"From the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles comes the final book in the "action-packed, enchantingly fun" (Booklist) Ink and Sigil series, as an ink-slinging wizard pursues the answer to a very personal mystery: Who cast a pair of curses on his head?

Al MacBharrais has a most unusual job: He's a practitioner of ink-and-sigil magic, tasked with keeping order among the gods and monsters that dwell hidden in the human world. But there's one supernatural mystery he's never been able to solve: Years ago, someone cast twin curses on him that killed off his apprentices and drove away loved ones who heard him speak, leaving him bereft and isolated.

But he's not quite alone: As Al works to solve this mystery, his friends draw him into their own eccentric dramas. Buck Foi the hobgoblin has been pondering his own legacy - and has a plan for a daring shenanigan that will make him the most celebrated hobgoblin of all. Nadia, goth queen and battle seer, is creating her own cult around a god who loves whisky and cheese.

And the Morrigan, a former Irish death goddess, has decided she wants not only to live as an ordinary woman but also to face the most perilous challenge of the mortal world: online dating.

Meanwhile, Al crosses paths with old friends and new - including some beloved Druids and their very good dogs - in his globe-trotting quest to solve the mystery of his curses. But he's pulled in so many different directions by his colleagues, a suspicious detective, and the whims of destructive gods that Al begins to wonder: Will he ever find time to write his own happy ending?"

Dammit, I wish this was coming out in the before times because Kevin Hearne's book tour looks amazing. Seriously, I'd totally go if it wasn't for Covid.

Series Info/Source: This is the third (and final) book in the Ink & Sigil series. I got an eGalley of this to review from NetGalley.

Thoughts: I waffled between 3 and 4 stars for this one. I am happy the series is complete and liked how it wrapped up most of the bigger plot elements. However, the pacing was really inconsistent for this book, and I felt like some plot elements were introduced just to be quickly wrapped up.

Al MacBharrais is finally going to be able to hunt down the source of his curse. However, woven into this mystery are many other side plots. Buck Foi is trying to obtain his glory. Nadia is creating a cult. Pleasure yachts are going missing. Morrigan is trying to covert to life as an ordinary woman.

As you can tell from the synopsis, this is one heck of a scattered book. Some of these plot elements were introduced in previous books, but some are new to this book and really felt unnecessary. Everything was put together in a disjointed way that had us jumping from one plot to another. This made it feel like there was a checklist of plot elements that needed to be wrapped up rather than a cohesive story. The story was all over the place, which is a pity because I really loved the first book in this series.

I do enjoy the quirky characters in this series and the cameos by Granuile and the Iron Druid (who has changed names again). There is some good humor in here and I enjoy that Al is an older protagonist. I also continue to enjoy Sigil magic, although I felt like that really took a backseat in this book. I do think everything was wrapped up in a satisfactory, if scattered, way.

My Summary (3.5/5): Overall I am glad I finished this series but somewhat disappointed in this final book. It felt like too many new plot lines were introduced, and then there were too many plot lines to follow to get everything wrapped up in this book. I continue to love the characters here. I have found Hearne's books (aside from the Iron Druid Chronicles) to be very hit and miss. I plan to keep an eye on future books he writes, but am unsure at this point if I will pick them up to read.

Excellent conclusion to the Ink & Sigil trilogy by Kevin Hearne. Perfect for people who want adventurous urban fantasy with heartwarming friendships and pretty minimal romance. There is probably too much conflict for this to be considered a 'cozy' read, but there's an element of warm-fuzzies/cozy feeling to the end of this trilogy. 

I never finished the Iron Druid series, although after finishing this trilogy, I would love to go back and read it (meaning that this trilogy can be read as a stand-alone series). I often have criticisms of how an author concludes a trilogy or a series- too many loose ends! too fast! too slow!----- but Ink & Sigil was well-thought out and well-written. Al, Buck, Nadia, and Gladys who has seen some Shite get the endings they deserve. I miiiiiiiiiiight have cried a happy tear or two for everyone's endings. 

