This third and final book of the Ink & Sigil series provides a delightful resolution to multiple plot points. Along the way the reader gets to enjoy the puns, geek humor, shenanigans, and a few sausages that anyone familiar with Hearne’s modern urban fantasy world have come to know.

It’s highly recommended that any reader not familiar with this trilogy first read book one (Ink & Sigil) followed immediately by book two (Paper & Blood) before proceeding to this volume, the satisfying conclusion. This will allow one to better savor the depths and delights in this volume. If the reader is also familiar with the Iron Druid series, this is set in the same world and there is character and plot line overlap.

A wonderful read that has me raising a glass to toast the best of sunsets. I hope there will be more stories set in this rich world.

Al MacBharrais is cursed, actually doubly cursed. Anyone who hears him speak for an unknown measure of time will start hating him for know reason at all, so Al uses a text to talk application for most interactions. The second curse involves his apprentices, all have died, the seventh one choking on a raisin scone. So Al and Buck Foi, a hobgoblin contracted to work with Al, are on a quest. But they also need to deal with the Morrigan, an Irish death goddess, who has come back from the dead last book and decided to change her profession. Then there is Nadia, a battle seer and co-worker at Al's print shop. She and Buck are in the process of bring the deity Lhurnog into being which could have big consequences. So Al has his hands full! It is interesting how Kevin Hearne is working on bringing all the Iron Druid characters into a more peaceful state. This volume provides a good closure to this series, but I wonder if he will every decide to continue writing more tales set in this universe with other characters. I hope so!

Thanks Netgalley and Del Rey for the chance to read this title!

NYT bestselling author Kevin Hearne brings readers back to the world of his Iron Druid Chronicles, this time dragging elderly Scotsman Al MacBharrais all over the world in pursuit of answers. As one of five sigil agents for the First of the Fae here on Earth, Al’s job is to keep the Fae from terrorizing humanity. Somewhere along the way, he received double curses - one that killed all seven of his apprentices, and a second that estranged him from everyone he loves. We get to see that second curse in action this time, and it’s amazing that Al has lived this long being cursed. Al is determined to end the curses or die trying, and it’s a lovely game of chasing wild geese amid epic sigil agent duties.

Candle & Crow opens with an important note about a tie-in novella, a pronunciation guide, and most importantly, confirmation from the author that this is the “conclusion to the Ink & Sigil series.” The author’s website also confirms that it is “the final novel of both the Ink & Sigil series and the Iron Druid universe!” My heart may have cried a little at that, but there are so many books, novellas, and short stories already written, I’ll have plenty to reread when I miss The Iron Druid.


There were several hooks throughout the first two books of the Ink & Sigil Series that kept readers wanting more, and Hearne doesn’t leave us hanging. We find out for certain who Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite really is and why she’s in Glasgow. We find out who cursed Al, and why. We get more delightful stories about days gone by, and some lovely goodbyes to beloved characters we will all miss. It’s the kind of conclusion that delights as much as it wraps things up.

Candle & Crow is loaded with many familiar faces from The Iron Druid Chronicles, which is a lovely treat. It’s also sprinkled with references to television, movies, bands, and ]books. I’ve added all the books I haven’t read yet to my “To Be Read” pile based on those mentions. There’s a lot to love about this book, though it’s not as funny as the previous books, with the descriptions being more "paint a picture" than "amuse readers.” That doesn’t mean it’s not still filled with wonderful descriptions or memorable quotes. It’s just a more serious book. There are still plenty of lovely flourishes; I was constantly in awe of Hearne’s wordsmithing throughout the book.


My favorite quote, however small and overlooked as it may be to others, was "Calling someone by a name they no longer use is simply rude and disrespectful.” Having a transgender daughter, this one statement meant a lot to me. In the book, there was a request made to a librarian for “Sumhin epistolary and very sweetly gay,” to which Hearne offers one of the many book suggestions, This Is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. These little nods to a fully inclusive world (however fictional) warmed my heart.


