Death Knell by Hailey Edwards a five-star read that will compel you. This is the third novel in the Foundling series and each instalment gets better and better, you know everyone better and the little private moments that just make you feel like your investigating as well. I don’t want to tell you the story so I will just say that Hailey Edwards has always been a go to author for me and someone I would read many things by she is by far one of my favourite authors in the Fantasy world, and this one may just be my favourite read by her, each one gets stronger than the last. Thank you for being amazing and keeping up the great writing.

First of all, I have to note that Edwards took this storyline in places that I was TOTALLY not expecting, and all I can say is GIVE ME MORE.

I will speak in generalities, so there are no SPECIFIC spoilers. Don't keep reading if even general notes will bother you.

Luce's world is quickly expanding faster than they ever thought it could as her charun family continues to wreak havoc that only she and her coterie can really confront. We get a bigger look at her sisters, and all is not what it seems. Some of Luce's nearest and dearest have been keeping secrets that have an uncomfortable connection to her long-absent siblings.

As each new book comes out, I just grow to love Edwards' characters even more. Luce is finding her place in the charun world and especially in her coterie. I love the continual surprises and a different flavor for each of her adopted family. Santiago is as sassy/snarky as ever, but I can't help but love him for it. We FINALLY (I know it's only been two books, but I'm impatient) get to find out what Miller is, and it's glorious. Thom is still fabulous, and my favorite cat stays strong despite some tough situations in book 3. Maggie/Portia are growing into their shared life beautifully, along with some unexpected bombshells that will surely impact their coterie in the future.

Speaking of secrets, Luce, Wu, and Cole are up to their ears in things they really should tell each other. I can honestly say that I lost track of how many times I whispered, "oh sh*t" when binging my way through Death Knell. These people have got to learn to communicate! I'll be a little fair though and admit that these secrets are so big that I can totally understand wanting to build a little more trust before dropping them out into the open. Juicy news ahead, my friends.

Overall, I thought Death Knell was an important addition to this series, and it definitely stands tall against books one and two. We've got relationship drama, charun drama, and Ezra drama (I CAN'T EVEN HINT ABOUT THAT) to keep you glued to the pages/screen of your kindle. Along with some of these juicy secrets, we get to see Edwards grow the mythos of this world as Luce and her coterie (and us lucky readers) learn that there's more above and below them than they'd ever understood before.

Luce is going to need an even better handle on her new life, FAST, because danger is coming in book four, and it's not coming from where they'd first expected.

4.5 Death Knell by Hailey Edwards is the third book in the urban fantasy series Foundling. Luce Boudreau and her coterie team up with the mysterious Adam Wu as they investigate a series of bodies washing ashore along the Mississippi River. It seems Death is sending her sister a message. Can she and her team stop an apocalypse and what other danger is out there for her and her team?

Fans of Ilona Andrews and Dianne Duvall will want to check out Death Knell and the Foundling series. Full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer on December 21st and will be shared on all social media, Goodreads and Amazon,.

This series continues to keep me on my toes. Luce's battle against who she is now and what her previous incarnations have done just...I don't know. I'm hooked. Luce is a hot mess who's trying to reconcile the her from before with the morality her human father has instilled in her. And it's fascinating.

Throw in her overwhelming attraction to Cole and the drive within her to keep her coterie safe PLUS a few HUGE revelations about the hows and whys of what she's doing on earth and my head is spinning. In the best possible way, of course.

Not only do we get some big things happening, we also get to see a new side of Conquest's sisters. War and Famine hit hard and fast when they got to earth, but Death seems to have another tactic in mind and it's not what Luce was expecting. In any way. Any. At all.

Things continue to progress. I'm talking relationships, friendships, and alliances. Luce and Cole are finally reaching the point where they're not perpetually pushing against one another and it's fantastic. I like those two together. There are so many layers between them and they're a bit of a mess right now, but they're working things out. Slowly.

THINGS are happening. Holy wow, so many things. The next book will likely blow all the theories I've been putting together out of the water. And I'm okay with that. I'm completely ready to see where Luce's story leads me.

Talk about a slow burn. I can't think of a single romance I have become this invested in with so little physical payoff. Luce and Cole feel as inevitable as the tide, yet they move together in increments of inches. Millimeters. And even as slowly as they move, each hard won inch is a victory to celebrate. Hailey Edwards has sold me on this pairing, hook, line and sinker. And I may want this romance to happen even more than the characters do.

