The Scarlet Seed

Heaven Tree #3

by Edith Pargeter

In the castle of Parfois, flaring down over the debated lands of the Welsh border, young Harry Talvace is held prisoner by his father's sometime patron and late destroyer, Ralf Isambard. Captive and captor, bound by implacable hatred and reluctant affection, seemed doomed to stalemate.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Medieval, War, Novels, 13th Century

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

aka Peter Benedict, Jolyon Carr, Ellis Peters (later editions of her work are sometimes published under this pseudonym), and John Redfern

West Midlands Literary Heritage website biography

Novelist. Born September 1913 at Horsehay, Shropshire. Her father was a clerk at a local ironworks. Edith attended Dawley Church of England School and the Coalbrookdale High School for Girls. Through her mother, she grew to love the history and countryside of Shropshire, her home for all of her life.

Before World War II she worked as a chemist's assistant at Dawley. During this time she started writing seriously for publication while gathering useful information on medicines that she would draw upon later when tackling crime stories. Her first published novel was Hortensius, friend of Nero (1936), a rather dry tale of martyrdom that was not a great success but she persevered and The city lies foursquare (1939) was much more warmly received.

During the war she worked in an administrative role with the Women's Royal Navy Service in Liverpool, a relatively brief period away from Shropshire, and for her devotion to duty she received the British Empire Medal. Many more novels appeared at this time, including Ordinary people (1941) and She goes to war (1942), the latter based on her own wartime experiences. The eighth champion of Christendom appeared in 1945 and from now on she was able to devote all her time to writing. She was particularly proud of her Heaven tree trilogy, which appeared between 1961 and 1963, which had as a backdrop the English Welsh borderlands in the twelfth century.

It was not until 1951 that she tackled a mystery story with Fallen into the pit, the first appearance of Sergeant George Felse as the investigating police officer. Her other great character, and the one for which the author will continue to be known the world over, Brother Cadfael, was to follow many years later. The first appearance of this monk at Shrewsbury Abbey was in A morbid taste for bones (1977) and he mixed his herbs and unravelled mysteries in this atmospheric setting for a further nineteen novels. This kept the author very busy for the remaining 18 years of her life, to the virtual exclusion of all other work.

The name "Ellis Peters" was adopted by Edith Pargeter to clearly mark a division between her mystery stories and her other work. Her brother was Ellis and Petra was a friend from Czechoslovakia. A frequent visitor to the country, Edith Pargeter had begun her association and deep interest in their culture after meeting Czechoslovakian soldiers during the war. This was to lead to her learning the language translating several books into English.

She won awards for her writing from both the British Crime Writers Association and the Mystery Writers of America. She was also awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), an honorary Masters Degree from Birmingham University and the Gold Medal of the Czechoslovak Society for Foreign Relations. There is a memorial to her in Shrewsbury Abbey.

After her death in October 1995, The Times published a full obituary that declared that here was "a deeply sensitive and perceptive woman....an intensely private and modest person " whose writing was "direct, even a little stilted, matching a self-contained personality".

Reviews

[David Eppenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last book of the Heaven's Tree Trilogy and it finishes the story of Harry Talvace, father and son. This is a historical fiction set in the early 13th century England and revolves around the border conflicts that took place at that time between the English and the Welch. The story meets my criteria for historical fiction in that it fully engages the fictional characters with the legitimate historical figures and the events of the time. Of course the fictional characters have their own story and are aided by the historic figures in the execution of a climax and conclusion to the story. On the whole, and by that I mean all three books, this was an excellent story and the author's artistic ability with the printed word is to be much admired. Her ability to paint a scene or to arouse an emotion entirely with the printed word is astounding and that alone was enough to keep me turning pages but the story also managed to engage me. I really wanted to see how all this turned out even though I kind of knew how it would end and was only partially wrong.

