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Mennik Thorn #4
Legacy of a Hated God
Nik Thorn should know better than to get involved with gods.
But when a priest of a hated god asks Nik to save his life, Nik can hardly refuse, particularly when the priest knows exactly how, where, when, and why he is going to be killed. How hard can it be?
Of course, that’s not Nik's only problem. When is it ever? A god has been murdered, the city’s high mages are about to go to war, and fury is rising in the streets.
Agatos will burn.
The final book in the Mennik Thorn series.
But when a priest of a hated god asks Nik to save his life, Nik can hardly refuse, particularly when the priest knows exactly how, where, when, and why he is going to be killed. How hard can it be?
Of course, that’s not Nik's only problem. When is it ever? A god has been murdered, the city’s high mages are about to go to war, and fury is rising in the streets.
Agatos will burn.
The final book in the Mennik Thorn series.
- GenresFantasy
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2023
10 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Samphire
34 books189 followersPatrick Samphire is the author of the adult fantasy novels SHADOW OF A DEAD GOD, NECTAR FOR THE GOD, STRANGE CARGO, and the forthcoming LEGACY OF A HATED GOD, as well as the middle grade novels SECRETS OF THE DRAGON TOMB and THE EMPEROR OF MARS. He has published around twenty short stories and novellas.
Patrick has been writing stories since he was fourteen years old and thought it would be a good way of avoiding having to sit through English lessons at school. He was absolutely convinced that he would be famous by the time he was eighteen, but sadly, even infamy has eluded him.
He lives in Wales, surrounded by mountains, with his wife, their sons, and their cat.
When he's not writing, he designs websites and ebooks.
He will now stop talking about himself in the third person.
Patrick has been writing stories since he was fourteen years old and thought it would be a good way of avoiding having to sit through English lessons at school. He was absolutely convinced that he would be famous by the time he was eighteen, but sadly, even infamy has eluded him.
He lives in Wales, surrounded by mountains, with his wife, their sons, and their cat.
When he's not writing, he designs websites and ebooks.
He will now stop talking about himself in the third person.
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November 2, 2023Legacy of a Hated God, the last book in the Mennik Thorn series, is now out!
Buy it in ebook, paperback or hardcover, and enjoy!
Buy it in ebook, paperback or hardcover, and enjoy!
November 2, 2023
Yay! This book is out today, and I'm so happy about it. I love this snarky fantasy mystery series (with the feeling of urban fantasy but in a rich, vivid, secondary-world setting), and this is a spectacular conclusion that feels truly epic. The mystery is intriguing, the stakes are huge, and Nik is just as much of an underdog as ever - but with some really satisfying character development, as he's really fighting to become a better friend (and gets an adorable dog along the way).
If you've been waiting until the series is over, this is the time to hop in and devour all four books together. They are SO much fun!
If you've been waiting until the series is over, this is the time to hop in and devour all four books together. They are SO much fun!
December 15, 2023
Legacy of a Hated God is the final book in the Mennik Thorn series following the titular character’s many misadventures as a mage-for-hire. He inherits a dog from a client, he is hired by a priest to prevent his death, and he must redeem his best friend’s friendship by solving the impossible murder of a god. Just your run-of-the-mill problems for a mediocre mage.
I found this book to be more a series of story threads than a single narrative. It also didn’t feel like a final book to me. It does give us closure on his friendship with Benny and his relationship with Captain Gale (but not really), and I thought there would be more to his sister and her partner’s story to tell which did not really factor in at all here. I thought the series was building up to something that never really was apparently so that might just be a me problem.
That being said, this was still a pretty fun installment with characteristic self-deprecating humor from Nik who is perpetually down on his luck. He came off more competent than ever before and once again brought a lot of heart.
Legacy of a Hated God is a fun installment in the series while not feeling like the conclusion it is meant to be.
I found this book to be more a series of story threads than a single narrative. It also didn’t feel like a final book to me. It does give us closure on his friendship with Benny and his relationship with Captain Gale (but not really), and I thought there would be more to his sister and her partner’s story to tell which did not really factor in at all here. I thought the series was building up to something that never really was apparently so that might just be a me problem.
That being said, this was still a pretty fun installment with characteristic self-deprecating humor from Nik who is perpetually down on his luck. He came off more competent than ever before and once again brought a lot of heart.
Legacy of a Hated God is a fun installment in the series while not feeling like the conclusion it is meant to be.
November 5, 2023
The final book! I wanted to read it so bad, and at the same time, I didn’t. I didn’t want my adventures with Nik to end. He’s unlucky, stinky, and chaotic but I’ve grown to love him. Legacy of a Hated God is the last book in this series although Patrick has hinted it might not be the last book set in the world of Agatos. I’m glad because even though he explore a lot more of the city and lore, there’s still so much to be discovered. Let’s not get ahead though. Let’s talk about Mennik Thorn’s latest mess, I mean, adventure.
As with the previous books, the mage for hire has gotten himself involved with the business of gods when a priest knocks on his door. This cult is a particular kind of weird in that they worship a god they hate. One of their bizarre rituals is beating a chosen priest to death, where the priest is supposedly a vessel for the god. Sigh. This can’t be good, right? Nik thinks so too, and accepts the job. Then Benny comes by for a visit telling him a god has been killed.
More gods, more trouble.
Which is a good thing, for me, because that means shenanigans are about to happen. Nik is going to mess up, big time. Agatos will burn, and Nik’s shirt will be ruined.
I’m always amazed at how well Patrick weaves the different cases together, all different in nature and location. But eventually everything comes together in a big climax. This time much bigger than the previous books. Epic is one word for it. It’s cataclysmic also in the sense that this event brings major change into Nik’s life. He ends up with a dog (nothing bad happens to the dog!), and even makes new friends. I love this for him.