That being said, the book and the series aren’t romances; they’re urban fantasy. So there is a whole lot more going on on the pages. Luce is preparing for her sister, Death, to cross over into the world, and she is working with her new partner, Adam Wu, to figure out how when and where it’s going to happen. The bodies of corpses are reanimating and it seems a portend from Death herself.

The plot moved well enough with the bodies and the resulting infections that they gave the general public. Don’t misunderstand, this book is not about zombies, but the particulars of the mission are far less important than what’s going on with the characters.

I’m fascinated by Adam. There is obviously a connection between him and Luce, but the author is not ready to share it just yet. Instead, she just gives us teases here and there. Where she does really deliver, though, is on the secret of his form and more of the details about Ezra. We also finally get to see Miller's other self as well.

The world building here is fantastic. The characters are extremely engaging, including the secondary cast, and I could eat it all up with a spoon. I will admit, however, I did get a little lost towards the end when climax happened. There were a lot of characters and species and doublecrosses happening that were a little difficult to follow. I was also not 100% sure of my understanding of who belonged to who and how when it came down to that mating stuff at the end. Cole and Luce are mated but she belongs to someone else... maybe? There were a couple of parts where I read over it twice and I still wasn’t sure of myself.

I also am not thrilled about the surprise package Death was holding for Luce. As slowly as the relationship has been moving for Luce and Cole, it feels like jumping to the end without all of the fun parts. But I will give it a chance, because I love Hailey Edwards and I love this series and I am willing to give a little trust.

I would definitely recommend this series to fans of urban fantasy and will be just as excited when book four comes out. I’ll keep you posted.

Rating: B/B+

Favorite Quote:
“A human heart only has no many beats.” He flattened my palm against his chest. “I’m not capable of a love so small or finite. What I feel for you can’t be confined to the lifespan of a century. My heart speaks the language of eternity, and the name it whispers is yours.”

Holy smokes this book. Honestly, when this series started I would have never in a million years predicted the direction it seems to be going in. For some reason when I picked up Bayou Born I expected a paranormal mystery suspense novel with some voodoo and witchinesss. I did not expect the broadness of the world building or for Luce Boudreau to slowly morph into the savior of the universe.

The third book in the Foundling series is so very different from the first two books, mainly because Luce has finally left her old life behind and embraced her identity as Conquest. She is settling in with her coterie and she and Cole are at peace with each other. She’s not quite as comfortable with her new NSB partner, Adam Wu, but I think that’s mainly because Adam is so much of an enigma.

Everyone and everything is in limbo, War and Famine have made their arrivals and Luce has had her confrontations with them. Now everyone is on the edge of their seats waiting for the arrival of the last sister, Death. When animated dead bodies start appearing with messages meant for Luce, she and her allies know the final showdown is coming and coming soon.

There is so much going on in this book, I couldn’t possibly give a concise rundown. And I really don’t want to. I think this book will make fans of this series very, very happy. There was like this huge info dump, without it actually coming across as a huge info dump. Does that even make sense? We learn so much about Luce and her history, Luce and her past relationship with Cole, who Adam is and maybe some of his motivations.

This quote blew my mind and had me thinking about this series in a completely different way.

“What do you think Earth prayed for the first time the cadre appeared?”
“Salvation.”
“And who do you think delivered them from evil?”
“Your father,” I said stunned.
“We don’t resemble angels,” he spat. “Angels resemble us.”
“Shit.” A cold rush of understanding trickled down my spine. “He’ll kill me.”
That’s what good guys–or guys convinced they were good– did to those they viewed as bad guys.
“You’re cadre.” His grip eased. “He would only see a demon from a mythology he helped create.”

I won’t even get into who the HE is that is being referred to, you’ll learn soon enough, but DAMN IT, I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. That’s right, there are a heck of a lot of questions answered and Luce moves forward both with her coterie and accepting herself, but there are also a ton of revelations that only leave more questions. Especially after the last chapter. A part of me wonders if Adam is more to Luce than just a partner, and the other part is like nooooooooo. Hailey Edwards wouldn’t do that right? Right? Not after all the discoveries about Luce and her personal/romantic life. I came super close to messaging her on Twitter asking how many books this series is going to because I want to know just how long I have to wait to find out. I still might.

