Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for a copy of The Dragon in Winter. Here are my thoughts!

In the final installment of the Kagen the Damned trilogy, war is on the horizon. The Witch-King of Hakkia has a mighty army, and Kagen is working to build the best chance for his team to survive the onslaught. But there seems to be more at stake, as magical folk including zombies, fairies and dragons seem to be taking sides in this battle of battles.

This was my favourite book of the trilogy. It took me a long time to get here as these books are hefty tomes, but I’m happy I made it. In true high-fantasy fashion, there are a lot of characters, some you love and some you hate. I found myself drawn towards the characters most in this novel, possibly due to it being such high stakes. There were a handful of people that I desperately wanted to survive, and I’m not going to tell you if they did or not!

This installment moved away from the uber violent in my opinion. The first novel was the most visceral, the second was wandering this one provides all the pieces. We get huge reveals and twists that were unexpected and long awaited. There is war but it didn’t feel as brutal to me as some of the other war scenes in the series. This one felt like it had the most fantasy creatures in it, which was so fun. It heightened my interest, and I couldn’t wait to see the outcome with them using their influence.

Overall, if you’re looking for a high fantasy trilogy with some grimdark sprinkled in this is a great option. It’s well written, easy to follow and super immersive!

One of the best things about reviewing books for Grimdark Magazine is how many times the team shares about books and authors they love. It is fantastic to come across an author for the first time based on a recommendation and realise their book works well for you. I had that feeling in the first few pages of reading Jonathan Maberry’s Kagen the Damned as a review book. I have been so excited to follow along Maberry’s first epic fantasy series with the second novel, The Son of the Poison Rose, a novella, I Say Your Name in the Dark Nights, and finally, with the series’ epic conclusion, The Dragon in Winter. It has everything I like in a book.

Cover Image of The Dragon in WinterJonathan Maberry is a prolific writer and editor, so if the end of this series leaves you wanting more from him, you have a lot of material to dig your teeth into. At Grimdark Magazine, we have liked his horror novels Ink and the Pine Deep Trilogy. Still, you could also check out his V-Wars, which Netflix has adapted into a television series, or his work for Marvel Comics, including The Punisher and Black Panther.

The war that the first two novels in the series has been building up to finally arrives in The Dragon in Winter. The Witch-King of Hakkia has personally been accumulating power in preparation for his magical ascension and recruiting mercenaries to bolster the Hakkian forces against Kagen and his Bloody Bastards. As well as human recruits, the Witch-King has been assembling darker forces, the results of his magical experiments, and amassing alchemical weapons that any human would struggle to defend against. Luckily, Kagen and his allies have been busy. Filia and Tuke have recruited thousands to stand with the Bloody Bastards against the Witch-King, and Kagen himself has to race to uncover the secrets of ancient magic in the hope that it will be enough to defeat the usurper.

The Dragon in Winter is a lengthy book, coming in at just under 600 pages. Maberry also gives no preamble reminding the reader what has come before. So not only are the first two novels essential prereading but if you have not read them recently, settling back into this world may take a while. However, it took me only a short time to feel like I was moving through the narrative with old friends. I particularly enjoy the chapters relating to Filia (with her horse, Dog, and her dog, Horse) and Tuke (and his many ball jokes) for providing some much-needed amusement and some of the few tender moments in the novel. I enjoyed the chapters with Kagen’s brothers, Jheklan and Faulkner, for the same reasons: The Dragon in Winter has the broadest range of characters in the series so far, and Maberry easily moves between the different threads of the narrative.

Although I enjoyed the broader cast in this novel, it might be something other readers find off-putting. Particularly with the shorter chapters, some of which are only a paragraph or two long, the narrative sometimes felt jumpy, and it took effort to tell if each thread was as crucial as the other. In hindsight, they are, as Maberry brings everything back together for a very engaging finale. I also found that the varying lengths of chapters provided momentum and made The Dragon in Winter flow very quickly. I made much progress after a smaller reading session, especially when I did not have a massive chunk of time to read.

