The Last Dawn

The Last Archangels, Book Three

By: Michael Young

Narrated by: Matthew Holdren

With his evil brother dealt with and Daniel's Armor to assist him, Xandir sets his sights on the Prince of Darkness himself. The old Serpent, however, has joined forces with Cain to establish New Nod, a mighty empire that all mortals must submit to or perish. With the help of friends new and old, Xandir must complete a quest to forge the only chain that can bind the Prince of Darkness for good. But to do so, he must convince other immortal beings to give up their immortality to forge the links in the chain. Failure means darkness and bondage for the entire human race, but victory might finally allow Xandir to break the chains that have held him since the dawn of time.

©2012 Michael D. Young (P)2024 Michael D. Young

A Bold Vision with Uneven Execution

I listened to the audio version of this book, and the narrator did a solid job bringing the characters and the story to life. His pacing and tone added to the atmosphere, making it easier to stay engaged through the more exposition-heavy parts.

This third installment is a definite step up from the second book. The stakes are higher, the plot is tighter, and the world-building feels more purposeful. The concept of forging a chain from the sacrifice of immortals to bind the Prince of Darkness is both creative and thematically rich. The rise of New Nod, Cain’s alliance with the Serpent, and Xandir’s internal struggle all add depth to the narrative.

That said, the pacing still has its ups and downs, and some of the supporting characters could have been more fleshed out. At times, the story leans more on its lore than on emotional engagement. But for those who’ve followed Xandir’s journey this far, the payoff is satisfying and sets up what could be an epic conclusion.

Overall, it’s an improvement with strong ideas and good narration, worth a listen for fans of mythic and spiritual fantasy.