Dismantled centuries ago, the sword of Goliath is still rumored to thirst for its enemies’ blood. Cole “Tox” Russell only wants to begin his life with Haven Cortes, but he must first complete a final mission: retrieve that sword and destroy the deadly Arrow & Flame Order.
The AFO, however, is determined to claim the sword. Wielding their father’s life over Tzivia and Ram Khalon, they threaten to expose Ram’s long-held and dangerous secret while demanding Tzivia locate the sword. With the Wraith team slowly being torn apart, things only worsen when Mercy Maddox, a new operative, emerges with the stunning news that the sword is tied to both Ram’s secret and a string of unsolved serial murders.
Tox, Ram, and the others are forced to set aside fear and anger to focus only on the enemy. No matter the cost, Wraith must stop or take the enemy down with them.
Thirst of Steel will keep you up at night and crossing the globe as you accompany Tox on his quest to save the world from the Russian terrorists bent on destroying it. It’s a journey that will play out before your eyes as you read it and will haunt your dreams after you finish.
It did this to me – literally. I often read late into the night, but I found myself up with Thirst of Steel much later than usual, completely unable to put the book down and go to sleep. I literally read until I slept, something I never do, and found myself with my book before me again first thing the next morning, starting again where I had left off the night before.
The whole Tox series is that way, but this one reads a bit differently. I don’t want to spoil anything, but a few of the main characters have unexpected roles in this one, and so at first I was sloshing through it, a bit ungainly at times, enthralled with the premise but trying to understand the new parts. I soon had it all figured out, though, and by then the action had risen to new heights, and there was no putting this book down.
No. Stopping. Points. Whatsoever.
So, me, who can function with little sleep, actually read herself literally and completely to sleep, and then woke up the next morning, turned back a few pages, and dove back in.
It’s that good.
I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen, although I really didn’t want to, all at the same time, because I knew that would signal the end of the series, and I loved it way too much to want it to end. Alas, that is how I feel, now that I’ve come to the last page: Thirst of Steel has an epic ending, and I loved it.
Which means that there’s nothing to do but to go back to the very beginning of the series and read it all again.
This time, I’ll read a bit slower. I’ll be able to savor parts I was too excited to read slowly the last time and consider details more, not because I didn’t understand what was happening, but only because I was too excited to think but could only devour.
I think that Thirst of Steel creates a Thirst for Words. Be forewarned.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
What are your thoughts?