The third gripping instalment in a dystopian thriller series where modern-day recruits compete in a fight to the death with ancient weapons in the streets of Edinburgh.Wow! What a book! I couldn't read it fast enough. The tension and pace were absolute magic! Brilliantly unsettling, with characters so deftly woven that you never quite know who – if anyone – you can trust. Another riveting and powerful thriller from this talented author.

The third book in The Pantheon series and we are back with a bang! Barrington very kindly gives us a ‘what happened previously’ to bring you up to speed. And I mean a LOT has happened but in a nutshell - Punnr and Brante surrendered to the Titans at the end of the last book to save their own skins and so that Punnr can continue to try to find his sister who had previously betrayed her own comrades.
We get a little flashback to his sister and then we are back in the twentieth year and Punnr and Brante fighting for their lives.

‘Kill the King.’…..’

Oh the absolute joy of being back in the pantheon! Honestly this is such a great series, with a fabulous blend of fantasy and reality in a world just brilliantly constructed.
Each time I read one of these I get totally subsumed into the world, I feel like I know these people and root for them, I’ve said it before, they would make great films!

This book is more complex than the previous two, we meet all seven Palatinates, characters have moved on, changed identities and we also learn more of their civvy identities and names. I wasn’t sure at first, I really liked the set up of the first books but there are changes and it really ups the ante and I loved it! It’s a lot to take in, the story moves apace and you are totally absorbed into the story. There is fighting as before but it all feels more considered, Tyler is searching for his sister still, his friendship with Forbes developing. Lana is battling her own personal demons, especially Skarde and we also follow young Oliver at the training school.

And then there’s the fact that the battle has widened to involve the other palatinates and the Titans hatch a plan to destroy The Horde and so amalgamate the two palatinates. Then they can fight higher up the order and perhaps face The Legion itself? Told you it was complex!

This book does not disappoint, full of action, and with a simply fabulous ending I Cannot WAIT for the next book, I am simply rubbing my hands with glee for this!

All the stars ✨

Please note, The Hastening Storm is the third book in an on-going series. If you haven’t read what has come before, The Wolf Mile and The Blood Isles, then the book-related waffle that follows will contain something akin to minor spoilery-type stuff.

Live by the rules. Die by the rules. Or break them and take your chances in the chaos that follows…

The Pantheon Games are the biggest underground event in the world, with millions watching online as modern-day recruits battle to the death with weapons of the ancient world. Tyler Maitland left his life behind to search for his sister, who disappeared after joining the Pantheon’s Edinburgh chapter. But one year on, he’s still no closer to finding her…

After the shocking climax of the Grand Battle, Tyler must now find a way to forge a new brotherhood amongst his enemies. There will be new identities, new teammates, a new cause… but the same blood will flow on the streets while those at the top enjoy the show and count the money rolling in.

This season will be like no other. Tyler must accept a new mission, one that hasn’t been attempted in twenty years of the Pantheon. His life, and the search for his sister, depends on it.

A reader’s life can often be a tricky one. When you find an author whose work you really connect with, there is always going to be that unenviable moment where you have to wait for their next book to be released. When it comes to C F Barrington, I was lucky with The Wolf Mile and The Blood Isles. I discovered the Pantheon series just before book two was published so the wait was minimal. Then the fates turned against me; I had to wait many months for The Hastening Storm. Finally, it has arrived and the excitement in the air is palpable!

Tyler has changed immeasurably from the man we first met in The Wolf Mile. Life in the Pantheon has reshaped him. I love how he has evolved when presented with each new challenge he needs to overcome. Tyler has become the quintessential Pantheon warrior, forged in steel and blood. The fallout from the end of The Blood Isles has shifted Tyler’s role in a fundamental way. Half the fun of this novel is exploring how he deals with this huge change.

Barrington also spends time exploring the inner workings of the vast organisation that manages every detail of the Pantheon Games. Tyler’s teenage neighbour, Oliver, finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that lies very close to home.

Calder’s story also moves forward. Her experiences are the emotional heart of the novel. Forced to experience some of the most traumatic events in the entire narrative, Calder’s grim determination and steadfast refusal to give up continue to be the most riveting aspects of each new novel.

The Hastening Storm does exactly what I had hoped it would. We are finally starting to learn more and more about the other members of the Pantheon. Don’t get me wrong I love Edinburgh, it remains one of my favourite cities, but I need to know what goes on elsewhere in the world. There are five other groups that had, up until now, only been mentioned in passing. I’m not going to give anything about this away though. Even for me, that would be one spoiler too many. Suffice to say, the other Pantheon members that are introduced play a pivotal role in the wider story. Gods and kings truly are a law unto themselves.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but as an aside, I have to admit a particular fondness for the berserkers that make up part of The Horde. I think it’s probably down to the barely contained emotions, unkempt beards and multiple tattoos. You can ask anyone, this is very much my style.

Ultimately though, this book is all about ramping up the action. Making the world of the Pantheon bigger, better and more all-encompassing. It succeeds on every level. Events gather pace with each new paragraph and the final chapters are just as chaotic as I could have hoped for. The author has a keen eye when it comes to capturing the frenetic mayhem of the battlefield. The perspective shifts frequently from character to character making things all the more exciting. I’m not embarrassed to admit the climax of events left me completely dumbstruck. I loved every single second. The Pantheon series continues to go from strength to strength. Long may it continue.

The Hastening Storm is published by Head of Zeus and is available from 1st September. If you have read the previous novels in the Pantheon series then I can guarantee this latest instalment is going to make your chin hit the floor*.

My musical recommendation to accompany The Hastening Storm had to be something suitably dramatic, something epic. I’ve chosen Call of Duty: Vanguard by Bear McCreary. Honestly, I’ve been at this book reviewing lark for a long time now and I’ve been recommending music with each review. This may be the best match I have ever come up with**. Trust me, read the book while listening to the album and the battles will feel that much more visceral and bloody.

*In a good way.

**I do not make such sweeping statements lightly. I work hard at this nonsense you know.

I requested this without completely researching the fact it is book 3 in a series set in Edinburgh that is something of a Hinger Games / Game of Thrones Mash up. It quickly became apparent I need to read the first 2 books so I have stopped reading this and bought both other books and have read most of book 1 which Is awesome.

On that basis and while I can’t give a full review of book 3, if it’s anything like the first I’m in for a barnstorming and epic adventure.

I didn't realise this was a series, totally my fault I didn't read it properly. Therefore I am going to read the first two and then reread the third as I think I would have more understanding. of the story. However what I did read I really enjoyed.