Jay Howell dies in his sleep.
Jay Howell passes away after suffering a heart attack.

Desire Card fans, what foul language would you direct at author Lee Matthew Goldberg if he wrapped up the five book series with one of those endings?

For such an inhuman as Jay Howell, a simple ending to his story is not enough. Here’s the simple description of his situation: he flees deeply into the Amazon rainforest to avoid capture. He wants to vanish because he does not want to give satisfaction to those he’s eluded or damaged through his nefarious career running The Desire Card. He can continue fueling their fear.

There’s another key question to address. Can Jay be killed?

Jay’s so evil that he could be a demonic entity, or even The Devil itself. In that case, how could he be destroyed? In the previous books, The Card was a major drug dealer for both the Mafia and cartels, so it’s not surprising that drugs play a prominent role in Howell’s journey. This time, it’s ayahuasca and other hallucinogens taking the predominant place in the story.

Shamanism takes a major role in the journey. In a shaman’s hut, Jay faces a hallucinogenic journey that is part Defending Your Life, part Christmas Carol, and part Julius Caesar. Few survived Jay’s horrendous actions, but those who did may achieve the closure they’ve sought in this hut.

Desire’s End is a different kind of book than the other four because it has to be. He’s started as Gable, the ruler of a ruthless organization that the concept for all wishes to be fulfilled to the extreme. We then saw Jay Howell’s fall as his family feels the impacts of his alter ego and cracks are showing in The Card. Now he’s William Clark, dealing with the repercussions of his ruthlessness. It is also the shortest book, because Goldberg doesn’t bloat his tale just to include more pages. He tells the story, the story hits a logical conclusion, and fade to black.

The biggest question the last book in a series must answer is… did the ending make it worthwhile to read the series? Will I keep the series, or will I give these books to another (sucker) to erase the stench in my house?

The Desire Card series is a keeper.

Thanks to Rough Edges Press and Black Tide Book Tours for a review copy of the book. Opinions expressed are my own. ( )