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Mark Chadbourn
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World's End Kindle Edition

by Mark Chadbourn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 186 ratings

When Jack Churchill and Ruth Gallagher encounter a terrifying, misshapen giant beneath a London bridge they are plunged into a mystery which portends the end of the world as we know it. All over the country, the ancient gods of Celtic myth are returning to the land from which they were banished millennia ago. Following in their footsteps are creatures of folklore: fabulous bests, wonders and dark terrors.

As technology starts to fail, Jack and Ruth are forced to embark on a desperate quest for four magical items - the last chance for humanity in the face of powers barely comprehended.

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  1. Print length
    417 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Gollancz
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    30 Dec. 2010
  6. File size
    1.8 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

Amazon Review

Mark Chadbourn's first four novels were horror. This, his fifth, opens a contemporary fantasy sequence crammed with horrific events. Its interesting premise is that the New Agers' gooey rhetoric was partly right. Our age of reason is ending on Earth, giving way to "The Age of Misrule"--and it's not just brownies, mermaids and ley-line energies that return, but the worst nightmares of myth. A dragon strafes M4 traffic, shape- shifting demons infiltrate Heston Services and the Wild Hunt slashes bloodily through a pub crowd. Technology is fading, with random power and equipment failures. More conventionally, the hero and four varyingly dysfunctional companions have been Chosen to oppose the darkness by collecting a familiar set of magic objects hidden in booby-trapped locations around Britain: the eternal sword, spear, stone and cauldron/grail/kitchen sink. An ageing hippy who's strayed from an old ballad gives cryptic advice that doesn't seem much help when the legions of hell are in hot pursuit. All the main characters are painfully manipulated by non-human forces, with the distinction between good and bad guys growing blurred. Chadbourn is overly fond of magical "with one bound he was free" escapes from impossible situations, but his story rattles along compellingly--with many a nerve-tingling frisson--to a chill and unconventional finale. --David Langford

Review

"Although the concept of having mythological creatures in a modern setting isn't new, Chadbourn brings a unique quality that is rare to come by. Overall, World's End was an impressive read and a great introduction to Chadbourn's writing. The flow of the book seemed to fly right by and I was always wondering what was going to happen next. Mark Chadbourn is an author that readers of fantasy will definitely be encountering for a long time. World's End left a lasting impression and brings just an added uniqueness that is always welcome. I look forward to the second book and what surprises are in store, I'm hoping it'll be just as action packed as the first." -- Fantasy Book Critic, June 1, 2009 "World's End is an impressive opening volume to the Age of Misrule trilogy and the conclusion is such that everything that readers would have assumed about the novel series is shockingly thrown out the window. While not perfect, [it] is an impressive achievement." -- Sacramento Book Review, June 15, 2009 "The first book of the Age of Misrule is a terrific urban fantasy thriller that brings Celtic mythology into modern day London. The story line is fast-paced from the opening encounter at the bridge and never slows down as the champions are on the run. Readers will enjoy this fine beginning and look forward to more malice from Mark Chadbourn." -- Reviewed by Harriet Klausner in the July 2009 online issue of the MBR Bookwatch. "Simply put: it completely blew me away. I was sucked into the fascinating tale of Celtic magic in conflict the modern world, where evil seeks the end of the world, where 'good' may be little better, and those charged with saving us all have their own problems to deal with. Highly recommended" -- Neth Space blog, April 2009.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004KZOXPE
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gollancz
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 30 Dec. 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 417 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0575105560
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: 268,649 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 186 ratings

About the author

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Mark Chadbourn

Mark Chadbourn

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A Times Hardback Fiction Bestseller, Mark Chadbourn has published his epic, imaginative novels in many countries around the world. After studying Economics at university, he became a successful journalist, writing for The Times, The Guardian and The independent among others. When his first short story won Fear magazine's Best New Author award, he was snapped up by an agent and immediately found a publisher for his first novel, Underground. Since then his work has won several awards and he has become a bestseller under his own name and under his historical fiction pseudonym James Wilde.

Mark has also forged a parallel career as a screenwriter with many hours of produced work for the BBC and is now developing new shows for the global streaming giants.

Previously he has held several varied and colourful jobs, including independent record company boss, band manager, production line worker, engineer's 'mate', and media consultant. Mark now divides his time between London and New York, two

cities that he loves.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
186 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers like the characters in the book. The plot receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as an apocalyptic story with a twist, while another notes it's brilliantly researched.

