Member Reviews

A profoundly satisfying and surprising conclusion to a series that never rested in place, Tomb of Dragons feels like both a beginning and an end of Thara Celahar. For the first time in the series, the worldbuilding expands beyond the city of Amalo, and while the book feels less intimate, less personal than the previous entries, it also gives the book a sense of potential thats refreshing and exciting.

The relationships at the heart of the series, between Thara and the people who love him despite his incessant self loathing, all continue to grow in fascinating ways. There will unquestionably be disappointment and probably frustration with some of those resolutions, but the addition of several new ones, and the evolution of his role in the city, provides such exciting possibilities its hard to remain unhappy with Thara's fate.

I can't possibly recommend this series enough, and i can only hope that this is not the last book we see in this world, and not the last we see of Thara Celehar.

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The most compelling installment in the series to date! Thara Celehar is traumatized by the events at the end of The Grief of Stones, and as he becomes embroiled in his most dangerous outing to date, he quickly finds himself over his head and relying on the acquaintances and bonds he's forged to date, addressing his isolationist tendencies and defining what each connection means to him. It's a great bit of storytelling deftly handled, and with the level of danger integrated into all this the book makes for surprisingly gripping reading from start to finish. I'm super curious to see what comes next!

NB: Youtube video review goes live on Feb 5th 2025 @ 3 PM EST

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Slow paced and dense in the best of ways. This is a lovely story that left me wanting more. I was a little miffed that it took SO long for the two plot points of the book to twine together, but that wasn't enough to hinder my enjoyment. It does 100% set us up for more books and I'm VERY excited for that prospect.

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I love the Cemeteries of Amalo series and this third and final book is no exception. I'm not much for cozy fiction normally but Addison's characters ring true as people just trying to do their best despite their own insecurities or circumstances. It is true that the resolution of the main legal conflict is very neat, and that there is little in the way of interpersonal strife among our main cast of characters, but I don't mind; the threads of the story are interesting and I like to see a justified happy resolution sometimes. It's been a while since I've returned to this series so I will admit that many names and concepts had escaped me, and I had some trouble orienting myself, but I enjoyed this very much.

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Title: The Tomb of Dragons
By: Katherine Addison
Format: eARC

Summary
Tomb of Dragons is the next installment in Addison’s “Goblin Emperor” series. We pick up where Thara Celehar has lost his ability to speak with the dead. Having been stripped of his title, this book follows Celehar as he has to rediscover who he is and what his purpose is.

Review
If you were a fan of The Grief of Stones, you are going to love this one! This books was fantastic and I loved it just as much as the first few. Addison is so great at character development and I really feel like if I jumped into the world they would all be my friends. The setting is so special and its just a fantasy wonderland. I thought Addison did a great job tying things up, and there were so many twists in the plot that I did not see coming. I hope this isn’t the end of the series.

Recommend
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Addison’s first books in this universe. Definitely go and read them first before jumping into this one. Anyone who is a fantasy of science fiction and fantasy should enjoy them immensely.

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The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison

This book was fantastic! So worth waiting for!!!!

Like many people, I first encountered Katherine Addison when I found the Goblin Emperor on a bunch of awards ballots and was immediately enchanted. Within six months of reading it, I doubled back and listened to the audiobook - that novel was charming and delightful and wonderful. (I also adored her unrelated book, the Angel of the Crows, and I think more people need to read that.) I was thrilled beyond belief when Tor and NetGalley gave me an eARC for The Witness For the Dead, a related book in the same universe as The Goblin Emperor. That book was a book of my heart - It was the most enjoyable reading experience I had in months when I read it the first time. I was even more exited two years ago when Tor and NetGalley gave me an eARC for The Grief of Stones, the direct sequel to the Witness for the Dead which I described at the time as “perfection itself” - a description I still stand by.

In anticipation of the Tomb of Dregons, the long awaited, third book in the Cemeteries of Amalo trilogy, I recently re-listened to audiobooks of the other books in this universe, so I have been soaking in it for weeks now. I was ecstatic when Tor and NetGalley gave me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.


