A Hero at the End of the World by Erin Claiborne

Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Jude-broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness-has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Those hoping for a Harry Potter sequel and constantly checking Pottermore for updates would do well to put this book on the tops of their to-read piles.Ī smart, funny and emotionally engaging tale perfect for any reader who longs for another train ride to Hogwarts.īlack is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy. Claiborne serves up more than just a clever inversion of the 'Chosen One' narrative trope by perfectly balancing satire and genuine affection for the genre made popular by Rowling's series. Ewan and Oliver's friendship-cum-rivalry offers true pathos, exploring a bond that was supposed to be stronger than steel but that may now be twisted and damaged beyond repair. Anger and jealousy have festered, and when a secret society approaches Ewan with an opportunity to take Oliver down a peg, Ewan quickly accepts. Five years later, Ewan is a footnote in Oliver's story, working in a crummy coffee shop while Oliver swiftly rises through the ranks of the local police force. But when the final battle took place, Ewan's best friend, Oliver Abrams, dealt the killing blow. He spent years training for when the time would come to dispatch the dark lord who had been ruling Britain with an iron fist. The prophecy stated that Ewan Mao was the one who would kill the tyrant Duff Slan. Destined to destroy the evil overlord, the chosen one adjusts to a disappointing life after his friend does the job instead.

A Hero at the End of the World by Erin Claiborne