Legacy of a Hated God continues in the same vein as the previous books. It’s a fast-paced fantasy with lots of things happening, political intrigue, and an interesting cast of characters. Most of them you’ll know already, some new ones. Patrick’s writing is still as smooth and loaded with emotion and descriptions of his world without it becoming too much. It’s a hard balance to maintain when there’s so much interesting stuff in your world.
The book does leave me with a few more questions but those are about the world in general, not Nik specific. I’m okay with never getting answers to those but I wish there was maybe a bit more in the wrap-up of the events.
I loved Legacy of a Hated God but I think the second book, Nectar for the God is still my favourite in the series. Not that this book isn’t as good but I prefer the themes of the second one. All in all, it’s a great ending to the series and I’m sad that I’ll have to miss Nik. He’s probably happy he can wear clean shirts more often now.
Patrick Samphire is an excellent and imaginative writer that takes his chosen genre to another level, mixing it up with elements and tropes from other (sub)genres and creating his own thing. He’s definitely one of my favourite authors and I just know that whatever he writes next I will enjoy greatly.
As with the previous books, the mage for hire has gotten himself involved with the business of gods when a priest knocks on his door. This cult is a particular kind of weird in that they worship a god they hate. One of their bizarre rituals is beating a chosen priest to death, where the priest is supposedly a vessel for the god. Sigh. This can’t be good, right? Nik thinks so too, and accepts the job. Then Benny comes by for a visit telling him a god has been killed.
More gods, more trouble.
Which is a good thing, for me, because that means shenanigans are about to happen. Nik is going to mess up, big time. Agatos will burn, and Nik’s shirt will be ruined.
I’m always amazed at how well Patrick weaves the different cases together, all different in nature and location. But eventually everything comes together in a big climax. This time much bigger than the previous books. Epic is one word for it. It’s cataclysmic also in the sense that this event brings major change into Nik’s life. He ends up with a dog (nothing bad happens to the dog!), and even makes new friends. I love this for him.
Legacy of a Hated God continues in the same vein as the previous books. It’s a fast-paced fantasy with lots of things happening, political intrigue, and an interesting cast of characters. Most of them you’ll know already, some new ones. Patrick’s writing is still as smooth and loaded with emotion and descriptions of his world without it becoming too much. It’s a hard balance to maintain when there’s so much interesting stuff in your world.
The book does leave me with a few more questions but those are about the world in general, not Nik specific. I’m okay with never getting answers to those but I wish there was maybe a bit more in the wrap-up of the events.
I loved Legacy of a Hated God but I think the second book, Nectar for the God is still my favourite in the series. Not that this book isn’t as good but I prefer the themes of the second one. All in all, it’s a great ending to the series and I’m sad that I’ll have to miss Nik. He’s probably happy he can wear clean shirts more often now.
Patrick Samphire is an excellent and imaginative writer that takes his chosen genre to another level, mixing it up with elements and tropes from other (sub)genres and creating his own thing. He’s definitely one of my favourite authors and I just know that whatever he writes next I will enjoy greatly.
October 22, 2023
I’ll write a better review later but this book takes a much more serious time than previous books and wraps up what appears to be the final book in the series pretty well. I would have loved a longer final review scene because who wouldn’t with a series they loved?
You know it’s a really good series when you’re more than a little sad that it is the final book. If Samphire put out a new Mennik Thorn book every year I’m sure I’d dutifully buy it and enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing what he writes moving forward.
You know it’s a really good series when you’re more than a little sad that it is the final book. If Samphire put out a new Mennik Thorn book every year I’m sure I’d dutifully buy it and enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing what he writes moving forward.
March 11, 2024
FUN! thrilling & engrossing!
The Mennik Thorn Novels are totally fun reads. Sad to learn this is the last of them. Samphire has quite the devious mind to keep all his subplots and subterfuges straight. Lots of surprises delivered in this tale, ones unexpected and ones finally shared. I enjoyed the star Mennik quite a bit, but I am fascinated by Sereh and would really like more of her. Lots of magic, lots of blood and danger, but also lots of politics and family and bravery and lots and lots of bad luck!
The Mennik Thorn Novels are totally fun reads. Sad to learn this is the last of them. Samphire has quite the devious mind to keep all his subplots and subterfuges straight. Lots of surprises delivered in this tale, ones unexpected and ones finally shared. I enjoyed the star Mennik quite a bit, but I am fascinated by Sereh and would really like more of her. Lots of magic, lots of blood and danger, but also lots of politics and family and bravery and lots and lots of bad luck!
September 28, 2023
The Mennick Thorn series comes to an end in the best, most epic of ways!
I maintain writing is like weaving. The best stories bring threads together, carefully applying the warp and the weft to highlight some elements, while hiding others for later. To do this over a series of four books presents an enormous challenge for any author. Patrick Samphire succeeds with aplomb!
One of the things I've loved most in Legacy of a Hated God is the way threads from earlier books appear, fade, only to reappear again. Shadow of a Dead God establishes the magic system. In Nectar for the God the role of The Wren and Nik's mother, High Mages, comes into focus and his relationship with Benny goes sour. Strange Cargo sets up the conditions for the final part of the series. It means, by the fourth instalment, characters are familiar, thoroughly explored and utterly engaging. They are human (OK, apart from the monsters and the gods!) and have their frailties and failings. Those very qualities underpin the stories. Patrick Samphire's plots are founded on these weaknesses. Though the stories may be fantasy, you see these people everywhere you look. Just because it's fantasy doesn't negate the need to provide social commentary!
Nik is the type of hero that fits perfectly within this theme. He is the person we would all like to be. That person who doesn't question personal safety, who supports those who are vulnerable for no other reason than no one else will. His integrity is rock solid and we'd all like to be that way, few of us are. To illustrate, part of the plot revolves around his reaction to the death of a minor character in an earlier book. That reaction costs him dearly but at no point does he ever regret his actions. He accepts the consequences and moves on.
