The Boundless by Peter Newman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The third book in the Deathless trilogy was easily the best, blending truly dark fantasy with pretty fantastic worldbuilding and magic rules that are only outdone by the depth of character-building.

The first book establishes the world and the beginning of the fall of House Sapphire, with its nobles who use their kin to effectively live forever, jumping their souls from body to body, while the Wild down below their flying castles threatens to take over the world with demons of all kinds, all of which have a penchant for magically enforceable promises.

In the second book, fifteen years later, a pretty great changeling base for a story throws the story into a truly disquieting tailspin. The politics reach a nicely feverish pitch.

But the third book tops them both, reaching that perfect balance and a screamingly good climax that puts the blade to everyone. The tragedy is still there, but the magic and the final battle is extremely satisfying in that special way that only a slow, careful build-up can accomplish.

I'm very happy with this story -- and make no mistake, the full trilogy belongs together as one story.


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