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The Soulfire Saga #3
The Lie That Binds Them
Set in a world of ancient myth and dangerous magic, The Lie That Binds Them is the heart-pounding conclusion to Matthew Ward's Soulfire Saga, where a thief dares to seek vengeance against an immortal king—and finds herself on the path to war.
The kingdom of Khalad is ruled by a new and brutal despot and its rebels scattered across its vast lands. With folk hero Vallant missing, Kat is now the leader of the rebellion.
When an assassination attempt rattles the kingdom, Kat turns to a powerful new ally for help. The cost of victory will be high, but time is running out to save Khalad.
The kingdom of Khalad is ruled by a new and brutal despot and its rebels scattered across its vast lands. With folk hero Vallant missing, Kat is now the leader of the rebellion.
When an assassination attempt rattles the kingdom, Kat turns to a powerful new ally for help. The cost of victory will be high, but time is running out to save Khalad.
576 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2025
7 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Ward
58 books428 followersMatthew Ward is a writer, cat-servant and owner of more musical instruments than he can actually play (and considerably more than he can play well). He’s afflicted with an obsession for old places – castles, historic cities and the London Underground chief amongst them – and should probably cultivate more interests to help expand out his author biography.
After a decade serving as a principal architect for Games Workshop’s Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 properties, Matthew embarked on an adventure to tell stories set in worlds of his own design. He lives near Nottingham with his extremely patient wife – as well as a pride of attention-seeking cats – and writes to entertain anyone who feels there’s not enough magic in the world.
After a decade serving as a principal architect for Games Workshop’s Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 properties, Matthew embarked on an adventure to tell stories set in worlds of his own design. He lives near Nottingham with his extremely patient wife – as well as a pride of attention-seeking cats – and writes to entertain anyone who feels there’s not enough magic in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 16, 2025
Thank you to Matthew Ward, Orbit, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of the Lies That Bind Them in exchange for my honest review.
The Lies That Bind Them is the epic conclusion to the Soulfire Saga. This book handles not only the aftermath of The Fire Within Them, but it also leaves the characters in a worse situation than they thought they were in initially. This book is very plot heavy with some powerful themes woven in. This book has a very slow build-up. With an ending like The Fire Within Them, there is no easy way to start the book, and there was a bit of a time gap and so as readers we had to catch up on what was going on. There was a new POV added that honestly confused me more than it provided me insight into what was going on. I did not know who he was or why we were getting his POV, and unfortunately, I could have gone without his POV. There also was not much of Kat in the book, which disappointed me. I wish we had spent more time with her, rather than following what was going on with the other characters, especially given that the added POV was not my favorite. While the first half to three-quaters of this book was really slow, the ending was absolutely outstanding. It was powerful and I loved every second of it. I though the ending fit what was happening throughout the series and made sense for the characters. It allowed for some interpretation, while also giving the characters a satisfying ending. I just wish that the first portion of the book was as intriguing as the ending because it took a lot of willpower for me to get to where it started to pick up. I will say, I am just starting to get into plot-driven fantasy with less character-development in a book, and this book might not have been a great way to dip my toes into plot-driven books. I do want to reread this book at some point through an audiobook format though, because I enjoyed the first two books much more when I reread them via audiobook, rather than reading them physically. So we shall see. Either way. I think those who have loved this series up to this point will love this book. It might not have necessarily been my absolute cup of tea, but I did finish it, and am happy I did.
The Lies That Bind Them is the epic conclusion to the Soulfire Saga. This book handles not only the aftermath of The Fire Within Them, but it also leaves the characters in a worse situation than they thought they were in initially. This book is very plot heavy with some powerful themes woven in. This book has a very slow build-up. With an ending like The Fire Within Them, there is no easy way to start the book, and there was a bit of a time gap and so as readers we had to catch up on what was going on. There was a new POV added that honestly confused me more than it provided me insight into what was going on. I did not know who he was or why we were getting his POV, and unfortunately, I could have gone without his POV. There also was not much of Kat in the book, which disappointed me. I wish we had spent more time with her, rather than following what was going on with the other characters, especially given that the added POV was not my favorite. While the first half to three-quaters of this book was really slow, the ending was absolutely outstanding. It was powerful and I loved every second of it. I though the ending fit what was happening throughout the series and made sense for the characters. It allowed for some interpretation, while also giving the characters a satisfying ending. I just wish that the first portion of the book was as intriguing as the ending because it took a lot of willpower for me to get to where it started to pick up. I will say, I am just starting to get into plot-driven fantasy with less character-development in a book, and this book might not have been a great way to dip my toes into plot-driven books. I do want to reread this book at some point through an audiobook format though, because I enjoyed the first two books much more when I reread them via audiobook, rather than reading them physically. So we shall see. Either way. I think those who have loved this series up to this point will love this book. It might not have necessarily been my absolute cup of tea, but I did finish it, and am happy I did.
July 13, 2025
The Lie That Binds Them is the last book in the Soul Fire Saga. Like the other books, they're full of myth, magic, and mayhem. We found old friends, and we lost some along the way. This was a satisfying conclusion, and my favourite characters will be missed.
