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Gods of the Caravan Road #5
The Last Road
When even the gods are dying, the hope of the world may lie in its most feared enemies.
A new god proclaimed as the All-Holy has arisen in the west and leads an army eastward, devouring the gods and goddesses of the lands between, forcibly converting their folk and binding their souls to himself. The very fabric of the world appears threatened by forces beyond the understanding of scholars and wizards alike. Even the great city of Marakand, where the roads of east and west converge, seems powerless to resist the All-Holy, though the devils Moth and Yeh-Lin and the assassin Ahjvar, undead consort of the god of distant Nabban, have come to stand with it. That may avail Marakand little, for the shapeshifting Blackdog, once a champion of the gods, follows obediently at the All-Holy’s heel and Lakkariss, the sword of the cold hells, is in his master’s hand.
A new god proclaimed as the All-Holy has arisen in the west and leads an army eastward, devouring the gods and goddesses of the lands between, forcibly converting their folk and binding their souls to himself. The very fabric of the world appears threatened by forces beyond the understanding of scholars and wizards alike. Even the great city of Marakand, where the roads of east and west converge, seems powerless to resist the All-Holy, though the devils Moth and Yeh-Lin and the assassin Ahjvar, undead consort of the god of distant Nabban, have come to stand with it. That may avail Marakand little, for the shapeshifting Blackdog, once a champion of the gods, follows obediently at the All-Holy’s heel and Lakkariss, the sword of the cold hells, is in his master’s hand.
576 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2019
About the author
K.V. Johansen
27 books143 followersMostly, I write secondary world fantasy about people on the edges, with shapeshifters, demons, gods, and occasionally dragons. These days, I largely write for adults, though I've written many children's and YA fantasy novels and some children's science fiction, as well as picture books, plus I've been known to perpetrate literary criticism. I also write as Kris Jamison -- a contemporary lit book, Love/Rock/Compost.
My main scholarly interests are ancient and medieval history and languages, and the history of children's fantasy literature. What else can I say? My life is unexciting. I'm acquiring more guitars as I get older; music is very important to me even though I'm no good at it. I'm also, occasionally, an artist.
Here on Goodreads, I'm only rating/reviewing books I've really liked a lot. Sometimes I rate with stars, sometimes I don't, but a book is only on my Goodreads shelves if I liked it. For serious critical analysis from me, you'll have to turn to Quests and Kingdoms or Beyond Window-Dressing.
My main scholarly interests are ancient and medieval history and languages, and the history of children's fantasy literature. What else can I say? My life is unexciting. I'm acquiring more guitars as I get older; music is very important to me even though I'm no good at it. I'm also, occasionally, an artist.
Here on Goodreads, I'm only rating/reviewing books I've really liked a lot. Sometimes I rate with stars, sometimes I don't, but a book is only on my Goodreads shelves if I liked it. For serious critical analysis from me, you'll have to turn to Quests and Kingdoms or Beyond Window-Dressing.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 6, 2019
Brilliant end to a fantastic series, which deserves to be read far and wide, as it's simply one of the finest fantasies I've ever read - rich and lyrical, timeless and unique, powerful and poignant, wondrous yet real, full of characters that will stay with me forever, and a world I feel privileged to have visited, for much too short a time.
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November 20, 2019This is a novel wherein the use of the language is so atypical that the work often reads like a poetic saga rather than a more traditional narrative telling of a tale. It takes us on a new journey in the author's world, through time as much as through space, surprising us at the beginning, allowing us to see the "how and why" later, bringing us to a conclusive cataclysm that brings the arc of the series of the novels to a suitable conclusion.
If you have read Blackdog, the Leopard, the Lady, and Gods of Nabban (and I suggest you do), you'll recognize all the main characters, though you'll encounter a smattering of new ones. You'll recognize, too, many of the places depicted, though again there are enough new lands we explore that gives us the sense of having reached the far corners of the world.
One wonders what's next for this writer. I, for one, can't wait!
If you have read Blackdog, the Leopard, the Lady, and Gods of Nabban (and I suggest you do), you'll recognize all the main characters, though you'll encounter a smattering of new ones. You'll recognize, too, many of the places depicted, though again there are enough new lands we explore that gives us the sense of having reached the far corners of the world.
One wonders what's next for this writer. I, for one, can't wait!
May 29, 2020
First off, I was very sad to see that the artist who did the gorgeous covers on all the previous books didn't do this one. I know it's purely cosmetic but given the covers are what got me to check out the series in the first place and this one is completely different in style, it's worth mentioning.
The book suffers from some issues, jumping many years into the future where cultures and people have changed, and jumping around in time for some plot events--I assume to retain tension for specific reveals, but it felt more confusing than anything.
Ahjvar and Ghu are one of my all-time favorite duos and their character arc is so gorgeous. I was satisfied where things ended up for everyone and while I'm sad to see the world end, it's nice to have it all wrapped up with a solid ending.
The book suffers from some issues, jumping many years into the future where cultures and people have changed, and jumping around in time for some plot events--I assume to retain tension for specific reveals, but it felt more confusing than anything.
Ahjvar and Ghu are one of my all-time favorite duos and their character arc is so gorgeous. I was satisfied where things ended up for everyone and while I'm sad to see the world end, it's nice to have it all wrapped up with a solid ending.
