The Final Sacrifice

The Chronicles of Josan #3

by Patricia Bray

In one man, two souls fight for survival—and for mastery of an outlaw magic that could save a kingdom.

It was a fate Josan once considered preferable to death. Cast by dark sorcery into the body of Emperor Lucius of Ikaria, the scholar-monk struggled to make peace with a mind that regarded him as a hostile intruder. But now, as simmering rivalries threaten to plunge the kingdom into a bloody civil war, Josan is faced with the most difficult choice of all. For the uneasy truce between him and Lucius is unraveling in a form of madness that is destroying the body they share. There’s only one hope for a cure.

Disguised, stowing away as a common traveler, Josan/Lucius will make the hazardous journey to Xandropol. There in the great library of the Learned Brethren, Josan hopes to find the forbidden magic that will counter the spell that yokes him and Lucius. But an old antagonist is already on their the Lady Ysobel follows them to what she realizes is the scene of her and Josan’s fateful first meeting. But not even she divines the reason for this final that Josan has returned to sacrifice his life.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Patricia Bray is the author of a dozen novels, including Devlin’s Luck, which won the 2003 Compton Crook Award for the best first novel in the field of science fiction or fantasy. A multi-genre author whose career spans both epic fantasy and Regency romance, her books have been translated into Russian, German, Portuguese and Hebrew. Patricia Bray has also spent time on the editorial side of the business, as the co-editor of After Hours: Tales from the Ur-Bar (DAW, March 2011), The Modern Fae’s Guide to Surviving Humanity (DAW, March 2012), and Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs Aliens (ZNB, June 2014).

Patricia lives in a New England college town, where she combines her writing with a full-time career as a Systems Analyst, ensuring that she is never more than a few feet away from a keyboard.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd forgotten I'd actually purchased the last book in this trilogy. I guess I'd like to find out the end some day....

So I did eventually read the book. I was left feeling "meh". As I'd expected. Throughout the entire series, I just couldn't get into it despite being interested in the story and what was going on.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in the Josan's Chronicles gives a satisfiying conclusion to the trilogy. The action stays strong, as does the suspense - how will both the Empire and Emperor survive admist all the intrigue and the dueling souls, if at all?

[Adrianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time putting this book down. Patricia does a lovely job with her characters, her world building, and her stakes. Josan and Lucius are dying, and must find a cure. Unfortunately, for the other to survive, one of them will have to die.

[Mordie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent end to a good series. What I miss tho, is to see where it all goes from here. I wouldn't mind returning back to this land and seeing what happened before or after. I just wish there was more to read.

[T J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucius/Josan life was bad but now their life is mysteriously being threatened and it is up to them to figure out what to do. This is the most exciting of the books so far and the surprises don't stop at each turn.

[Lynn Calvin]

Amazon received

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

different twist ending

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot. This is an author I want to read more of, but somehow always forget about her.