A Reaper at the Gates

The last three chapters comprise the narrative’s falling action. Since this is the third book in a series, there is no resolution at the end. Instead, the book sets the foundation for the fourth and last story in the series, A Sky Beyond the Storm. Thus, these final chapters expand upon the themes explored throughout this book while positioning certain characters for new beginnings.

The evolution of Laia and Helene’s friendship in Chapter 57 is one of this section’s most significant developments. They both want to free their people and defeat Keris and the Nightbringer. Recognizing their similar interests, Laia and Helene put aside their differences and vow to work together. Laia and Helene’s camaraderie, an instance of hope in an otherwise bleak ending, develops the theme of The Duality of Oppression and Resistance by emphasizing the importance of working together against oppression. It also foreshadows that the Martial refugees and the Scholars will unite forces to fight against Keris and the Nightbringer.

Significantly, unlike the rest of the book, the title of Elias’s chapters changes to “The Soul Catcher,” underscoring his transformation from Elias to the Soul Catcher. Elias turns Laia away when she comes to see him; while he briefly feels sadness, Mauth numbs Elias’s feelings so he does not unnecessarily suffer the loss of his loved ones and his humanity. In Chapter 58, Elias’s struggle for balance momentarily ends as he puts his duty before his humanity, forgoing his human desires to ensure he can fulfill his role. Similarly, Helene puts her duty above her feelings for Harper. They share a kiss, but upon realizing she cannot afford to be distracted, Helene reverts to her role as his commander and assumes the personality of the Blood Shrike.

A Reaper at the Gates begins and ends with a chapter from the Nightbringer’s perspective, where he finally frees the jinn. The Nightbringer continues to be hungry for revenge. Now freed, the rest of the jinn will join his crusade, which is clear when he notes, “I see their soul-deep need for vengeance. I see their bloody reaping to come” (458). This structure, with the Nightbringer’s perspective bookending the narrative, highlights his role as the mastermind behind the events that transpire in the book. The narrative begins with the Nightbringer deciding to free the jinn and ends with him fulfilling his promise. The last chapter also brings the Nightbringer’s sacrifice to the forefront. To ensure his revenge, the Nightbringer forsakes the possibility of love: “A girl I once loved gasps, wheeling her horse about to gaze with gold eyes at the crimson sky over the Forest of Dusk” (457). Though the Nightbringer and Laia shared a deep connection, the Nightbringer ultimately prioritizes revenge above love—a choice that illustrates the destructive nature of revenge quests and sets an ominous tone for the next book.