I did think the book's ending was a satisfying end point. Well, pause point, anyway. :) We had our first, devastating, battle in the war between Light and Shadow, and we've seen a good bit of where these central characters are coming from. Perfect place to conclude this volume.

As for the characters Lysaer seemed, ultimately, static without actually being static. He ended in a very similar place to where he started, with a hatred for Arithon that is at once justified in his mind and unjustified by reality. But of course it's more complicated than that because we have the middle where he did come to understand and respect Arithon (more or less). I'm torn between feeling like the Mistwraith's curse is an obtrusive device and feeling like it's almost symbolic short-hand. It's a rather fine line being walked here, I think, because it's ultimately a force outside Lysaer himself who mucks with his mind and forces him in opposition to his brother. At the same time, it's not as though it's totally outside Lysaer either. As Asandir or one of the other Fellowship point out, the Mistwraith couldn't have gotten in if Lysaer's distrust wasn't already there. It just puts memories and feelings that Lysaer already had in a different light while bringing them to prominence over the better days they had together. Although it's hard for me to personally understand how it happens in the everyday course of things, the fact is that this kind of thing *does* happen. People do dredge up the past seemingly out of nowhere, their feelings do twist radically. The Lysaer we see, it seems to me, wouldn't have been this kind of person without the Mistwraith's influence, and that's the part that feels like a cheap trick, but at the same time it does get to real experience.

Arithon, on the other hand, is the character who seems to grow more. We saw in his backstory his embrace of the realm of politics and, for that matter, the taking up of the family feud. And from page 1 we see how that worked out for him, we understand his reluctance to take that up again. But he does, in his own way. And again, it all falls apart, but in the meantime we see the evolution of this conflict within him between self-actualization and duty, and clearly it isn't over yet. While he's taken up as Halliron's apprentice, we know from the Prologue that he has several hundred more years of conflict with his brother, we know that he'll have to take up the mantle of leadership again. But in any case, there seems to me to be a stronger sense of development in Arithon's character, and more obvious room for his growth.

The milieu into which they're thrust seems perfectly real. Janny mentioned the Welsh, but the Arab-Israeli conflict comes strongly to mind, the lingering effects of slavery in America don't seem irrelevent, and on and on....

We've already seen how poorly two of those abilities work without any temperance or wisdom...

Jim wrote: "Thanks! I really don't have time to re-read right now."

You're welcome.

Did that bit fire off speculation? It is Quite not random.

Thanks! I really don't have time to re-read right now.

Here's your refresher on the Towers at Ithamon:

Wisdom, Endurance, Grace, Compassion (still standing)
Fallen is the King's Tower, for Justice.

Here's your footnote on the virtues of the High King's lineages, (for Mankind - which may not be listed fully in the text yet, but that's ok, it will be.)

Still with living heirs:

s'Ilessid - Justice
s'Ahelas - Farsight
s'Lornmein - Temperance
s'Ffalenn - Compassion

Dead, no living heir:

s'Ellestrion - Wisdom.

There's another theme that I think might develop more. The 5 Paravian citadels or Sun Towers stood for the 5 concepts or portions of life that they held highest, right? I don't recall all the names or concepts, off hand. Justice, compassion, wisdom, honor & ...?

Each human king's line had one of these attributes assigned to them by the 7 to make sure they ruled well or something. This caused a lot of trouble with the brothers. Their attributes became untempered, so instead of being forces for good, actually became destructive.

One was shattered. Was that justice? Maybe the reason the 7 gave up on Lysear so easily? We know Arithon is compassion. I can't recall what line the youngster came from. That should leave 2 other lines out there & the youngster has plenty of time to grow up to cause trouble.

I expect the series will pick up the other attributes & run with them, put them in conflict & into solutions. I expect we'll see a few more major characters representing them.

Does anyone remember any of this better? I almost feel as if I should re-read the book to pick up this thread better...

Concerning the Fellowship and its work with the High Kings on behalf of the Paravian races,
I cannot help but be reminded of one of the principles of New Age spirituality, wherein, at least some of us are highly attuned spirits who actively chose to come to this reality in order to do the work for the Great Shift (now occurring).

New Age joke: "Shift Happens"

I agree, Stefan. I liked that Arithon would get to finally play the music he craved so much. Plenty of ashes behind him, but he does have something to look forward to.

