Set in Hearne's Iron Druid universe, "Candle & Crow" wraps up the enjoyable Ink & Sign trilogy with no obvious loose ends. The action is a little slow to get started - there are a whole lot of characters, backstories, and plot lines to get into place - but once Hearne knocks over the first domino, the tiles fall nonstop and the action never slows until the end.

I'm happy to see a series centered on a 60+ year old man who is still a bit of a gentleman badass (an action hero who doesn't go off half-cocked, imagine that), and the supporting cast of goddesses, goblins, demi-gods, and librarians offer something for everyone.

It's a fun read, with enough tension to keep the pages turning, but no Deep Thoughts or Chin Stroking to slow you down. We all need more of that.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S CANDLE & CROW ABOUT?
What isn't this about? Al has to address a potential treaty violation of a group against some British citizens, which leads to some treaty re-negotiations; Gladys wraps up business she started in the last book, prepares to leave her job, and sees some shite; the Morrigan tries to settle among humans in her new body; Al, Buck, and Nadia are targeted by the police; Al has to help out his American counterpart with a tricky problem; Al gets a line on who cursed him; and...a few other things that I can't figure out how to describe in a phrase or two.

Seriously, this book is busy. But somehow, it doesn't feel crammed or over-stuffed; everything gets as much time as it needs to be addressed; everything makes sense; you don't lose track of any plotlines; characters get to grow and develop (and be introduced!). And the last couple of chapters are so satisfying that I don't care that I can't finish this sentence properly.

A TRIO OF DRUIDS
Fittingly for what Hearne has stated will be the last book in the universe of the Iron Druid Chronicles (I'm waiting for him to change his mind. Maybe a foolish hope, but it's one nonetheless), we get to see all three of the Druids from that series for a little while—and none of them togther.

Working with his students has been good for Owen, Atticus—I mean, Connor—is in a good place (in several senses of that word), and Granuaile is...well, still Granuaile. I think I've mentioned she was getting on my nerves toward the end of IDC, and she's still there. But she's still essentially the same character—so if you weren't annoyed by her, you'll enjoy her appearance (I did, even with my attitude).

We got just enough time with them all to get a sense of where they are, what the future holds for them, and to see that they're doing well—the events of Scourged are far enough past that they've settled into the next stage of their lives. It's a good way to say goodbye to this world.

DEITIES
Since at least book 3 of the IDC we've had a good understanding of how gods, goddesses, and lesser deities function, live, and have power both now and throughout the ages. Hearne's had Atticus and Al explain it a time or two since then, so faitful readers will get it.

But in these pages, we are given two examples (or three, depending on how you want to count something) of how this functions toward entities that aren't part of the major pantheons (or minor ones, either—how would you describe Perun's?). They are two divergent types of entities and the application of what we know about deities in this world is quite different (while linked).

I think it's clear that I'm struggling to describe this without giving something away (if you haven't noticed, let me assure you that I am). However, for fans of this world and fans of just good worldbuilding—Hearne does a great job with this stuff, if I didn't know better*, I'd say that he started building toward this novel in Hammered.

* Okay, I don't know better, he might have had this as part of his Master Plan all along. But I'm willing to bet he didn't.

AL AND THE ENGLISH
Al has to deal with a representative of the British government a few times over the course of this book as a part of his sigil agent duties. I honestly don't know if I've been so purely entertained by Hearne (outside of an Oberon-heavy moment) as I was in reading Al's narration during these parts.

He really doesn't like this guy—and it's tough to say that Al gives him a real chance before deciding to write him off—but the reader can understand why. I think that Al gets close to mean in his attitude and actions toward this man, but I don't think he crosses the line. Then again, I was chuckling and highlighting so much in these interactions, I might have missed it.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT CANDLE & CROW?
I have said many good and complimentary things about the books in this series—and I stand by them—but this is what all of the Ink & Sigil books should've been like, at least at their core. We've seen a little of the Sigil Agent life, but there's been a lot of other things going on, and not that much of it has to do with the administration and enforcement of contracts. It was just so cool to focus on that as much as we got to here. Yes, the big action stuff, taking on whacky monsters and nasty people experimenting on supernatural creatures and whatnot is pretty cool, too. But we get that kind of thing in all sorts of UF—we don't get to see a lot of supernatural people wrangling with human governments over the wording of a hundred year old document* and the deadly ramifications of that wrangling not going well. It's a shame that Hearne embraced this aspect of Al's life so completely here at the end.

* Well, we get glimpses of that in The Rivers of London series, don't we? But it feels very different.

I enjoyed every bit of this book—and am not sure how to talk about it without just blathering on and on about how good everything was. The action—and despite what I may have suggested earlier, there was plenty of it—was gripping and moved well. The emotional arcs of the characters were done with Hearne's typical deftness (and maybe more than typical deftness). The humor was Hearne at his best. The magic at work was perfect, and...yeah. I just have nothing but compliments upon compliments here.

If you have any kind of emotional investment in Buck, Nadia, or Al going into this book, you will love the ending. It was a real treat, the last chapters just made me feel all warm inside.

I was so enthusiastic about this book that i think i might have convinced a friend to pick up the first IDC book just so he can catch up and appreciate all of this book—and another friend who'd read Hounded through Scourged to pick up this trilogy. And I'm more than ready to do that to anyone else reading this post.

I don't know what Hearne's next project will be, but I'm ready for it. In the meantime, I'm just going to bask in how wonderfully satisfying that Candle & Crow was.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Reyvia NetGalley—thanks to both for this.

