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Jay Gordon
Robert Scott
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Book
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Publisher | Gollancz | ||
ISBN | 9780575082823 | ||
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Reviewer
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Susie
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Synopsis
Nerak is defeated. Steven Taylor has cast the malevolent dictator's soul into the Fold's inky void - but the evil that controlled Nerak and brutalised the people of Eldarn has escaped, and taken Mark Jenkins with it. Steven must put his own feelings to one side, for Eldarn's fate still hangs in the balance, and he remains the land's only real hope. As he and his companions make their way across country, rallying what remains of their allies, Mark, no longer the affable teacher from Colorado, disappears into the foothills of the Blackstone Mountains, determined to excavate the Larion spell table and use its awesome power to destroy Eldarn. During an epic sea journey to the enemy strongholds of northern Malakasia, Steven discovers he is stronger than he thought, but a confrontation with Mark is inevitable . . . Is Steven willing to kill his best friend and face eternal exile in Eldarn to save two worlds from annihilation? Return to Eldarn for this towering finale, where our heroes face a terrifying army of mutated beasts, and the mysteries of the Larion Senators are waiting to be unlocked, for good or for evil . . .
Review
This is the last book in the Eldarn sequence. The evil that inhabited Nerak has got possession of Mark Jenkins. Mark is now a prisoner in his own mind forced to carry out unspeakable evil. His ensuing rampant and violent campaign soon has Eldarn under Mark's thumb. Only our ramshackle and much diminished group of friends stand between Mark and the evil he is about to release from the fold. Destroying Mark may be the only way to prevent the annihilation of Eldarn but can Steven Taylor really kill his best friend and house-mate, even for the greater good?
Although the writing quality remains as good as ever, it really feels like the authors were trying to stretch this story into third and unnecessary book. A few extra chapters tagged onto the end of book two would have wrapped up the story nicely. As it was, I found myself rapidly fed up with a book that was dragging it's heals and refusing to end. A disappointing let down for an otherwise excellent fantasy trilogy.
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