Candle & Crow was a bit chaotic in the middle, but the ending was absolutely brilliant and worth the wait. Candle & Crow is slated for publication October 1, 2024, and I can’t wait to listen to narrator Luke Daniels bring another Hearne book to life.

Candle & Crow by Kevin Hearne a great continuation of the series. Hearne delivers again with his stories, puns and sometimes not so camouflaged rude remarks. I always look forward to his next book.

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Another fine book by Kevin Hearne! This third book in the series does not disappoint. We follow the further adventures of Al, Buck, Nadia and Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite. As usual, Al is fulfilling his duties as a Sigil, which is always interesting and hoping to discover who has cursed him. This book is full of adventure and is so funny! I have greatly enjoyed this series and am waiting to see what Kevin Hearne will do next. Whatever it is, I know I’ll enjoy it! Happy reading!

Calling all fans of urban fantasy with a side of laugh-out-loud humor! Kevin Hearne's Candle & Crow, the final installment in the Ink & Sigil series, is a perfect send-off that will leave you both satisfied and wanting more.

We rejoin our favorite grumpy wizard, Al MacBharrais, as he tackles not only epic threats like dismantling a human trafficking ring and battling a disgruntled Ares, but also the age-old curses plaguing him for years. Buckle up, because the ride is equal parts thrilling and hilarious.

Hearne's signature wit is on full display. From a suitcase overflowing with raw chicken to a murderous mushroom sigil (yes, you read that right), the book is brimming with moments that had me snorting with laughter. But beneath the wackiness lies a heartwarming core. We see genuine growth in characters like Buck, the endearing hobgoblin sidekick, and Nadia, the goth queen turned unlikely cult leader (with a serious fondness for cheese and whiskey).

This found family dynamic is a major highlight. Al, Buck, and Nadia are the kind of characters you root for, the ones who have your back through thick and thin, even if "thin" involves facing down a disgruntled god.

While it's recommended to have read the previous books for maximum impact, Candle & Crow works as a satisfying conclusion regardless. Hearne masterfully ties up loose ends while leaving you with a sense of hope and closure. A tinge of sadness might creep in knowing this is the finale, but it's a feeling quickly overshadowed by the sheer enjoyment of the story.

So, if you're looking for a fantasy adventure that's both funny and heartwarming, Candle & Crow is a must-read. Prepare to be entertained, to cheer for the good guys (and the slightly-less-good hobgoblins), and to revel in the power of found family. Just don't pack any raw chicken in your suitcase for your next vacation – you might give Al the wrong idea.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Ray for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Hearne has done it again! A fun fantasy beach read that I am already hoping gets some kind of spin off. For fans of the Iron Druid and other series such as the Dresden series and the Alex Versus series by Jacka.
Take this with you on vacation or sitting by the pool!

Ink & Sigil book 3 and it's a bittersweet end. I want more from the series but I think this was the perfect end to the series. I loved the incorporation of the all characters from the pervious 2 books as a farewell.
Plus, who doesn't love woman being badass!!!

This is definitely my favorite book of the series, it is a shame that it is the end. Some of it was a bit predicable, but I loved that he found the reason for his curse and it wasn't really that big of an issue. I liked the past storytelling as well, like his memory of the killing the vampires.

A smashing conclusion to Kevin Hearne's trilogy, starring Aloysius "Al" MacBharrais, Buck, Nadia, and Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite. The author winds it up with most plot threads closed, off, or resolved, featuring the main characters worn out by the world in which he's set them. I love the book's overall tone of sunny disposition and cheer, best displayed in the subplot of Buck, which borders on therapeutic.

For those of us who have been around since the start, many characters' backstories, particularly Buck Foi, are explored more. The Scottish dialect and humor contribute to engaging the reader and making this a fun read. The humor is biting and sometimes absurd, making digressions in the plot, but they are organic to the series' tone. Reading the first two books is highly recommended, given how the narrative progresses—special thanks to Random House Publishing-Ballantine and NetGalley for the eArc.