This book was a joy from beginning to end. It picked up right where The Grief of Stones ended, with Thara Celehar still suffering from the loss of his ability to speak to the dead after his encounter under the hill of werewolves in the last volume. The treatment of his pain and loss feels true without being maudlin or overwhelming. Without spoiling things, the resolution to that plot point is quite satisfying. This story takes unexpected twists and turns that keep you invested in the characters and their problems. The return of some characters and plot points from prior books is perfectly done without swamping Celehar’s story. I loved this book madly and am so so so sorry it is over. I take from the marketing that this is wrapping up the Cemeteries of Amalo trilogy, but I hope this is not the last we see of these characters.

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I have adored all of Katherine Addison's dense fantasies, and The Tomb of Dragons was no exception. We rejoin Thera, Witness for the Dead in Amalo, as he goes about his everyday business. This sounds like it could be boring, except that Thera's "everyday" business includes investigating murders, speaking truth to power, getting kidnapped, and more. At the end of The Grief of Stones, Thera lost his powers to speak to the dead, which means he is actually no longer the Witness for the Dead of the city. Accordingly, this book is partially about the grief of losing the ability to follow your calling. Thera has to create meaning in his life somewhere else.

Above I called Addison's fantasies "dense," and that is accurate: the text is full of created words, a different grammar, and different customs. You definitely can't read it as a standalone - even a devoted fan like me was a little confused by callbacks to previous books and some of the vocabulary. But I love being tossed in the deep end and figuring everything out, and doing it with Thera, who remains a vastly appealing character, is a joy. He's a complex mix of stubborn integrity, confident competence in his career, and chronic humility everywhere else.

Longtime fans will be thrilled to know that the emperor shows up on page! And while I never go into Addison's books for the romance, Thera gets a crush and maybe even the chance to hold hands with his love interest. (Imagine my heart eyes!!!)

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

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Unfortunately, this was not for me. I think I just don't get on with Addison's writing style, which is such a shame

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Another win in #NoHypeNovember. - I’d would love to see Addison talked about more in Bookstagram.

My thanks to #netgalley & Tor/Forge for this ARC of book 3.

Okay- here’s the skinny:


3 Reasons to Read*

- Quick Pitch: Murder Mystery/Speaker of the Dead/justice + emperor/ red tape politics + found family/tender fantasy. TBH, after the election year, you may need this in your TBR.

- If you want something bitter sweet but also oddly satisfying.

- When you are looking for a solid audiobook or like to use a mix of media when consuming books. Confession: I’ve only listened to Addison’s work via audiobook. And even though I was so happy to be back in this world, I terribly missed the dramatics infused from the audio. (It is very much a theatrical performance that even Iäna would approve of.)

3 Reasons to Pass

- If you aren’t looking for a harder read. The dialogue is unique. I had to look up a few words. The cast of characters is pretty sizable. This series works your brain (but also comforts your heart).

- If you like your fantasy “lean”- I’d argue that all Addison’s books are like marbled steaks- there’s a little fat in them and it’s a plot to be savored.

- You aren’t ready for an incomplete marathon series. But I’d argue, I’m familiar enough with the main cast that I’ll happily wait for the next installment without losing any hype for it.


*Start with The Goblin Emperor first!

I realize this is a nerdy niche series & it’s not for everyone, but I adore it. It’s one of those worlds that I hope is like 12 + books deep.

4/5

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The Tomb of Dragons! I have been excitedly waiting for this, as it wraps up The Cemeteries of Amalo trilogy. Thara Celehar is a Witness for the Dead, but what does that mean now that he’s lost the ability to actually hear the dead?

Celehar is his own biggest critic. He’s so restrained, so hard on himself, and struggles to believe that he is worthy of anything positive. Even so, he is a truly good and wholesome person, dedicated to doing what is right at any cost. Over the course of three books we’ve watched as his friends, both old and new, stand staunchly by his side through everything, consistently and patiently convincing him that YES, he IS worthy of love and friendship and goodness. This personal struggle is the backdrop for the mystery and political machinations of the plot, as he also tries to regain his powers or come to terms with who he is without them. Despite the damage to his abilities, he is caught up in the thick of a murder investigation that blows open a greater conspiracy. Also, dragons. Who doesn’t love dragons?!

