On the Edge of Salt: Blood Brute, Book Six
Written by Dixon Reuel
Six months ago, the realisation that Blood Brute was fast coming to an end struck me. I first discovered the series back in February 2022 and read the first three in close succession. Upon finishing these, I eagerly anticipated the fourth book, wondering what author Dixon Reuel had in store next, and repeated the process while waiting for the fifth. Over the course of these five books, my love of this world grew, and the stories of Rise, his coven, and everyone else this zombie-bitten vampire interacted with, have occupied space in my head. It is no exaggeration for me to say that over these last six months, I have oscillated between excitement, trepidation and mourning. But as I finally opened Blood Brute‘s finale, On the Edge of Salt, I was overcome with giddiness.
If you follow these reviews, you’ll know that when a book is part of a series, I’ll generally comment on it. Particularly, I believe I should discuss whether it stands alone well enough to be read in isolation from the other books. Not everybody wants to dive into an entire series, and we all have time and financial pressures. As the sixth book in a series, following (click the links for my reviews) Rise of One, Fall of Two, Ebb of Three, Strain of Four and Myth of Five, there’s a substantial amount to catch up on. While the author can’t do anything about the time commitment, she can help with the expenditure. The first three stories are included in a single volume (yes, I reviewed that glorious paperback, too), and a second is incoming. A Kindle omnibus of all six volumes is also incoming. But despite the many ways to catch up on Blood Brute, On the Edge of Salt can be read in isolation from the rest of the series. This story stands on its own more than anyone should expect from the finale to a six-part epic. Not that I would suggest you read On the Edge of Salt on its own, however; the only way to fully experience the rich history of Reuel’s world is to read the series, from beginning to end.
While I won’t recommend reading On the Edge of Salt in isolation—or before the first five Blood Brute books—I will wholeheartedly recommend you read it. When awaiting the end to a series, there’s always a concern about whether it will live up to what came before, and whether it will provide a satisfying pay-off to your investment. This book succeeds on both fronts and does so stunningly. In my review of Myth of Five, I remarked it feels like calling the latest Blood Brute novel “the best one yet” was becoming a trope. So I won’t say that On the Edge of Salt is the best Blood Brute novel yet; ‘but I’ll simply say that it’s the best Blood Brute novel, period. The series started strong and has gone from strength to strength, continuously improving, with each book being an evolution from the last. On the Edge of Salt is the culmination of this evolution.
I try to avoid spoiling books in my reviews, and this is something that gets more important for me the longer a series continues. By discussing the plot, I risk spoiling any of the twists and turns from the previous books in the series. All I’ll say about On the Edge of Salt’s plot is that it opens with Rise and his coven discovering graves of those once close to them have been emptied, which leads them on a personal journey where they must contend with the story’s threat.
As deliberately vague as that previous paragraph is, I can talk about the tone Reuel casts in On the Edge of Salt. From the book’s opening, it is haunted by the spectre of finality. This is the last book in the series, and it feels like it. As the story continues, it ruminates on the past (much like the series protagonist tends to do), while also looking to the future. It explores Blood Brute’s world in haunting detail, telling an emotional story about its characters, particularly Rise, who has anchored these tales. Rise is a character who has grown through the series, and this novel puts this growth on fine display.
At 358 pages (at the time of writing, I don’t have an estimate for eBook readers), On the Edge of Salt is the longest of the Blood Brute books. However, I should note that part of this page count includes the novellas On the Edge of Salt (sharing its title with this book, adding to my curiosity about why it dropped the series naming conventions; but makes perfect sense upon reading it) and Finding Home. These novellas are integrated with the book’s second act, and are broken up with parts of them sitting between the chapters. It’s a thoroughly entertaining way of focusing on the characters’ history, and the novellas blend in with the broader narrative well. Not only do they provide these stories for readers who haven’t read them, they form an interesting literary device to provide flashbacks that anchor the novel’s themes.
On the Edge of Salt is the most literary of the Blood Brute series. While the series has a history of using the English language in entertaining ways, this book takes it to another level. I often marvelled at the prose on display, which manages to convey the darkness of this world, while also making me laugh at various points with perfectly timed humour. This is an immaculately constructed novel, with stunning prose and dialogue that complement each other perfectly. For as much as Blood Brute is a series about vampires, zombies and zombie-bitten vampires called blood brutes, these tales are paced slowly, drawing the reader into their world. On the Edge of Salt is not a bombastic finale; it is a carefully structured story about Rise that brings his arc to a satisfying close.
The major component to On the Edge of Salt being such a satisfying ending is the book’s cast of characters. Every character featured in this novel is clearly drawn. Regardless of whether a character is human, a vampire or a blood brute, their humanity shines through. They love, they hate, their imperfection is perfectly written. The emotions ring true, as do their relationships. LGBTQI+ representation and romance have always featured prominently in Blood Brute, and they do here, too; and these threads are entirely emotive. As the protagonist of the series, Rise underpins the entire book. He isn’t human, and I haven’t shared his experiences in a post-apocalyptic world. Yet he is a character I can relate to, and I imagine most readers will, too. Anybody who has loved, anybody who has lost, anybody who has simply lived will relate to his plight. It is through this character that the book succeeds so highly, right down to the final sentence, which closes this series so beautifully.
Not only is On the Edge of Salt a fantastic novel, it is the perfect finale to Blood Brute. Immaculately written, it draws the reader into this final tale, the culmination of a series that has gotten better as it progresses. Rise and those who surround him are amazing characters, and despite their supernatural origins, their humanity comes through beautifully. Seeing Blood Brute come to an end is bittersweet. Rise’s story may have drawn to a close, but it is an arresting end. I’ll miss this series, but I’ll be here for whatever Dixon Reuel decides to offer the world next, no matter the genre. As Blood Brute has shown us, genre can mean very little as long as post-apocalyptic stories about vampires and zombies are this beautiful.
Favourite Passage
Rather than guns, which were loud and required ammunition, Rise had made sure that he traded for a crowbar before they left. Strapped against his back, the crowbar made him feel strong and young again, as if he could smash through the skulls of anything or anyone that wanted to mess with him. He had gotten quite good at wielding it. He could even spin it backwards in his hands and look extra threatening. Rise smirked. He had never been cool a day in his life, but this one weapon made him feel like he could take on the world. Only Iskar knew of his ego in this, and Rise bore, with good grace, his blood match’s gentle teasing.
On the Edge of Salt: Blood Brute, Book Six, Part 1 – “Spring,” Chapter 7: “Beggars of Us All”
On the Edge of Salt: Blood Brute, Book Six was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest review.
On the Edge of Salt will be available in paperback and Kindle, exclusive to Amazon—including on Kindle Unlimited—from 1 June 2023.
You can follow Dixon Reuel online, via:
Note: I do not post scores on reviews on this website, but do post them on my Amazon and Goodreads reviews:
- Amazon – Review to be added upon the book’s release
- Goodreads
Please find a link below; please note I do not collect any proceeds from the sale.
On the Edge of Salt : A Dark Fantasy Chronicle (Blood Brute Book 6)
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