PenWorks of the Word | Featured Book Review | Last Light of Everlasting - Demi Griffin

Greetings, 

I have been sitting on this review for quite some time, and I am so excited to share this review with you today. Last Light of Everlasting is a book written by Demi (DM) Griffin that was released on January 15th, 2025. It is book one in The Illumination Chronicles.

As an author, it is difficult to find stories that truly keep me on the edge of my seat. This is one of those stories, and it is available on Kindle Unlimited as well as in Paperback and Kindle.

Let's dive into this stunning novel, and I’ll see you in the ‘digital’ pages.

M.J.E

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Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Overall Description:

Everlasting is a world of peace and tranquility. At least it was before one of the King's loyal servants rebelled. The ensuing battle between those who were loyal and those who rebelled required a strength even the warriors of the spirit realm did not have. Assistance came through the histories. The Ancients, flesh beings who sacrificed their own existence, became the one weapon that could defeat darkness - a luminaria.

Unaware of the raging battle, the Chayah went about in their innocence as a favored creation of the King. With the end of the war, however, alterations shook the foundations of Everlasting. It would be up to a single man and a single woman to restore those foundations.

Cast into the realm of darkness, Thoren and Isadore forget who they truly are and where they come from. Through a series of adventures and a twist of time, the two who had been separated come together, along with ten others. As individuals embrace the challenge to fight the darkness, weakness becomes strength and revelation becomes freedom.

The unity of the group is the only hope to restore the balance and reignite the light in Everlasting. Yet the enemy has much at his disposal to ensure that they cannot escape his evil clutches. Will they escape the darkness? Will they remember who they are? For them, escape is only the first step toward freedom.

My Review of the Book:

Demi Griffin’s Last Light of Everlasting is more than just a fantasy novel; it is a powerful, immersive entry into the speculative genre. It immediately sends the reader into a fascinating world of high-stakes conflict and deep, original lore. This novel is a unique exploration of profound concepts that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The vivid imagery and meticulous world-building were truly exceptional, seamlessly establishing a rich history that captured my curiosity. The narrative, cleverly divided into three distinct parts, expertly carries the story while weaving in spiritually impacting themes of conviction, duty, and light. The author manages to balance an epic scale with genuine emotional resonance, creating characters who feel raw and relatable as they struggle to find their way back to the Land of Everlasting. This interplay of large-scale fantasy world-building and deep, human-centered struggle is what makes the book so compelling. One of the central, high-concept elements of this story is based around the Luminaria Blades. Initially, the author leads you to believe they are one thing, but the climactic reveal involving powerful stories of sacrifice and loyalty was completely unexpected. This moment, which turned out to be my favorite part of the story, is a brilliant narrative thread that truly spoke to me deeply—it infuses the great fantasy artifacts with profound allegorical meaning. Woven intently into this narrative is a deep idea of redemption and faith that is rarely explored with this level of detail. Where other stories might treat these topics as an afterthought, Griffin truly wanted the reader to gain a better understanding of what these concepts require of us in life. The spiritual impact of the message beautifully grounds the physical conflicts the characters experience, providing a moral and philosophical core to the high-fantasy action. Last Light of Everlasting is a truly rewarding book and an easy read to get lost in. If you are a reader who seeks an impactful, high-concept epic that is rich with allegory and ultimately points toward hope and redemption, you will not want to stop reading this one. It is a clean, meaningful story that is reminiscent of the deep, purposeful lore of books like The Chronicles of Narnia. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys Christian Fantasy. This review is written entirely of my own accord.

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Matthew (also known by his pen names M.J. Elliott and E.M. James) is an award-winning, dedicated writer with a deep passion for sharing the word of Christ. He is married and the proud father of three wonderful children who continually inspire his faith and creativity. Through his writing, Matthew seeks to minister with love, equip others with encouragement, and help readers encounter God in real and meaningful ways.