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and Kevin Hearne for an e-arc of this book. Highly recommend this series! Candle & Crow is set to publish on Sept 30, 2024. Plenty of time to read books 1 and 2 if you haven't, but not so much time you have to wait forever for the series to be concluded!

Although I liked this third and final installment in this series, I was also disappointed in it. The first book in the series, Ink & Sigil, was such a great book, it seemed to me to be the start of a really great series, but unfortunately the rest of the series was just ok. This book does provide answers and does wrap up the story quite nicely, but there just didn’t seem to be any excitement or happiness in the telling.

I still quite enjoyed spending time with Al and his associates and friends. I was so glad that he was finally able to get to the bottom of his curse, although I still wonder why it took him so long. He does meet some interesting characters along the way to finding his answers, and gets himself into some trouble too, but it all works out in the end. The confrontation of the person who cursed him and how the curse is broken is great, but seemed rather rushed. I was very glad that Al was able to get the answers he needed and to get on with his life and be happy.

The other characters in this story also get their lives on track. I really liked Nadia’s storyline in this book and would have loved to see more of her, especially when it came to the new religion and god that she was creating. I kind of liked the Morrigan’s storyline, but again there were aspects that bugged me about her choices. Gladys also finally shows her true self and I found it quite amusing.

Buck, the hobgoblin, was better in this book, but I still had issues with him and with hobgoblins as a whole. The inclusion of him and his culture just seemed to bring the whole book down to a more juvenile level. Maybe I am just getting too old for this kind of humor, but I could have done with a lot less of it.

I follow this author on social media, and he has mentioned that this is the final book set in the Iron Druid world that he plans to write. That came through very much in this story. A lot of time is spent making sure that Al connects with almost all of the characters from the previous series in some way. Because of this some of the scenes and stories felt very much contrived and forced in order for those connections to be made. To be honest I just wanted to know more about Al’s curse and the other character’s stories from this series, rather than having cameos from the druids. That’s not to say that Al and his friends do not get an ending, they do, it just wasn’t as detailed as I hoped.

The writing and world building were well done, although this being the final book in the series there wasn’t much else to do with the world building. The magical inks were not talked about or used as much in this book, but I really enjoyed the sigil the involved murderous mushrooms. The pacing was pretty steady for the most part, but the middle of the book felt chaotic and rushed.

If you have read the first two books in the series and liked them, then this is a conclusion that you will find satisfying. If you enjoyed the Iron Druid books, then this is a series you might consider reading as it does include many of the characters and mythologies from that series. But if you have not read other books from this author, I would not recommend that you start with this one. If you are looking for a great urban fantasy, than definitely consider picking up the Iron Druid series.

I am not going to lie, I was a bit disappointed in this conclusion to the trilogy. It was well written and funny for sure. However, there was far too much happening to adequately wrap up for a final book. Parts just felt rushed and less satisfying. I had higher expectation. I will revisit this on audiobook soon to see if that changes my perceptions.

Candle & Crow is a satisfying end to Kevin Hearne’s Ink & Sigil series. It has the action and silly humor you expect from the series. It also has far more information about the side characters than I anticipated. You know when you finish a book, sit back, and relax with a contented sigh? This is one of those. The book wrapped up enough loose ends to make most readers happy, while still leaving a few things open in case Hearne wants to revisit it later. This is one you will want to buy, so you can reread it later. 5 stars.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC. #CandleCrow #NetGalley

Review to be published on GoodReads on 10/1/24.

I love this author so much. The perfect mix of mythology and humor.
I’m never ready for his series to end.

The final book in the Ink & Sigil trilogy wraps things up nicely. Al MacBharrais has been cursed with two different curses. One kills his apprentices and the other makes anyone who hears his voice too often hate him. He is determined to find out who cursed him and to break the curses.

Before Al can deal with his personal problems though, he has to deal with the Blue Men of the Minch who are sinking luxury yachts. According to their contract, they aren't in violation of any of the terms. Al learns that the yachts they sink are being used by traffickers among whom is a man who is a power behind the government and who also happens to be a warlock.

