Circle of Light, No. 4: Squaring the Circle

This review is for the entire series. I first read the Circle of Light series about 20 years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed it then as I did now. Of course the second reading did not have the same impact as I was already familiar with the story line. The story was original and simple to read. No complex plots or sub stories going on. But complexity does not necessarily mean a better tale. Normally I do not give reviews, but I'm so tired of always reading `this is just another copy of Lord of the Rings'. It is not. It seems every story ever written is a copy of Lord of the Rings to some people. I've heard Star Wars is the Lord of the Rings in outer space. Some would say the chest is the same as the ring and the chest bearer is the same as the ring bearer. But most stories have some item of power that has to be carried, destroyed or used as a central theme. Remember the Black Cauldron? I guess that is a version of Lord of the Rings too. Maybe Tolkien invented the words `elf', `dwarf', `dragon' and `wizard' since any story with those terms tend to be compared to the Ring too. I have read the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit and enjoyed them. I read them before I read the Circle of Light and never thought they were the same. I don't believe there were any intelligent animal characters in any of the Tolkien books. So read the Circle of Light as they are and enjoy them. Don't look for similarities to any other story. Let it stand on its own merits whether you like it or dislike it, not because it's not the Lord of the Rings.

"Squaring the Circle" is set in a climatic atmosphere and brings together many of the characters and events from the first three books in "The Circle of Light" series together in the ultimate confrontation between the Forces of Light and the Darkness of Queen Dorini. Bear, Dwarf, and Otter must make their final stand against Dorini themselves with the fate of Atlanton Earth in the balance. Though, they won't face her alone, because they've found allies among Elves, Dwarves, Animals, and powerful wizards like Greyfax Grimwald and Faragon Fairingay, willing to help them defeat the destructive Dorini once and for all. The final battles and encounters are enchanting and full of magic and mystery. Many friends are reunited and many enemies are brought to justice as well. The conclusion is awesome, though a little sad in my opinion, but it's expected at the end of a such a great series. Please read these as well as the whole series, because even if it's not your favorite series, it will be very hard to forget!

Volume four takes the heroes through more fights and battles to a final showdown with the villains and a resolution of what they've been fighting for. A worthy conclusion to a great philosophic adventure.