the end of the first trilogy of the Corean Chronicles. Wendra and Alucius both get some additional training by the Soarers. They push back an assault by the ifrits. Then they recover some sort of life sapper" device [the scepters] which links to the one on Efran, the ifrits home world. They travel to Efran via the Tables and destroy the Master Scepter. Without that, Efran collapses on itself and Corus is safe evermore from them. Modesitt uses to many predictable simple things to stretch out the story. Why does he insist on telling us everytime Alucius is thirsty and takes a drink? After the first book, that type of thing should have been dropped. Oh well, probably a holdover from his writings on Recluce. Formulaic. I will take a break from Modesitt for awhile and visit him again next year." ( )

Like some other reviews have said, this book needs editorial examination. Some words are used much too often.But I still liked the book. Modesitt didn't just create bland, totally evil bad guys who wanted to make total chaos or kill everyone. The "bad guys" were people (Efrans/ifrits) from another world. These people live off the lifeforce of worlds, and then travel to another one when it is all "used up." These Efrans are trying to take over Alucius's world, and he must stop them. ( )

This was a very good ending for the trilogy. It neatly wrapped up the story & answered most of the important questions, although it leaves enough hanging that a sense of mystery lingers & the trilogy could be extended. The precarious ecological theme runs through this trilogy, as in most of his books. It's presented in a slightly different manner, though. On the downside, Alucius is a little too good & the story is a little too neatly wrapped up. As a romantic, I liked it. If you want gritty reality in your fantasy books, this probably isn't for you. His relationship with his wife is too perfect & she's not a well developed character. Modesitt can't write a sexually charged scene, either. His characters are the same few. Alucius is the same as Lerris or any other of his heroes, but with fewer faults than most. Heinlein only had a few characters & I've liked all his early books, so it doesn't bother me, but might some.All in all, if you like Modesitt, I think you'll like this. If you read the first part of the trilogy, this is a must read. ( )

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