Realm of Light

Caelan and Elandra are together at last and fleeing through the shadowlands as the thousand year reign of Kostimon ends. It is enjoyable to spend some more time with these characters as they go through some key experiences that allow them to defeat the dark god's plans.While this novel is replete with many fantasy clichés it is still and enjoyable read, and at least those clichés are integrated in the story in such a way as to make them important turning points in the story as both Calean and Elandra find out secrets in their own pasts that prove to be of vital importance.This books rounds off this series nicely. It will never be in the top 10 per cent of original fantasy novels but the series is a good outing in light fantasy. The only real complaint I have is the lack of such vital scenes as Kostimon's death which we only hear about second hand and well after the event. For such a world shaking change Kostimon's passing was only incidental to this story as this among many other potential story threads from the previous books were failed to be exploited in this novel.

This book was an excellent read. The characters were excellently protrayed. And man there were so many twists and turns in the story it made me pleasently dizzy! Elandra and Caelan's relationship is very vivid and lifelike. I could feel the love they had! My only problem is that the ending of the climax of the book had Caelan so different from the rest of the book and the series that it seemed a little too far fetched. All in all this was one of the best conclusions to a trilogy I have read in a long while.

The exciting conclusion of the Ruby Throne trilogy begins right where it left off in book two. Faced with certain death behind, the Emperor and his band of refugees has no choice but to flee into the Shadow Realm. Caelan, not willing to let the Empress tread the dark realm alone, enters with her. They soon become separated, and are lost in the darkness. There is a way out, but the cost is high. And even if they do get out of the Shadow Realm, there is still the matter of those pesky prophecies. An extremely well crafted novel, full of surprises and character growth. The relationship between the Empress Elandra and her guardian Caelan is full of emotionial tension, and the shadows and prophecies that follow them both add depth and character. Surprises are plentiful, and the action non-stop. All of these add up to one thing: loss of sleep when you can't put it down. An excellent fantasy setting by a terrific writer. Hopefully there is more to come.