Go read this series.
Go read this series.
May 1, 2025
The Lie That Binds Them by Matthew Ward wraps up his “Soulfire Saga” trilogy with a perfectly tied, shiny new bow. Not a squished one from the bottom of that cellophane bag you purchased from a dollar store four months ago. We finally see the end for Kat, Tanith, Damant, their allies, and their enemies. This novel is everything I could’ve hoped for, even if it did have a weakness here and there. It always took me a couple chapters to enter Ward’s world. But when I was inside the book’s pages, it didn’t let me go. The Lie That Binds Them left me with a smile on my face and peace in my heart.
Firstly, I should have reread the second book. The Lie That Binds Them picks up immediately after its prequel lets off, and unfortunately, I couldn’t remember where that was. The first chapter features Kat, but she’s not seen again until you reach the halfway point of the novel. Instead, we’re introduced to a new character named Mirzai to provide a new POV. I didn’t really like adding an entirely new perspective, with a background Ward then had to write out. He would’ve been fine as a secondary character, observed from the perspectives of Tanith, Damant, and Kat. By the end of the novel, we finally understand our main players—their every facet. Ward should write a masterclass for character development.
Forty-five minutes from finishing the novel, I had no idea how Ward would be able to wrap everything up. So many questions ran through my mind, but Ward did it, and it wasn’t rushed. Ward forced nothing. He ripped out my soul when certain characters took their last breaths, but their deaths made sense…even if I did not want to see them go. The book’s ending? Perfection. The book’s overall pacing might’ve been slow at times. A little convoluted, maybe, but most epic fantasies are. You must trust the process and let the picture take shape. And my, my, what a beautiful picture Matthew Ward paints.
If I had to choose, my preference order for this trilogy: The Fire Within Them, The Lie That Binds Them, and finally, The Darkness Before Them. I think Ward’s newest novel refers to something out of his “Legacy Trilogy,” but it’s been too long since I read them to be confident in that assessment. The Lie That Binds Them by Matthew Ward is everything you’d hope for in a trilogy’s conclusion. I will revisit his “Soulfire Saga” again, undoubtedly—and it’ll probably be sooner rather than later!
THANK YOU, MATTHEW WARD. My heart is full.
Note: I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All views expressed are my own.
Firstly, I should have reread the second book. The Lie That Binds Them picks up immediately after its prequel lets off, and unfortunately, I couldn’t remember where that was. The first chapter features Kat, but she’s not seen again until you reach the halfway point of the novel. Instead, we’re introduced to a new character named Mirzai to provide a new POV. I didn’t really like adding an entirely new perspective, with a background Ward then had to write out. He would’ve been fine as a secondary character, observed from the perspectives of Tanith, Damant, and Kat. By the end of the novel, we finally understand our main players—their every facet. Ward should write a masterclass for character development.
Forty-five minutes from finishing the novel, I had no idea how Ward would be able to wrap everything up. So many questions ran through my mind, but Ward did it, and it wasn’t rushed. Ward forced nothing. He ripped out my soul when certain characters took their last breaths, but their deaths made sense…even if I did not want to see them go. The book’s ending? Perfection. The book’s overall pacing might’ve been slow at times. A little convoluted, maybe, but most epic fantasies are. You must trust the process and let the picture take shape. And my, my, what a beautiful picture Matthew Ward paints.
If I had to choose, my preference order for this trilogy: The Fire Within Them, The Lie That Binds Them, and finally, The Darkness Before Them. I think Ward’s newest novel refers to something out of his “Legacy Trilogy,” but it’s been too long since I read them to be confident in that assessment. The Lie That Binds Them by Matthew Ward is everything you’d hope for in a trilogy’s conclusion. I will revisit his “Soulfire Saga” again, undoubtedly—and it’ll probably be sooner rather than later!
THANK YOU, MATTHEW WARD. My heart is full.
Note: I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All views expressed are my own.
July 11, 2025
The best book in the series by far. While the first two books sometimes were a drag for me, and could have used some cuts and edits, this had a few very rough (short)cuts, but I found it very rewarding nevertheless.
April 29, 2025
The Lie That Binds Them completely shattered me in the best way possible. The third book in the Soulfire Saga ramped up the stakes to a level I wasn’t ready for, leaving me breathless and emotional at every turn. The characters, especially those who’ve already been tested by so much, are pushed even further, and it was devastating to watch their struggles and sacrifices unfold. The tension was palpable, the world richer, the magic darker, and the twists, oh, the twists had my heart in a vice. This book is more than just a continuation; it’s a whirlwind of betrayal, love, and raw, unflinching emotion. It's absolutely worth every moment, even when it destroys you.
April 7, 2025
The fight to kill a God was never going to be easy. The battle is drawing to a close. There is hope though, that an arrogant God full of self-centred avarice won’t see what’s coming for him this side of the veil. And the Dead winds will continue to rage and take its due. Thank you to Little Brown Book Group Uk and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.
June 19, 2025
I never managed to love the Soulfire Saga as much as I loved the Legacy trilogy, mostly feeling like the world building in the present trilogy wasn’t as strong and the characters not quite as haunted and the story not quite as complex. But I did manage to really enjoy some of the characters, and really liked how some kernels were left until the very end. Of course, that did make me feel like there wasn’t enough time to really explore everything these characters discover about their world and lives, but I did like that it kept me reading.
After the events of the last book, Yennika Bascari has become the host body for Tzal, a god who was imprisoned this side of the Veil by the vaporous veilkin, the only beings capable of living within the veil. But Tzal seeks the body that was crafted especially for him, that of Katija Arvish. Kat, though, absolutely refuses, fighting with her friends and allies against Tzal, even as Tzal holds some of them, including Damant and Yali, in his grasp. She has her half-sister Tanith, though, now that they’ve overcome their differences, who is exactly who she needs since Vallant went off into the Veil to find out what world lies on the other side, and never returned. Tzal, though, grows more powerful, hungrier, and more desperate for his perfect host.
The Lie That Binds Them primarily follows Kat and Tanith, but also gives Damant and a new character named Mirzai the opportunity to tell their stories. While Damant has always been one of my favorites, I actually found myself loving Kat’s and Tanith’s stories the most here, and was disappointed some of the others I came to love didn’t really develop further than what they were in the second book. They were certainly absolutely wonderful, but I wish this third book had given them just a little more. Rima, Yali, and Tatterlain are such wonderful characters, but they felt like they’d been fitted into a box and weren’t given any more toys to play with. Instead, my mind turned to Kat, Tanith, and Damant, and was a little confused at first when Mirzai got so much page time. I did end up loving his story, but it was far too bittersweet, and I kind of hated it by the end considering how much time he got to tell his tale.
But Kat, Tanith, and Damant have always been the foremost characters for me. I was disappointed it took so long to get back to Kat, and I really wanted to know what she was doing for the better part of the first half. But, when the story did circle back to her, I really loved her. She’s not so lost to her desire for Yennika here, mostly because Yennika is now host to the Eternity Queen, and now Kat has the soul of the former Eternity King residing in her, which made for some interesting things. She took some big steps throughout this book, and I loved how she leaned on Tanith so much. Their sisterly relationship was always the one that held my attention the most, and I really loved the way it transformed them. In the end, I found I wasn’t missing any romance; the sisterly bond became everything to me.
Damant’s story hurt, and yet it was so fitting for him. I love that he’s older and set in his ways, but not always wiser. His heart really loves duty and the law, and watching him learn the difference between law and justice was really a beautiful thing. Of course, my heart did weep for him a little, because the well-ordered world he spent a lifetime building and defending just crumbled and kept crumbling. The Lie That Binds Them really did some things to him, throwing him all over the place. His ending was hard won, and I absolutely loved every step of his journey.
Since this is the last book, the world is, more or less, set. There were still some things to learn and explore, a true history coming to light by the end, and a world beyond the Veil to see, but most of the world felt well-established from the first two books. I was disappointed that so much of the world building here was pushed off towards the end because it didn’t give anyone or the story enough time to really explore what it all meant. I found myself so curious, and so disappointed when it felt like little more than a poorly thought out foot note.
The Lie That Binds Them does offer a strong conclusion to the trilogy. It’s action-packed, full of sacrifice and plotting and desperation. I did like that the world and the mythology around it was more fully offered, if not explored, but it still felt far simpler than the Legacy trilogy. It had its moments, though, and I did really enjoy some of the characters. Kat grew on me by the end, and Damant will always be a favorite. While I prefer the complexity of the Legacy trilogy, this one was an easier one to follow, and the whole history of this world was fascinating.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
After the events of the last book, Yennika Bascari has become the host body for Tzal, a god who was imprisoned this side of the Veil by the vaporous veilkin, the only beings capable of living within the veil. But Tzal seeks the body that was crafted especially for him, that of Katija Arvish. Kat, though, absolutely refuses, fighting with her friends and allies against Tzal, even as Tzal holds some of them, including Damant and Yali, in his grasp. She has her half-sister Tanith, though, now that they’ve overcome their differences, who is exactly who she needs since Vallant went off into the Veil to find out what world lies on the other side, and never returned. Tzal, though, grows more powerful, hungrier, and more desperate for his perfect host.
The Lie That Binds Them primarily follows Kat and Tanith, but also gives Damant and a new character named Mirzai the opportunity to tell their stories. While Damant has always been one of my favorites, I actually found myself loving Kat’s and Tanith’s stories the most here, and was disappointed some of the others I came to love didn’t really develop further than what they were in the second book. They were certainly absolutely wonderful, but I wish this third book had given them just a little more. Rima, Yali, and Tatterlain are such wonderful characters, but they felt like they’d been fitted into a box and weren’t given any more toys to play with. Instead, my mind turned to Kat, Tanith, and Damant, and was a little confused at first when Mirzai got so much page time. I did end up loving his story, but it was far too bittersweet, and I kind of hated it by the end considering how much time he got to tell his tale.
But Kat, Tanith, and Damant have always been the foremost characters for me. I was disappointed it took so long to get back to Kat, and I really wanted to know what she was doing for the better part of the first half. But, when the story did circle back to her, I really loved her. She’s not so lost to her desire for Yennika here, mostly because Yennika is now host to the Eternity Queen, and now Kat has the soul of the former Eternity King residing in her, which made for some interesting things. She took some big steps throughout this book, and I loved how she leaned on Tanith so much. Their sisterly relationship was always the one that held my attention the most, and I really loved the way it transformed them. In the end, I found I wasn’t missing any romance; the sisterly bond became everything to me.
Damant’s story hurt, and yet it was so fitting for him. I love that he’s older and set in his ways, but not always wiser. His heart really loves duty and the law, and watching him learn the difference between law and justice was really a beautiful thing. Of course, my heart did weep for him a little, because the well-ordered world he spent a lifetime building and defending just crumbled and kept crumbling. The Lie That Binds Them really did some things to him, throwing him all over the place. His ending was hard won, and I absolutely loved every step of his journey.
Since this is the last book, the world is, more or less, set. There were still some things to learn and explore, a true history coming to light by the end, and a world beyond the Veil to see, but most of the world felt well-established from the first two books. I was disappointed that so much of the world building here was pushed off towards the end because it didn’t give anyone or the story enough time to really explore what it all meant. I found myself so curious, and so disappointed when it felt like little more than a poorly thought out foot note.
The Lie That Binds Them does offer a strong conclusion to the trilogy. It’s action-packed, full of sacrifice and plotting and desperation. I did like that the world and the mythology around it was more fully offered, if not explored, but it still felt far simpler than the Legacy trilogy. It had its moments, though, and I did really enjoy some of the characters. Kat grew on me by the end, and Damant will always be a favorite. While I prefer the complexity of the Legacy trilogy, this one was an easier one to follow, and the whole history of this world was fascinating.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 18, 2025
Here wraps up the Soulfire Saga. The author Matthew Ward's creativity is on full display here, with a well-designed world and associated lore. I was looking forward to this book, having read the author's Legacy trilogy a few years ago, as well as the preceding two books of this series. Upon reading it, I can also give a final spoiler-free evaluation of the ending too.
Of the three books in the Soulfire Saga, I found this to (narrowly) be the weakest, with the order being 2, 1, and 3, in that order. I'll start with my negatives, but then move into my positives:
First negative, there was a new character, Mirzai, giving four POV characters in addition to the previous three of Katija Arvish, Tanith Floranz, and Ihsan Damant. I understand the purpose of him relating to the storylines regarding Kat and especially Tanith, but I wasn't overly intrigued by the time spent away from the previous characters, with the first portion of his story regarding a new group of characters. Mirzai was a fine character, but I wish he would've been a non-POV character who was viewed from the perspectives of Kat and Tanith. Here it was just more time spent away from the main cast of characters.
Second negative, the pacing was imperfect, but still improved from where the series started. That was my main gripe with the first book, and while it isn't ideal, it is better.
Third negative (sort of relates to the first), lack of presence of Kat for much of the first half of the book- instead, it was mostly between Damant, Tanith, and Mirzai.
Now onto the positives. I have plenty of good to say about this. The ending landed, big time. I was initially worried because of some of the nitpicks I had mostly at the beginning, but the last couple chapters were to perfection. The payoff was pretty big, and the ending was satisfying (and the Epilogue had some teary-eyed parts, I'll admit that).
First positive, I finally came to understand Kat, particularly her devotion over the flawed Azra/Yennika, despite the latter now merged with the dark god Tzal (now known as the Eternity Queen). I see that it is because Kat is flawed too, she just cannot love anyone else. Azra isn't a complete monster either, there is humanity to her. I think she feels that same way about Kat, even though she manipulates and lies to her face, she has love for her- and Kat is aware of this, which explains her behaviors. I liked the ending arc involving Kat, and I also liked the ending regarding Azra. It suits both of them, and it works.
Second positive, the magic system and lore continues its intrigue. I enjoyed the setup of this all, dating back to the first book, and this continues very much so here in this finale too.
Third positive, the perspectives mostly involving Kat and Damant were interesting. Kat, now the face of the rebellion, with her mentor (and pain in the ass) Bashar Vallant missing, and the rebellion needing a new leader. Her balancing of her friends, her passion for Azra, her search for Vallant, her evacuation of citizens from the Eternal Queen's wrath, her management of her illness, etc. Kat is pulled in many directions, but she keeps it together, and doesn't give up on herself. Damant's perspective, I liked even better, with him under the influence of the glamour (mind control) of the Eternal Queen. The introduction of the Eternity Queen's new court, with a mixture of old and new faces cozying up to the Big Bad, was certainly interesting, as was seeing Damant's navigation of this.
Fourth positive, would regard Damant himself. The best character of the series. Probably Ward's best overall character in both series. Damant stays true to himself and aspires to do better, taking one day at a time to do his best for the world. Selfless, too, always putting those he cares about before himself, and always helping those in needing. Always standing up for what is right. Even when he starts out mind controlled, under the glamour of the Eternity Queen, he applies these values, just this time with the loyalty of the wrong person. His ending is my favorite, out of any of these characters.
The first 80% I'd give a 3/5, but the last 20% ended it just about perfectly (5/5 for that part). S0 I think that I will give this 3.5/5 stars as a whole. Overall a fine conclusion to a carefully designed series. I will miss Ihsan Damant- Ward has truly crafted one of my favorite characters in recent memory. Praise to him!
(I received an ARC through Orbit and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
Of the three books in the Soulfire Saga, I found this to (narrowly) be the weakest, with the order being 2, 1, and 3, in that order. I'll start with my negatives, but then move into my positives:
First negative, there was a new character, Mirzai, giving four POV characters in addition to the previous three of Katija Arvish, Tanith Floranz, and Ihsan Damant. I understand the purpose of him relating to the storylines regarding Kat and especially Tanith, but I wasn't overly intrigued by the time spent away from the previous characters, with the first portion of his story regarding a new group of characters. Mirzai was a fine character, but I wish he would've been a non-POV character who was viewed from the perspectives of Kat and Tanith. Here it was just more time spent away from the main cast of characters.
Second negative, the pacing was imperfect, but still improved from where the series started. That was my main gripe with the first book, and while it isn't ideal, it is better.
Third negative (sort of relates to the first), lack of presence of Kat for much of the first half of the book- instead, it was mostly between Damant, Tanith, and Mirzai.
Now onto the positives. I have plenty of good to say about this. The ending landed, big time. I was initially worried because of some of the nitpicks I had mostly at the beginning, but the last couple chapters were to perfection. The payoff was pretty big, and the ending was satisfying (and the Epilogue had some teary-eyed parts, I'll admit that).
First positive, I finally came to understand Kat, particularly her devotion over the flawed Azra/Yennika, despite the latter now merged with the dark god Tzal (now known as the Eternity Queen). I see that it is because Kat is flawed too, she just cannot love anyone else. Azra isn't a complete monster either, there is humanity to her. I think she feels that same way about Kat, even though she manipulates and lies to her face, she has love for her- and Kat is aware of this, which explains her behaviors. I liked the ending arc involving Kat, and I also liked the ending regarding Azra. It suits both of them, and it works.
Second positive, the magic system and lore continues its intrigue. I enjoyed the setup of this all, dating back to the first book, and this continues very much so here in this finale too.
Third positive, the perspectives mostly involving Kat and Damant were interesting. Kat, now the face of the rebellion, with her mentor (and pain in the ass) Bashar Vallant missing, and the rebellion needing a new leader. Her balancing of her friends, her passion for Azra, her search for Vallant, her evacuation of citizens from the Eternal Queen's wrath, her management of her illness, etc. Kat is pulled in many directions, but she keeps it together, and doesn't give up on herself. Damant's perspective, I liked even better, with him under the influence of the glamour (mind control) of the Eternal Queen. The introduction of the Eternity Queen's new court, with a mixture of old and new faces cozying up to the Big Bad, was certainly interesting, as was seeing Damant's navigation of this.
Fourth positive, would regard Damant himself. The best character of the series. Probably Ward's best overall character in both series. Damant stays true to himself and aspires to do better, taking one day at a time to do his best for the world. Selfless, too, always putting those he cares about before himself, and always helping those in needing. Always standing up for what is right. Even when he starts out mind controlled, under the glamour of the Eternity Queen, he applies these values, just this time with the loyalty of the wrong person. His ending is my favorite, out of any of these characters.
The first 80% I'd give a 3/5, but the last 20% ended it just about perfectly (5/5 for that part). S0 I think that I will give this 3.5/5 stars as a whole. Overall a fine conclusion to a carefully designed series. I will miss Ihsan Damant- Ward has truly crafted one of my favorite characters in recent memory. Praise to him!
(I received an ARC through Orbit and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
July 5, 2025
Matthew Ward (https://thetowerofstars.com) is the author of more than a dozen novels. The Lie That Binds Them was published last April and is the concluding novel of his Soulfire Saga trilogy. It is the 40th book I completed reading in 2025.
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
This book picks up shortly after the second volume in the series ends. The Eternity Queen has been able to strengthen her power. The last of the free cities, Tyzanta, is under threat by her forces. The governor of Tyzanta, Katij ‘Kat’ Arvish, is trying hard to save the city, but the forces of the Eternity Queen are pressing hard.
An assassination attempt is made upon the Eternity Queen, and severe changes are brought to the city of Zariqaz. Castellan Ihsan Damant was with the queen when the assassin struck. He is now desperately trying to find who was behind the poisoning.
In remote Araq, the local engineer Mizrai is working to keep the local infrastructure running. While working at a remote site, Mizrai comes across the Veilkin Zephyr. He takes her home and nurses her back to health. The Queen’s Redcloaks arrive in Araq and begin to force ever greater influence over the small town. Mizrai’s nephew Tarin is arrested by the Redcloaks, and his future looks dim. Mizrai and Zephyr, along with a few friends, attempt to break Tarin from prison.
Arvish is still struggling with the soul of the former Eternity King Caradan Diar contained within her. Sometimes his comments are helpful, but not always. She assembles a small fleet intending to rescue the civilians remaining in Tyzanta. With the Queen’s much larger and better-armed fleet blockading the city, the effort will be risky.
To aid Arvish, Mizrai, Tanith, and a few others plan to sabotage the Redcloak fleet in port to delay their sailing to the aid of the ships blockading Tyzanta. Tanith does not follow the plan and instead takes the opportunity to confront her stepfather. The plan comes apart, but they are able to delay most of the Redcloak fleet. Allowing Arvish to complete her rescue.
Back in Zariqaz, Damant has regained his senses. He had been under the Queen’s glamour. Realizing how bad things really are, Damant and Rîma take the fight to the Queen, but things do not go well.
Arvish, Tanith, and Zephyr, along with a small crew, take a ship into the Vail. They are looking for Zephyr’s home. They find the Issnaîm, but the meeting does not go as they had hoped. Leaving there, Arvish and Tanith make it through a lesion in the Vail, arriving in the mythical Old World. Arvish learns the truth. She and Tanith must travel back to their own world and attempt to bring the Eternity Queen under control.
All of this leads to a final confrontation with the Eternity Queen in Zariqaz. They will either overcome her, or they will all die. But even if they succeed, not all of them will survive.
I enjoyed the 16.5+ hours I spent reading this 571-page fantasy. I had the opportunity to read the prior two novels in this series, and I have enjoyed them all. Those others were The Darkness Before Them and The Fire Within Them. Because of the connected storyline, it would be best to read these three novels in order. There are many characters, most spanning all three volumes. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
This book picks up shortly after the second volume in the series ends. The Eternity Queen has been able to strengthen her power. The last of the free cities, Tyzanta, is under threat by her forces. The governor of Tyzanta, Katij ‘Kat’ Arvish, is trying hard to save the city, but the forces of the Eternity Queen are pressing hard.
An assassination attempt is made upon the Eternity Queen, and severe changes are brought to the city of Zariqaz. Castellan Ihsan Damant was with the queen when the assassin struck. He is now desperately trying to find who was behind the poisoning.
In remote Araq, the local engineer Mizrai is working to keep the local infrastructure running. While working at a remote site, Mizrai comes across the Veilkin Zephyr. He takes her home and nurses her back to health. The Queen’s Redcloaks arrive in Araq and begin to force ever greater influence over the small town. Mizrai’s nephew Tarin is arrested by the Redcloaks, and his future looks dim. Mizrai and Zephyr, along with a few friends, attempt to break Tarin from prison.
Arvish is still struggling with the soul of the former Eternity King Caradan Diar contained within her. Sometimes his comments are helpful, but not always. She assembles a small fleet intending to rescue the civilians remaining in Tyzanta. With the Queen’s much larger and better-armed fleet blockading the city, the effort will be risky.
To aid Arvish, Mizrai, Tanith, and a few others plan to sabotage the Redcloak fleet in port to delay their sailing to the aid of the ships blockading Tyzanta. Tanith does not follow the plan and instead takes the opportunity to confront her stepfather. The plan comes apart, but they are able to delay most of the Redcloak fleet. Allowing Arvish to complete her rescue.
Back in Zariqaz, Damant has regained his senses. He had been under the Queen’s glamour. Realizing how bad things really are, Damant and Rîma take the fight to the Queen, but things do not go well.
Arvish, Tanith, and Zephyr, along with a small crew, take a ship into the Vail. They are looking for Zephyr’s home. They find the Issnaîm, but the meeting does not go as they had hoped. Leaving there, Arvish and Tanith make it through a lesion in the Vail, arriving in the mythical Old World. Arvish learns the truth. She and Tanith must travel back to their own world and attempt to bring the Eternity Queen under control.
All of this leads to a final confrontation with the Eternity Queen in Zariqaz. They will either overcome her, or they will all die. But even if they succeed, not all of them will survive.
I enjoyed the 16.5+ hours I spent reading this 571-page fantasy. I had the opportunity to read the prior two novels in this series, and I have enjoyed them all. Those others were The Darkness Before Them and The Fire Within Them. Because of the connected storyline, it would be best to read these three novels in order. There are many characters, most spanning all three volumes. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
April 24, 2025
And just like that, it is over. I finished this series with tears in my eyes, sad to be leaving these characters behind. When reading the first book, I would never have guessed that this would be how it would end.
At the start of this book, the characters are in a terrible place. They thought things were bad only to discover that they were actually much worse. More and more cities are falling to the eternity queen, and the rebels are fractured, many of them lost to one another. Kat is doing her best to stay in control, coming to terms with the loss of Vallant, who disappeared between the ending of the last book and the start of this one. Her allies are few and far between, and she is reeling from the loss of Azra once again.
In the court of the eternity queen, different factions are playing the game with the hope that power will be their reward. Damant is firmly under her control, although he sometimes finds that doubts are creeping in. His character development throughout the series has to be one of my favourite aspects. His loyalty has been misplaced, but at heart he is a good man who has tried to do the right thing. Watching him break free from his past to begin building a future that he can be proud of made me so happy for him.
Challenging the rule of the eternity queen means challenging a god. Doing so will push all the characters to their limit, and some will have to look beyond the mist to another world if they are to understand what they are really up against.
What I love about Matthew Ward's books is that the characters feel like real people. They are far from perfect, many of them are even terrible, and yet underneath it all there is hurt and sadness and love driving them on. They are so compelling because of this, not to mention the plot with all of its twists!! Readers of the Legacy Trilogy will also be pleased with the nod to that series, which you can also catch in book 2 if you are looking for it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another series set in this universe, although I feel guilty for bringing such pain upon more good characters.
At the start of this book, the characters are in a terrible place. They thought things were bad only to discover that they were actually much worse. More and more cities are falling to the eternity queen, and the rebels are fractured, many of them lost to one another. Kat is doing her best to stay in control, coming to terms with the loss of Vallant, who disappeared between the ending of the last book and the start of this one. Her allies are few and far between, and she is reeling from the loss of Azra once again.
In the court of the eternity queen, different factions are playing the game with the hope that power will be their reward. Damant is firmly under her control, although he sometimes finds that doubts are creeping in. His character development throughout the series has to be one of my favourite aspects. His loyalty has been misplaced, but at heart he is a good man who has tried to do the right thing. Watching him break free from his past to begin building a future that he can be proud of made me so happy for him.
Challenging the rule of the eternity queen means challenging a god. Doing so will push all the characters to their limit, and some will have to look beyond the mist to another world if they are to understand what they are really up against.
What I love about Matthew Ward's books is that the characters feel like real people. They are far from perfect, many of them are even terrible, and yet underneath it all there is hurt and sadness and love driving them on. They are so compelling because of this, not to mention the plot with all of its twists!! Readers of the Legacy Trilogy will also be pleased with the nod to that series, which you can also catch in book 2 if you are looking for it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another series set in this universe, although I feel guilty for bringing such pain upon more good characters.
June 21, 2025
he Lie That Binds Them delivers a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to Matthew Ward’s Soulfire Saga. Set against a backdrop of myth and magic, this epic finale brings rebellion, loss, and redemption to a powerful and emotionally gripping close.
Building on the strong foundation of the previous books, this final installment deepens the world and raises the stakes without losing the heart of what made the series great. Relationships evolve, loyalties are tested, and Ward expands the magic system in fascinating ways. Unlike many middle or final books that can sag under their own weight, The Lie That Binds Them pushes the story forward meaningfully, delivering a strong and satisfying continuation that leaves readers eager for the series’ conclusion.
The multiple viewpoints occasionally slow the pace in the early chapters, something that has been a recurring feature of the series and sometimes delays deeper connection until later. However, each perspective enriches the narrative and builds tension as the threads converge. The final act delivers a breathtaking blend of action and emotional payoff.
Ward’s world-building and magic system remain rich and compelling, rewarding longtime fans with a consistent yet ambitious conclusion. Themes of loyalty, identity, sacrifice, and the burdens we bear are handled with maturity and depth.
Though the first half unfolds at a deliberate pace as factions mobilize and regroup, the payoff is more than worth it. The climactic ending lands with both resolution and nuance, tying up major arcs while leaving room for interpretation. It’s emotionally resonant and epic. An ending that feels both earned and stirring.
Overall, The Lie That Binds Them is a satisfying and memorable conclusion to the Soulfire Saga. Fans of plot-driven dark fantasy with strong characters, high stakes, and a touch of magic will find this series-worthy finish absolutely worth the journey.
Building on the strong foundation of the previous books, this final installment deepens the world and raises the stakes without losing the heart of what made the series great. Relationships evolve, loyalties are tested, and Ward expands the magic system in fascinating ways. Unlike many middle or final books that can sag under their own weight, The Lie That Binds Them pushes the story forward meaningfully, delivering a strong and satisfying continuation that leaves readers eager for the series’ conclusion.
The multiple viewpoints occasionally slow the pace in the early chapters, something that has been a recurring feature of the series and sometimes delays deeper connection until later. However, each perspective enriches the narrative and builds tension as the threads converge. The final act delivers a breathtaking blend of action and emotional payoff.
Ward’s world-building and magic system remain rich and compelling, rewarding longtime fans with a consistent yet ambitious conclusion. Themes of loyalty, identity, sacrifice, and the burdens we bear are handled with maturity and depth.
Though the first half unfolds at a deliberate pace as factions mobilize and regroup, the payoff is more than worth it. The climactic ending lands with both resolution and nuance, tying up major arcs while leaving room for interpretation. It’s emotionally resonant and epic. An ending that feels both earned and stirring.
Overall, The Lie That Binds Them is a satisfying and memorable conclusion to the Soulfire Saga. Fans of plot-driven dark fantasy with strong characters, high stakes, and a touch of magic will find this series-worthy finish absolutely worth the journey.
