Blight Marked by Josh Erikson (Ethereal Earth #3)

In this third book of the Ethereal Earth series, Gabe and company are back for more witty adventures. Blight Marked picks off where Fate Lashed left off and quickly draws the reader in before rushing to a satisfying – and dramatic! – finish. There is a tonne of funny banter, tonnes of action, more puns than you can toss a stick at, and a tonne of real character growth along the way. If you haven’t already, you should start reading Erikson.

It’s challenging to begin this story’s list of things I loved because there are so many. As I previously stated, there is a lot of Erikson’s signature banter, and it is still a lot of fun. In fact, this one contains perhaps more humorous banter than Fate Lashed did. A pair or team that can maintain amusing exchanges while engaged in combat with a battalion of elves—or a company of knights—is simply so fulfilling. It’s a little quirky, but it doesn’t go overboard with the humour. With its entertaining dialogue and pop cultural allusions, the urban fantasy adventure Blight Marked captures your interest.

But it’s also much more than that. This book has a lot of character development, and I believe Gabe, the protagonist, is the one who best exemplifies it. The narrative is recounted from his point of view, and by the third book, we have a solid understanding of who he is. But throughout this book, Gabe is forced to face his differences, and we readers are forced to face them through him. The Gabe from Hero Forged is not the same Gabe in Blight Marked. He has had too many experiences, and like any other living, breathing person, those events have moulded and altered him.

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Hero Forged by Josh Erikson

Although this isn’t truly a story about coming of age, there are certain components that are, and they are used quite well. When it comes to Gabe’s dealings with Heather, this is very obvious. As both of the characters develop and change, there is no doubt that the relationship will also alter and expand. I really like it. The antagonists in Erikson’s novel are another area of strength. The enemies in this series have always been intriguing and captivating. But Erikson really outdoes himself in this instalment. I don’t want to give away too much, but I thought it was great how the antagonists could just as well be the heroes in another tale. There are no mustache-twirling masterminds or mysterious dark lords here vying for absolute domination.

Instead, Gabe and his crew are opposed by the opposition for good reasons. They have fundamentally different views on reality and the issue at hand, thus it is evident that they cannot agree on a workable solution. I greatly like that it is so accurate to actual life. I adored the enemies in this story, whether they were Aka Manah or Enoch. I could go on and on, but I’ll just say that Gabe is starting to comprehend his magic more in this narrative, which was wonderful. As we discover more about Umbra and the numerous groups that exist, the globe is getting bigger. There is a ton to enjoy, and I hope you don’t waste any time picking up the book and doing so.

Very nothing about this one disappointed me. The main plot could be criticised for being merely a fetch quest. But it never truly seemed to be the case. The plot progresses swiftly, and there were times when I thought it might have gone a little too quickly. This is especially significant in light of what ultimately transpires with some of the Igla. Sincerily, I might have imagined several story points happening over the course of two books. Because of how fantastic I think what we received in this one is, I’m not disappointed that they didn’t. Even yet, there were times when the plot moved from one thing to another so quickly that I nearly suffered from whiplash, though, as I said, not in a way that interfered with my enjoyment.

The Ethereal Earth series is one of my favourite urban fantasy series, and Blight Marked makes sure of that. I’m eager to see where Erikson leads us next because the dialogue, character development, adversaries, and world building are all superb. Grab a copy of Blight Marked, which is currently up for preorder, and enjoy while you wait! Alternatively, start the series with Hero Forged if you haven’t already. These are not to be missed!