I have stated before that I do not like cliffhangers or trilogies primarily because of the lengthy time lag between publications. In this instance I was able to find all three books in one volume so I was spared the irritation of my primary criticism and was able to appreciate the author's reasons for expanding this work into a trilogy. The author indicates that after the first book she was too enamored with the characters and the story to let it end after the first book though from the way the first book ended I think she made her decision on this matter before the end of that book. As a whole the the work is a great success and a moving story in a forgotten time and in an obscure corner of medieval England but that is the trilogy and this review should be about the last book and so it shall be.

At the end of book two young Harry remains true to his word and returns voluntarily to the captivity of Count Isambard. During this period Harry grows more interested in his father's craft and begins to try his hand with carving stone with his father's tools and in his father's work shop. The count no longer challenges Harry with physical torments but does maintain a pointed banter at nearly all their meetings. It becomes clear that the count has a purpose in mind and that Harry is still too young and obsessed with his desire for revenge to understand what is going on. Events along the Welch border and in the Royal Court take some unexpected turns and then a calamity afflicts Count Isambard. The calamity causes the count to release Harry from captivity with the expressed task of intercepting one of the female characters of the story. Harry fails and this leads to the climax of the book with the involvement of Prince Llewellen and the Welch army. There was much more action in this book that would be in keeping with what one might expect from a story about medieval England so on that point it was most satisfactory. I can't say that I was entirely pleased with the ending but that was the author's choice and not mine and while it did end sort of as I expected the author managed to find a different way to resolve the story. This trilogy was a long adventure but definitely worth the time.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this last book with trepidation. It was difficult for me to get into it, difficult for me to finish it and difficult to write about it. I think my trepidation was two-fold. One, I loved it. I loved the characters, the setting, the writing, I didn't really want to finish and find the end. Two, I didn't want to be disappointed. While this later fear turned out to be unfounded, this is, unfortunately, the last book of the trilogy and it is time to release it.

But I don't want to. This is one of those books that is so rich, I want to meditate on it a bit more... So much of the plot in this book turns on Harry's changing perception of Isambard, and this made me ponder the central theme of honor. Honor, integrity, honesty is a double-edged sword. It does give us freedom, righteousness and power. But it also costs us something. We have to follow through even when we don't necessarily want to. And it was this principle that caused the perpetuation of Harry's captivity, as well as Isambard's regret.

This is a strong book... I would like to read it again. It is a work that I could return to many times over and notice different themes each time. It is highly recommended, and I would love to discuss it with others. It saddens me that it is largely ignored on Goodreads, and I would recommend the series to anyone and everyone.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like other readers of Edith Pargeter I did not want to get to the end of this book, and reached it all too soon. The ending though is no disappointment and many authors could learn a lot about ending books satisfactorily whilst allowing for life continuing after the last page, from her writing. She never closes the door to the story continuing whilst still giving a feeling of completion for the reader.
Pargeter's writing brings her characters to life so vividly one does not think of them as historical figures but just as people, whether they are fictional or factual becomes irrelevant. She imbues historical events with the motives and passions of those involved in such a believable way that history springs to life and the people matter to the reader.
When I finished the first book of this trilogy I had not yet been able to find the other two volumes, so I decided to wait and defer the pleasure of continuing the saga. After a year I had not managed too find copies so bought them from Amazon. When they arrived I was engrossed in some other books and they got set aside, so that when I picked them up in September I had forgotten the first book. A sentence or so in, though, and it all came flooding back. This is down to how vivid her writing is. I could not wait to read the third volume after the ending of volume 2, but now cannot find volume one the Heaven tree so have had to buy a new copy of that, as I want to reread all three sometime in the future.
I know they are available bound as one volume in hard back, and perhaps that would have been the way to get them.
I am not going to say more about the book. It should be read, and I am still digesting its contents.
Edith Pargeter is a brilliant and skillful writer, whether on historical matters or writing about modern warfare.

