THE NIGHTSHADE GOD

Exiled to the Burnt Isles, Lore is the farthest from saving the world that she’s ever been.

Bastian, now Sainted King, has been completely overcome by the god in his head, Lore doesn’t know what’s happening with the magic she was born with or the magic she’s gained, her friends are grappling with their own gods and scattered throughout the land. With ash thickening the air, Lore must fight just to survive, but she will never be satisfied with mere survival when she might still be able to save the world. So, with her friends and some allies (who may or may not be trustworthy) she begins to work toward a solution that could fix everything. But striving for salvation means anything might have to be sacrificed: Bastian or his disenchanted former Priest Exalted Gabe, her magic, or even her sense of self. As the Nightshade Crown trilogy draws to a close, its scope expands beyond Lore but ultimately remains focused on her journey. The increased presence of secondary characters, particularly Bastian’s half sister Alienor, makes this finale truly feel like an extension of the previous installments rather than simply a rehashed version of similar plot points. As the world expands, so too does the representation, with characters of different sexualities and gender identities incorporated with little fanfare, as their presence does not require remark. Lore’s moral journey is particularly compelling; alongside her self-sacrifice, she makes bad choices and, often enough, suffers the consequences. Infusing the wonder of myths and magic with the desperation of a fight for survival and earth-shattering doom, this conclusion lives up to the trilogy as a whole.

Dark and intense, but not without bursts of light.