresh and interesting while delivering plot twists that floored me without invalidating what came beforehand. This is an ambitious trilogy that could easily have become convoluted, given that we have 12+ worlds involved as well as time travel and other realities, but the focus remains on the characters and their goals. The gods are truly despicable, and the mortals continue to face difficult choices as they struggle to maintain their autonomy. The way the author explores themes of free will and manipulation is a constant throughout the series.
If I thought the last book was a nail-biter, this one managed to top it, with tension throughout and some moments of serious emotional impact as well as humour and banter. Between the creative worlds, the memorable characters, and the kind of mixture of humour and heart that I love, this is a series to watch, and one I’m sure to reread in the future. I’m genuinely sad to no longer be reading this series – although it’s safe to say that I’m here for anything this author writes, and I can’t wait to delve into more of their worlds.
Leave a Reply