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had Harry Talvace, father, and Harry Talvace, son been real historical characters, they would have been historical heroes to me. I am left with Llewellyn Fawr and his son Daffydd, who cannot disappoint, in that category. This really is a fabulously dramatic series full of examination of moral questions and in the Best of HF traditions. The history used is pretty accurate too, which always makes me a happy reader!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

When The Heaven Tree Trilogy came out the Illustrated London News said, "More than remarkable ... the writing is almost beyond praise. If you do not appreciate this superb novel, I despair of you." I'm not sure I can improve upon that review. The Scarlet Seed is the third and final book in the Heaven Tree Trilogy, and it brings the story perfectly to completion. This trilogy may be the most perfect set of books I've ever read. The only thing I can think of that compares is the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The Heaven Tree trilogy, culminating in The Scarlet Seed, is marked by beautiful language, complex characters, and a plot that is complete, in the truest sense of that word. These books are deeply true and have a profound understanding of and sympathy for the terrible and awesome potential in a single human life. The story explores the nature of idealism -- not a happy-go-lucky idealism or a naive idealism or even a frustrated idealism -- but an idealism that is grounded in the really real, in the concrete situation, in the earthiness of life. It is an idealism that knows the nature of suffering and finds it a worthy price.

Here's a sample of the writing, which alone makes the book worth reading: "Wonderful, inscrutable, appropriate, he thought, looking down at the young, heavy head upon his knees, are the dispensations of God. To this he has brought down our revenges, Harry, yours and mine. I vowed to take and destroy Parfois for your sake, and so, by God I may, but not as I looked to encompass it when the vow was made. And how many promises have you not made in your heart to that young father or yours to have Isambard's life for his? Never thinking how strangely you would be moved to dispose of it when at last you held it in your hands, giving it back thus freely, and with it a morsel of your own heart turned traitor. Traitor as the world's usage measures, but I think you have as good a guide in your breast as any the world can provide you. Neither do I question. God knows what he is about."

[Stancyy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moins pire que le précédent
Redemption arc d'isambard définitif
Parfois je me demande si c'est de la complexité psychologique ou juste de la maladresse dans la construction des personnages. Genre pourquoi isambard est allé aussi loin dans la violence psychologique. pas cool et pas utile imo
L'autrice aime bcp les gallois. moi aussi en vrai...
Contente d'avoir fini
C'est très dur de vivre une vie de recherche de bangers comme les romans de Karen Maitland et de tomber sur des sagas comme celle-ci à la place… mais bon, la recherche continue

Ah oui et SPOILER au final
L'église
s'effondre
donc l'élément le plus central de la saga disparaît ptdr bon ok ... mais l'idée c'est que comme ça les gens autour prennent des morceaux de l'église chez eux donc elle continue à vivre... et y a un enfant qui essaye d'imiter les statues du MC horrible du tome 1 … donc la GRAINE est plantée tmtc d'où le titre

Les persos féminins sont toujours aussi maltraités. tel père tel fils. le boug compare celle qu'il aime à une bête sauvage qu'il doit dompter. bref 🚮

[Ursula Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this entire trilogy to be fascinating and enthralling. The characters are richly detailed and the story that is unfolded over the course of the three books is compelling. The historical details are rich and thorough and the effortless way a modern person is transported into the time and place of these events speaks to the author's descriptive prowess, as well as to her understanding of the human condition that transcends time.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terminei de ler e já tenho saudades daquelas personagens fabulosas, tão humanas e tão reais. Chorei com as sua mágoas e ri com as suas alegrias, transmitidas por frases belíssimas, que li e reli com pena de as abandonar.
Sem qualquer dúvida, a trilogia “A Árvore do Céu” é um dos meus livros favoritos e ficará para sempre na minha memória.

[Arthur Lammers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic. Hard to match in content and writing style. A top 5, when taken in its entirety as a trilogy, with Les Miserables, Brothers Karamazov and a Tale of Two Cities.

[Overbooked ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

There a clear change in the third and final book, Isambard is not the devil that was painted previously, and Harry has grown up and finally behaving in a responsible manner. A decent ending with some moving scenes and a dramatic siege conclude the trilogy. 3.5 stars

[Ageliki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've changed my rating of this from three stars to four and then back to three again, I just can't decide, so let's go with 3.5.

Unpopular opinion from scanning the rest of the reviews but I just don't find this books ending, and the end of the trilogy itself, at all satisfying. The ending surprised me certainly, and wasn't at all how I expected it to go. I found it quite disheartening and wasteful.

