The Dark Flame of Chaos by TF Johnson

Bereft. That's how I feel. I even went into this trilogy KNOWING what was in store (being friends with the author since the early middle of the second book has that effect) but I just couldn't stop once I had started. And now I'm bereft. When I saw the trigger warnings at the front of the book I was braced for something much worse. For me at least, the level of darkness ranked right there with a Clive Cussler novel. Worth the pain. Worth the book hangover. 10/10 will read again