It was a funny series though I deny that I might’ve shed a tear for the final chapter. All the plot points are neatly wrapped up and the trilogy as a whole is excellent. While I’d certainly enjoy more books in this world I’d happily read whatever he writes next!

I was so excited and honored to receive this arc! I have seen this book all over goodreads and it did not disappoint! Loved the plot and character development. Love how the author took modern dating and warped it with fantasy. Great overall

Al MacBharrais has been doubly cursed; first hearing his voice angered any who heard him speak and second, all his apprentices are killed off one way or another. In this third and final book in the series, Al must find who placed those curses and have the curses removed. At the same time, Al is juggling his responsibilities as a sigil agent; trying to keep the peace between the human world and the supernatural world, including gods from different pantheons; working with Morrigan, an Irish death goddess who has decided to start dating as a human; and what is Nadia doing starting up a cult?

It is nonstop activity with the hobgoblin Buck Foi and his family keeping Al on his toes, not to mention all the other characters in Al’s life. Somehow it all comes together and a happy ever after for Al.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free e-copy ARC of Candle & Crow. This is my honest review.

While juggling going after human traffickers, Buck making his Machiavellian plans, Nadia starting a new religion, and getting the Morrison settled into a mortal life, Al finally gets a lead on his curses that prevent him from speaking and kill all of his apprentices.

This one was probably my favorite of the entire trilogy. Humorous & heartwarming, this was a perfect ending to the series, although I would have happily read more of Al! I loved Al of Al’s quests, and his friendships from the ones he has with his fellow agents, to Buck, to Nadia, to Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite, to Roxanne! I adored them all .

There was a bit of a deus ex machina ending, but it was set up so well and it really made me laugh out. I immediately set out to buy the audio copy, because I know the narrator is going to have so much fun with this one.

While I am sad that there will be no more in this particular series, I have moved the Iron Druids series up on my TBR and I can’t wait to dive into Hearne’s backlog while I wait for whatever comes next.

Many thanks to both NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this arc!

I've always been a big fan of the Iron Druid books, but this spinoff is just as fun. I love the Scottish setting and characters and the new types of characters and magic in this series. I recommend these series to my huge fantasy readers in my high school library.

I can't say enough good about this series. I loved the tie ins to the iron druid chronicles, especially Oberon! This is definitely one of those series where you will want to read it from the beginning mostly becuase it is absolutely fantatic and had me rolling on the floor almost the entire time. I love Kevin Hearnes writing style and especially humour. You won't go wrong picking this up.

Candle & Crow is the third and final book in the Ink & Sigil series. I love this series so much. Each book in this series is fast-paced and action-packed. The story dives right into the action and the pace never stops. Also, I really enjoy Kevin Hearne's humorous writing style. Characters always make me laugh.They are funny and also cleverly written. At this point, I'm pretty sure I'll read everything Kevin Hearne writes. I highly recommend the Ink & Sigil series as much as the author's other works. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date.

There are many things I really enjoyed here. I am a character driven reader so the characters are so important for me. In this regard Al and Buck and company were terrific. I thought their relationship was a hoot. There’s very good banter.
Some of the plot though seemed a little too over the top and absurd to me. I didn’t like the encounter with the gods and all that happened there. It was too ridiculous for me. But I appreciate the resolution for Al. I’m glad he can move on in his life.

I enjoyed this book. I’m so glad he got the curses lifted. Is book is fast paced & the excitement is constant. I’m sad to see it end. #Candle&Crow #NetGalley

Kevin Hearne does not disappoint! I have loved this side series to the Iron Druid and having a chance to read the ARC for the final installment was a treat. This a book that finished the story quite well. It answered all the questions, completed plot lines, gave glimpses into beloved characters from both series, and even gave a peek into what may come for some. I laughed a lot. I teared up at a few spots. I learned a few handy insults to add to my vocabulary. Overall, it is what what I hoped it would be and this remains a series I will continue to recommend.

Hobgoblins and hijinks and heists, oh my! This was the perfect conclusion to the Ink & Sigil series. I will never stop shouting recommendations into the universe for this series or Kevin Hearne in general!

As always, the humor was impeccable. All of the characters were well fleshed out. Nadia, Buck, Roxanne, and of course Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite really blossomed in this book. Al continued being awesome. The cameos from some of the Iron Druid characters were a delight to read.

There was a perfect level of adventure that didn't feel too rushed or too packed in. I ate this up and I'm so sad to see it end! The wrap up at the end was like a happy sigh. I'll be living in the land of Lhurnog with my cheeses for worship and fond thoughts of Al MacBharrais & crew for some time to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book!

I just finished reading Candle & Crow by Kevin Hearne. While this is the third book in the Ink & Sigil series, I managed to quickly find myself invested in this world. In this urban fantasy mystery we follow a powerful magic user named Al MacBharrais as he investigates who gave him a twin curse that killed off all his apprentices and pushes his loved ones away when he speaks. I really enjoyed the way Kevin combined Greek mythology and Irish folklore with just straight fantasy as we also get the hilarious hobgoblin Buck Foi as a character in this and if you enjoy some dirty humor like I do, you’ll enjoy Buck. The mystery itself is also engaging as someone who tends to enjoy a lot of noir tropes and stories. Overall, Candle & Crow is likely going to make me look into the rest of the Ink & Sigil series as well as keeping an eye out for the next installment.

"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.