Currently available on Kindle Unlimited, this sixth and final episode of Ilan’s adventures returns to familiar territory, Dimingwood itself and the Praetor’s city, to hastily tie up as many loose ends as possible and bring the journey to an end.
It’s a well written tale with plenty of action set out in a gentle way, but not much of importance happens over a lengthy build up. Ilan remains a rather passive heroine. Events happen to her rather than because of her for the first three quarters of the book, and she ends up unconscious far too often for a first person narrator.
But then we get a few decent if convenient conclusions: the Praetor turns out to be a nice guy, everyone is pardoned, the enemy walks away having been given that bow Ilan implausibly picked up in book one, and Ilan gets the boy whilst he gets the top job. All nice and convenient with a little bit of jeopardy in the last battle.
It’s not the mighty climax one might have hoped for, as much remains unexplained about Ilan’s past and abilities, but for very scant summations. Maybe this is to leave room for sequels.
The fourth book was the best of the series. The sixth book was a good read overall, but not one I’d return to. Same for the series frankly.