Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for providing this arc.
Unfortunately I can’t say I enjoy this one like I did the first two. It wasn’t keeping my attention, I kept taking stops and honestly didn’t feel the urge to continue. It felt more of a task than pleasure. Which is sad because I do enjoy the world-building of it.

Blacklight Born is the conclusion of the Combat Codes trilogy, a science fantasy story with a focus on close combat. The previous two books have set up a bunch of situations and mysteries that this book needed to address and it does an excellent job addressing all of them while continuing to develop the world. Similarly to the previous entry, this book spends a large chunk of the book away from the the main character, which is a little frustrating given the place the last book's cliffhanger left him, but the section of the book from Murray's perspective is good in it's own right and there are narrative reasons for leaving the reader to wait Other than these pacing issues, it's an excellent conclusion to an original series and I'm excited to see what Alexander Darwin does next.

“We've walked the long road in darkness and fear and we've bled and broken ourselves more times than anyone else in this tin shitcan. We've earned our place here, together.”

Incredible. Just incredible. The trilogy brought to a close by what may be my favorite ending for a trilogy I've read yet. The action is phenomenal, the characters are real, and there are plenty of tears at the end. Well done. I can't wait to read something new by this author because they deliver. Amazing.

I thought this was an immersive and exciting ending to the series! All of the questions I had going into the book were answered, and there were a few plot twists I totally didn't see coming. Love that!

The story is almost split into two parts and is told from two main POVs starting with Murray and transitioning to Cego. It was a bit different from the first two books, but I think it worked pretty well in this one. The author also uses flashbacks well, especially in Murray's sections, and I thought they added a lot to the character development and made more sense as I got through the second half of the book.

Like the first two books, this one was an entertaining read filled with dynamically developed characters, a unique world, and some epic fight scenes. I think if you liked the first two books, you'll definitely enjoy this one.

Alexander Darwin concludes his tale of a caste level Future in which a genetically enhanced warrior caste fights legal battles. The Combat Codes are supposed to provide guidance to these fighters, but they’ve been thrown away and now rebellion is everywhere. Three Blacklight Born (paper from Orbit) that were raised in a virtual reality tank, have to face each other and somehow return peace to the world. First Cego has to be rescued from his brother Silas, the head of the rebellion, and then find allies to finally stop him. It’s an interesting series for those who love one-on-one combat.

This final book in the Combat Codes trilogy really pulled no punches with the story and the emotion!
Murrey, Cego, Solara and the crew are all back to fighting and trying to survive all the intrigue that swirls around them. All 3 are on separate journey's in this story, yet travelling toward each other to the end. Silas the slayer (Cego's brother) has started a Grievars war, but is he any different from those he's trying to take down? that's a big question that Cego is trying to answer.
The huge loss totally shocked me but necessary to the story and to waking Cego up to the truth.
Redemption and found family are major themes for this final chapter of the trilogy.
The world is so well written and the characters really touch the reader.
My rating is 4.25 rounded
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I had to put it down at 30%. This series has been a bit of a struggle for me since the beginning and this last one has given me burnout. This is just not my genre, and I guess it took me to the third book to admit it to myself.

I think this genre of mixed-martial arts science-fiction is awesome and I'm so glad that sci-fi gets to mean more than just space travel and aliens, but I’m not this book's audience. I received this as an ARC, and I will not be rating as DNF is no fault of the book, but of it not being the right book series for me.

Combat Codes: ★★★★
Grievar's Blood: ★★★
Blacklight Born: DNF

What a finale! I finished this a few weeks ago and it’s still sinking in. I definitely think this wrapped the trilogy up well, and without the neat tidy bow that some series seem to default to. There are losses, twists, and frustrations that give it a gritty edge that I love. The plot has high stakes, so it wouldn’t have made sense to have a finely packaged, happily ever after ending.

Everything that I loved from the first two book, from the fighting to the characters, still play a huge role in this one. The pacing is a bit rushed in places, but I don’t feel like it threw me off too much. Even though it broke my heart at time (no spoilers!) I still loved Blacklight Born and absolutely recommend The Combat Codes trilogy as a whole.

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Youtube review to come

**TL;DR**: A fantastic start and finish with a muddy middle. The ending was also… unexpected.
**Source**: NetGalley, thank you so much to the publisher. I also purchased my own copy.