I think grimdark fans will enjoy this series and find The Dragon in Winter a very satisfying conclusion. Kagen is a surprisingly likable protagonist for a damned man, and even though he does some very dark things, his personal code of conduct is admirable. The Witch-King remains a great Bad Guy. This tale has no question here about who the “right” and “wrong” sides are. Kagen might stab someone in the neck during a truce, but we cheer when he does it. Maberry rounds off the arcs of this series nicely while keeping readers surprised and entertained. The Dragon in Winter might be the end to this set of stories, but I hope it is not the last time that Maberry tells us a tale of Kagen. Thank you to Jonathan Maberry and the St. Martin’s Press team for sending us an ARC.

Kagen's conclusion just hit so right. I had been in such a huge fantasy slump and Kagen always seems to pull me out of them. I would definitely pick up more Grimdark if the author decided to publish more.

This was an incredible ending to the Kagen series. As a major fan of Maberry's work, his foray into Fantasy wasn't without elements of horror and that made this entire series even more delicious. This summed up most all of the plot points but leaves a bit open for potential sequels...or prequels?
Highly enjoyed this one.

This is the third book in the Kagen the Damned series by author Jonathan Maberry. The majority of books I have read by this author have been military apocalyptic thrillers. This is more epic fantasy and I loved the first two books in the series. I loved how he wrapped up this series, even if the vibes were very different than his usual work.

Wow - this was a ride!
The Dragon in Winter is an example in how to close out a series. The stakes were high, the action was intense, and the the urgency with which I read the last 12% was nearly palpable.
Simply a fantastic book, and series that is now firmly seated on my To Be Read Again shelf.

I remember reading Kagen the Damned and thinking, I wonder where he's going with this; it's dark and twisted, and realistic (well as realistic as fantasy can be) and shows every side of this world; I hope he keeps going because it's fantastic.

Then I read  The Son of the Poison Rose, and Jonathan Mayberry became one of my favorite authors, and I don't say that lightly; while his books are beautifully written, they're also raw and gritty and everything I look for when I want to truly escape the world into a book.

This was the first book by Mayberry that I've listened to, and as much as I loved reading the first two books, listening to them was a completely new experience.

Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this audiobook. I have voluntarily listened to it, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This installment delivered a rich, action-packed journey with complex world-building and vividly drawn characters. The blend of high-stakes adventure, ancient magic, and intense political intrigue kept me hooked from start to finish.
The protagonist’s growth throughout the story felt natural, which added depth to the narrative, while the secondary characters bring added layers to the plot. The writing is sharp and engaging, weaving together different threads seamlessly.

Overall, this is was a satisfying continuation in the series, perfect for fans of dark fantasy with intricate plots and epic battles.

In this conclusion to an astounding fantasy series, Kagen the Damned leads the Bloody Bastards against the Witch-king's forces, while his twin brothers quest to the frozen north, where Earth's last dragon is near death.

How they deal with what they find will determine the fate of their world - for something 'comes on wings that blot out the sun' and 'will burn the skies and drown the worlds of men.'

Oh man, I am sad that the Kagen the Damned series has come to an end. Kagen was gruff, but he also cared about his charges and the oath he made, he had honor, and an amazing group of friends that would follow him anywhere.

The ending was bittersweet, but I love how the series ended. I am very much looking forward to reading more of Jonathan Maberry's work in the future.

Oh the TWISTS! THE TWISTS!
I need more fantasy from this author!
The war finally starts - Kagen begins his own journey as his army and friends are the frontlines.
Great appearances from Freya, Took and Philiea, the Bladed and others.
There some slow spots - great build up, not so much horror or gothic feel as previous books. Magic certainly takes its place. Some resolutions.
Overall a tidy conclusion.

First off, I would like to thank Jonathan Maberry for concluding Kagan’s story with a trilogy. Far too often authors drag on a successful series until there is really no story left to tell and as a reader, I’ve moved on without getting a satisfying conclusion. I completely understand, you’ve got something that readers are connecting with, you are making a profit, and you want to keep the good things going.

Three is a magic number: three of a kind, things happen in threes. Humans connect well with the number. The popularity of the trilogy is a perfect example of this. And Kagan’s story deserved the trilogy.