February 27, 2023
There are stories, or books, that hold your attention from the very moment you start reading them. Sometimes, as with Call to Shadow, from Steven Erikson's Garden of the Moon, its something so obscure yet so entrancing that it further builds the mystery of the world within your head and sends you careening forth in your need to explore it.
K.V. Johansen's oft repeated refrain of 'In the days of the first kings in the North, there were seven devils…' has a very similar effect. While being different in nature, one being an actual poem, while the other is more like an allutiuon to a body of history within the fiction, both use as effective means of introducing you to the world and to events very important, if not altogether centric, to the tale at hand.
Some people might be a little alarmed at this comparison, but there is no need to worry. The Last Road does not suffer from the myriad little flaws that crowd the other book and make it unbearable for some people.
Instead, like the previous entries in the series, the book is rife with lyrical descriptions, strong, interesting characters and an extraordinarily-constructed world that pulls at the reader with every chapter. It is not, however, a book to be read briskly. The prose, though undeniably enjoyable, can be dense at times, not in the plodding, quasi-philosophical way of Erikson but because the thoughts and actions of the viewpoint characters are sometimes expressed in a manner resembling stream of consciousness that could well throw off people not accustomed to the style.
The plot takes place across vast distances, and this serves to hightlight one other core aspect of Johansen's prose, and that is the way the terrain and the landscapes are portrayed. It is perhaps unsurprising, given that much of the overall story deals with the gods and goddesses of the earth and water, but it feels like the author is keen at all times to keep that connection between character and terrain alive in the reader's mind. Indeed, figuratively by way of the gods, and literally by way of how it is portrayed and the importance it plays, it could well be said that the land itself, the terrain, the forest and the grasses as the hills, are another character.
These constant glimpses we get of the world encompassing the characters are nothing if not beautiful, but it could be argued they also slow down the story. Even if the particular story the author tells is well served by them.
Ultimately, I believe this is a book that really deserves to be read. This series I without a doubt one of fantasy's best.
K.V. Johansen's oft repeated refrain of 'In the days of the first kings in the North, there were seven devils…' has a very similar effect. While being different in nature, one being an actual poem, while the other is more like an allutiuon to a body of history within the fiction, both use as effective means of introducing you to the world and to events very important, if not altogether centric, to the tale at hand.
Some people might be a little alarmed at this comparison, but there is no need to worry. The Last Road does not suffer from the myriad little flaws that crowd the other book and make it unbearable for some people.
Instead, like the previous entries in the series, the book is rife with lyrical descriptions, strong, interesting characters and an extraordinarily-constructed world that pulls at the reader with every chapter. It is not, however, a book to be read briskly. The prose, though undeniably enjoyable, can be dense at times, not in the plodding, quasi-philosophical way of Erikson but because the thoughts and actions of the viewpoint characters are sometimes expressed in a manner resembling stream of consciousness that could well throw off people not accustomed to the style.
The plot takes place across vast distances, and this serves to hightlight one other core aspect of Johansen's prose, and that is the way the terrain and the landscapes are portrayed. It is perhaps unsurprising, given that much of the overall story deals with the gods and goddesses of the earth and water, but it feels like the author is keen at all times to keep that connection between character and terrain alive in the reader's mind. Indeed, figuratively by way of the gods, and literally by way of how it is portrayed and the importance it plays, it could well be said that the land itself, the terrain, the forest and the grasses as the hills, are another character.
These constant glimpses we get of the world encompassing the characters are nothing if not beautiful, but it could be argued they also slow down the story. Even if the particular story the author tells is well served by them.
Ultimately, I believe this is a book that really deserves to be read. This series I without a doubt one of fantasy's best.
April 11, 2022
I really did love this series so much. It is full of lush, lyrical language that is almost poetic. It is in some ways almost a throwback high fantasy, and in other ways a truly unique entry into the genre. The world is rich and the characters are filled with life. This book is a fine ending to great ride. I have a bit of a quibble with this book - I didn't like that it isn't organized chronologically. I don't have a problem with nonlinear storytelling in general, but I found it a little confusing here and I don't think it really added anything. And in the series in general, sometimes I could use a bit more dialogue. Sometimes it feels you go for ages without anyone speaking, and the characters are so fun to spend time with that I feel like I need a bit more of their interaction. But like I said, those are minor points in what is truly a fantastic series. The funniest part is that I chose Blackdog because it was recommended as a "stand alone" fantasy, something that didn't require a multi-book investment, and in the end, I'd be more than happy to continue reading books in the series!
December 28, 2019
This was a fantastic ending to this epic series. It was richly done and well paced. I loved being in the author's world and falling in love with these characters. I can not wait to see what the author comes up with next because I will totally be grabbing it.
January 23, 2020
The Last Road is the final book in the Caravan Road by K.V. Johansen. Most of the books in the series are self-contained stories, but they all build on the whole so you don't want to jump into this series with this book. This one was a little rough in the beginning, improving as it went along. It did feel just slightly indulgent, though not too surprising as this is the end of the series. Regarding the series as a whole, the books varied a bit in quality from okay to good. Overall, the series was pretty decent and I'm glad I read it.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews