The world of Tarsha has fallen.Iscarius and his armies have spread like a scourge. Cities burn, nations crumble, and the earth weeps the blood of the fallen. His motives a mystery, one thing is certain: Iscarius won’t stop until the world breaks beneath him.Cain Taran alone has the strength to oppose him. The strange power of Abaddon, stirred from its slumber, now courses through Cain’s veins and … Cain’s veins and seeks destruction. Feared for his strange new abilities, shunned, and alone, Cain must track Iscarius across a ravaged Tarsha and put an end to this gruesome new war that will only end with one of their deaths. Cain’s connection to Abaddon may prove the world’s salvation…
Or its undoing.
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I plucked this book from Zon’s shelf for a few reasons. One: That cover though. Don’t deny it – we all judge a book by its cover. Two: Swords. Fantasy and swords. War. Revenge. Seriously, nothing could go wrong here. Three: This series was all over my social media. Curiosity had swept in and took control.
Since Game of Thrones had ended, I’ve been on a fantasy war kick. I was scavenging the Zon for anything to replace my beloved show. This one . . . oh yes, this one *happy sigh* did an excellent job in filling that void.
This is Gifford’s first series, and I couldn’t tell one bit. I opened the book, read the first few chapters, and then messaged him with a “man, you have some serious skills.” Because he does. Because he’s talented. And because I know for a fact I’m going to see this series hit the top charts.
This is the type of series, writing style, vocabulary, and plot structure, every reader craves, not to mention relatable characters. I felt like I knew Cain as soon as I read the first page. From there, Gifford takes us through a brutal, enthralling, action-packed journey that often had my heart hammering against my ribs. I know everyone says this but . . . There was no putting this book down. There were a few nights I was holding my eyelids open for just “one more page.”
I haven’t yet read the last in the series – it just came out – but I’ve heard many people were blown away.
I can’t even do this review justice. This was such a phenomenal adventure from the first book in the trilogy, and to follow Cain through this difficult chapter in his journey tore at my heart. This war has been 400 years in the making, and traveling with Cain as he fights for a chance to face off with Iscarius himself was one of the most arduous undertakings I’ve ever witnessed. As Cain fought his way through the ravaged land he wishes only to save, he is opposed on every side, plotted against by those he is learning to trust, and still he pushed through. With the power of Abaddon making him more than a mere human warrior, he not only causes fear in his foes but apprehension in his friends. Even with this strength and power on his side, there’s no promise that he’ll make it to his destination or even have his chance to face what he believes is his destiny.
By the end of the book, I was absolutely wrung out and exhausted. There were moments of strength and victory that made me smile and cheer and moments of anguish and utter defeat that shattered my heart. I found it impossible to put the story down, and it held me on the edge of my seat. The secondary characters are as complex and layered as the main character and are so intertwined that the battles in motion were like watching a Matejko painting lift from the canvas and come to life. Each intricate moment was meaningful and led to the next. There was not a wasted word or scene in the entire series, and this was the most fitting ending to an awe inspiring story. I don’t know how the author is going to top this masterpiece, but I can guarantee I’ll be waiting in line for the next adventure he has in store for us.