Nik's stories fall into the fantasy mystery genre and they typify it perfectly. The mystery is established at the beginning and events misdirect us when we think we're being fed accurate information. Like a conjurer, the author needs to completely surprise us in the end because the denouement is not what we expect. Yet, with closer inspection, you realise the answers were there all along! These stories are labelled as being akin to Jim Butcher's Dresden Files and I can see the similarities. Dresden is another man whose heroic deeds leads him to risk his life in pursuit of doing The Right Thing. This conjuring act may not sit well with my weaving analogy, except to suggest parts of the final pattern are never visible until the job is finished. (OK, I've stretched that metaphor as far as it will go!)
As the author says in his Acknowledgements, I will also miss Nik a great deal. I'm sorry this is the end of his adventures. The story wraps everything up beautifully. I finished the final page and let out a huge sigh of satisfaction. I'm a sucker for a happy ending. That's not a spoiler either. These stories are not that dark. The question is always, HOW can that happiness be achieved? We're promised more short stories and novellas and that provides a crumb of comfort!
I have deliberately not mentioned any events in the story. To do so might compromise the enjoyment of those folk who are about to start reading the series. But the plot is so complex, the threads woven so tightly (oops!) that to lift out certain events belittles that complexity. Suffice to say, the pace never drops. Nik spends most of his time running in this story, from one crisis to another. The result of perfectly sustained excitement.
Go get this book. You will not regret it. And start badgering Netflix and Amazon to get Nik's adventures on screen!
I maintain writing is like weaving. The best stories bring threads together, carefully applying the warp and the weft to highlight some elements, while hiding others for later. To do this over a series of four books presents an enormous challenge for any author. Patrick Samphire succeeds with aplomb!
One of the things I've loved most in Legacy of a Hated God is the way threads from earlier books appear, fade, only to reappear again. Shadow of a Dead God establishes the magic system. In Nectar for the God the role of The Wren and Nik's mother, High Mages, comes into focus and his relationship with Benny goes sour. Strange Cargo sets up the conditions for the final part of the series. It means, by the fourth instalment, characters are familiar, thoroughly explored and utterly engaging. They are human (OK, apart from the monsters and the gods!) and have their frailties and failings. Those very qualities underpin the stories. Patrick Samphire's plots are founded on these weaknesses. Though the stories may be fantasy, you see these people everywhere you look. Just because it's fantasy doesn't negate the need to provide social commentary!
Nik is the type of hero that fits perfectly within this theme. He is the person we would all like to be. That person who doesn't question personal safety, who supports those who are vulnerable for no other reason than no one else will. His integrity is rock solid and we'd all like to be that way, few of us are. To illustrate, part of the plot revolves around his reaction to the death of a minor character in an earlier book. That reaction costs him dearly but at no point does he ever regret his actions. He accepts the consequences and moves on.
Nik's stories fall into the fantasy mystery genre and they typify it perfectly. The mystery is established at the beginning and events misdirect us when we think we're being fed accurate information. Like a conjurer, the author needs to completely surprise us in the end because the denouement is not what we expect. Yet, with closer inspection, you realise the answers were there all along! These stories are labelled as being akin to Jim Butcher's Dresden Files and I can see the similarities. Dresden is another man whose heroic deeds leads him to risk his life in pursuit of doing The Right Thing. This conjuring act may not sit well with my weaving analogy, except to suggest parts of the final pattern are never visible until the job is finished. (OK, I've stretched that metaphor as far as it will go!)
As the author says in his Acknowledgements, I will also miss Nik a great deal. I'm sorry this is the end of his adventures. The story wraps everything up beautifully. I finished the final page and let out a huge sigh of satisfaction. I'm a sucker for a happy ending. That's not a spoiler either. These stories are not that dark. The question is always, HOW can that happiness be achieved? We're promised more short stories and novellas and that provides a crumb of comfort!
I have deliberately not mentioned any events in the story. To do so might compromise the enjoyment of those folk who are about to start reading the series. But the plot is so complex, the threads woven so tightly (oops!) that to lift out certain events belittles that complexity. Suffice to say, the pace never drops. Nik spends most of his time running in this story, from one crisis to another. The result of perfectly sustained excitement.
Go get this book. You will not regret it. And start badgering Netflix and Amazon to get Nik's adventures on screen!
November 13, 2023
I've had so much fun with this series, can't believe it's over!
October 2, 2025
Best One So Far
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Mennik Thorn’s adventures through the first 3 books, and am happy to say #4 tops them all. The characters and their relationships pull you into the complex plot, enriching it and adding more depth to the story’s conflicts, challenges and resolutions. And through it all, the MCs very distinctive voice is viciously funny, inspiring, poignant, and highly entertaining.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Mennik Thorn’s adventures through the first 3 books, and am happy to say #4 tops them all. The characters and their relationships pull you into the complex plot, enriching it and adding more depth to the story’s conflicts, challenges and resolutions. And through it all, the MCs very distinctive voice is viciously funny, inspiring, poignant, and highly entertaining.
September 20, 2023
There was no way I was going to wait to read Legacy of a Hated God. I have loved the Mennik Thorn series since I first picked it up, so the moment the e-arc landed I started reading…and I may have read it again since then while waiting for that stunning cover to be revealed yesterday. I was also trying to delay the inevitable of saying goodbye to this series, and more importantly to Nik – a character that I have felt the need to wrap in blankets and lock away for his own good many times over the last few years. It’s always bittersweet reaching the climax of a series, and even more so when it has one of your favourite characters, and there is always that question of how everything is going to be wrapped up.
Brilliantly, as it transpires.
