The Conquering Dark by Clay and Susan Griffith

Series: Crown and Key #3
338 p.
Publisher: Del Rey
Published: 7/28/15
Source: NetGalley and publisher for review

The Crown and Key Society face their most terrifying villain yet: Gaios, a deranged demigod with the power to destroy Britain. 

To avenge a centuries-old betrayal, Gaios is hell-bent on summoning the elemental forces of the earth to level London and bury Britain. The Crown and Key Society, a secret league consisting of a magician, an alchemist, and a monster-hunter, is the realm’s only hope—and to stop Gaios, they must gather their full strength and come together as a team, or the world will fall apart. 

But Simon Archer, the Crown and Key’s leader and the last living magician-scribe, has lost his powers. As Gaios searches for the Stone of Scone, which will give him destructive dominion over the land, monster-hunter Malcolm MacFarlane, alchemist extraordinaire Kate Anstruther, gadget geek Penny Carter, and Charlotte the werewolf scramble to reconnect Simon to his magic before the world as they know it is left forever in ruins.

My thoughts:
The last book? Say it isn't so. I'm hoping we have more since their other series, The Vampire Empire was also complete, but is coming up with a new book shortly. Even if there are no more in this series, this trilogy went out with a bang. I don't always love series ender books, but this one was good.

I've enjoyed this trilogy from the beginning and was so happy when I got the okay to review the ending book. We knew what was coming for our intrepid group but we just didn't know how it would play out. We have action from the beginning but we are not left out of how this group really becomes a family. While they were family long before this book starts, it is here where all our characters agree that they are family and will do anything for each other. I think that is why it is so hard to let this bunch go. We just got to know them as a family and want to see more of this type of dynamic in the group.

I will say that the ending is harrowing and a tear or two may be shed. Although some of it is heartbreaking, it is complete. There is a way for the group to come back if the authors intend to write more adventures for this series and I can only hope this is something they have considered.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. It is a great conclusion to a fabulous trilogy. I recommend this book but I do say to read them in order. Now that they are all out, this shouldn't be a problem!