** spoiler alert ** The way S.M. Stirling has been writing this series has never really wavered. It started with Dies the Fire and dealt with our world moving on without any electricity. Now the small band (Rudi, Mathilda, Mary, Ritva, Edain, etc) our on their way to find the Sword of the Lady. I really do like the Arthurian aspect of this story. The quest is too get the sword to help fight the Cutters, whom are trying to take over everything. Nothing mind blowing about all of this, but it is done pretty well.

The journey is always what a good quest is about. Rudi’s relationship with Mathilda and lord knows what kind of complications that will bring up, with their religious view clashing most of the time. It was humorous to see how Lady Sandra (Mathilda’s mother) had planned for Rudi and Matti to always be together…and maybe even rule together. It was a clever thing that seemed feasible to read.

A few things about his writing that does bug me. Noises signifying things like arrows or other battle related sounds. Such as Tunnnggg…or Crack. Also, as much as I love the Lord of Rings, I feel like I am getting beat over the head with how much it is a part of characters in this world. Mostly the Rangers Mary and Ritva. It was amusing at first, but at book six, it is starting to wear thin.

I do like how the stakes are being risen. They made Rudi, High King of the lands in the west and are trying to make alliance to help fight the Cutters. Whom seem to be everywhere and on the verge of taking over everything. This series started out as sci-fi, but is heading strongly towards fantasy at this point.

Best thing about book. I love the premise of people having to learn how to survive after the change.

Worst thing about book. The chapters that show the “enemy” seem very flat and just thrown in with no real benefit to the story.