Wonderful world building, a really great mystery – I love fantasy detective stories – and characters full of heart and empathy. It’s a cozy way to wrap up Celehar’s trilogy, although hopefully we’ll see him again. While The Goblin Emperor will always be my favorite character and favorite book in this world, I’ve really loved The Cemeteries of Amalo. 4 enthusiastic stars!

The Tomb of Dragons will be published March 11, and thank you Netgalley and Tor Books for kindly giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! This is one I’m thrilled to add to my shelves.

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Honestly I will reading anything Addison writes about the goblin/elf world. Here, we follow Celehar through a couple of mysteries and watch him witness for a dragon -- while falling in love with his body guard. As with Goblin Emperor, this is a book full of quotidian moments that never fail to entrance.

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The third and final instalment of The Cemeteries of Amalo provides proper closure for this quirky story of our Witness for the Dead. At the end of The Grief of Stones, Thara Celehar has lost his ability to hear the dead and thus a part of himself but he had also gained a circle of people, friends, whom he has come to care for and they care for him. The story continues in this final installment as he quests to restore his power but also there are new deaths to investigate and perhaps witness for one that is most unusual. The Tomb of Dragons does, in fact, add dragons to this world of elves and goblins, but like everything else in this idiosyncratic world, it does so in an unconventional way. The case of the dragons provides another curious aspect to this enjoyable read and I found it interesting to see how Celehar adapted to being thrown even further out of his comfort zone. The last book of the trilogy takes our protagonist's story personal and professional growth to a nice conclusion though I shall miss visiting this unusual world inhabited by peculiar characters. I would recommend reading the series in order to anyone who has not yet read The Witness for the Dead and would highly recommend these stories to anyone who enjoys cozy fantasy and mysteries.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Tor Publishing Group) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

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Thank you to TOR Books and Netgalley for sending me an ebook of this novel.

I am a ride-or-die fan of Katherine Addison's world of The Goblin Emperor and The Cemeteries of Amalo series (detective fantasy) in particular.

The Tomb of Dragons did not disappoint me in the slightest, except that it ended.

I appreciate Addison's acknowledgement that writing this book was a challenge with great empathy. Long-running series require even more mental investment from the people who create them. None of the effort shows on the page -- she knocks this one right out of the park.

Thara Celehar, a witness for the dead and mystery solver, is also a being of great wounded goodness, which isn't the easiest anchor for a fantasy story. His decorum and self-control are so fixed, matched in the early books by his self-loathing, that his narratives could easily become repetitive. I can imagine that figuring out where to go next with his story, much like one of his investigations, requires a lot of false starts.

Dragons follows the pattern of Celehar mysteries, as I noted in my review for A Grief of Stones--an initial murder that unearths a more complex web of intrigue, with a set piece in the middle in which Celehar faces off against some undead danger.

That all happens here, but as the character has evolved, Addison wisely lets the story's structure evolve, too. Dragons is a more externally-driven story than the other two books in this trilogy, and marks a turn in Celehar's story.

It's also my favourite.

I won't say more about the specifics to avoid spoilers. I will say that Addison is definitely aware of her readers' fondness for Celehar and his quirks, but manages to deliver a satisfying journey without descending into fan service. It's not an easy line to walk.

I hope Addison will continue to write in the Goblin Emperor's universe. I will hungrily consume any bauble we are offered.

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The Goblin Emperor books are not cozy exactly but they feature a cast of such genuinely good and kind people trying their hardest to do the right thing in difficult circumstances and I find them very cozy to read, if that makes sense — they remind me of Murderbot and the Penric books. I really enjoy the feeling that the world is bigger than what I know about it! I can follow Celehar’s adventures while still knowing that there’s so much more out there that I just haven’t seen (or don’t remember), just like in real life. It’s difficult to pull off but Katherine Addison does it really well.

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