Archibald Lox Volume 3: The Exiled King

The stunning conclusion of a thrilling new fantasy trilogy by the New York Times bestselling YA author of Cirque Du Freak.

"Shan has created a far-reaching multiverse that boggles and beguiles, with characters that cannot fail to endear or revile. Beneath its simple, straightforward narrative is a deceptively complex, immersive experience that captivates the reader in a way only a master storyteller can." The British Fantasy Society.

Following the burial of an old, dear friend, Archie returns to the Merge. He's enjoying his stay in a realm of waterless canals and upside-down pyramids, but when a day trip to a beautiful sinkhole goes terrifyingly awry, he winds up imprisoned in a brutal, isolated hellhole. With a collection of fellow locksmiths, Archie is forced to work on a plan to restore a deadly tyrant to their throne. As he desperately searches for a way to outwit the demons who hold him in their clutches, he must also struggle to come to an understanding of the strange demon he carries within. Everything is on the line, and Archie's choices will decide not just his own future, but the destiny of the Merge...

This is the Complete Volume Three of the Archibald Lox series, bringing together books 7, 8 and 9 (and presenting them as a single storyline), Archibald Lox and the Sinkhole to Hell, Archibald Lox and the Pick of Loxes, and Archibald Lox and the Legion of the Lost.

PRAISE FOR VOLUME THREE

"This book is a masterpiece, the very epitome of the phrase, 'saving the best for last'." The Literary Connoissuer.

"Cirque Du Freak will always be my favorite Shan series, but Archibald Lox is certainly giving it a run for the title." The Word Cubby.

"The world building in this book is sublime. It's not just a great read, it's an experience." Rachel Hobbs, author of Shadow-Stained.

"Yet another great Archibald Lox book... lots of twists, turns and tension." T. Higgs Reviews.

"One of my favourite things about Darren Shan is you can never predict what's going to happen next. Loose ends from previous books were cleared up in ways I'd never even considered. Now that I'm finished, I'm feeling pretty lost." This Dream's Alive.

PRAISE FOR VOLUME ONE

"A brisk, entertaining tale that unfolds in a wonderfully bizarre world." Kirkus.

"I read quite a lot during lockdown but nothing made me smile quite as much as these first three instalments in the Archibald Lox series." The Bookbag.

"Shan has created an alternative world that is extraordinary and imaginative with fantastical creatures that both delight and horrify. A soon-to-be fantasy classic." The US Review of Books.

PRAISE FOR VOLUME TWO

"Shan has built an ambitiously original fantasy world populated with fully rounded characters who take us on unforgettably compelling journeys." Books, Films & Random Lunacy.

"The first three books were unlike anything I'd read before, and book 4 truly proves that Shan is a master storyteller." Kelly Smith Reviews.

"With every page, author Darren Shan weaves a richer and more colourful world." Addicted To Media.