One of the things I liked most about the ending was that, after the heartbreak and bloodshed of the final chapters, there was the simple and elegant grace note of Arithon and Halliron meeting up and striking out together. It made the ending bittersweet, rather than just bitter.

Yeah, these kings are obviously appointed not just by strength of arm, but by other forces, so that's why it worked for me.

Once in another discussion, someone felt the same, about old ties not lasting - and another reader who was half Welsh jumped straight in and said, some conflicts of interest are not allowed to die, but get passed on generation to generation.

There are areas that still cling to old ways, old boundaries, and in some parts, the civil war is still an issue.

It would also depend on what town, in Athera, you were looking at, since the contours of how the history left an impact will differ.

I am also not (wry grin) pushing the parallel too hard here - as the books define the "high kings" you will find it isn't the same as what you've historically come to expect of a 'monarchy' - the purpose here is other, but it couldn't be unveiled, too much too quickly.

Revenge was pretty obvious throughout the world, but it was kept to its proper place. The feuds between town & hills, the 7 & the enchantresses, Arithon's heritage & Lysaer's were all evident. The Mistwraith wreaked of it, but all in a realistic way.

The times seem long to me for some things. For instance, for as long as the kings have been gone, I wouldn't think the townsfolk would be too concerned about their claims, but then that is something that runs through a lot of fantasy & we do have wizards around to lend more continuity than we have in our own world.

Chris wrote: "I agree that there are lots of loose ends, but at the same time I'm happy with the conclusion. It stops the story there nicely, with an option. A reader might not feel obligated to keep going (thou..."

Thank you, and Jim for noticing this is not a cliffhanger ending. I have a soap box aversion to that sort of cheap shot! Great care is taken, always, to resolve the major moment, and give the reader a pause point. If a reader returns to this series, they will do that because they were given a solid, good read, not a dangler.

I am not lending the pretense these books stand alone. They are not meant to, the story in its total sweep and all its volumes is immense. But the same care is taken, at each book's close, to allow the reader a safe place to pause and reflect.

I do not enjoy cheap shots, or unfounded surprises. Or, Chris is right, the 'poufy' fantasy war clothed as an oversimplified 'adventure.'

I do not place Tolkein's Lord of the Rings in that catagory - in the book form, the impact of that conflict was not glossed over - harm was done, and had to be remade to heal from the grass roots, up. He put the scouring of the Shire in there for a reason, which the movie form ignored in favor of the epic glory, and the mythic battle inspired by the Eddas.

The overplayed theme of revenge as an oversimplified, glorified driver - too often handled in a shallow fashion - how did you feel about the way that theme was handled here? That's if you had the insight to spare throughout the first pass to notice?

I agree that there are lots of loose ends, but at the same time I'm happy with the conclusion. It stops the story there nicely, with an option. A reader might not feel obligated to keep going (though I will), but there is enough to tease one into pursuing the series further.

I also saw the coming together with the Master Bard and Arithon, but honestly, after the massacre/battle, I had forgotten about that. Even when Arithon noticed him watching when he rode out, I soon put it aside in my mind. I just couldn't get past the feeling of 'wow' after that battle.

The tragedy of the story tears at you. Arithon and Lysaer should not be enemies, and it is saddening to see them acting so. The curse was truly a damning one, not only messing up their alliance/relationship, but destroying too many that get too close to either one.

What really struck me in the gut was how both of them were going around and giving the dead their final release. They were both feeling the tragedy of the carnage, from different sides of the war. But the sadness with each was equal. Which side was "right" or "wrong"? Can't really say....it's tragic that there had to be a war at all.....now, I'm not a peace-preaching tree-hugger, but this battle really struck me as a waste....

.....which, I believe, is Janny's point........this is certainly no glorified heroic war.....

I liked the end. I'd been wondering if Arithon's vow would get him hooked up with the bard - the two seemed made for each other. I'm glad that didn't drag out into another book. I thought it was coming, but I didn't know how you'd wrangle it. Pretty rough way to do so, but it's a rough situation.

I was wondering if you'd kill Lysaer off, although I didn't think you could, logically. Glad you didn't.

There's obviously a lot of loose ends hanging around. I'll be interested to see how you weave them around in the next book.

Now that a few of you are finished, how did the ending strike you?

Did you see the twists and turns coming?

Were you satisfied with the stop point?

How did you feel the experience impact the characters, do you think they have changed, and if so, how?

How did the book experience impact you?

What were your afterthoughts?