Review: At the End of Everything by G.W. Lücke

At the End of Everything by G.W. Lücke is a second fantastic dive into the realm of Ostamp, following on from the sprawling adventure of Book 1, When Darkness Descends.

An already epic quest takes an unexpected turn, a la Game of Thrones, and casts the core characters in different directions, where their own destinies will find space to develop on their own. The Relevation Trilogy is curiously but aptly named, as the depth of this series’ plot continues to spiral and expand in this middle chapter. Tom is forced to navigate new depths of grief, alienation from his origins, and a blood-born secret that could change two worlds forever.

The mystery that seems wrapped around Tom’s every move imbues his plot points with a budding tension that rarely lets up. His solo quest continues the feel of a hero’s journey, in a way that the fellowship atmosphere of the first book obfuscated, at times. Thaly and Grin, whose route initially reads as a secondary storyline, is just as rich and significant, and boasts similarly high and overlapping stakes. Tom may be on a quest for knowledge, but the entertaining odd couple of protagonists are on the hunt for justice, freedom from oppression, and ultimately, peace.

It can be difficult to show conflict between characters where once there was affection, but Lücke proves himself to be both a whimsical and emotionally sensitive writer. The clever convergence of storylines also shows Lücke to be a skilled draftsman, in the spirit of all great fantasy authors. Aside from the vivid world created here, he is also unafraid to tackle serious themes that resonate in our own world: uniting against common enemies, marginalized populations rediscovering their strength, and the growing fear of tyrannical rule amidst crisis.

The ambitious and high-stakes plot is just part of this book’s effectiveness – there are brilliant lines and passages peppered across this novel, some so good they’ll force you back for another read. At times bordering on poetry, there is no lack of emotion and nuanced description for high-fantasy fans to sink their teeth into, while the action sequences and magical exchanges are exhilarating – a one-two punch that is rare in the world of fantasy writing.

The novel has a lot of moving parts, but the author should occasionally trust his readers more, and leave things to the imagination, in terms of both narration and dialogue, particularly between characters in conflict. Some of these conversations tend to feel like a Bond villain transparently laying out a plan, or waxing poetic to fast-track exposition, so a bit more subtlety in these moments would enhance the story, along with more consistency in formatting between internal monologue, passing thought, and narrative flow. The storytelling is undeniably strong and immersive, but some of the execution blurs at the edges.

These nitpicking critiques aside, Lücke demonstrates a masterful use of language, bursts of unforgettable prose, a rich tapestry of characters, and a penchant for mythical history in this remarkably good second installment.