I liked the first book in this series very much. I didn't like the second, and I very much don't like this final one. Too wordy, too plotless, too cutesy. I couldn't manage to read very far because it is so dull and, at the same time, full of silly stuff. What happened between Book 1 and Book 3? I don't know but really, Book 1 was great.

After I had finished the Iron Druid chronicles [which would recommend] was delighted to get the first Ink book to review on net galley & found it a delightful ribald romp of characters, old IDC, assorted Deities & creatures & new sigil workers that kept you on your toes. Was shocked & honored to get email to read & review this last book. IDC main char Atticus had many flaws but books were entertaining. This is just as fast paced verbally & amusing as the first Ink book &Al [iester MacBharrais fn]'s interaction & verbiage with the London office toff Percy had me in hysterics of treaty rights & the Blue men of Inish. He has to deal with the Blue men as he is supposed to uphold treaties between sups [ernaturerals]s & human UK gov & the sups are in their right destroying a yacht & everyone rich person & crew drowned not so much as they were British but because they weren't in original treaty.] Will he make it through unscathed? An elderly male sigel writer, Al is the main character who has been cursed since before the series where he can't talk or kill whoever he's talking to with however much varied interaction. He also has stopped taking apprentices as they all die horrible deaths. Will this tale be the one where he finds someone that can actually remove the curse? Will he make it through unscathed? My first venture into Kevins books I was vastly impressed with his knowledge of Deities. In this he makes a casual name of the Morrigan that could have started the silliness that is going around. While many worship both the Nordic Gods as well as Celt due to upbringing & heritage. Morrigan & Valkyries are very different. One major point is one is a Deity the other Demis in some cases others recruited for valour serving a Deity. They both are called choosers of the slain as they both do it & can help decide outcomes in wars but Morrigan does take the dead anywhere. Now she is another body of an unfortunate that was killed by a monster in the first book & thinking of staying in it for a while. I once again reiterate as with the review of the first Iron Druid book authors write fictional stories for entertainment & in their books portray Deities in the manner they wish to fit into the narrative which I can be shocked of sometimes but agree it is fair game for them. Morrigan very much knew love imo & was the wife of Dagda. Anyway, this final book ties together not just the ink series well but also added info on characters of the Iron Druid & if you have a sense of humour & want something to dive into to take your mind off of more heavy things this is perfect.

Ever since a friend of mine turned me on to the Iron Druid series, I have been a big fan of Kevin Hearne’s books. His immersion into the character and mindset of not only the narrator, but also those he interacts with, is very easy to slip into and enjoy. Having followed Al’s trials from the start, this volume wrapped up most everything quite nicely, though, there are a few threads that could be pulled to continue the story along, it is setup to allow other characters to take the lead were there to be a continuation. The foreshadowing, while being nearly in your face, still builds the anticipation for how these elements play out keeps you engaged. The resolutions to the issues encountered in this volume as well as those that were raised from the beginning of the series have a solid finality to them that should leave most readers quite satisfied. I’ve truly enjoyed following the adventures and exploits of Aloysius MacBharrais, and hope to see further developments with the characters that have been encountered and built up in this trilogy.

This was an excellent installment of the Ink and Sigil series. Al is surrounding himself with some seriously badass women. I loved the character development in this book , especially Nadia's devotion to Lhurnog and the formation of her growing religion. I appreciated the antics of the hobgoblins though I thought it distracted from the plot a little bit. The ending was heartwarming and felt like closing one door and opening another. Will there be a spinoff for Nadia and Lhurnog, or even Red Roxanne?

Once again Kevin Hearne has used his talents to create a wonderful conclusion for two of his series. In this volume we find the Iron Druid and his dogs settled and happy in Tasmania with his girlfriend Rose. Al finally finds out who laid the curses on his head and hopefully how to remove them. Nadia continues defining Lurnaug ,her deity of cheese and Whisky and killer of violent men. And Buck sobers up and become a respectable Hob with his own clan. There are lots of thrilling heist, adventures , near death experiences and fun involved in the telling. There is of course mild profanity and discussions of inappropriate things, but its all part of the fun. This is a very enjoyable read! Laugh out loud funny and poignant and sweet in moments, a very fitting conclusion to the series. Kinda sad that this is the end, but I'm sure future writings will be just as thrilling on new topics.

