Fabulous and riveting conclusion to the series, I really enjoyed reading this adventure and learning more about the Mayans. Really looking forward to more from Jeff Wheeler in this genre.

Final Strike is book three in thee Dresden Codax series by Jeffrey Wheeler, and I have to say, the these books keep getting better in this Reviewer's opinion. The action is practically non-stop, and the vibrant descriptions used is enough to make the readers feel as if they are participating in the story instead of observing from the sidelines. Mr. Wheeler shows he cares about the story and his readers by keeping the history in the book as accurate as possible, thus making the book more enjoyable. Whether or not there is going to be a fourth book in the series unknown to the readers right now,so all e can do is wait as patiently as possible.

According to Jeff Wheeler, the Jaguar priests headed by the evil Jacob Calakmul are preparing a Final Strike (paper from 47North) to seek revenge on the Europeans who, under the leadership of Cortez, destroyed the Mayan civilization. The plan to kidnap world leaders, including the President, and cut out their hearts. Opposing them are the Roth family, who have now gotten help from some US agencies. But their daughter, Suki, is their real hope and she’s been kidnapped herself. Putting powerful magic in the real world requires that the reader suspend belief. In this third book of the trilogy, I had a little trouble getting over that. However it is fun and has a nice conclusion.

Final Strike was an great conclusion to this trilogy! Hopefully the author decides to write more books in this series.

With Final Strike, Jeff Wheeler brings an end his absolutely fantastic Dresden Codex series. (At least for now, I’d love to see him return to it at some point.) Things are looking bad, not just for the Roth family, but for the entire world. Sure Jonathon Roth and his sons are still on the run, attempting evade capture, and his daughter and wife are still hostages, but the plague Jacob Calakmul has unleashed on the world is spreading, his jaguar priests are getting in position to kidnap world leaders for sacrifice, and his ‘soldiers’ are massing to attack the border. The entire series has been great, but this finale is spectacular. It’s got fast paced action and a wonderful story, with Suki coming into her own as she masters her new abilities, and I love all the South American lore. In fact I think it’s the lore that has made me love this series so much. It’s just not subject matter that I’ve seen get explored all that often, so it feels especially fresh. And I love that Wheeler did so much research, went to so many real locations and was able to include so many interesting details that made everything feel real. Also reading his end note I can’t wait to read his next project. I’d like to thank 47 North and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Final Strike.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2AZMITD3AGO11/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I would this was a satisfying conclusion but I do not want it to end. There was constant action and continued surprises. I feel like there are more stories to tell with these characters or at least the kids.

Matters come to a satisfying conclusion in the apocalyptic “Final Strike,” the third and final book in The Dresden Codex by Jeff Wheeler, though not every thread is neatly sewn up.
This thriller is set in a version of the real world, which means not everything concludes in a happily-ever-after fashion. And if the setting feels familiar – with everything from cell phones and a pandemic to Uber rides and lukewarm hotel food -- “Final Strike” is filled with ancient Maya magic that adds a layer of intrigue to the tale.
It’s not only humans, good and evil, who are striving to prevail. Maya gods take sides via the humans who serve them, and that adds tension to the story. And some surprises.
I was given an early copy of the book to review. I also got to listen to the accompanying audio book, which was great, because narrator Kate Rudd, in addition to bringing characters to life, helped me understand how the Maya words sprinkled throughout the book are pronounced.
The action ping-pongs from Washington, D.C., to Florida to the hidden Jaguar Temple in the Yucatan jungle. It’s there that Jacob Calakmul, head of the Jaguar priests, watches the pandemic he unleashed as it begins to spread, and plots to kidnap word leaders as part of his bid to take over of the world and fulfill an ancient prophecy.
In the meantime, Jonathan Roth and his family, including daughter Suki, are doing their best to try to thwart those plans, though Roth, now in D.C., is plagued by anxiety caused by all that he and his family have experienced. He also suffers from the guilt of endangering his family while he tries to outwit Calakmul.
The pace of the book is mostly nonstop, though times where Roth is explaining to yet another government official the history and magic of the Maya sometimes bogs down the action. On the other hand, it gives readers a deeper understanding of the Maya deities (which can be a little confusing), and it lets readers catch their breath.
We also see some characters from the previous books reappear at key points. And betrayals occur on both sides, leaving uncertainty over who can be trusted. Who lives and who dies is never a given, thanks to the magic that flows through “Final Strike.” It’s nice to be kept guessing. Wheeler also sprinkles enough humor throughout the book to add some fun to an otherwise tense outing.
And for longtime Wheeler fans, the same way Wheeler made me want to eat apples in the “Muirwood” books, he makes my mouth water for the chocolaty xocolatl. The actual drink is described on the internet as a foamy concoction that’s both spicy and bitter – probably not the sweet drink I envisioned – or imbued with any magic.
All that to say, I enjoyed this last book of the series, and I think that readers of the first two books of the series will be glad they stayed through to the end.

A great conclusion to this suspenseful trilogy. Like The Jaguar Prophecy, this one started off with a bang and just kept going. There were so many interesting facets to the magic and intrigue. I loved how he pulled in real places and mythologies to the story, but also in this one we get to see some key DC landmarks. Well done!

Final Strike was an amazing conclusion to this thriller trilogy. The suspense and stakes were raised, as well as an increase in the magic system which was enchanting. I loved seeing Suki's perspective more and the depth it brought to the story.
You know the author is writing a good character when you actually start to feel for the villain a little bit. That's how I felt in this third book, which made me so frustrated but also happy because it just meant that the writing was so well done.
I feel like I can't say much for fear of spoiling things, so I'll just say that this book was epic. The real world setting combined with the Mayan magic was beautifully done, and the stakes were fantastically written so that I was turning each page, unable to stop until I finished the book in the wee hours of the morning.
Well done. Fabulous conclusion to the series.

