Diane G. (icesk8tr) -
Kestrel, tries to fob inferior wood onto the wizard Phoebe. While testing the wood, she summons forth a demon like no other - Astron, the one who walks. The demon, however, is on a quest for his prince, Elezar, to seek out Alodar the Archmage, who bested Elezar in a battle of wills years ago. For Elezar is in trouble - if he cannot solve a riddle posed by another demon prince, he must surrender everything...and in doing so, the one agent acting in the interests of humans by diverting the attention of demons elsewhere, would be gone. As such, the Archmage sends Kestrel, Astron and Phoebe on a quest to help solve the riddle
A Logical Conclusion, July 23, 2005
Reviewer: Luke Waygood (Jamestown, NY United States)
I read the first in the series - Master of the Five Magics - as a kid. Liking it so much, I bought the other two (the second being Secret of the Sixth Magic)...
In a nutshell, Kestrel, a glib (for want of a better word) con man, tries to fob inferior wood onto the wizard Phoebe. While testing the wood, she summons forth a demon like no other - Astron, the one who walks (named so because, unlike other djinns, he has no wings, nor can he hurl bolts of lightning). The demon, however, is on a quest for his prince, Elezar, to seek out Alodar the Archmage, who bested Elezar in a battle of wills years ago. For Elezar is in trouble - if he cannot solve a riddle posed by another demon prince, he must surrender everything...and in doing so, the one agent acting in the interests of humans by diverting the attention of demons elsewhere, would be gone. As such, the Archmage sends Kestrel, Astron and Phoebe on a quest to help solve the riddle.
I found myself wondering, about halfway through the book, whether this was merely the author's excuse to create and describe new worlds and different creatures, whether there really was a solution to the riddle. And yet, I should not have doubted - the author once again leaves subtle clues throughout the journey, and uses the events to expand the characters, making them more endearing, if you will. The dramatic conclusion was exciting to say the least and draws on the understandings of each other for the main characters to struggle against seemingly impossible odds.
A great read, which I'd thoroughly recommend.
Reviewer: Luke Waygood (Jamestown, NY United States)
I read the first in the series - Master of the Five Magics - as a kid. Liking it so much, I bought the other two (the second being Secret of the Sixth Magic)...
In a nutshell, Kestrel, a glib (for want of a better word) con man, tries to fob inferior wood onto the wizard Phoebe. While testing the wood, she summons forth a demon like no other - Astron, the one who walks (named so because, unlike other djinns, he has no wings, nor can he hurl bolts of lightning). The demon, however, is on a quest for his prince, Elezar, to seek out Alodar the Archmage, who bested Elezar in a battle of wills years ago. For Elezar is in trouble - if he cannot solve a riddle posed by another demon prince, he must surrender everything...and in doing so, the one agent acting in the interests of humans by diverting the attention of demons elsewhere, would be gone. As such, the Archmage sends Kestrel, Astron and Phoebe on a quest to help solve the riddle.
I found myself wondering, about halfway through the book, whether this was merely the author's excuse to create and describe new worlds and different creatures, whether there really was a solution to the riddle. And yet, I should not have doubted - the author once again leaves subtle clues throughout the journey, and uses the events to expand the characters, making them more endearing, if you will. The dramatic conclusion was exciting to say the least and draws on the understandings of each other for the main characters to struggle against seemingly impossible odds.
A great read, which I'd thoroughly recommend.
Not as good as the first two, but still a nice read. Enjoyed it.
