Better is the End was a Semi-Finalist for the Indies Today Award 2024 which wrote "Curt A. Canfield uses verifiable history and dramatic statistics to blur the line between fiction and reality ... Nobody's life is trouble-free, and this sequel makes a bold statement about tackling our hardest internal struggles with exposure and honesty ... Contemporary problems are examined honestly in Canfield's eye-opening novel ... the story of a man on the most important mission of his life."
A Booklife review wrote, "Better is the End balances heavy political commentary with explorations of Will's strained relationships- with his son, wife, granddaughter, and a Japanese girl he abandoned-stressing how war shapes identity. Canfield examines the revisionist view of World War II, a heavy lift but one that he tackles ambitiously, using Will as a lens to critique America's obsession with militarism, neglect of the psychological toll of war, the long-held narrative of America as a global liberator, and media manipulation ... Will's haunting reflection-'Did my darkness come from all the sin that I inflicted on the world? Or did it come from all the sin that I had witnessed in the world?'-anchors central themes of war's lasting trauma and its perpetuating cycle of violence."
Better is the End is the sequel to "The Errors of Mankind." After Will Barnes was purged of the beast and found peace in the first novel, in this sequel, he finds this peace is being undercut by a darkness left in the beast's wake, an uncontrollable anger that causes him to lash out at others. Feeling like an alcoholic, he follows the AA program. He retraces his steps through life to find others he has harmed and then struggles with the process of making amends. He finally completes the process and unexpectedly finds lasting peace in a surprising way.
Onlinebookclub.org review: "...5 out of 5 stars. I like the writing style of the novel because it is so well-written that one is almost convinced it is a true story...particularly suitable for readers who are interested in historical fiction with a strong moral and political dimension. Those who appreciate a nuanced examination of historical events and their implications for contemporary society will find this book engaging. Additionally, readers who enjoy stories of personal redemption and complex characters grappling with their pasts will connect deeply with Will's journey."