The final book arrives with a bang and takes us on a whorl wind of a ride that will hopefully leave you as satisfied as I am! Suki and Jonathon each have their own trials to face, battles to be won as they desperately try to reunite their family. It's exciting, action pact, and will have you on the edge of your seat! A little magical, a lot of emotion, and characters that continue to grow and surprise you. I have really enjoyed this story and am sad to see it come to an end, but what an end!

A great finish to the series! I have to agree with another reviewer, I think this is the best one yet. When I originally picked up this series, I did it because I was intrigued by the Mayan influence in the story. I spend part of the year in the Yucatán (I have a house in Progreso), so it’s been really nice to see references to a lot of places I know really well. And some I still have yet to visit. Honestly, the story kind of makes me think of it as the Mayan version of the Left Behind series, which I’m also a huge fan of. There’s still so much of past Mayan culture that we don’t know about. So while I know there were some liberties taken with the history of it and how it is destined to play out, I found it fascinating. The story all in all was very well-done and kept me hooked from the get go.

Huge thanks to 47North and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

I really enjoyed the first book but for whatever reason, I was less engaged in the other books, it might be mood honestly,

4.5 Stars ⭐️

I was excited to finally get to the conclusion of this storyline. I am a huge fan of Mr. Wheeler and he definitely doesn't disappoint with this latest addition. This book takes us to the final conflict with Jacob Calakmul and his crazy band of Jaguar Priests as they attempt to destroy the world as we know it.

I listened to this on audio and Kate Rudd narrates this book as she does with most of Mr. Wheeler's books. I've gotten somewhat used to her narration style and for the most part felt like she did a fairly good job.

The pacing was crisp and quick and the action was non stop. Without going into spoilers, the storyline picks up immediately from where it left off in the last book. Once the story takes off, it really doesn't stop until the very end. I wasn't really sure how he was going to tie up the storyline but I was definitely along for the ride. This book has the entire Roth family involved in one way or another and the interesting thing is that Mr. Wheeler leaves open the possibility of more in this world.

As usual, I enjoyed this book and amazingly, it was over before I knew it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

Final Strike is the last book in The Dresden Codex trilogy.

Roth and his sons are safe for now in DC but Suki has been kidnapped by Calakmul. But Suki's powers seem to be growing even more but will it be enough to defeat Calakmul and the Jaguar Priests...

This was a good end to the series, however, it seems like there's more left to the story. The characters were travelling all over the country and there was a lot going on, so it did get to be a bit much at times but it did get better later on.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me a chance to read this book ahead of the release.

I’ve been looking forward to this book after reading the first two. I really enjoy all the Maya and Aztec mythology and how it connects to other culture’s histories. I think the author does a great job of shifting the vibe/vocabulary of each chapter depending on whose point of view that chapter has. Of the the three books in the trilogy, I’d say this one is my favorite. If you enjoyed the other two books then you’ll definitely enjoy Final Strike.

Great finish to the series. I enjoyed the fast paced nature of the book, and the story had a good amount of twists and turns to keep you interested. Short, easy read. Definitely will recommend the series to people.

The ending to the trilogy.. it was good. Not great. Not bad, but good. It was entertaining but got a little confusing/convoluted at times. I think I also was just having a little hard time following certain situations because it was jumping around so much. All in all a good book and good conclusion to the series.

Thanks to Jeff Wheeler, 47North, and NetGalley for providing me and advanced reading copy.

Jeff Wheeler has created a masterful conclusion to the Dresden Codex series. An American family caught up in an ancient magical prophecy of international world domination. The plot twist and suspense are palatable as the Roth family navigates the clandestine intrigues of the Jaguar Priest's global infiltration of world powers. Some choices seem a little naive to a seasoned reader of political intrigue. Still, the choices hold to the character and story arc of the average person. The Final Strike is a compelling, action-packed thriller that bridges the modern political landscape with the ancient world of Mesoamerica.

Many of the characters have been introduced in the prior books of this trilogy – book #1, "Doomsday Match," and book #2, "The Jaguar Prophecies." Nevertheless, the characters' continued development and the pivotal players' introduction add even more depth to the plot's interpersonal dynamics.

The only one who seems to become less dimensional and revenge-oriented is Jacob Calakmul. If this loss of character dynamic is not addressed, it may lead to unraveling the order of the Jaguar Priests.

Can the Roth family navigate these treasonous waters, or will their scattered family be torn apart one by one by the murderous plans of the Jacon Calakmul?

This was a great read. My daughter and I have read the first two books. As of this review, I have now read all three. When I obtained my copy, I read it before my daughter knew I had it. Now I have the upper hand and get to watch her read it—no spoilers for her.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jeff Wheeler, and 47North for an early prerelease e-book copy. This is a voluntary review of my thoughts.

Review: The finale was a bit more palatable than the first two but not by much. Zuchinni, Brillo and Co. are as speshul and gifted as usual and of course foil Jaguar Beast man and his many evil henchies.

This is still littered with plot devices, continuity errors and stilted scenes. This might have been crafted in a believable vein, yet there seemed to be a rush to conclude and get through the story. Intereactions are so brief that the characters become shades supporting Team Genius.

The firt two novels were so bad that they were fun to read. This one, not so much. You will get bored real quick as each scene iteration is a reflection upon itself.

Rating: 1.8/5

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

I really wasn't sure how I felt when this series came out as it is so different from Jeff Wheeler's usual but I should have know I would not be disappointed!!! Loved every minute of it. So well written and wonderfully complex. I'd be ok with there being more to this series in the future!