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Character developmentPlot
5 customers mention ‘Character development’5 positive0 negative

Customers like the characters in the book.

"...is brilliant and he brings it all together with a real life set of characters flawed yet on their own journeys of redemption...." Read more

"...weave of magic and mythology into modern urban perception, employing credible characters that stay with long after you've finished the novel." Read more

"...The characters are diverse and that keeps their interactions interesting...." Read more

"...His characters are believable and as a reader you really feel for each a character as they face different trials and strains." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Plot’3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, with one describing it as an apocalyptic story with a twist, while another notes it is brilliantly researched.

"An apocalyptic story with a twist this is a brilliantly researched tale of a world under siege from our old Celtic gods.. dragons and all!..." Read more

"...The fact it builds on prophecy and allows the reader to predict the ending and be challenged its good...." Read more

"Wonderful characters and fantastic plot!..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Siavahda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stunned
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 February 2007
    Verified Purchase
    I'd seen this book in a few shops, and each time I passed it over for no good reason. Thus, after reading it, and after getting over my delighted shock, I am writing this so no one makes the same mistake.

    If you like mythology, especially Celtic, magic, anything 'New Age', dragons, or if you just have a feeling that the human race can't last much longer, then you have to read this - and the rest of the trilogy. The only dissapointment was the whole 'prophecy' idea - the five Brothers and Sisters of Dragons, the guardians of the blood of the earth (magic), must arise and defeat the darkness by finding the four talismans od the Danaan. But the origonal, amazing way in which the whole thing is accomplished - not to mention the horrific twist at the end - is enough to sweep any fantasy fan away.

    I'm currently reading the second book, and Chadbourn's keeping it up. (Mind you, I'm only on the first chapter, but the prologue took FOREVER...)

    All I can say is - READ IT!!!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • angler
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic book I could read again and again.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 June 2025
    Verified Purchase
    All the trilogy and associated books are a fantastic read and absorbing. Mark Chadbourn is superb author. It's a pity that a film has not been made of these books.
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  • nadjax
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff!!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 June 2016
    Verified Purchase
    An apocalyptic story with a twist this is a brilliantly researched tale of a world under siege from our old Celtic gods.. dragons and all! Chadbourn's descriptions of the creatures is brilliant and he brings it all together with a real life set of characters flawed yet on their own journeys of redemption. Can't understand why these books haven't been dramatized for film or tv... great stuff!!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • C.V.Denyer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful characters and fantastic plot!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 August 2019
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    An interesting weave of magic and mythology into modern urban perception, employing credible characters that stay with long after you've finished the novel.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mask
    3.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Some nice ideas the idea that the world is ending through as hidden world built on myths and legends isn't unique to here but it's done pretty well. The characters are diverse and that keeps their interactions interesting. Some overly wordy sections but all in all plot, characters and interesting background/ideas pulling on the legends and myths make it a good book.

