The Dragon in Winter, the third book in the Kagen the Damned series, is a compelling conclusion to Jonathan Maberry’s epic saga. Maberry’s unique style is a delightful blend of Tolkien-like fantasy, Arthurian legend, Monty Python hijinks, Stephen King horror, and Holmesian mystery, creating a narrative that is both familiar and refreshingly original. 

The story features a vast array of characters, each meaningfully developed. Some characters persist throughout the story, while others meet their tragic demise, serving the tale’s progression. Dragons, elves, fairies, witches, and various monsters adds to the richness of this fantastical world. This book stands out as something genuinely different from anything I have read, and I'm sure it will excite and intrigue any fantasy literature enthusiast.

My anticipation for this installment of the Kagen trilogy was high, as I couldn’t wait to discover who would ultimately prevail. Maberry masterfully keeps readers guessing until the very end. The story concludes just as it began, focusing on family and its complexities.

I will greatly miss some of my favorite characters who now disappear behind the book covers. Kagen, Tuke, Filia, Jheklan, and Faulkner, along with many others, kept me heartily entertained throughout the series.