Merciless

A thoughtful and engaging premise for this trilogy. Robin's writing leaves you guessing about where the story will go next such that it is hard to put the book down. I definitely recommend.

The Secretum's end game has been fulfilled. Oblivion has risen from the pit and begun to unleash his reign of terror on the Earth. His power is so great he is drawing the Loci to himself and turning them into mindless zombies as he leads them on a march from Turkey to Jerusalem. Meanwhile, former FBI agent Ethan leads Daniel and Lisa on an impossible mission to figure out some way to stop Oblivion from executing his end game. Can he be stopped? Can they stay alive long enough to figure out how? Now if most of what you've just read makes no sense to you, it means you haven't read the first two books in the trilogy. As a result, I don't recommend you start here. With only a one page recap of the previous two books, you will be very lost. But for those looking to finish the trilogy, you'll be very happy with the conclusion. Like the first, this book is action packed from page one. Because most of the Loci are under Oblivion's control, there are actually fewer characters, giving those who we do see a much better chance at truly getting to shine. The writing still has occasional rough spots, but it is much more polished than in book one. And a couple elements made me roll my eyes, but I was caught up in the story again in just a few moments. And the book finally tackles some Christian themes here, too. While it doesn't pretend to be a complete treatise on free will (and I wouldn't expect one in a novel), what is presented here is interesting to consider. The fantasy underpinning allows for some neat analogies as well. I was bothered by a Bible verse misquoted, but I just considered the source. I wouldn't expect a villain to get it right. But my complaints about the book are minor. This is a fast paced fantasy thriller that will leave readers ready for more from this author.

Grant Borrows has fallen into the depths of the earth. Out of the darkness climbs the unstoppable evil known as Oblivion to take his place. Oblivion has one goal: to destroy the Earth and bring torment and death to all humanity. However, a small remnant remains that refuses to give up. Armed with nothing more than hope they set off on one final mission to stop Oblivion and save the world from his destruction. When I come to the end of a trilogy or a series it is always with some trepidation. Too often even the greatest writers don't know how to end the incredible sagas they have begun. Storylines are left dangling, we get no sense of closure, or alas they have to leave it wide open just in case they want to revisit the story later. All of these writers should pick up a copy of Merciless to see how it's done. With the Dominion Trilogy, Parrish has proven not only to be a top notch writer, but a writer who knows how to tell a story. Each installment of this trilogy is simply incredible, and Merciless is everything you want in a finale. I was quite surprised that Parrish manages to answer all of our questions (and there are a lot of questions), and every storyline is tied up giving us the perfect amount of closure. The action and intensity never let up from the beginning and there are delightful surprises around every corner. Strong spiritual themes abound in this installment and I was completely awed by the messages of hope, sacrifice, and redemption that are so beautifully displayed within these pages. Days after reading the last lines I still get chills from the final scenes with the characters that have become so dear to me. I can't recommend this trilogy enough to anyone who loves quality storytelling at the highest level. I would encourage everyone to start at the beginning to really get the full experience of this amazing story. Robin Parrish has stormed his way to the top of my Must-Read List and he deserves to be at the top of yours as well.

From beneath the Taurus Mountains in Turkey, he climbs upward taking the DarkWorld with him. He is aware of his bloody future and the human sacrifices by the Secretum of Six, but is indifferent. His container awaits him on the surface; Grant Borrows will serve fittingly as his vehicle just like the naive Dominion Ring wearer's late sister was once used. Oblivion will soon surface and the end of days, not that fake propaganda found in Christian literature misinterpreting Armageddon, will begin when time stops. Oblivion reaches the acme of the Hollow to the euphoric rejoicing of his Bringer, the Secretum of Six, who insured the Millenia aged prophesy of the end occurs. His body denotes instant death when excited Angela upon seeing her God reaches out to touch him. Oblivion begins his MERCILESS final trek to fulfill his destiny. However for the first time Secretum leader Devlin has doubts as Oblivion did not even notice his touch killed Angela and his comment of unworthy frightens the human. Still they follow their prophet, who says the DarkWorld has surfaced with him. Only the Ring of Dominion Bearers might be able to prevent the end of the world, but they feel like doubting David without a slingshot as each realizes the earth has changed for the worse as he is coming causing chaos and death in his wake. Though there is a one page recap and this final tale can stand alone, to fully appreciate this excellent different Christian end of the world thriller, it behooves the reader to first peruse RELENTLESS and FEARLESS. The story is action-packed from the opening climb until the final confrontation between good and evil; but this is no Jesus arriving to save the day from Lucifer climax. Few if any villains are as amoral as Oblivion the MERCILESS is as humans are not even roach level to him. Robin Parrish, with this superb exciting trilogy, has brought freshness to a genre which suffered from a smug sameness to the biblical end of days' saga. Harriet Klausner

Ancient buildings are pulverized into dust. Fire and blood rain down from the sky. Oblivion has come to Earth with power that would make Superman cry and no one can stop him. In this blockbuster finale to what has been one of the most interesting twists on the superhero, Parrish takes the reader back to a time when comic books weren't one rehash after another. Parrish delivers one blow after another. This book is simply fun storytelling.Watch out Greg Rucka.