The Death Bringer Tharassas Cycle Book 4
Sci Fi, Fantasy, Sci-Fantasy, Young Adult, Gay Romance Subplot
Water Dragon Publishing
9/19/24
Kindle
326
Amazon
Aik will never be the same … and neither will his world.
War is coming. Aik has become the Progenitor, and the Seed Mother has released him to transform the world for her alien brood. Silya and Raven, Aik's former friends, are the only ones who can save him and the world. But what if the cure is worse than the invasion?
As Silya rushes to prepare Gullton for the battle to come, she's determined to save as many people as she can. But new crises emerge that demand her attention.
Raven has his own hands full, keeping the dragon-like verent in line, while helping Silya to save the world. But what if the only way to do so is to sacrifice Aik, the man that he loves?
It's the end of the world … or could it be the start of something new?
Review By Ulysses & Maryann
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
Ulysses:
The powerful and fascinating finale to the Tharassas Cycle was not a disappointment! The trick with ending an epic adventure like this is to make it NOT obvious (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc). Scott Coatsworth does it, and with a distinctive point of view that is his alone.
So, it’s all about to hit the fan (although in Tharassas they don’t seem to have fans, or air-conditioning, even though they have electricity and plumbing). As the title suggests, this is all about the looming threat to the people of Tharassas, coming from inside Anghar Mor, the dark mountain in the north east. Well, THAT sounds sort of obvious, doesn’t it?
But it’s not. We have to remember that until about five hundred years earlier, there were no humans on Tharassas, and the planet had grown and evolved and thrived just fine without them. The humans arrived from earth—specifically a group of what I suspect were what we would call survivalists. This human civilization flourished in its sort of quasi-primitive way, as the technology brought from earth on spaceships was slowly archived and forgotten. The only intact piece of earth technology on Tharassas is Spin. His presence provides a kind of comic relief from the seriousness of the plot, but also adds a powerful emotional backstory that we finally learn in full.
Thing is, humans were the second alien species to arrive on Tharassas, and they arrived thousands of years earlier. In a way, this book is their story, and it is what makes Coatsworth’s effort unique.
Meanwhile, our young trio of heros—Raven, Aik, and Silya—have all been transformed. Raven has bonded with the verent, the race of sentient white dragons. Silya has bonded with the hencha—the life-sustaining but sentient plants upon which Tharassan culture depends. And Aik, poor insecure, beautiful Aik, has bonded with the gauntlet, and thus has bonded with the Death Bringer. Each of these three youngsters, all of a sudden, find themselves with the world in their hands.
The important thing is that they are not alone. They have not gone rogue; they have joined to something bigger, older, and infinitely wiser that each of them is. More than this, they are surrounded by people who care about them and depend on them. They are necessary, but they are not solitary. None of them can do it alone, and herein lies the great lesson of this series.
Coatsworth gives the reader an unexpected twist, which will not totally surprise any reader who has been paying attention as the story begins, and we first hear the voice of the Spore Mother deep inside Anghar Mor. With stunning visuals and careful emotional control, Coatsworth gives us the epic battle for survival, while taking it in a direction both unexpected and philosophical.
Maryann:
Gullton has sheltered all the people who needed to be saved from the red fireflies that have destroyed the hencha and the wildlife system. But then Chala discovers that water has leaked into the caverns. Lake Zeraya is overflowing from the melting ice from the now heated Angkor Mor. Chala, Kerrick and Sister Tel will go to the dam to open the gate. But Chala has issues as she remembers the Oracle, Mirah and Alibeh and all she knows is death needs to come to Aik/Iihil.
Aiken Erio is now held by the Spore Mother and has trouble remembering who he is. The metal Gauntlet has become more of a part of him. Now he’s the Mother’s son the progenitor named Iihil. There comes a point when Iihil even knows there’s something not right. But Aik holds on and remembers Raven.
Spin is with Triya, Desla, Em and Mesa. They are in search of Aik and trying to avoid the red fireflies. Spin has memories of a past life: Sera his daughter, the Spin Diver and the crash. With Spins memories he gives himself a new name, Ty. When they found Desla in the cave she recovers and relays what happened. Aik had left by the way of the tunnel in Anghar Mor and had not returned. They would journey into the cave to find Aik.
For Silya another hugh step will be made for her as Hencha Queen. Raven knows that if Silya has her own emp there will be hope. If she can survive the trial of the emp she would be more connected to the hencha and Tharassas. As Raven has left Gullton Silya will go by verent to find Aik and Raven. She will use her staff and face off with Iihil, but Chala under the influence of the Oracle will cause great damage.
Raven knows one thing he must do and that is to save his lover Aik, as the word is he needs to die. Raven and the verent riders will go to Angkor Mor to try and save him. But it doesn’t go well, as Sorix is ready to find mate Kalix as they know they are hurt. The other verdant: Breeze, Thunder and Squint are there to support Kalix and Raven.
All now have a goal and that is to reach Angkor Mor. Some with the thought of ending Aik and some who have the need to save him. Triya knows that something happened in the past before humans arrived on Tharassas. As all meet in the cavern Silya will face off with the Spore Mother. What Silya learns will it change what she felt was necessary to achieve? And what of Aik his life still hangs in the balance?
J. Scott Coatsworth brings another outstanding story to the “Tharassas Cycle” with book four “The Death Bringer.” It has been an on the edge thriller, not only fighting off the red fireflies, but having Aik’s life in so much danger. It has been a chaotic story of choices to be made in order to not repeat what has happened in the past for those of Tharassas.
The author takes us back into a world that was once filled with human life, colorful vegetation and odd creatures and now it has been destroyed by the red fireflies and the coryx. The idea of the story stays on course as all will have to work together to exist or the world will end in tragedy. Some will make rash judgments and others will weigh what’s most important and take a chance for a better world. I could say so much more but at every turn something changes the course for the characters and there are surprises along the way.
There’s still a magnificent cast of characters along with: Raven, Aik, Silya, Kerrick, Spin, Desla, Triya, Sister Dor, Tela, Cora, Elleck, and Rex’Axon Sea Master. Verent riders: Astrid, Olly, Jai, and Chala. Verent’s: Kalix, Breeze, Sorix, Squint and Thunder.
Spore Mother, Iihil, and Iindree, and so many more with unique names.
“The Death Bringer” is another story that is intense and will take the imagination into the world and lives of unique and amazing characters. J. Scott Coatsworth started it all with Raven “The Dragon Eater” and four books later he still takes readers on a fantastic journey.