I don't understand why the church that Harry (the father) was so passionate about and dedicated his very short life entirely towards, even when finishing the church led to his death - had to become partial ruins in his sons lifetime and at the end of this book. In the outstanding first book, Harry the father said that he wanted the church and his creation to stand the test of time, and light up in the most beautiful ways that Parteger took great pains to describe over and over again, for hundreds of years to come, long past his existence. He wanted the faces of the people he'd known and carved out in the church to be there long after everyone had forgotten who they all were, and for people to still look at them and wonder if they were ever supposed to be anyone. And yet within his own sons lifetime, just 19 years on from his death, events have culminated with Parfois' destruction and the church being torched and then given over to waste along with the rest of the castle. Villagers from nearby who's home and livelihoods have been ruined then use the fallen stones and masonry to rebuild their own homes, and Harry the son travels through the villages and sees parts of the church everywhere, and even a little boy chiselling away at a piece of the church's stone, making a new carving. The only reasoning I can give for this is that Harry the father was greatly a man of the people, as seen in his running away from his noble family when young, becoming a Mason and having a craft, and notably, helping the villagers reap their corn and get in their harvest lest it waste - and therefore as Parteger says at the very end of this book, by the church stones being used all over the countryside to rebuild, Harry the father was now everywhere in the land.

But I don't like it. It doesn't sit well with me at all. I thought it wasteful and the church should have remained, seeing as it was the whole physical tie of the trilogy, the physical testament of not just Harry the father's work, but all the people of that time and place in history. Especially seeing as Harry the father, Ralf Isambard and Madonna Benedetta came to rest there.

Positive points for the book are the excellent portrayals of Ralf Isambard and his condition, and the reconnection between him and Madonna Benedetta. However, I'll stick with the first book for satisfaction.

[Igenlode Wordsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this at lunchtime, was hooked by the first chapter, and read on without a pause until half past five. I hadn't realised, on picking up the book, that it was the final volume in a trilogy; I don't think it matters at all, since the characters' past is gradually uncovered in the course of the narrative, and possibly to even more dramatic effect when you don't know it in advance. The story just comes across as having a vast depth of anguished history behind it.
This is my sort of story entirely; the stories I grew up on, and which shaped me (and shaped me, as it turned out, disastrously out of accordance with the mores of the era into which I eventually came). It is a story of loves and loyalties multiple and conflicting, and almost none of them sexual and all the more powerful for that; a story of honour between enemies and undying allegiance between friends, and betrayal behind a smiling face and feudal bonds that bind but are not to be trusted. It has a lot of what I enjoyed most in the latest, atypical Brother Cadfael novel I read (The Summer of the Danes) and virtually none, if any, of the leftover Ellis Peters clichés that still irked me there; the setting on the Welsh borders is much the same (and the novel does pay a very brief visit to Shrewsbury late in the story!), but it is set at a later period in history, at the peak of Welsh ascendancy after the death of King John (who married his illegitimate daughter Joan to the Prince of Wales - interesting to glimpse her here after reading another historical novel in which she was the main protagonist). And as with the Cadfael novels, the author manages to make the convoluted baronial politics of the era comprehensible and to relate it to the immediate human concerns of the characters.

The book had me gripped from the first page to the last, and moved me profoundly. As a historical novel, it managed to immerse me convincingly in the alien costumes, customs, and mindset of another era while presenting it all as something that the viewpoint characters took utterly for granted, rather than as an intrusively researched lecture to the reader. As a psychological drama and as a story of war and politics it was very effective; as an ending to what had gone before it was quietly affecting. Looking at the dates, I see this is actually a lot earlier than the Cadfael novels, and perhaps that is why it spoke to me more intensely; it's closer to an older tradition of writing and the authors of the earlier twentieth century.

[CatarinaG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei imenso desta trilogia e da história dos Talvace.
Não posso dizer que tenha gostado tanto como dos Pillars of the Earth do Ken Follett mas ainda assim vale igualmente a pena lê-la.