Legacy of a Hated God encapsulates everything that has made this series so great but turns it up yet another notch. This book sees Agatos, and everything that simmers beneath its surface cut open, letting everything that has festered and built up well up and see the light of day. Samphire’s worldbuilding for this series has always been fantastic, but here it is simply spectacular, as threads and hints that have been scattered throughout the books fed into the unravelling events. We got to learn more about the history of the city, about the web of connections between those in power and more about the Ash guard and their role in the city. Honestly, after two read throughs I’m in awe of what Samphire has achieved in this last book, and I want to sit down and reread the entire series so I can see it all as a whole because this was a series climax to be savoured.
There were also new elements, which added to the already complex layers of Agatos. Firstly, the idea of a religion built around hating your god is absolutely brilliant, if not a little self-contradictory – which is why I loved it so much. And the mystery that was built around it was as devious and twisty as any that Nik has solved and had me guessing (often wrongly) right until the very end and was a wonderful way of showing Nik at his very best and most chaotic.
Then there was the Warrens. This location that has been so central to the story, really stepped into the limelight here, as the powder keg was exposed to open flame. This was where the story really shone for me, because this was something so central to Nik’s history, to his friendship with Benny, and his relationship with his mother and the weight of his step-father’s death, and here Samphire takes us right down into the depths of what makes the Warrens what it is, into the friction between the Warrens and the rest of the city, and the truth of the Wren.
Previously, while tendrils of the events Nik has faced have stretched out across Agatos they’ve felt more localised. Perhaps because we follow Nik and see his involvement and role in the ensuing chaos, but in Legacy of a Hated God, it feels like the scope of the chaos has hit a whole other level. A fitting crescendo for the end of the series, and one that had me on the edge of the city – because disaster has always been close, but this time… this time there was a feeling of inevitability.
‘No gods, mages, or monsters. How many times had I told myself that? It was bad enough to get involved with the Brythanii priest. This? It was insanity.’
Oh Nik, when will you ever learn? I was less than 30% into this one and already torn between wrapping him up for his own protection and slapping him silly. How this idiot manages to get into trouble is an art form all of its own, and I love that has remained a core of the story through all four books. One thing you can absolutely say about Nik is that his heart is in the right place. His brain…not so much. Maybe that is why he makes for such a compelling character, because you just want to cheer for this underdog wading through situations that he finds himself stumbling into. But Nik is so much more than that, and while he remains very much an idiot – we’ve seen him grow a lot over the course of the series, and that was truly evident in this book. He’s still messy. Still working through the shadow of expectations and his own actions, but through it all he stepped up and forward.
It was always hard to imagine how his story would end, other than in disaster – probably of his own making, or at least his own involvement as to be fair he doesn’t start the trouble he just falls headfirst into it.
We get to see more of Benny and Sereh, and oh my goodness do I love Serah and if there are any future stories, I hope we get to see more of her, and this book reminds us of why you don’t want to meet her in a dark alley. It was great to have them centre stage again, and to see Nik trying his best to bridge the gap between them, while juggling about a dozen things at once. Benny I’ve always found an interesting counterpart to Nik, they’re both flint and flame to one another, a friendship that can be strong as iron and as volatile as oil next to open flame, and that was very true here. And I think it’s safe to say Nik is not the only idiot in this duo.
“You only come here for two things, Nik. Questions or favours, and I know even you’re not asking for a favour right now.”
We also get to enjoy familiar faces with Captain Gale once again being a voice of reason and knowledge, and I still love the unlikely friendship between her and Nik and the fact that there is someone who tries to get him to walk away from the events he finds himself in. There was one raw moment that had me wincing, although it was one that had been built up across the series, so it absolutely had to happen. We also have more of Mica and her and Nik’s mother, and I have to say the events involving them in the latter part of the book were fantastic – it redeemed their mother just a little bit (and was both awe-inspiring and terrifying), and it felt fitting that with truths being revealed, and the Warrens and it’s secrets overspilling into the streets of Agatos, that these two had their moments to shine. Kehsereen was another returning face, and I’m glad that he stayed around – although not sure he is the safest influence on Nik, as he was an all too willing accomplice, but I enjoyed seeing the thread of his story continue, and his efforts to find an alternative to Ash to help his nephew.
Ilenoi was a fantastic addition to this colourful cast of characters, it was interesting to see someone who had been completely separate from all the past events, and Nik’s childhood, being drawn into his circle. It also felt fitting for a story that saw Agatos almost from a bird-eye-view, and I loved that like Gale she looked at the disaster that was Nik and still wanted to help and honestly, Ilenoi is all of us readers who have wanted to wrap him in a blanket to protect him from his own idiocy.
And of course, we can’t forget the best boy – although I have to admit I had doubts about Nik being given responsibility for a dog (and I think Sereh agreed with me).
Legacy of a Hated God is a fantastic capstone to what is easily one of my favourite stories and tied up Nik’s story in a truly fitting way, while leaving Agatos as a living, breathing, chaotic city whose story would continue long beyond the closing of the book. Samphire did a spectacular job of tying up threads new and old, including some that I hadn’t expected to see again, while also upping the ante all the way along. There was no stopping this ride once I was on it, Nik’s misadventures sweeping me along from start to finish, and it was an absolute joy to read even in the moments that had me on the edge of my seat and expecting the worst.
If you haven’t picked up the Mennik Thorn series, then what are you waiting for? This series has it all – heists and Gods, a chaotic, idiotic mage with a heart bigger than he can handle, and spectacular worldbuilding. What more could you want?
Brilliantly, as it transpires.
Legacy of a Hated God encapsulates everything that has made this series so great but turns it up yet another notch. This book sees Agatos, and everything that simmers beneath its surface cut open, letting everything that has festered and built up well up and see the light of day. Samphire’s worldbuilding for this series has always been fantastic, but here it is simply spectacular, as threads and hints that have been scattered throughout the books fed into the unravelling events. We got to learn more about the history of the city, about the web of connections between those in power and more about the Ash guard and their role in the city. Honestly, after two read throughs I’m in awe of what Samphire has achieved in this last book, and I want to sit down and reread the entire series so I can see it all as a whole because this was a series climax to be savoured.