May 2, 2025
Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
It is always difficult to review the final book in a trilogy without giving away any spoilers. With this trilogy, the author created an interesting magic system around souls and skin graphs and a large array of interesting characters- including a soul vampire and a couple of separated lovers that now share their souls with deities that are trying to take over their lives- set in a Middle Eastern influenced world. In this final novel, it all comes to its conclusion in a very emotional climax that certainly has me wanting to read more from this author in the future.
As a reader, because of this complex world that the author created and the large array of characters, it took a little bit of time to get comfortable in this world again. This is certainly a novel where the reader will have wanted to read the first two books to have a grasp of this world and the characters within in it. It is a series that would best be read all together, though, I give the author credit for not having readers have to wait long between each book of the series.
A problem with concentrating on a large group of characters, is that someone is going to be disappointed because their favorite character doesn't get enough pages. Rima, the otherworldly swordstress and Yali, the locksmith, I came to love and had bigger roles in the first two novels do not have enough of a role in this novel.
Still overall, the series was enjoyable and happy I invest my time in reading it. I am glad I had the opportunity to read this series that is not talked about enough and was introduced to another fantasy author to add to my TBR.
It is always difficult to review the final book in a trilogy without giving away any spoilers. With this trilogy, the author created an interesting magic system around souls and skin graphs and a large array of interesting characters- including a soul vampire and a couple of separated lovers that now share their souls with deities that are trying to take over their lives- set in a Middle Eastern influenced world. In this final novel, it all comes to its conclusion in a very emotional climax that certainly has me wanting to read more from this author in the future.
As a reader, because of this complex world that the author created and the large array of characters, it took a little bit of time to get comfortable in this world again. This is certainly a novel where the reader will have wanted to read the first two books to have a grasp of this world and the characters within in it. It is a series that would best be read all together, though, I give the author credit for not having readers have to wait long between each book of the series.
A problem with concentrating on a large group of characters, is that someone is going to be disappointed because their favorite character doesn't get enough pages. Rima, the otherworldly swordstress and Yali, the locksmith, I came to love and had bigger roles in the first two novels do not have enough of a role in this novel.
Still overall, the series was enjoyable and happy I invest my time in reading it. I am glad I had the opportunity to read this series that is not talked about enough and was introduced to another fantasy author to add to my TBR.
May 8, 2025
This is a solid finish to the series which I really enjoyed. It brought all the final missing pieces together and really ended the series well.
My only issue and this has been true of all the books is the just as you start to connect to a character you end up not finding out about them for about 4 chapters which I get is a good way of keeping suspense but equally the author tends to introduce new characters in each book and the first half focuses on those before we get to the main characters of the other books.
Saying that I really enjoyed it and would recommend
My only issue and this has been true of all the books is the just as you start to connect to a character you end up not finding out about them for about 4 chapters which I get is a good way of keeping suspense but equally the author tends to introduce new characters in each book and the first half focuses on those before we get to the main characters of the other books.
Saying that I really enjoyed it and would recommend
September 30, 2025
Loved the first book, really didn’t like the second, and found this one fell right in-between. The series had a great plot for its backbone, it just felt poorly executed or overdrawn at times. Everything was spread a little bit too thin, and the characters themselves felt tired by the time we got to the finish line. I really liked that the finale circled back to its roots to dive deep into the relationships that made the first book so great. Overall the series wasn’t for me, but I look forward to trying Ward’s other books.
July 1, 2025
8/10
This was such a great end to this trilogy and I really love these characters so much. I do really wish the book was longer bc the pacing felt very rushed during the second half and didn’t leave much chance for the story’s emotional punches to land quite as strongly as they could have. Despite this, this was still a really great time and I highly recommend this trilogy, I’d just say make Ward’s legacy trilogy your priority.
This was such a great end to this trilogy and I really love these characters so much. I do really wish the book was longer bc the pacing felt very rushed during the second half and didn’t leave much chance for the story’s emotional punches to land quite as strongly as they could have. Despite this, this was still a really great time and I highly recommend this trilogy, I’d just say make Ward’s legacy trilogy your priority.
April 21, 2025
I’m glad to be done with this series. I read book 2 and 3 back to back and it was a slog. Is it bad? No. But it never really caught my attention. As I look back, I think it tried to be too big. There are several different storylines and you couldn’t really see where it was trying to go. For me, the characters were just too flat and there weren’t any that you could really cheer for.
C/o Netgalley
C/o Netgalley
September 12, 2025
The lie that binds them
Kat works with Damant and the the others to finally defeat and trap Tzal with Azra in the the deadwinds. As humanity looks to the the future. An interesting end of the story.
Kat works with Damant and the the others to finally defeat and trap Tzal with Azra in the the deadwinds. As humanity looks to the the future. An interesting end of the story.
November 4, 2025
a fairly solid story, some great world building in the series, however parts of this felt rushed and could really have done with a bit more fleshing out.
my main issue was with the ending I felt I had no real investment in the outcome and a number of characters
my main issue was with the ending I felt I had no real investment in the outcome and a number of characters
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