O primeiro livro (A Árvore da Vida) foi sem dúvida o meu preferido e é um livro que 'vive' bem sem os outros. A trama que apresenta é muito bonita e tem, para a mim, a parte mais interessante que é a da construção da catedral e das respectivas esculturas. A vida de Harry (mestre pedreiro), Adam, Benedetta, Gilleis e Isambard numa Gales medieval torna-se muito nítida na nossa imaginação.

No segundo livro (O Ramo Verde) temos o desenvolvimento da história do 2º Harry (filho do Harry-pedreiro). Sentimos a personagem crescer, florescer e apaixonar-se, bem como a instrincada relação que estabelece com Lord Isambard.

O terceiro volume (A Semente Escarlate) é assim tipo uma redenção. À conta de Harry-filho, velhos amores, amigos e inimigos reencontrar-se-ão para encerrar um capítulo de umas vidas e dar início a outras. É simultaneamente um renascer e um retorno às origens.

Não li a edição original mas sim a portuguesa (que está dividida em 3 volumes) e não fui investigar como ele foi editado originalmente mas, pela história e pela dimensão é um livro que funcionava muito bem como um todo (os três volumes juntos como os Pilares).

Aconselho. Acho que é um "must read" para os fãs dos romances históricos.
A única coisa que não aconselho é a fazerem um intervalo grande entre os três volumes porque eu fiz isso entre o primeiro e os dois últimos e, quando li estes, fiquei arrependida por já não me lembrar de alguns pormenores do 1º que teriam enriquecido ainda mais a leitura dos outros.




PS - Stupid me que só depois de a devorar toda é que dei conta que esta senhora é a mesma que escreve com o pseudónimo de Ellis Peters. Ando mesmo distraída...
Também fiquei a saber que ela também é: John Redfern, Jolyon Carr e Peter Benedict. Um pouco indecisa, não?! :P

[Jill Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just reread this terrific trilogy, probably 25 years after the first time, and found it just as engrossing. In "The Heaven Tree" Ellis Peters/Edith Pargeter plunges the reader into Thirteenth Century England and Wales like being thrown into heavy surf. The turmoil continues unabated through "The Green Branch" and at the end of "The Scarlet Seed" we are thrown up onto the beach of modern life again. Just as in the Brother Cadfael series, the writing is excellent, the history accurate,(I believe) and the descriptions of human lives and of nature are evocative. The characters represent a much greater range of complexity and status in the trilogy - from beggars and peasants to kings and princes. Most of the characters are easy to relate to, with the talents and failings of all humanity, but the main characters - Harry I and II, Isambard and Benedetta - have larger than life qualities like heroes of a fable or saga. This lifts the books into another dimension which I found very satisfying.

[Kathleen Jowitt]

This turns out to be the third volume of a trilogy and now I find myself wanting to track down and read the first two volumes, and then come to this unspoiled. However, this stands very well alone and is a very enjoyable book in its own right. It opens with a gripping fight scene which establishes the complex relationship between the two main characters of this novel; others are more lightly sketched, or are assumed to be remembered from previous books.

A plausible but not depressingly grimdark take on the bloody politics of the early Middle Ages. The prose is vivid and gorgeous, and I had tears in my eyes in the final chapters.

[Poli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still not as good as the first yet there are scenes in here which are as beautiful as the end of the first book.
Isambard is a complex character who make us truly hate him at times and root for him at others, while Harry grows on us until we're almost unable to divide him from his father.
The only thing was that the epilogue stole the impact of that great ending.

[Sarah Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this third and final installment in this trilogy, young Harry Talvace remains imprisoned by his late father's patron and enemy, Ralf Isambard. The fine love between love and hate continues to be approached, which has the power to flip disdain to grudging respect.

This remains a trilogy about characters deeply guided by their principles and vows to honor their word. Harry is committed to being a man of his word and to honoring the memory of his dead father. The motivations of Isambard remain murky at first but are slowly revealed. In this book is his redemption. I admired the characters' dedication and honor. There are so many great sweeping scenes in this. I enjoyed the thrill of battle, hand to hand combat, and siege in this book.

