Lost Truth

I just re-read this entire series and this is the best of them. In fact, in my opinion, each book gets successively better as the story goes on. In this one, several threads plotted even back to the first book come to fruition in a dramatic climax that contains some really fantastic moments. Alissa finally comes into contact with the other Masters, meets Useless's archenemy and wife, decides between her two men and more. It's a great story. And it appears to be the last of the series, although I'd enjoy reading more of them.

This is the best of the four Truth books. I say this only because it ties up all loose ends, and everything falls into place from the other three books. You learn more about the internal struggle with Lyssa and beast. It is fast paced and exciting, and the permanent romance interest for Lyssa is chosen. The fate of the Hold is decided, as well as the future of all the characters you learn to love in the first three books. The book is pretty intense in the ending, and I don't think she could have made a better finale book. The ending is excellent.

I absolutely LOVED this series. Cook's writing is clever and her characters become real in the reader's mind. I was captivated by the writing and wish there was more to it however Dawn Cook is very good at tying up loose ends. Alissa Meson stumbled upon the Hold not knowing what she really is or believing in magic. During her studies to become a Master of the Hold she and her instructor and companions find that she has an uncanny knack for doing the impossible. This includes contacting another Master over half way across the world in her dreams. Alissa sets out with three other companions to find the lost Masters of the Hold and bring them home. However, her quest to rescue the other Masters could hold her doom. Despite this odd review I highly suggest you read the series and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I am so happy to find this series. I love Cook's witty dialogue. In the fourth book of the series, we have Alissa going on a journey. For years now, Alissa has been having dreams of a girl named Silla. Now she realizes Silla is a real Raku over half a world away. She talks Useless in letting her travel to find the Lost Ones. Before, Useless has been overly protective of the last surving female raku (Alissa), but overcome with worry and hope of finding the lost ones, he agrees to let Alissa, Connen-newt, Strell, and Lodesh travel to find and bring back his people. The raku she finds on the faraway island are shocked and outraged by Alissa's ways and knowledge, especially Useless's wife, Keribdis. Keribdis realizes early on that Alissa could be considered a threat to her leadership and makes it her mission to get rid of the young raku. This book is filled with adventure and excitement. I loved it. For fans, you will be releaved to find out that Alissa finally chooses between Lodesh and Strell. I was pleased!

The hold once thrived as a place where raku masters taught human keepers how to use their magical skills. A map showing a lost colony of masters split the hold with Useless staying behind while and his wife Keribdis led the rest of them across the sea to see if the colony actually existed. They never returned and the rest of the keepers were killed by a rogue with a grudge. Alissa defeated the renegade keeper and freed Useless. Now Alissa is a human born Master who can shapeshift into a raku (a dragon) and dreams of a raku named Silla. When Useless finds out about her dreams, he realizes that the Masters and Keepers who left the hold are alive. Alissa and her two suitors Strell and Lodesh and the Master Conner-Nute take a ship to an island cluster, where they find the Masters and the Keepers. Keribdis believes she should take over Alissa's teaching and when the younger refuses her, Keribdis uses force to bow her to her will, almost killing Alissa in the process. Alissa's only hope to survive the attack is the help of someone who supposedly died LOST TRUTH is an appealing fantasy that will charm fans of Elizabeth Scarborough and Tonya Huff. The heroine breaks all the rules that the masters thought were set in stone but does so in naive innocence. It is her ability that gives hope to the rakui who pray that she can discover the solution to their dramatically decrease in numbers. Dawn Cook is a talented fantasist who is a creative world builder and a genius on creating complex characters. Harriet Klausner