Nemesis is fourth in Ross’ Fourth Talisman series. The search for the remaining talismans continues. At Val Moraine, the siege is finally broken by Nazafareen. She manages to take the deadly ice diamond from Victor but, half-crazed, he flees into the keep’s depths rather than leaving with the others, only to end up accidentally setting free a deadlier magic than the diamond. Meanwhile, Javid still serves Asabana, and King Shahak, though he dances on slippery sands with the fickle ruler. Katsu arrives in Samarqand, a welcome presence during a difficult time.

In Delphi, the Pythia has set out on the warpath. She reveals her true identity when they encounter a contingent of Danai marching towards Delphi. Instead, the Danai meet their demise in the Pythia’s flames. This stokes Nazafareen’s rage even higher. She and her small group are too late to stop the destruction, but manage to capture Nicodemus and free Galen. They take both, and set their sights on the Kiln, determined to take out Gaius. But can they make it through the Gale, and should they, or is it too dangerous for even the Breaker?

This book continues with the multiple POVs, following Nazafareen, Culach, and Javid for the bulk. The story threads themselves continue to criss-cross, with characters meeting, then going their own ways. We get to learn more of life in the Kiln, to which I can only say that the original talismans were asses. They punished an entire people based on the actions of just some, and ended up committing near genocide. It reminds me of the freak-out uneducated people have over pit bulls, condemning an entire breed thanks to the humans that train some as killers. My experience with pits has been nothing but positive, and that’s including working at a vet clinic. Now, there are a scant hundred or fewer Vatra and they’ve lost all semblence of culture. They are an endangered people, in danger of extinction. 

I did greatly enjoy spending more time getting to know the real Nico, and my hope from the previous book seems to be panning out. He’s evolving beyond the falsehoods Gaius fed him. We learn the real reason he set out on this foolhardy endeavour in the first place. He wants to free his brother from life in the Kiln. I’m glad Gaius never learned of Samarqand’s success in bypassing the Gale via windship. I’m equally terrified of the Mad king’s reaction to learning of their desecration at Pompeii. (Speaking of, I love how Ross has incorporated the historical elements of that city to the world she’s created. Not a volcano, but a flash heatwave that left bodies in a similar state. I thought this book was the last, I’m not even sure why. I’m both pleased it’s not, and frustrated because I want to read the next book NOW!!

***Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This book was reviewed for the XPresso Blog Tours.