Monstrum

The Fourth Talisman, Book 3

By: Kat Ross

Narrated by: Maria Marquis

In the third volume of the Fourth Talisman series, the hunt is on for the three daevas whose powers saved the world once before.

On the White Sea, realm of smashers and sea monsters, a ship is carrying Nazafareen and Darius to the Isles of the Marakai, where the wise woman Sakhet-ra-katme has guarded the secret of the talismans for centuries.

But another is searching, too - a daeva born in the brutal prison of the Kiln, who plans to use the talismans to free the Vatras and their mad king. When their paths collide at the emperor’s lavish palace in Tjanjin, Nazafareen and Darius face their deadliest and most cunning foe yet.

In the mountain fastness of Val Moraine, the Pythia’s minions are on the scent of another talisman, this one from the Danai clan. Trapped behind a thick wall of ice, everyone’s going slightly mad - the perfect cauldron of suspicion and betrayal for Thena, who sees a chance to redeem her failure and bring the talisman back to Delphi. Then, she’ll be free to indulge her twisted obsession with Darius and make him pay.

And in Samarqand, Javid is drawn into the treacherous currents of a royal succession. When the old king dies and his son takes the throne, the depths of the prince’s depravity become clear. A journey north reveals the source of the spell dust he’s addicted to and leaves Javid with an impossible choice.

Praise for Monstrum:

"The plot is complex and rich, every turn is filled with either action, love, or lies. Kat Ross writes binge-worthy fantasy stories. Get Nocturne and Solis and Monstrum, lock yourself away somewhere with lots of snacks and read them!" (I Love a Good Book)

“Ross keeps all of her narrative plates spinning at top speed. High fantasy marked by restraint, subtlety and deep character maneuvering.” (Kirkus Reviews)

"A dark and potent fantasy...Monstrum is her best book yet! This story is rich and haunting, with a potent kind of magic that’s barely contained and an incredible cast of indomitable and morally complex characters." (FlyLef Reviews)

"Monstrum was another dashing read, and I can’t wait to see what Kat Ross does next. There were both revelations and new questions raised in this novel, and I have no doubt the next one will be as thrilling and sure to both answer them as well as raise others." (The Rest Is Still Unwritten)

"Monstrum is something truly special. Ross really upped the stakes this time and the characters are forced to make tons of difficult decisions. It was action-packed, fun to read, and all-consuming. My heart was beating nonstop the entire time!" (Rattle the Stars)

"This is book 3 in an epic fantasy that has me utterly addicted. From the corrupted and twisted to the noble and lost, every person has their place and Kat Ross has you yearning for their stories." (Books2Blog)

"I honestly don't know if I can find the words to really explain how awesome this book was. A whirlwind of a story [that] will leave you breathless and eager for more." (Jazzy Book Reviews)

©2018 Kat Ross (P)2020 Kat Ross

Excellent

A fantastic third book to a series that just gets better and better. I love the creative writing and how the plot continues to thicken and thicken without losing focus. The setting is just so incredible and detailed! The power system is also really interesting and was so well written! An absolute must listen.