I think this is my favorite of the series so far. Maybe because we are smack dab in the middle of the war between the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse and I finally have an understanding of just what is going on. At least I think so. Lol. I see the romance between Luce and Cole moving forward which makes my romance heart happy. I’m getting to know each member of the coterie better and learning their individual characteristics. (We finally find out Miller’s natural form!!) I feel like something huge is coming and it has me all excited. I’m more than ready for whatever twists and turns this author has up her sleeve.

P.S.
This is not a series where the books can be read as standalones. You definitely want to read them in order.

Final Grade- B+

The FOUNDLING Series is definitely one where you've got to read the preceding books in order to have any sense--clear or muddled--of what's going on. DEATH KNELL is book three; please go read 1 and 2 first.

In Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, 'homey' scenes interspersed with OMG the sh*t is hitting the fan scenes are catnip for this reader. Death Knell has catnip, and a cat, Thomas, who might be one of my favorite Hailey Edwards side characters.

Here's what troubled me: The amount of 'Hold on a sec while we explain this...' in this book kept booting me out of the magic of the storytelling. When the big reveal scenes were happening at the very end of the book, they almost seemed rushed. Death Knell reads like it was written as a bridge between books 2 and 4.

I LOVE this author's storytelling. I'll be at the head of the line for the FOUNDLING Series' book 4, and I really hope Ms. Edwards doesn't feel rushed to finish this saga.

Death Knell is the third book in Hailey Edwards’ The Foundling Series. This book was received in exchange for an honest review. Warning: Spoilers ahead.

Hailey Edwards is amazing, discovering her writing is easily one of my 2018 highlights. She’s firmly one of my must one-click authors.

Death Knell is a wonderful addition to ‘The Foundling Series’; it answers some burning questions whilst moving the story along and setting up new twists and turns, and I can’t wait for the next instalment.

So with that said, I don’t think I’m entirely sold on this series (not in the ride or die way I am for the ‘the beginners guide to necromancy’). And I think a lot of that has to do with: I’m pretty certain Conquest is my favourite- and we don’t even know anything about her, not really. Any scraps we get about her piques my interest like no other.

So the whole Luce/Cole relationship makes me feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.

On one hand- Cole/Conquest is not a happy relationship and basically the definition for unhealthy and toxic (the whole genocide thing really puts a damper on everything). On the other- they’re mates. Oh my god, I am a sucker for the mates trope. It gets me every time. Look it’s established in this world, mates among charun aren’t for (the human definition of) love but STILL.

“We are longer-lives, and we enter into bonds mindful that we’re choosing life partners for the mortal equivalent of eternity. There is no greater honour, and there is no breaking one after its set. Even if you fall out of ...love...it remains.”

Luce/Cole doesn’t work for me when you get the sense everyone is waiting for to shit to hit the fan (ie Conquest’s return). There’s also a disparity of power that doesn’t work for me- Luce is kept so much on the dark because everyone is afraid of Conquest re-emerging.

Luce’s firm self denial about her Conquest alter-ego (or is it rather Luce that is Conquest’s after-ego?) does not pave the way for happiness.

Everyone’s been so adamant about Luce being the one they/Cole loves and I just can’t separate Luce and Conquest like that. To accept Luce is a just a fracture. Because I’m going to be so let down if Conquest doesn’t actually pop back up.

Magnificent, grandiose, brilliant, sumptuous, palatial, resplendent

This was the best book out of the three. Questions were finally answered. So thrilling I couldn't put it down. I thought this was the final book, but how wrong I was!

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.

This book was amazing! It was the first book I read in this series and it was a great discovery.
I'm a fan of urban fantasy and I can say this is one of the best books I read this year.
It's enthralling and entertaining, once you start reading you cannot put it down.
The characters are well written and you cannot help rooting for them.
The plot was great, atmospheric and enthralling and you want more with each page you turn.
I look forward to reading the next instalment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for this ARC

Death Knell is the third instalment of The Foundling series. Hailey Edwards has a way with words. Her words weave magic. The story is so unlike anything I’ve ever read before and it is simply brilliant.
Luce is still discovering herself and embracing the relationships with her coterie. The revelations in this book took my breath away at times - then more twists and turns unfold. Read this series of books - you will not regret it.

Spoiler if you haven’t read the first two books.