There were also new elements, which added to the already complex layers of Agatos. Firstly, the idea of a religion built around hating your god is absolutely brilliant, if not a little self-contradictory – which is why I loved it so much. And the mystery that was built around it was as devious and twisty as any that Nik has solved and had me guessing (often wrongly) right until the very end and was a wonderful way of showing Nik at his very best and most chaotic.
Then there was the Warrens. This location that has been so central to the story, really stepped into the limelight here, as the powder keg was exposed to open flame. This was where the story really shone for me, because this was something so central to Nik’s history, to his friendship with Benny, and his relationship with his mother and the weight of his step-father’s death, and here Samphire takes us right down into the depths of what makes the Warrens what it is, into the friction between the Warrens and the rest of the city, and the truth of the Wren.
Previously, while tendrils of the events Nik has faced have stretched out across Agatos they’ve felt more localised. Perhaps because we follow Nik and see his involvement and role in the ensuing chaos, but in Legacy of a Hated God, it feels like the scope of the chaos has hit a whole other level. A fitting crescendo for the end of the series, and one that had me on the edge of the city – because disaster has always been close, but this time… this time there was a feeling of inevitability.
‘No gods, mages, or monsters. How many times had I told myself that? It was bad enough to get involved with the Brythanii priest. This? It was insanity.’
Oh Nik, when will you ever learn? I was less than 30% into this one and already torn between wrapping him up for his own protection and slapping him silly. How this idiot manages to get into trouble is an art form all of its own, and I love that has remained a core of the story through all four books. One thing you can absolutely say about Nik is that his heart is in the right place. His brain…not so much. Maybe that is why he makes for such a compelling character, because you just want to cheer for this underdog wading through situations that he finds himself stumbling into. But Nik is so much more than that, and while he remains very much an idiot – we’ve seen him grow a lot over the course of the series, and that was truly evident in this book. He’s still messy. Still working through the shadow of expectations and his own actions, but through it all he stepped up and forward.
It was always hard to imagine how his story would end, other than in disaster – probably of his own making, or at least his own involvement as to be fair he doesn’t start the trouble he just falls headfirst into it.
We get to see more of Benny and Sereh, and oh my goodness do I love Serah and if there are any future stories, I hope we get to see more of her, and this book reminds us of why you don’t want to meet her in a dark alley. It was great to have them centre stage again, and to see Nik trying his best to bridge the gap between them, while juggling about a dozen things at once. Benny I’ve always found an interesting counterpart to Nik, they’re both flint and flame to one another, a friendship that can be strong as iron and as volatile as oil next to open flame, and that was very true here. And I think it’s safe to say Nik is not the only idiot in this duo.
“You only come here for two things, Nik. Questions or favours, and I know even you’re not asking for a favour right now.”
We also get to enjoy familiar faces with Captain Gale once again being a voice of reason and knowledge, and I still love the unlikely friendship between her and Nik and the fact that there is someone who tries to get him to walk away from the events he finds himself in. There was one raw moment that had me wincing, although it was one that had been built up across the series, so it absolutely had to happen. We also have more of Mica and her and Nik’s mother, and I have to say the events involving them in the latter part of the book were fantastic – it redeemed their mother just a little bit (and was both awe-inspiring and terrifying), and it felt fitting that with truths being revealed, and the Warrens and it’s secrets overspilling into the streets of Agatos, that these two had their moments to shine. Kehsereen was another returning face, and I’m glad that he stayed around – although not sure he is the safest influence on Nik, as he was an all too willing accomplice, but I enjoyed seeing the thread of his story continue, and his efforts to find an alternative to Ash to help his nephew.
Ilenoi was a fantastic addition to this colourful cast of characters, it was interesting to see someone who had been completely separate from all the past events, and Nik’s childhood, being drawn into his circle. It also felt fitting for a story that saw Agatos almost from a bird-eye-view, and I loved that like Gale she looked at the disaster that was Nik and still wanted to help and honestly, Ilenoi is all of us readers who have wanted to wrap him in a blanket to protect him from his own idiocy.
And of course, we can’t forget the best boy – although I have to admit I had doubts about Nik being given responsibility for a dog (and I think Sereh agreed with me).
Legacy of a Hated God is a fantastic capstone to what is easily one of my favourite stories and tied up Nik’s story in a truly fitting way, while leaving Agatos as a living, breathing, chaotic city whose story would continue long beyond the closing of the book. Samphire did a spectacular job of tying up threads new and old, including some that I hadn’t expected to see again, while also upping the ante all the way along. There was no stopping this ride once I was on it, Nik’s misadventures sweeping me along from start to finish, and it was an absolute joy to read even in the moments that had me on the edge of my seat and expecting the worst.
If you haven’t picked up the Mennik Thorn series, then what are you waiting for? This series has it all – heists and Gods, a chaotic, idiotic mage with a heart bigger than he can handle, and spectacular worldbuilding. What more could you want?
January 4, 2024
A rather timid ending to what I thought was a fairly well written world with an interesting protagonist. Some surprises, some good additions but in the end no proper closure. Makes me feel like the author might want to come back to this series on a later date?
November 12, 2023
Patrick Samphire's latest Mennik Thorn adventure is bittersweet: for the moment, the author is retiring his snarky detective mage with the completion of a trilogy, a novella, and a short story.
LEGACY leaves plenty of room for further Thorn adventures down the line, so I doubt we've seen the last of him even though this final entry ties up the arc begun in the first book pretty neatly. Some exciting revelations punctuate the finale to give it some extra heft, and Thorn's childhood friend Benny the master thief is back with his knife-wielding pre-teen daughter Sereh, and the question of whether Captain Meroi Gale of the Ash Guard will ever go on a date with Thorn gets a fairly definitive answer.
