Review: The Light of All That Falls

October 30, 2024

Review: The Light of All That Falls

The book cover of The Light of All That Falls by James Islington depicts a group of three warriors in the foreground, facing a large red sun on the horizon. Above them, black bats fly across the sky.

The Light of All That Falls by James Islington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not have asked for a better finish to The Light of All That Falls. James Islington has pulled off something special — not only did he not let the threads fall through his fingers, but he wove a tapestry of epic battles, mind-blowing twists, and poignant moments. I went in with a lot of expectations, mainly because I fell in love with both The Shadow of What Was Lost and An Echo of Things to Come, and somehow, this third book managed to surpass them.

Picking up where it left off, Islington drops us immediately back into the richly carved world of Andarra. Davian, Wirr, Asha, and Caeden are called upon to make choices that somehow feel inevitable yet are incredibly tense, each step rippling outward through the delicate balance of this fantasy world. Islington does an amazing job of balancing multiple timelines, each with their mysteries and revelations. The tension rises to all but a breathless pace, with moments of suspense where it was impossible to turn the pages fast enough.

One of the things that truly delighted me in The Light of All That Falls was how Islington furthers his meditation upon choices, fates, and sacrifice even more. Those have always been a cornerstone of the series, but here it gets achingly personal.

It's very powerful to watch Caeden confront the full weight of his past and how that aligns— or doesn't—with his present self. Without spoiling anything, there's a moment between him and Davian near the end that had me in awe of how far each character has come. The author shows the consequences of their choices and the emotional depth and growth each character experiences.

It's lush and complex, just like the world-building in the first two books, but this really pulls everything into sharper focus: the history of Andarra and the magic system are revealed in layers. Almost orchestral, Islington's style is such that every strand of lore, every subplot, culminates into an unexpected yet immensely satisfying crescendo.

I also appreciated the fact that there is a clarity to the writing that helped some of the more complex ideas, especially around magic and the workings of time, be easily understandable without losing their sense of wonder.

The last book of The Licanius Trilogy absolutely delivers on the promise of the first two books. It's a finale that's as sweeping and cinematic as I could have hoped for, with stakes that feel both global and deeply personal. Islington honours every character and plot thread, bringing everything to a close in a way that feels true to the story and its world. If you have read the first two books, this book is literally everything you have been waiting for. I couldn't recommend it more. Highly powerful in its conclusion, it meets every expectation and leaves one satisfied, though wistful that it's over. The Light of All That Falls is nothing short of spectacular.