Death Knell is the third of the urban fantasy Foundling series by Hailey Edwards. It is fast paced, beautifully yet concisely descriptive, and gives a new twist on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and whole Biblical Heaven and Hell thing. Be prepared to suspend your beliefs for an edifying story.
Luce Boudreau meets the third of her apocalyptic sisters; is Death a foe or an ally?
She discovers more about Conquest and accessing her power; is Luce in danger of being taken over, and if so, what will that entail?
She gets to know Adam better as he reveals more of himself, will they learn to be true partners, can she trust him? And what about this attraction thing? Who is Ezra? How are Maggie and Portia doing? Will Cole be an @$$ forever? Does Santiago really despise everyone? What the heck is Miller?
Are there really only two more books?

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

what a third book this one is...we begin where the second book left off...our group are recovering and healing together but bodies are showing up and they are slightly animated...even though they are dead...

luce and wu go to investigate and things continue from there..dont want to give to many spoilers...

death is also about to breach and what with the other two this could be the beginning of the war that is coming

a brilliant read in this series, it was great to catch up with this group again and see how they progress and get along, i am even starting to like wu...

cant wait for the next book in this amazing series

I’ve been eagerly anticipating Death Knell since I finished Bone Driven and I was not disappointed in the least. The third installment of The Foundling series was an amazing addition that had all of the anticipation, angst, and emotion I could have hoped for. I can’t wait for the next book to come out!

Oh so good!! Edwards does a really good job building the story with each installment. Everything continues to ramp up with each new book and the we learn just enough to quench our thirst and beg for more. So much was revealed and so many new questions were created. It never slows down. It amazes me that she is able to keep increasing the intensity relentlessly. I had to put the book down many times to let it all sink in. Can't wait for the next installment!!

I have yet to find a Hailey Edwards book that I don't like. Death Knell maybe one of my favorite in the Foundling series so far. There are so many surprise in book both good and bad .I found it really hard to put the book down. Definitely keeps you on your toes and leaves you wanting more. I can wait for the next book to come out. This is a great book to lose yourself in.

Oh my my my!! What an amazing follow up!!

This book is beyond words, I literally could not put it down!!

I loved how things worked out between Luce and Cole, but I cannot spoil it!! It's too good to spoil!

I have to admit, I could really do with a Thom is my life!!

Santiago is a fun thing in himself, but I have to say I feel sorry for Miller.

Adam grabbed my attention as a bit shady...i didn't trust him at all.

There's got to be a follow up, it can't end that way!! Please!!!

This 3rd installment finds Luce and Cole anticipating the breach of her sister Death. Grappling with her new existence, so different from all the other incarnations of Conquest, she is now partnered with Adam Wu in a branch of the FBI. There are a lot of twisty reveals in this book, ending with a giant "what the???" cliffhanger. *Sigh* authors can be so mean. Different than all the other books from this author, she brings us into a world of demons and apocalyptic forebodings with excellent worldbuilding, little knife twisty's, brilliant side characters "other form", and a slow burn love affair, and now a huge jump to a supervillain to die for....literally. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

I received a pre-release copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third novel in Hailey Edwards’ “The Foundling” series. It’s a bit different from her other works-everyone is either demons or humans, and it’s a bit darker as well.

I do like the developing relationships between Luce and the rest of her coterie, though the one with Cole seems like it moved a bit too fast between the previous book and this one.

The book is definitely fast paced and hard to put down....however, for me the final battle with War seemed a bit anticlimactic and resolved too easily.

I look forward to how this series progresses, now that we have switched the villain.

Luce Boudreaux and her coterie are back at it in this installment of The Foundling series. Luce's alter ego, Conquest, is still buried deep under Luce's personality. Her sister, Famine, is sitting safely in a cell in The Hole and War is . Will Death break through the seal and wreak destruction on earth?

Luce and Cole are getting closer every day. But Cole has a big, whopping secret that he has been hiding. Will revealing that secret push them closer together or break them completely?

Luce's connections with the coterie are growing stronger. The big question is will those connections be enough to keep Conquest under control or be the trigger that releases her?

I really enjoyed this book. It was a little hard to get into at first because of all the storylines that I had to remember from the previous books, but once I did remember them, it flowed pretty well. I love the story and the unique world that Hailey has created here. My favorite part is watching Luce develop and grow, becoming strong in her own right instead of just as a watered-down version of Conquest.

There are a couple of big twists in this story, one that was fairly predictable and one that kind of slapped me in the face. Both twists were really satisfying, like the stuffed-to-the-gills-after-a-holiday-meal feeling. I'll be in a book coma for a few days after this one!