Elizabeth's Reviews > Restoration

A strong end to the trilogy, and a definite improvement over book #2. Here, the two main friends from the first novel are working side-by-side, so much of the joy that was missing from book #2 is present here. The stakes are higher than ever, and there are a great many obstacles to be overcome in this action-packed finale. There is also a lot that is disappointing, mostly in the form of a minor character who, for some reason, is unnecessarily hurtful to others, but everyone somehow loves her for it. She is particularly cruel right at the end, but everyone seems to think she has acted well. But as I said, she is a minor character, and this is a minor point. What works exceptionally well in this tale is the way that the two main characters get pushed to their limits. One shines, and the other, well, doesn’t, and that, too, is well-written and compelling. This book also earns points for making terrific use of ambiguity. There is a major plot point that is unclear in its resolution, and while such approaches often feel cheap and gimmicky, this does not. This feels real, and the uncertainty of the character’s future is extraordinarily well-handled. If it weren’t for a few sour notes in other aspects of the storytelling, I would say that this was one of the most satisfying endings to a fantasy series that I’d ever read. This isn’t the world’s greatest book, by any stretch, and it’s only getting 4 stars from me. But the resolution is quite solid, and the story threads, the ones that are neatly tied up and the ones that are not, are quite well-chosen.