Maberry had a lot of things going on in this story. An extensive cast of characters with Kagan leading the way, and an evil villain whose depths of deceit go above and beyond. There are hordes of fantastic beasts and magical creatures. The trilogy allowed Maberry to fully develop all of these things.

The Dragon in Winter kept me engaged throughout, I wanted to keep reading. Most importantly, we arrived at the end of a fabulous tale.

*5 Stars

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I really like the ending of this series though I wish it was a little longer than i think it needed to be. There were parts of this book that I felt dragged on a little more than I would have liked. I'm glad we got to see the chaos and creatures and the universe as a whole is very interesting. I'd love to get more of that in a related series perhaps. I thought the characters were funny and Charming and they were probably the highlight of the series for me.

The third and final installment in Maberry’s KAGEN THE DAMNED series is every bit as engrossing as the previous installments, filled to the brim with weird magic, all kinds of unusual creatures, and plenty of brutal warfare.

This time, as the Witch-king prepares to become a demigod, he has also been busy messing with nature, giving some of the story an ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU vibe. There’s lots going on at a breakneck pace (the 200 short chapters fly by) including a wild battle on an ancient castle’s staircase and Kagen’s united army fighting, among other things, a bizarre breed of the living dead. Maberry’s Dragons fit in nicely with this trilogy’s use of the Lovecraftian mythos, giving them a different feel than your standard fantasy tale.

My only issue: Once Cthulhu’s brother Hastur is finally revealed, the novel nosedives way too quickly to an abrupt ending. We’re only given quick glimpses of what becomes of the many characters we’ve spent over 2,000 pages with across 3 novels. A small complaint, as the ride to the conclusion was fantastic.

Hoping to see more Kagen somewhere down the line.

he Dragon in Winter is the final book in the Kagen the Damned series. Like the endings to most epic grimdark fantasies we don't wrap everything in tidy little bows and happy endings. But we do get an ending and I will say overall it is a satisfying conclusion to this journey.
“We’re all pretending to be heroes, dear heart,” she observed. “Everyone is looking to us now, so we had better play the parts assigned to us.”

Mayberry did a great job of moving the story and keeping a lot of tension happening throughout. A lot of the chapters are really short, pivoting the reader between multiple PoVs quickly to keep the momentum of the story going until the last battle fought at the end. We, the reader, get to view this story through a lot of different character's eyes and it really helped with the pacing and the overall knowledge the reader is privy to, even when other characters are not. Even so, there were still a few surprises to be had along the way as scripts were flipped and various revelations made.

The veils between the worlds are blurring and Kagen is one that can see between them sometimes. Loved by a faery, he has some protections that help to carry him through the story. Maralina, will do what she can to help the mortal man who chained her heart to him. They are doomed and we know it, but I really longed to see Kagen and Maralina reunited sometime in this story.

There is so much going on though out the story. Kagen's brothers are traveling to the North looking for a lost brother and the last dragon in this world, Fabeldyr. The dragon brought magic to this world and her death will also be the death of all magic, she must be saved. The Witch King is gathering his strength and followers for a ceremony and transformation into a demigod. Kagen will need to defeat him before the ritual or all is lost. Alliances are made and the kingdoms will choose sides for the war of all wars.
“By the cast-iron balls of the god of blacksmiths,” growled Tuke. “That was a flag of truce. He came over to parlay”

“I know,” said Kagen, his voice as cold as winter ice. “But I came here to start a war.”

So many of the characters had parts to play in the bigger story. The Widow finally starts to show what she has become and how she will contribute to the war. Tuke and Filia are really the best friends Kagen could possibly have. I like how they keep him human and Tuke's various references to different gods balls were some of my favorite lines in the book. Jheklan and Faulker had one of the arcs that was the most interesting to me as I was really excited to get to the ice caves and see the dragon.

The Witch King is a fantastic bad guy. He was so easy to hate for so many reasons. The twist with him was both surprising and not surprising when it came. I had suspected for most of the book what the twist would be. The cost of magic was high and that was never sugar coated in our scenes with him. The Witch King was smart, ruthless and so cruel. But we the reader spend time in his head and so while I wanted him dead for so many reasons, I felt like he was one of he more intricate characters of the story and his chapters were fascinating.

