Entertaining, like the previous instalments in the series. The author’s upped the ante when it comes to grit and violence, reflecting the increasing stakes: Yancy now has to face his own inner demon (literally) on top of the looming menace of the Savage Prophet, old enemies surfacing again, and his own people who don’t see him in a very good light. Good thing, then, that he can still count on Ferraro, as well as on the new addition, Darlene, who may not be a great fighter, but has aces of her own up her sleeve.

However, this book felt more like a filler: a lot of action, but comparatively little character development. In spite of all that happened, especially at the end of volume three, Yancy is still pretty much the same as in all the other books, when I would’ve expect an evolution of some kind. (I don’t want such a character to start moping and be completely broken, for sure, but I didn’t feel much difference between Yancy from book one and Yancy from book four, all things considered.) I admit I ended up skimming over some scenes.

Conclusion: 2 / 2.5 stars.

A review won't be posted for this title because we did not enjoy the book at all.

Yancy is up to his old tricks: trying to save the world without dying in the process. This time he's fighting against another mage, some old enemies, and has some new friends at his side, but Yancy isn't certain anything he does will end well.

I remember being so impressed with Yancy's character in the first book. His snarky attitude combined with his big heart was so interesting to read and I really enjoyed that book because of it. I wouldn't expect Yancy to completely change his personality, but after four books I expected to see some sort of growth in him and that hasn't happened. He is completely interchangeable from how he was in the first book to this one, which, given how much he's gone through in the last few books, isn't realistic at all. Other characters show growth, so I know the author is capable of writing it, but for some reason Yancy is above something so human as change.

The plot is interesting, but it felt repetitive. While everything Yancy has to fight and experience is completely new, somehow the way he goes about it and his thought process as he goes into battle was unchanged. It got boring very quickly.