Thorn's latest mission is to discover who set up a member of a unique religious congregation to be beaten to death by the rest of the flock. The murder itself is not the conundrum: they regularly elect one person for this "Honor" in hopes the ceremony will call their god into the chosen one so they can kill it by killing the human host. At odds with an uncaring god, this congregation means to punish his lack of attention in a permanent way. Luckily, sort of, the god never takes their bait and enters the victim, or they'd be done with it and have no more reason to sustain their church and interesting forms of "worship": defiling every depiction of the god within spitting distance. But the problem is the willing volunteer elected for the task is neither willing nor did he volunteer, thus Thorn is hired to uncover who did the "volunteering" in the victim's place.
Benny and Sereh's return is spurred by a different god's actual demise, which threatens the lower class community both Mennik and Benny grew up in. Worse, her remains provide magical resources of great value to any mage powerful and knowledgeable enough to harvest them. Hence Benny calls on Thorn to solve this murder as well.
If none of this is interesting enough to compel potential readers back to Thorn's side, I'd beseech them to reconsider by noting that Thorn i nonherits a sneaky mutt of a dog when one of his clients passes. One can't but wonder if this might sway Gale on the dating front, right? Only one way to know - read the book!
Many thanks to author Samphire for an advance copy of the text, as well as for a very enjoyable cast of characters spread over the trilogy and shorts, with magics and adventures not quite like any other secondary world detective mages may have provided for your reading pleasure before.
LEGACY leaves plenty of room for further Thorn adventures down the line, so I doubt we've seen the last of him even though this final entry ties up the arc begun in the first book pretty neatly. Some exciting revelations punctuate the finale to give it some extra heft, and Thorn's childhood friend Benny the master thief is back with his knife-wielding pre-teen daughter Sereh, and the question of whether Captain Meroi Gale of the Ash Guard will ever go on a date with Thorn gets a fairly definitive answer.
Thorn's latest mission is to discover who set up a member of a unique religious congregation to be beaten to death by the rest of the flock. The murder itself is not the conundrum: they regularly elect one person for this "Honor" in hopes the ceremony will call their god into the chosen one so they can kill it by killing the human host. At odds with an uncaring god, this congregation means to punish his lack of attention in a permanent way. Luckily, sort of, the god never takes their bait and enters the victim, or they'd be done with it and have no more reason to sustain their church and interesting forms of "worship": defiling every depiction of the god within spitting distance. But the problem is the willing volunteer elected for the task is neither willing nor did he volunteer, thus Thorn is hired to uncover who did the "volunteering" in the victim's place.
Benny and Sereh's return is spurred by a different god's actual demise, which threatens the lower class community both Mennik and Benny grew up in. Worse, her remains provide magical resources of great value to any mage powerful and knowledgeable enough to harvest them. Hence Benny calls on Thorn to solve this murder as well.
If none of this is interesting enough to compel potential readers back to Thorn's side, I'd beseech them to reconsider by noting that Thorn i nonherits a sneaky mutt of a dog when one of his clients passes. One can't but wonder if this might sway Gale on the dating front, right? Only one way to know - read the book!
Many thanks to author Samphire for an advance copy of the text, as well as for a very enjoyable cast of characters spread over the trilogy and shorts, with magics and adventures not quite like any other secondary world detective mages may have provided for your reading pleasure before.
May 20, 2025
One of the hallmarks of Samphire's writing of the Mennik "Nik" Thorn series that I appreciate the most is that the individual threads of several plotlines will often cross, inform, thread together or even unravel simultaneously. I only noticed this while reading Legacy of a Hated God when it looked, just after mid-book, like one of the threads was neatly and cleanly finished. I found myself confused because it seemed out of line for... oh wait, brought back around at the end when I wasn't even expecting it. Well played.
The characters feel settled in the world and have their own lives outside of Nik, which makes the ups and downs in the relationships earned and honest. It's a good drama that we see through Nik's eyes, watching as he moves through the world, rather than have it revolve around him. It's also nice to see a strong protagonist that doesn't have to wildly level up their "power" in order to drive the plot.
Legacy is the last of this series, and puts a nice endcap on these four books, with loads of payoffs for anyone who's read all of them. So for anyone who enjoys a down on their luck mage detective trying to do their best, getting thrust into capers (at least 40-60% of their own making) in a detailed big town fantasy setting, then I would definitely give the series a try.
Honestly, I'm just hoping to lobby the network for a series renewal -- one more season and maybe a movie if we're lucky.
The characters feel settled in the world and have their own lives outside of Nik, which makes the ups and downs in the relationships earned and honest. It's a good drama that we see through Nik's eyes, watching as he moves through the world, rather than have it revolve around him. It's also nice to see a strong protagonist that doesn't have to wildly level up their "power" in order to drive the plot.
Legacy is the last of this series, and puts a nice endcap on these four books, with loads of payoffs for anyone who's read all of them. So for anyone who enjoys a down on their luck mage detective trying to do their best, getting thrust into capers (at least 40-60% of their own making) in a detailed big town fantasy setting, then I would definitely give the series a try.
Honestly, I'm just hoping to lobby the network for a series renewal -- one more season and maybe a movie if we're lucky.
October 29, 2023
With Legacy of a Hated God, the trials, tribulations and merry mayhem we've come to expect from Mennik Thorn and his friends come to an end.
If there is one disappointing thing, it is that this seems to be the last we'll hear of Mennik. I can only hope Patrick has a change of heart, for this series of books has brought me a lot of joy.
Yes, joy.
It seems strange to use that word when reading fantasy. Epic, dark, grim etc, are words usually associated with fantasy, but if you share Patrick's humour, as do I, then you will laugh, smile and joyfully devour every page.
And yet, in this final book, Patrick manages to deliver something epic as well. So far in this series, there have been no large battles as such, but in this, we got to see what Patrick can do when he applies his quill to the grittier, bloody side of fantasy. I devoured that part and wanted more.
Needless to say, I highly enjoyed the world and characters Patrick created. He is a truly talented writer and deserves to be recognised as such.