At the end, while most things were wrapped up and this is definitely a concluded story I couldn't help but be disappointed it was over. I want to see where some of my favorite characters were years in the future and new stories made with some of the characters I'd grown to love. I could see Mayberry possibly creating another story in this word, although it is unclear if it will be something he will undertake later.

If you enjoy grimdark epic fantasy, I think this could be a good overall series for you. I enjoyed each book a little more than the last with the building of the characters, the world and the journey.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

What an epic ride!! Just full on from page one, this conclusion to Kagen's story wraps everything in an absolutely satisfying tale that definitely brought tears to my eyes and certainly left me wanting more. When I first started book 1, I wasn't sure if I would like Kagen, but he has become a favorite character, the man who refuses to be the hero. His journey from the lowest of lows to bringing together this group of unusual people to save the day is so well done and his relationship with Tuuk and Filia is a joy to read. This story truly has everything you could want: epic battles, humor, magical creatures, vampires, deliciously dangerous characters and of course.....DRAGONS!!!! The audio narration by Ray Porter is again, so fantastic and his readings of the spells in the foreign tongues are so marvelously creepy at times!! I will certainly listen to these stories again and maybe someday we will get the adventures of the Sons of the Dragon(really, give me all the Jheklan and Faulker!!!).

The fantastic conclusion to this series. Couldn't wait to start the next book with this whole series, and now wish there would be more. Great characters, great story, great pacing. Will definitely be looking for more to read from Jonathan Maberry.

The Dragon in Winter is fantasy at its best and it an amazing conclusion to the Kagen the Damned trilogy. Jonathan Maberry weaves together epic action, compelling characters, and complex plot. I will definitely be recommending this to anyone who loves this genre.

Here, I will confess that I was hoping this would turn into a longer series. It won’t be. I wrapped this up with tears in my eyes and a contented sigh. 🥹

In the previous two books the stage has been set, the Witch-King must fall. He has survived all of the attempts of our heroes thus far and the only choice left is all out war. How does a warrior as damned as Kagen build up enough support and people to form an army? Let Jonathan Maberry tell you exactly how.

This being the third book of a trilogy, you really do need to read the previous two books to get the most from this one. Only then, will you know and recognize the importance of these events and how they affect our characters.

All of my favorite characters are here, (and forgive me if I spell a name incorrectly, as I have listened to this series, and not read it.) Mother Fray is ageing even more quickly, and she was old to start with. Obviously Kagen is here, and by the squishy balls of the tentacle god, so is Tuq. (I'm going to miss his endless ball jokes). Maralina and Rissa, (though now called the widow), also appear. For a damned man, Kagen has a lot of support. The poor twins are still being held by the Witch King and they're more miserable than ever. Maralina has some tricks up her sleeve though, and I was really hoping that she and Kagen would meet again. Do they? You'll have to read or listen to this to find out!

I received an ARC of this book, but when the audio became available, I listened to that instead. That is because Ray Porter narrates this trilogy and he's just...OUTSTANDING. His performances are always good, but here there are so many characters in play, I thought it might be difficult for him. I shouldn't have worried because he is a professional and a joy to listen to. A JOY, I say! I especially love the voice of Tuq-which is somehow sexy and funny at the same time. Whenever I read a book by Johnathan Maberry and Ray Porter narrates it? It's a special sort of magic that to me, feels like coming home. I know I am in the hands of masters and I'm able to just let myself fall into the story effortlessly. No matter how long the book is, I'm always saddened when it's over. Luckily for me, these two work together a lot and I hope they continue to do so because they ROCK.

This was one wild finale where it felt like every character ever introduced to us ends up being present for the denouement. I think the final war took place over the last third of the book as the war parties clashed, magic spells whipped about, and ancient gods showed up to have their say.

I had such a good time listening to this book while at the same time I was sad. As I said I was hoping we'd see more of Kagen in the future and nothing happened here that would make that impossible, but his battle against the Witch King is now definitely over. It looks like I'll be taking a short break from this winning author/narrator combination...at least until the next Joe Ledger book comes out!

Highly recommended!

*ARC from publisher. Thank you. *