I was surprised that the ending up shifting away from Harry and Isambard and more to Benedetta and Isambard. The conclusion of the book did bring many plot points full circle and felt like a fitting, if tragic, end for many of the best characters in this book. I also just generally felt like much of the book didn't feel realistic. I don't think Isambard would have been so obsessed with Harry for decades. I don't think Benedetta would likewise have been so single-mindedly devoted. I don't think young Harry would fall for a poor village girl. I don't think Prince Llewyn would have been so devoted to his foster son that he would have waged a siege. It was a lovely, grand story! But I'm just not sure how historically accurate it all was.

[Rachael Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book of the trilogy brings the Heaven Tree to full fruitfulness - but not the fruition you expect. Harry is still a captive of Ralf Isambard, while the Prince and his household wait for war to break out and Benedetta resides as a holy woman nearby. I had trouble following all the ins and outs of the historical war which serves as backdrop for the story. I didn't understand who was doing what at all! But the story itself has love, grief, suspense, joy, and resolution.
However, Pargeter has a gift for tying the strings together and does so here - in ultimate justice and restoration.
(SPOILER ALERT) I'm not sure that Ralf Isambard ever "repents" - but he does make restitution. In the end, Parfois cannot stand without him and both fall together. But those who die can rest at peace and those who live can live life to its fullest. While those who were treacherous get their just deserts. Neither Harry nor Ralf will ever be fully free of the other's influence - but you can see how Master' Harry's work on the cathedral may pass away... but it yields a harvest in human souls that will never be erased. Pargeter even manages to set up a situation where Ralf can reflect on his experiences with Harry and explain the situation and influences to Benedetta - without being awkward or "telling but not showing." (End spoiler).
Yet despite the grand themes, I'm not sure that the characters and their behaviors are truly believable. Extending this story for 2 more books simply doesn't ring true! If Isambard gets the son he deserves, why isn't Harry more scheming like Isambard? If Harry and Isambard are mortal enemies, why does Harry wait so long for his revenge and why does Isambard toy with him for so long?

[Cel Jel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had tears at the end of this book, for the story through the three in the trilogy had formed such a connection in my mind. The third and final book is as emotional as the previous two, and has a happening that is fore warned ina previous book, but which I did not wish to happen, for I had seen how much the son had been formed into a strong manhood by his enemy. In some ways the enmity was not there by the end.
Well worth reading.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved! I love how Pargeter creates characters one really cares about. And I love that her narratives often buck the typical patterns of historical fiction.

Only thing I really wish were different about this entire series is that I would have loved for the second two books to be edited somehow into one. I know trilogies are more of a thing than 2-parters but, the second two were not terribly long, and book two really is just set up for the third. It doesn't stand alone very well.

[Vickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This final episode of The Heaven Tree Trilogy is Shakespearean in its drama and pathos, and filled with characters whose motivations moved me. I found the second book hard going but this third book was really engaging. Not as great as the first but a satisfying end to the tale of Talvace and Isambard.

[Joni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Talvace continues his quest for revenge for his late father and encounters love, family and forgiveness as he struggles with Lord Isambard for freedom and peace. Beautiful conclusion to one of the best chronicles of 12th century English and Welsh history. Highly recommend the entire trilogy.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant and fitting ending to this gorgeous trilogy.

Sad and cruel beyond measure at times but always the shining characters leaping from the page. Such love poured into these characters by the author, pure love and true.

Simply magical

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A triumphant end to the trilogy. Emotional, but not mawkish. And a fitting end for Isambard.
I believed in Parfois, found myself wanting to take myself off to the marches and look for the ruins. I so wish that there were more authors of Pargeters calibre writing today

[Chrisy Hanbaly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finishes off a tale set in the Welsh borders - part 3 was better than part 2. All kinds of characters seemed to come to life more.

[Tori Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good! Very satisfying ending.

[Michelle Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wept. More than 30 years of reading this trilogy, and it still has the power to make me weep.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hated for this trilogy to end! It was beautifully written. The characters stole my heart. I will put this on my shelf to keep.

[Valeska Kiloh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sign of a good book is when you wish the story carried on!! Unfortunately this was the last in the trilogy.