(I received an early ARC of this title. My views are entirely truthful, unbiased, and solely my own opinion)
If there is one disappointing thing, it is that this seems to be the last we'll hear of Mennik. I can only hope Patrick has a change of heart, for this series of books has brought me a lot of joy.
Yes, joy.
It seems strange to use that word when reading fantasy. Epic, dark, grim etc, are words usually associated with fantasy, but if you share Patrick's humour, as do I, then you will laugh, smile and joyfully devour every page.
And yet, in this final book, Patrick manages to deliver something epic as well. So far in this series, there have been no large battles as such, but in this, we got to see what Patrick can do when he applies his quill to the grittier, bloody side of fantasy. I devoured that part and wanted more.
Needless to say, I highly enjoyed the world and characters Patrick created. He is a truly talented writer and deserves to be recognised as such.
(I received an early ARC of this title. My views are entirely truthful, unbiased, and solely my own opinion)
December 28, 2024
Bittersweet finale of Nik’s adventures where we see our protagonist mage solve a convoluted case while also trying to unravel the secret behind a god’s demise.
Nick is not the most powerful mage, but he is determined to save the life of his latest client, Cursed Ard Ethemattian. Even if that takes him neck deep into the world of dangerous politics within a dangerous religious establishment.
While we do get a logical conclusion of the primary plot line, and of Nik’s romantic fantasies, but the story does end with many open tangents. I am not happy that I’ll never get to know what his sister does with her new position of power, whatever happens with the paw that Benny had swallowed, how Mennik leads the rest of his life and if the people of Agatos ever see their city get better.
I know a couple of short stories are planned in the same universe, but what I really want is a ten book spin off series with Sereh as the protagonist. I know it will likely not happen, but I am just not ready to yank myself out of Patrick’s immersive world.
Full review on SFF Insiders
Nick is not the most powerful mage, but he is determined to save the life of his latest client, Cursed Ard Ethemattian. Even if that takes him neck deep into the world of dangerous politics within a dangerous religious establishment.
While we do get a logical conclusion of the primary plot line, and of Nik’s romantic fantasies, but the story does end with many open tangents. I am not happy that I’ll never get to know what his sister does with her new position of power, whatever happens with the paw that Benny had swallowed, how Mennik leads the rest of his life and if the people of Agatos ever see their city get better.
I know a couple of short stories are planned in the same universe, but what I really want is a ten book spin off series with Sereh as the protagonist. I know it will likely not happen, but I am just not ready to yank myself out of Patrick’s immersive world.
Full review on SFF Insiders
November 9, 2023
In the last book of the series, Legacy Of A Hated God, Mennik Thorn is employed by a priest of Hated God to find out who is trying to kill him. As a man of principle, Mennik did not want to tangle himself in Godly business. Then Benny turned up with the dead body of a Goddess. Now it is too late to untangle. Moreover, wouldn't it be fun to go after a person who has the power to kill a God?! The book, like previous instalments, is also fast paced and fun to read. However, despite being the last book in the series, does not tie up all the loose ends.
April 8, 2024
Another excellent book by Mr Samphire. Sad to see the last of the Mennick Thorn books, that have been a delight to read.
Mennick is relatable, flawed, capable and calamitous it is this fullness of character that makes the stories of his travails all the more enjoyable, spun through this is deft dead pan humour.
Agatos though should be seen also as a huge part of the success of these books. This disparate ancient city port brings many things, mostly trouble for Mennick, and this diversity hopefully means there are other tales to be told in this world other than that of Mennick Thorn.
Mennick is relatable, flawed, capable and calamitous it is this fullness of character that makes the stories of his travails all the more enjoyable, spun through this is deft dead pan humour.
Agatos though should be seen also as a huge part of the success of these books. This disparate ancient city port brings many things, mostly trouble for Mennick, and this diversity hopefully means there are other tales to be told in this world other than that of Mennick Thorn.
November 8, 2023
A Great Final Book
I found this quartet at the beginning of 2023 when it was still 3 books and binged it and now the final book is read. One of my absolutele favorite finds of the year and I'm kind of sad there won't be any more full novels. All of these books are great if you love urban fantasy, magic private investigators and in this case, dogs.
The dog does survive btw.
I found this quartet at the beginning of 2023 when it was still 3 books and binged it and now the final book is read. One of my absolutele favorite finds of the year and I'm kind of sad there won't be any more full novels. All of these books are great if you love urban fantasy, magic private investigators and in this case, dogs.
The dog does survive btw.
May 30, 2025
The last of 5 books of mystery thorn
This is the last of this 'hero'. All of them have the setting of an old city with a number of gods living and dead. Thorn is a freelance mage that tries to do his best to stay fed. He added a dog to feed as well. There are family issues, friends who feel betrayed, and stronger mages to befuddle.
This is the last of this 'hero'. All of them have the setting of an old city with a number of gods living and dead. Thorn is a freelance mage that tries to do his best to stay fed. He added a dog to feed as well. There are family issues, friends who feel betrayed, and stronger mages to befuddle.
December 3, 2023
The final book of the Mennik Thorn series and the author has managed to maintain the standard admirably. He has also managed to throw in a couple of twists I didn't see coming. Splendid work, well worth reading.
March 7, 2024
Sad to know the series has ended. Loved Mennik Thorn and his exploits. Hope the series gets revived
May 31, 2025
I love this series, and it deserves a lot more readers. Disappointed it has ended, as it felt this world had a whole lot more to offer.
November 30, 2023
Absolutely love this series. Fantastic story telling with rich descriptions to make your imagination come alive. A novel, and very different, magic system. This is the fourth book and I’ve not been let down by the wait. So sorry to see it will be the last.