**Plot**: This one wraps up the trilogy in a way that I didn’t see coming. I’m not entirely sure how to feel about it either.
**Characters**: A bit all over the place for some and others were great. A mix bag here.
**Setting**: Again, this was all over the place. I was so happy to be out of the school only to return so I’m not wild about that.
**Fantasy:** There is very little to nothing explained in the ‘magic’ or fantasy of the world here. It gets weirder in fact, but it still manages to work.

**Thoughts**:

Oh gosh I’m on the fence with this one y’all. I loved the second book in this series and genuinely thought the first book had a lot of promise with a strong start. But this third one I got whiplash in. I can’t give up much a summary here but there is a time jump from the end of book two to the beginning of this book, a time jump I feel like we needed more from.

The first thing we see is what seems to be a realm in chaos. The rebellion Grievar and Grunts are causing trouble, and it seems to be profound. The Whelps are on a traditional travelling voyage, fighting tribes and groups across the land to work themselves up to a large fight between representatives and other students. Along the way we’re told (more than we truly see) how things have changed and we get the feeling things are tense in the world.

More things happen and all the sudden we’re back in the school setting from book one and things are… calm? The Whelps are participating in life as if nothing is happening. All the tension and worries of the first quarter are gone and the book slows as we follow everyone through the school (which by the way has had a complete restructuring of leadership we didn’t see but were told). All this leads to a confrontation that again, completely undercuts any tension we were built and found in the first quarter. And the ending? I liked it… but I’m confused on why this was the goal, and even if this was good? I didn’t know that was the goal, was that what we wanted?

I could feel a very strong inspiration in the end of this from Harry Potter. The return to school, the fighting the system from within the school, and the final showdowns, it felt very much like those same hallmarks in the HP series. Those tropes and tools are not a bad thing, but when this feels and screams that inspo so much? I don’t know what to think. I enjoyed a lot of this! But the structure and pacing, it was weird and felt poorly put together. I’ll continue to read Alexander Darwin and I’d read more in this series! But this final book? I’m not crazy about it.

P.S. I’m still confused on the Flux tattoos. I feel like I remember them saying in the scene they were removed that they didn’t know that was even an option. But then NO ONE says anything about it when they go back to school? They seemed to have quite a few? Listen as someone with quite a few tattoos I’m 100% positive my friends and family would immediately be like “Where did your tatts go?” if I mysteriously showed up completely clean of them.

The action/fight scenes and the school environment are where this series really shines. And those scenes are primarily what carried my interest in this final installment.

I adored the first book in this series, The Combat Codes, however each subsequent book in this series hits a bit less as more POVs are introduced and the focus becomes more about the greater world revolution. That being said, Blacklight Born has some of the best, high-intensity fight scenes of the series.

The pacing felt a bit jumpy and it felt like we kept moving locations quickly to wrap up story in one book. The fast-paced plot of these books doesn't leave a lot of time for character development. I really want to love these characters and I feel so much potential for them (like Sol), but no one seems to have much substance besides filling a trope in the group and undying loyal to Cego.

The final action scene was enthralling and made the book unputdownable once you hit that point. Read this book for epic fight scenes, not as much for character development.
I look forward to reading whatever Alexander Darwin does next as an author.

*** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher - Orbit Books - for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Blacklight Born - 2.5 stars

The characters don't seem to have changed from the first book. They feel exactly the same, and considering what they've been through, I expected a lot more growth. Their ties to each other stayed strong and remained my favorite part of the series. I think the frequent time jumps throughout the series caused a loss of development to the characters and the world both. The revolution plotline was given to us in bits and the exploration into the whys was superficial at best. The final showdown took a few pages and "the great change" was resolved in a single speech.

The Combat Codes (Book 1) - 3 stars
Grievar's Blood (Book 2) - 2.5 stars

This review was originally posted on SFFINSIDERS.COM

The Combat Codes Saga concludes with Blacklight Born, an electrifying and heartfelt finale that solidifies this series as one of the most unique blends of sci-fi and fantasy I’ve read in years. From the very first book, Alexander Darwin masterfully blurred genre lines with creative in-world tech and an MMA-inspired justice system that governs society. Now, with the trilogy’s conclusion, he delivers an unforgettable story packed with action, emotion, and a deep exploration of identity and loyalty.

