Reviewed by Cheryl
TITLE: Unbroken
SERIES: Rath and Rune #4
AUTHOR: Jordan L Hawk
PUBLISHER: Widdershins Press
LENGTH: 194 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 17, 2025
BLURB:
The hunt for the evil Books of the Bound nears its end, as Ves and Sebastian track an elusive killer who can raise the dead.
Librarian Sebastian Rath has Bound himself to three of the four necromantic Books created by his ancestors. Only the Book of Blood remains—and it’s in the hands of an elusive killer.
Someone is murdering members of the Widdershins Horticultural Society using the Book’s magic. In order to stop the killings and Bind the final Book, Sebastian and Ves must find their way through a forest of lies and deception. But the danger is closer to home than they think, and more than one killer has Sebastian in their sights.
REVIEW:
This one really started with a bang, then immediately sunk in its fangs and didn’t let go to the last page, leaving us desperate for more, although leaving us with a fan’s dilemma, as the next installment is the last and to get more of this wonderful story is to bring it to its end.
As usual, the author has displayed their skill in storytelling to a high degree, presenting stories within stories and blending together many strands to form a vibrant and exciting whole. The characters, new and old, leap from the page with lives of their own, each with a sense of history and a life yet lived, even though for quite a few of them, that life was to be cut short. Fortunately, all of our favourites have lived to see another day, although all of them somewhat changed, I think.
I have to admit that, even though they might be villains, the author has imbued both the Endicotts and the Runes with such personality that I find myself almost warming to them. I am interested in Ora and Lenore to the point I want to see more of them and I would love to have some form of redemption, although I accept that is unlikely and probably unwarranted. They’re just such great characters I want to root for their success, not downfall.
Given that this is such a wide, epic tale, it is in the little touched that the author truly excels. Amidst the dark, roiling skies, powerful magic, great deeds and politics, are little, human touches that draw the reader in and forge commitment to the characters and their world. I particularly loved the descriptions of the fourth of July celebrations, even when they were uncomfortable for Ves.
I think the key thing I find with this series and this authors writings as a whole, is a sense of connection to the characters, that bring with it an interest in their lives and adventures. This, I believe is the mark of a true storyteller and is rare. I am completely in love with this series and I would recommend to anyone who likes good writing and good stories.
RATING: 
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