May 11, 2025
Mennik Thorn rarely has a client come to them before they are murdered, let alone a victim who can tell them the time and place of where they will be killed. But that's the case for his latest client, a priest of the Hated God. He's slated to be the voluntary sacrifice during the temple's important annual ritual to spite their god. The only problem is, he didn't volunteer for the job. Someone at the temple has rigged the sacred drawing to enter his name and make sure he was picked. It's up to Nik to prove who did it before the ritual is carried out - a task made more complicated when a minor god is found dead, thrusting the city into upheaval as its followers demand justice.
LEGACY OF A HATED GOD is a fantastic conclusion to an overall enthralling wizard detective fantasy series. From the jump, I've loved how the author wove together noir elements with an epic fantasy setting. You have a disillusioned, not very powerful wizard who nonetheless can't help poking his nose into the oft-corrupt affairs of the city's elite. Someone who always fights for the underdog, despite protesting every step of the way. And best of all, it does all of that without invoking any of the sexist trappings that are often part and parcel of the noir genre.
And this being the fourth book in the series (after two full novels and a short novel), we have a wonderful cast of returning characters from enemies to friends to those who land somewhere in between. I liked the addition of Ilenoi and honestly am sad that we won't get to see her continued growth in future books (as the author has said he is done with the MENNIK THORN series for now).
The one downside to LEGACY OF A HATED GOD is it is slightly overstuffed. There is a LOT going on, with multiple murders to solve and a brewing war between the high mages. For the most part, it ties together fairly neatly, but I had increasingly raised eyebrows as complication after complication was piled on top of the plot.
Having finished the series, I have to give a hearty recommendation of the MENNIK THORN books to anyone who likes to mix mystery into their fantasy. They're full of adventure and a great cast of characters you'll love to come back to. It's definitely bittersweet that this is the last book of the series, but it was a great ride while it lasted.
LEGACY OF A HATED GOD is a fantastic conclusion to an overall enthralling wizard detective fantasy series. From the jump, I've loved how the author wove together noir elements with an epic fantasy setting. You have a disillusioned, not very powerful wizard who nonetheless can't help poking his nose into the oft-corrupt affairs of the city's elite. Someone who always fights for the underdog, despite protesting every step of the way. And best of all, it does all of that without invoking any of the sexist trappings that are often part and parcel of the noir genre.
And this being the fourth book in the series (after two full novels and a short novel), we have a wonderful cast of returning characters from enemies to friends to those who land somewhere in between. I liked the addition of Ilenoi and honestly am sad that we won't get to see her continued growth in future books (as the author has said he is done with the MENNIK THORN series for now).
The one downside to LEGACY OF A HATED GOD is it is slightly overstuffed. There is a LOT going on, with multiple murders to solve and a brewing war between the high mages. For the most part, it ties together fairly neatly, but I had increasingly raised eyebrows as complication after complication was piled on top of the plot.
Having finished the series, I have to give a hearty recommendation of the MENNIK THORN books to anyone who likes to mix mystery into their fantasy. They're full of adventure and a great cast of characters you'll love to come back to. It's definitely bittersweet that this is the last book of the series, but it was a great ride while it lasted.
July 4, 2024
Why I picked this up: I'm a fan of the series.
Genre: Dark fantasy / Gaslamp / Detective
Tone: Black coffee but it's your 5th one for the morning so you know there's gonna be a disaster sometime soon.
Plot: Magic detective takes on too much, things get wild, the world explodes when god burps.
Pacing: This book moves. A chaotic feel with multiple plotlines happening at the same time, but not so chaotic that I couldn't follow.
Prose: First person. I like being inside Nik's head. Crude, humourous; enjoyable to read.
World: The lore keeps stacking throughout the series, and there's a hefty revelation that left me wanting to see more from this world. Magic based on putrefied god essence is still awesome.
Characters: Nik has always been a semi-competent mage with the foresight of an underpants gnome, but his competence depends on the company he keeps. I'm stoked that he developed some positive relationships that actually help him keep his sh*t together, because that dude needs it. I genuinely felt relief when he had time to chill with good people—the constant hostility throughout the series did grate me a bit.
Conflict: Scheming priests, bad juju, trigger-happy authorities and random thugs. Also, Nik is his own worst enemy. His ability to torpedo relationships is next-level, but thankfully this entry in the series is more about repairing those relationships.
Overall enjoyment: An awesome read and my favourite book in the series. I'm looking forward to returning to this world in the future.
Genre: Dark fantasy / Gaslamp / Detective
Tone: Black coffee but it's your 5th one for the morning so you know there's gonna be a disaster sometime soon.
Plot: Magic detective takes on too much, things get wild, the world explodes when god burps.
Pacing: This book moves. A chaotic feel with multiple plotlines happening at the same time, but not so chaotic that I couldn't follow.
Prose: First person. I like being inside Nik's head. Crude, humourous; enjoyable to read.
World: The lore keeps stacking throughout the series, and there's a hefty revelation that left me wanting to see more from this world. Magic based on putrefied god essence is still awesome.
Characters: Nik has always been a semi-competent mage with the foresight of an underpants gnome, but his competence depends on the company he keeps. I'm stoked that he developed some positive relationships that actually help him keep his sh*t together, because that dude needs it. I genuinely felt relief when he had time to chill with good people—the constant hostility throughout the series did grate me a bit.
Conflict: Scheming priests, bad juju, trigger-happy authorities and random thugs. Also, Nik is his own worst enemy. His ability to torpedo relationships is next-level, but thankfully this entry in the series is more about repairing those relationships.
Overall enjoyment: An awesome read and my favourite book in the series. I'm looking forward to returning to this world in the future.
September 1, 2025
It would have been a good middle novel in a series but it is a rather poor finale.
There were a number of plot threads that were left open and the entire ending to the series felt rushed.
The entire series gave hints it was building up to something but in the end it went nowhere.
There were a number of plot threads that were left open and the entire ending to the series felt rushed.
The entire series gave hints it was building up to something but in the end it went nowhere.
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