I absolutely loved the first two books, and the third didn’t disappoint. The reunion of Murray and the Whelps felt like coming home—bringing the team back together to face Silas and the Flux was exactly the kind of high-stakes setup I’d hoped for. The ending left me satisfied (and yes, a little emotional).

Cego’s journey is particularly compelling. After being absent for much of the previous book, he returns as a changed man—haunted by his experiences and grappling with his identity. Gone is the strong, loyal fighter we once knew. Instead, we see a man questioning who he is and where he belongs, adding a layer of emotional depth to the story.

Darwin’s willingness to take risks with his narrative continues to impress. I love how he tackled the themes of friendship, sacrifice, perseverance, and the journey toward self-acceptance, flaws and all—that has kept me so invested in the series.

And of course, the fights. I can’t stress this enough: Darwin’s fight scenes remain some of the best I’ve ever read. The final battle alone left me speechless. It’s gripping, cinematic, and will have you perched on the edge of your seat.

The resolution of the brothers’ storyline was one of the most fulfilling aspects of the book. Watching the relationship between Cego and Sam come full circle—shaped by their shared past and the men they’ve become—was deeply satisfying. Cego’s reunion with Sam was one of those emotional aha moments that will live rent-free in my mind for years to come.

Blacklight Born is an epic conclusion to a truly one-of-a-kind series. While the story’s ambitious scope occasionally left me wishing for more time with certain characters, the emotional payoffs and thrilling action more than made up for it. Alexander Darwin has crafted a saga that stands out not just for its unique premise, but for its heart and humanity.

If you’re looking for a genre-defying series with top-notch fight scenes, rich world-building, and characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page, the Combat Codes Saga is an absolute must-read.

The epic conclusion that I never wanted to end! I loved the first 2 books in the trilogy and the 3rd did not disappoint. I was glad to read that the Murray and the Whelps were back together again to try to defeat Silas and the Flux. I've said this for the first book but the author writes out the action scenes in a way that is easy to follow, especially for someone who doesn't have a background in martial arts. The ending left me satisfied and yet I enjoyed this series so much, I wouldn't have minded if it continued.

Another series down for the year. Thank you Hachette Audio for the copy of "Blacklight Born" by Alexander Darwin closing out the Combat Codes trilogy.

So field trips can be fun, especially if your goal is to see the sights, meet new people, get into formalized fights with said people. Downside, a war is happening and the government is going to pretend it isn't and just merc anyone "suspicious." Which is where Murray finds himself as he escorts some students, who are also a cover to find the wayward Cego. The Slayer is on the move with a growing band of Grievar looking to take down the system, and unfortunately he has some good points (just not the best means) . The counter point is laser mechs sadly.

Reasons to read:
-Solving political issues with single combat
-Pointing out the flaws in this system because it relegated people to nothing but combat
-Ultra-violence
-Jerk birds
-All the answers

Cons:
-Well that's a kick in the teeth

Blacklight Born is the third and final book in The Combat Codes Saga. It was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it was phenomenal. One thing for sure is that Alexander Darwin can write amazing action scenes. The story wraps up nicely at the end. I loved everything about this book. I highly recommend it. If you're looking for a unique fantasy series, you should definitely check it out! Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date.

I really liked this series and this was a pretty good end to it. If you love fighting scenes, this trilogy does some of the best I've seen. However, there were a few times we were told something needed to happen, like Cego keeping secrets from his friends and feeling like he should come clean. And it's made to be a big deal, there's a lot of stuff to unpack there. But then a small sentence about 2-3 chapters later will acknowledge that the issue was brought up and talked about, just without us seeing it. It does get old after three books of doing so.

Maybe there was just too long for me between book 2 and 3 but this just felt all over the place and disjointed.
Things progressed simultaneously too quickly but also with nothing happening, felt like we didn't get enough build up for the final conflict and it just all of a sudden happened.
The fights and magic continued to be well written and good, the book just suffered plot wise for me

The last and final book of the series and it ended perfectly. Plenty of action and adventure in this installment just like books one and two. If you enjoyed the others, then you should love this one just like I did. I will try aqnd read everything by this author in the future!

I’ve waited so long for this book. And it exceed every expectation I had. From the character, the plot, the twists and turns. This was everything I needed and I couldn’t put it down. I feel in love with these characters from book one and continue to love them more with every installment

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.