Al also has to deal with his hobgoblin Buck Foi who wants to start his own family and become the most celebrated hobgoblin of all time. And Al's accountant is starting her own cult around a god who loves whiskey and cheese and who eats violent men.

I really enjoyed this conclusion to the trilogy. I like the way it mixes all sorts of mythologies into an entertaining adventure. I liked that Al finally gets his happy ending.

Hearne's other work, the Iron Druid Chronicles, is some of the best urban fantasy out there! When he started the Ink & Sigil series I was equally excited...at first. The first novel in this new series was ok. It felt lacking to me, as did the sequel. It was just missing something that Hearne's other books had. But since this was a trilogy I decided to finish the series I started. This was by far the best in the trilogy and I am so happy I stuck around.
It does have its flaws (Hearne has had issues with final volumes in his various series. They tend to lack focus and provide satisfying conclusions). But overall, the novel overcomes those flaws and he serves a decent finale.

Nothing will ever stand up to his Iron Druid series and that's ok.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. This is the smashing conclusion of the Ink & Sigil series and Kevin Hearne has done it again! Same awesome characters, same fantastic writing, same distinctive humor, lots of action, and one immensely satisfying story. I am so sad that it’s the last in the series and can’t wait to read whatever Kevin Hearne writes next.

Candle and Crow wraps up a thee-book arc set in Hearne's urban fantasy world, which is populated by gods and witches and druids and many excellent dogs. It's a fine read on its own, as the narrative fills in most of the holes that might be left from the earlier entries in the series, although for full effect you will want to read all three in order. The characters are well-developed and the action is well-paced; overall, it's a fun ride.

Al MacBharrais is a Sigil Agent. He writes the treaties that keep visitors from other planes in line when they visit Earth. He has just returned to Scotland after a trip to Australia to assist the Iron Druid in a fight against an incursion. Al wants to retire. His wife is dead and he is lonely. But, he has two curses on his head, one keeps him from taking an apprentice, who will die as soon as they enter his service. The other requires him not to speak to anyone because they will come to hate him. He wants these curses lifted before he retires. He goes on a quest and discovers from the Sirens that the god of war, Ares, has allowed his two sons, Deimos and Phobus, to actually do the cursing, since Ares is forbidden to curse anyone. He is able to convince Zeus to lift the curse. A very good ending to an enjoyable trio of books.

I love this series! Great wrap up for both series. I'll miss these characters and their adventures. It's been a wild ride.

Sigil agent Al MacBharrais has A LOT going on. So much. The guy is cursed, dealing with gods and other supernatural beings who like to push the boundaries of what they're allowed to do, and the possibility of ever retiring is just a pipe dream thanks to that aforementioned curse. And yet he's making things work.

He has Buck and Nadia, the Morrigan and Gladys and they're managing to keep on top of things. Sort of. I mean, sure, Nadia is probably starting a cult and Gladys is something that scares the other gods into toeing the line and Buck is a hobgoblin with all the quirks and pranks that come along with hobgoblinry and the Morrigan has a tendency to eat the eyes of people who cross her, but they're managing.

And Al? He's figuring things out. One step at a time and all that. He's getting closer to figuring out who cursed him and that particular journey has him crossing paths with a seer who gives him answers to the vexing trafficking problem he's run across back home. Which, in turn, is tangled up with an unpleasant man from Manchester. Seriously, Al has A LOT going on.

That said, this was a very satisfying end point. Al gets answers. Buck gets direction. Nadia finds her happy place (almost literally). The Morrigan redefines herself in a rather unexpected way. And Gladys...well, Gladys is a lady even the gods don't want to cross and she's happy with that.

A little danger, good whisky, gods and monsters, some very good dogs, magic, curses, the power of belief, and one aging sigil agent who's ready to start the next phase of his life. GOOD TIMES!

Ink & Sigil #3
Al MacBharrais has a most unusual job: He’s a practitioner of ink-and-sigil magic, tasked with keeping order among the gods and monsters that dwell hidden in the human world. But there’s one supernatural mystery he’s never been able to solve: Years ago, someone cast twin curses on him that killed off his apprentices and drove away loved ones who heard him speak, leaving him bereft and isolated.