    Spoilers below

    The ending I think is good and bad. Death followed by instant resurrection cheapens the sacrifice. The fact it builds on prophecy and allows the reader to predict the ending and be challenged its good. The fact the end of the world is NOT stopped and they are all in the open now is the best thing and most likely to keep me reading the series. Definitely a book of the chaotic good persuasion. The author clearly has a message about organised religion and judgements of any kind. Traditional values are not given good treatment so if you don't like that don't read it. The constant references to drugs, smoking, drinking, random open sex, the whole broomstick scene is why I put it as a three not a four. I want more legend and less sixties in my fantasy reading.
    One person found this helpful
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  • PDexter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Magic has returned
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 November 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I adore these books and am reading them all again for the forth or fifth time. I live near Salisbury and have traced the Brothers and Sisters steps many times. A perfect book for this time of year warm fires, dark nights and creatures abroad! Love it,.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • lisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 February 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This book brings to life the end of the world in a whole new way. His characters are believable and as a reader you really feel for each a character as they face different trials and strains.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Honestly this is one of my all time favourite books. I have great memories of borrowing it ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 January 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Honestly this is one of my all time favourite books. I have great memories of borrowing it from my local library, returning it late and getting away with fines. Good i love it so much XD the only thing that stops it getting that 5th star is the condition wasnt to my likeing. The sticky stuff on the cover wasnt pleasant but everything on the inside was perfect ^-^ im happy
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Ines Joyce
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mark Chadbourne - making the incredible seem remarkably likely.
    Reviewed in the United States on 26 September 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This novel is one that I began whilst I was still living in the UK. Having grown up in the South West, much of the countryside and sites mentioned were very familiar to me. Having enjoyed it once, I knew I wanted to get back to the series again. This time I began it as I embarked upon a return visit to my home country. The book travelled with me from London to Somerset and it enabled me to look at the familiar environment with new eyes. I think that, because of the normalcy of the setting and the mundane (yet nostalgically noted) world around me, I found the whole premise of the book very easy to imagine. Watching 'The End of the World' arriving in instalments to various counties and peoples certainly gives a credible example of how it could realistically occur. It also shows that the author has certainly spent time in these places: the naming of well known streets and landmarks actually helped to personalise the experience of the story. I like the way the characters interact and the dialogue feels very genuine. The whole is a wonderful mixture of Myths and the Mundane, combining to challenge human nature and hone it to it's shining best.
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  • Christine
    4.0 out of 5 stars Decent Celtic Fantasy, After All
    Reviewed in the United States on 28 May 2010
    Verified Purchase
    I left a negative review of this originally, when I bought it in 2010. The writing seemed amateurish to me, the characters uninteresting and shallow. I'd gotten about a quarter of the way through and felt that it was just another poorly written book worked around a "Celtic" theme.

    I picked it up again last week, and for whatever reason I'm enjoying the heck out of it this time. I kept reading past the point I'd quit before, and it started to slowly come together for me. It kept getting more interesting as I kept reading. The author seems to know his Celtic folklore quite well. There have been several really effective nightmarish scenes with the returned Sidhe. The descriptions of the slowly changing world are eerie and effective. The characters are slowly gaining personality and getting deeper the further in I read. All of them are flawed in one way or another and that's a refreshing change of pace from the usual. Another thing I really like is that the characters are adults, not children. And not the hot young urban women that populate so much of the fantasy field at this point. Another refreshing change of pace. At this point, I'm nearly done with the first book and cannot wait to start the second one.

    So, I was wrong about this book. It takes some time to get going but it's been worth sticking with for me.
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  • Liquidshadow
    5.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in the United States on 8 March 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I couldnt put the book (or fire down). I loved every aspect or the story, the way the author uses the old world and new world religions to weave the story together. It was like water written on the banks of a brook. I started with the first book of the second trilogy and I can't wait to find what happens during this trilogy. Nothing in this world is as it seems. Story's told through legends, the tails of today, and the heroics of tomorrow are made to feel in the present. If only we open our mind and see the smoke through the trees. I recommend this read to anyone with an open mind. Hopefully the author will write more books like these, or at the very least be the bard to recite the songs once the heroes in the real world awaken.
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  • Rebekah Thorn
    5.0 out of 5 stars SUPERB!
    Reviewed in the United States on 22 October 2023
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    TOP QUALITY
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  • DuckyK
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good storyline, weak on the writing
    Reviewed in the United States on 10 October 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book series has a neat storyline. I enjoyed the book in that sense. It's about a group of strangers who have to come together to save the world. The Age of Man is dying and the age of Magic is coming back. Technology starts to go on the fritz and strange creatures start popping up. I was let down in the means of how the book was written; the general tone was more depressing than adventurous. To have the characters feel bleak at times is understandable (with the world "ending" and all), but I just felt the whole book was just one constant whinefest. I was hoping for a more upbeat tone; setting off an adventure that you can't escape so you mide as well make the best of it. Some of the characters were well written from beginning to end. I was disappointed in how Ruth and Laura were portrayed. I think what the author was trying to do was show that the women had a soft side and weren't as "strong" as they let on. However i felt the way it was done was contradicting to their original "persona". For example, in the beginning Ruth is introduced as this strong-willed lawyer. But later in the book, on more than one occasion, she complains that she doesn't know if she's strong enough for the task at hand. One way to look at it could have been they were showing a realistic side that even the strongest people are "human," but i found it to be a biiit bigoted and contradicting. There were a lot of things I found myself rolling my eyes at. But at the same time the book was fluid and flowed well and if it weren't for the corny bits and the tone, I think I would have thoroughly enjoyed the book.
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