Being a big fan of this series I'm sorry to say this book was a huge disappointment. It seems that all of the characters who were very intelligent and insightful have become idiots who need to be explained every detail over and over. Zed in particular didn't seem to have a clue most of the time until it was all laid out for him. Not what you would expect from Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander wizard of the First Order. It was like I was reading a fantasy for dummies book. At this point in the series characters should have a better understanding of prophecy and magic and to be able to think a little more out side of the box instead of running around clueless.