But he’s not quite alone: As Al works to solve this mystery, his friends draw him into their own eccentric dramas. Buck Foi the hobgoblin has been pondering his own legacy—and has a plan for a daring shenanigan that will make him the most celebrated hobgoblin of all. Nadia, goth queen and battle seer, is creating her own cult around a god who loves whisky and cheese.

And the Morrigan, a former Irish death goddess, has decided she wants not only to live as an ordinary woman but also to face the most perilous challenge of the mortal world: online dating.

Meanwhile, Al crosses paths with old friends and new—including some beloved Druids and their very good dogs—in his globe-trotting quest to solve the mystery of his curses. But he’s pulled in so many different directions by his colleagues, a suspicious detective, and the whims of destructive gods that Al begins to wonder: Will he ever find time to write his own happy ending?

There is so much going on in this book as Hearne ties up all the loose ends in the series. This is not a criticism. I enjoyed the cameos and found much of this to be really funny. Hearne's humor may not be for everyone, but it works for me.
Do not start with this book. Nothing will make sense.

Book three in this series. At the heart of the book are two curses. It takes solving several new problems to get to the solution to the curses. A fun read with a good feel as the story progresses.

As this is the final book of this series we get to see most of Al's friends and employees and previous characters we all wanted another look at. Great story and tie ups of existing overall arcs of this series. I will give a spoiler-Al has a happy ending, and it was wonderfully told. Maybe a novella in the future of any one of the main characters? Seriously fantastic ending of a nonstop action for Al and his employees. Thoroughly enjoyable, thank you for this world Mr Hearne and the many characters you brought to life. An honest opinion for an ARC, thank you to the publishers and NetGalley.

This was a nice conclusion to this series! Like always, I enjoyed the hijinks, and the planning of the hijinks, and I am very satisfied with the ending. Hearne's writing never fails to put a smile on my face, and the characters are all so unique and with so much depth. Overall, a read I definitely recommend.

Spoilers:
The mention of Leif at the end was nice, but it made me realize how much I missed him and the Shakespeare battles with the Iron Druid. I am glad at how the curse got resolved, especially Nadia's "creation," and how he helped out. Buck is hilarious, and also so sincere and heartwarming at times. He is an amazing character. I am happy to see the Morrigan happy, or on the road there, but her character was the one I cared about least in this book, maybe I had been getting nervous about spending so much time on her development that I was worried about the resolution of the curse.

I LOVE this series! I'm so sorry to see it end, but what an ending!! Hearne has pulled all the bits and pieces together seamlessly, and done it with his typical snark and aplomb. The character arcs all came to satisfying conclusions without ever feeling overly tidy or rushed. I feel like there is a spin-off series (or two) that could come from this, the way this came from the Iron Druid Chronicles, and am deeply hoping Hearne decides he's not *quite* ready to leave this universe yet!!

I feel like I should reread the entire series now that it is complete, as I'm certain there were fabulous bits of cleverness that I missed along the way - particularly since I devoured each new book as it came out, flying through the pages to get to the heart of things each time. If you don't know his work, you really should - he's a phenomenal storyteller and his characters are magnificently crafted, as are his worlds.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I've been a Kevin Hearne fan for a very long time now, and boy did he not disappoint with this series. This book wraps up a trilogy following Al MacBharrais, a Sigil agent/owner of a print show, and his companions as they work to undo the curse(s) that were placed upon him that prevent him from 1) speaking out loud to anyone for too long lest they develop an intense feeling of hatred towards him and 2) training an apprentice so he can finally retire.

Al, Nadia, and Buck Foi ramped the stakes up in book 3 even higher, and even team up with some more familiar faces from the Iron Druid books and honestly? This was such a satisfying ending to this trilogy I've been enjoying for the last few years. I had such a great time with this and, as always. I'll keep reading anything Kevin Hearne wants to write.