The Last Wizard

The Last Wizard (1989) is the second fantasy novel in the Crystal duology, following Child of the Grove. In the previous volume, Crystal awoke Kraydak's Doom and diverted the wizard as the creature swooped down on him. Then the dragon took Crystal back to her family and returned to the earth. In this novel, Crystal is the child of Tayer and an Elder being. Her step=father is Mikhail, who loves her as if she was his own child. She was trained by the Centaurs and is now the last Wizard. Raulin is a former soldier of the Empire. Now he is an adventurer looking for hidden treasure. Jago is Raulin's brother. He never had to serve in Kraydak's armies, but he knows that such service hurt Raulin. Lord Death is the only true son of the Mother-Creator. Before he was born, there was no death. Still, those born or created since have suffered death. He is immaterial and incapable of moving physical objects. In this story, twelve years have past since the death of Kraydak. Crystal is talking to Lord Death in a tavern when Jago is brought into the room more dead than alive. A brindle had attacked him and only Raulin's frantic thrusts had kept Jago alive. Lord Death suggests that Crystal save Jago's life. Two and a half days later, Crystal gains consciousness in a room within the tavern. The innkeeper had placed her in a room upstairs and had tended her while she was asleep. Unlike many who had encountered Crystal, Dorses sees Crystal as a young woman who happens to have the powers of a wizard. Others at the tavern also accept Crystal as a person rather than a wizard. The barkeep Ivan is half in love with her. Nad the blacksmith accepts her talents and skills as not unlike his own, although much more powerful. Yet others both fear and hate her for being a wizard. Crystal discovers that seven goddesses have survived within her own mind. Whenever she loosens her mind shields, some of the goddesses try to escape. Yet they are very powerful when acting in concert. Raulin and Jago ask Crystal to go with them to find a wizard's tower. They have come upon a map showing the way to the tower and could use someone with wizard powers to nullified the magical traps. But Crystal decides that she has more important things to do. She needs to learn how to prevent the goddesses from possessing her body. She leaves the tavern to go her own way, but soon finds herself traveling with the brothers on the way to the tower. Meanwhile, Lord Death gradually discovers that he loves Crystal. He is most reluctant to admit such love even to himself, but this emotion guides his actions. Other around him become aware of his feelings, but Crystal doesn't have a clue. This tale takes Crystal and her friends to the wizard's tower in the mountains. She gathers two more companions on the way. Yet she is not aware of the test that awaits her. When they arrive, the tower itself is gone. The wizard's Doom had destroyed the upper levels while terminating the wiz

Maybe it's me, but the end of this book was exactly like the end of the Sword of SHannara series by Terry Brooks. If you liked that series, then for heaven's skaes, get this book!!!! If you did not, stay away, it dissapointed me.