This eARC was given to me by Netgalley.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

As a big fan of the Iron Druid series, I like this offshoot about Al, our Sigil Agent in the same world setting. This is the third book in this line of story, and pretty much continues a very short period after the last one. Some of the problems from earlier books are still lingering (the curse) and a few new ones come up - nothing that this Agent cannot handle though!

This newer series has been a fun read for me. As a fan of this world build Hearne has done for the Iron Druid, the style of magic and it's use, that this blend of specially prepared inks and uses of sigils, brings out yet another aspect that co-exists with an existing world magic. Great read, fulfilling storyline.

Disappointingly, this third volume in the Ink & Sigil series is the last one. Much better than then the second volume Paper & Blood, although that isn't saying much, but still not as good as the initial volume, Ink & Sigil. Set in the same world as the authors popular Iron Druid series, we have minimal crossover this time, unlike in Paper & Blood. The subplot of the Morrigan becoming more human and her foray into dating was unwelcome and somewhat boring. As was Al's hobgoblin Buck Foi's attempts to establish his own identity. My biggest frustration with this trilogy was that it didn't focus enough on it's central character Al enough. The author created a unique and fascinating new style of "magic" but never really leaned into it, instead constantly going off on tangents with other characters. We do finally solve the mystery of Al's curses and his future, so there's that. But ultimately it seems like there was so much missed opportunity with the story of the Sigil Agents and their adventures. Here's hoping the author revisits them at some point down the road.

Aloysius “Al” MacBharrais is a Sigil Agent. Only five such people in the world exist and it is their ability to create sigils from special ink that makes them special. These sigils work like magic spells and can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes and even for more mundane reasons. Al is tasked with maintaining order among all the gods in his vast territory, from all the pantheons, that live amongst us in our world. But many years ago, somebody cast two separate curses on him: one that killed off each of his apprentices and a second that makes anybody who loves him leave if they hear him speak.

This is the third and final novel in a trilogy and takes place in the same universe as the author’s Iron Druid Chronicles (although it’s important to note that it is not necessary to have read those books in order to enjoy this series). The above-mentioned curses have plagued Al since the very first book but resolving those issues has always taken a backseat to other requirements of his job. Now, in this final book, he still has plenty of job-related tasks to perform but his curses finally get their due diligence. I was pleased to see that we get to learn more about the backgrounds of other major characters, particularly his hobgoblin sidekick, Buck Foi. Atticus O'Sullivan, the Iron Druid himself, does make a cameo appearance in this one (just as he does in the first two books) , along with his loyal dog companion Oberon.

This book does have a fair bit of dialog that reflects unique Scottish terminology and accents (specifically Glaswegian, or “Weegie"). When I read that in the author’s note at the beginning of the book along with a pronunciation guide, I was plenty worried. That sort of thing often yanks me out of any kind of immersive storytelling experience. But here, it didn’t bother me at all. In fact, I think it helped me see and hear these people better.

There is also quite a bit of humor in the novel. Most of it is witty and clever but it does occasionally dip into the silly. Sometimes it was just too much and seemed to become the focus at the expense of the plot. But those that have read the first two novels will already expect this.

Speaking of that, I do highly recommend reading the first two books before this one. Many trilogy finales provide summaries of prior happenings but this one jumps right in and I worry newbies will be lost.

I love much of this author's work, and I quite enjoyed how he chose to end this series. I can relate to the main character being within a decade of retirement age myself. There are some writing choices that I do not understand, for example, what are the "interludes" supposed to accomplish? I would prefer if these sections were just part of the chapters. I will probably read this again to enjoy seeing these characters again, however. Their "endings" are mostly happy and the bad guys are dealt with. So mostly HAE.