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The Ascendents have taken control of the Sextant. The people of the Star Continent are in great peril, with the gods determined to annihilate every single Mage and their descendants – to ensure that there is no more threats to their reign. They have a problem though; the Holdfast family, while scattered, are still alive and are still determined to fight. Karalyn is in The City of Salve with her two children and brother Corthie’s wife – the demi-god Aila. Sable and Kier are prisoners of the Dream Mage Daimon and the Second Ascendent, Edmond. Daphne is running for her life, while Corthie is sheltering his children, sister Kelsey and the Empress Thorn on his farm in Kell.
With Sable under Daimon’s control, she killed her friends – Belinda the Third Ascendent and Austin, the demi-god who had tempered her rampages while on Dragon Eyre. Heartsick and full of self loathing, she is determined the last thing she will do with her life is end the reign of the gods of Implactus. But first she has to somehow escape the clutches of the teenaged Dream Mage who is holding her mind at ransom. When the opportunity presents itself, she tricks nephew, Kier, into activating a quadrant, whisking them away to a far flung corner of the Star Continent.
If I could, I would go on to describe the various predicaments the indomitable Holdfast’s find themselves in, after the end of Holdfast Imperium, but I fear I would be here for a week. Let’s just say, they’re scattered, yes. But their spirits aren’t quite crushed. It would take much more than a murderous god to quell the bravery of the family that has driven fear into the hearts of the Ascendents, and indeed, killed many of them. It may seem as though things are hopeless for them and the people of the world they inhabit, but they’re definitely not beaten. Not quite yet.
World’s End is the last in the epic series of books about the Holdfasts – starting officially with The Queen’s Executioner (don’t worry, I will list all of the books in reading order in a coming post), and so I already knew that this would be an emotional read. I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to the Holdfast clan, with their chaotic bravery, chain smoking, gin guzzling and brilliantly imaginative curses. Nor was I ready to say goodbye to the Star Continent, The City or Dragon Eyre; Mitchell describes them with such lucidity, that I can practically feel the sleet of Kell, the drizzle in the City and the heat of Dragon Eyre. But all good things must come to an end, and after 27 books (including the prequels and novellas), it was time for an ending that befitted the Holders of the Worlds.
I cried, several times. No, in fact; I sobbed. Beloved characters met their ends and other reviled characters had a redemption of sorts. Battles were fought and won and lost, and monsters were vanquished. Mitchell takes us on a journey spanning four worlds as the Holdfasts try to keep a multitude of worlds safe from the vanquishing gods. Sable causes havoc in her grief and rage. Kelsey rides Frostback and blocks the power of the gods Corthie kills Greenhides with his legendary Clawhammer. Karalyn tries to protect her twins with everything she has. Kier pouts and sneers at everyone. And Daphne; good old Daffers tries to run everything and hold them all together. Because she’s the Holdfast Matriarch, the mother of the most powerful Mages and mortal warriors ever to live.
What The Mageland’s series is all about is family and the bonds that ties the family together. The first four books are about the love of Daphne and Killop and how their love almost brings the world crashing to its knees. The next four are about Daphne’s children. About the strained sibling relationships between Karalyn, Kier, Kelsey and Corthie; and Daphne’s grief when Corthie is kidnapped and sent to another world. The Eternal Siege section of books is about Corthie’s desire to get home and his eventual reunion with his family – and about Sable’s betrayal and her redemption while on Dragon Eyre, before returning to her home world – the Star Continent. We get to know this family well. What makes them tick, what hurts them. We know that although they may not always want to acknowledge it, they’re family – and that’s what will always fuel them. Living up to the name, and the expectations which come with it.
I don’t want to ruin World’s End for you; but I will tell you to have a box of tissues to hand and to give yourself some time and space to read it. Especially if you’re a Mageland’s fan. It’s not an easy read; but then again, it shouldn’t be. It’s the end of an epic saga. But also be prepared for laughter at unexpected moments.
After all of that, I have one last thing to say. Thank you, Christopher Mitchell. Thank you for this brilliant, funny and sad series. I’m sad that we’ve reached the end of the Holdfast’s tale, but I’m looking forward to whatever tales you’ve got to tell in the future. May they be as magnificent as Corthie when he’s in full battle-vision mode.
S. A
At World’s End was sent to me by Christopher Mitchell in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Pre-order World’s End below. It will be released on March 24th. It will also be available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited along with the rest of the Holdfast saga.
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