The Fiend and the Forge: A Massive Step Up
Fast-paced, thrilling and surprisingly humane: The Fiend and the Forge gives Max real limits and explores a world reshaped by the victors.
About this review
- Subject
- The Fiend and the Forge · The Tapestry, Book Three
- Author
- Henry H. Neff
- Spoilers
- Discusses the outcome of Book Two and the demon-ruled world in Book Three.
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Spoiler note: This review discusses the outcome of Book Two and the demon-ruled world in Book Three.
In the third installment of The Tapestry series, Rowan Academy has survived a devastating siege, but the world outside its protected walls has been radically and irreversibly altered. Armed with the Book of Origins, the villainous Astaroth has reshaped history and established a dark dystopian order where demons rule, nations are forgotten, and humans are subjugated as slaves or forced to toil in a preindustrial nightmare. Reeling from profound personal tragedy and a desire for vengeance, Max McDaniels sets out beyond Rowan’s borders. Over the course of his dangerous travels, he is forced to navigate a harsh new reality, taking on roles from prisoner and gladiator to assassin as he confronts his destiny and the true cost of the war.
Comparing this to Book 2, The Second Siege, The Fiend and the Forge is a massive step up—fast-paced, packed with thrill, and driven by an intense, relentless energy. What makes it stand out so remarkably is how grounded and humane it feels. Rather than relying on the trope of an untethered fantasy hero who can do anything, Max is genuinely bound by reality and real possibilities. He has to bend to the harsh truth that things can—and will—go against him.
One of the most refreshing aspects of the narrative is the rare look into what happens when the “bad guy” actually succeeds in taking over the world. Watching Max journey into the demon realms and come to the realization that he actually likes some of the changes the demons bring to the land is a fascinating twist. Coupled with a glance into the perspective of the werewolf creatures, the story brilliantly exposes how the victor’s version of history can completely skew reality. That subtle exploration of perspective and moral nuance was a true breath of fresh air and easily one of the highlight elements of the entire book.