The Eternal Rose

A final chapter that was as good as the first! I would have told anyone a story with group marriage involved would Not be my cup of tea,coffee or anything....yet in this trilogy it totally works (yes I could do without the "bedroom" multiple scenes but what the heck)...the story was original and entertaining- a Good easy read thru ALL THREE books....If you are into dissecting a book instead of just enjoying it that is your loss!

I really enjoyed this book. Unlike other reviewers, I read them back-to-back and so was able to stay with the story line. I appreciated that although this is a 'final' book, it still has a story all it's own with a new setting and new characters. Again, very enjoyable.

I had been waiting for what felt like forever for this, the third in the Compass Rose series, to come out and I am really glad the author found the right publisher for it. It's a solid, well-told story. I'm not sure anything could live up to my expectations after waiting so long, but I didn't love it as much as I did the first two. The author juggles a large cast of characters who were introduced over the course of the last two books, and if I'd been able to read it soon after the first two I probably wouldn't have gotten lost, but, having waited, I think I'd forgotten some of the individual quirks that made me care about each of the characters. They felt more two-dimensional in this story. That the issues of one character in particular were repeated without any attempt by the protagonist to address them was frustrating. I think that was intended to demonstrate the protagonist's state of mind, but, for me, it made me wonder why the author was hurrying. It didn't feel true to the character to dismiss the issues over and over. Too, our protagonist is older, settled, and though this story once again unsettles her, it doesn't completely rearrange everything she knows about who she is and her role in life. For some reason it just didn't feel like the stakes were as high, though listing them for myself while writing this review, I think it's that they just didn't carry the depth of emotional impact of the previous two books. They didn't seem as important to the protagonist. I do recommend this book highly. There are a lot of very successful, sometimes highly dramatic moments and the twist is nicely done, though a bit overly ambitious in its execution. That doesn't say much, but I don't want to spoil anyone. My recommendation would be to read the first two over again before starting this one. I think that would have improved my enjoyment a great deal. Gail Dayton is on my list of "must read" authors, and though this book alone wouldn't put her there, the series as a whole definitely does. I am eagerly looking forward to her next book.

Six years ago in Adara, the demon led rebels were defeated. Subsequently, Kallista Vary was appointed as the Renine. Although she felt good about the victory, she did not feel a celebration was in order, as extended family member Merinda was abducted and remains missing, leaving a hole in the united magic of nine. Over the years she and her team rescue slave children, but finally word arrives that Merinda and her offspring reside in the household of a rival family in Daryath, the homeland of Kallista's mate Obed. Using the pretense of an official state visit, Kallista and her retinue travel to Daryath to bring home Merinda and her child. However, instead of a simple retrieval, a murder of the godmarked Iliasti occurs most likely by a demon assassin; that is followed by the killing of a Daryath official. Tensions are high and war seems imminent as the demons manipulate behind the scenes. The final One Rose Trilogy (see THE COMPASS ROSE and THE BARBED ROSE) is a terrific conclusion to a fascinating fantasy although it helps to have read the previous two stories in the saga in spite a cleverly interwoven "history". Kallista holds the exciting plot together as she and her complicated multiple partners make the Dayton universe seems real, which is the key to this fine tale of magic, demons, and killers. Fans will appreciate the wrap up and cast a spell on the author for more tales in this inventive realm. Harriet Klausner