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The Weaver's Lament

(Symphony of Ages #9)

Elizabeth Haydon

3.93 · Rating details · 421 ratings · 64 reviews

Acclaimed author Elizabeth Haydon returns with a heartbreaking tale of love and valor in The Weaver’s Lament, the ninth and final installment of her USA Today bestselling Symphony of Ages series that began with Rhapsody.

For a thousand years, the lands ruled by the Cymrian Alliance have been at peace. When the brutal death of a dear friend catapults the kingdom to the brink ...more

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ebook, 352 pages

Published June 21st 2016 by Tor Books

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Jun 23, 2016 Bookwraiths rated it liked it

Shelves: review-freebie, fantasy

Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.

The Weaver’s Lament is the ninth and final book in Elizabeth Haydon’s The Symphony of Ages series. Never having read any of the prior novels, I concede this book was probably not the best place for me to start my journey with these characters, but all in all, I found this finale an entertaining fantasy which I was able to fully enjoy. Ms. Haydon doing a wonderful job highlighting the important events of the past, making it easy for old fans or new readers to ...more

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Sep 21, 2015 Christina rated it really liked it

What I Want in Dirge:
- for it to actually be written & published
- Ashe to finally become full wyrm & a decent character again not just some whiny love sick dillhole
- Meridion to be grown up & a complete badass because Achmed comes to begrudgingly love him like a son & trains him in all kinds of awesomeness
- Meridion & Grunthor drunkenly singing tons of filthy songs
- Achmed to stop being such a giant weiner & tell Rhapsody he loves her

What I got from Weaver's Lament:
-it What I Want in Dirge:
- for it to actually be written & published
- Ashe to finally become full wyrm & a decent character again not just some whiny love sick dillhole
- Meridion to be grown up & a complete badass because Achmed comes to begrudgingly love him like a son & trains him in all kinds of awesomeness
- Meridion & Grunthor drunkenly singing tons of filthy songs
- Achmed to stop being such a giant weiner & tell Rhapsody he loves her

What I got from Weaver's Lament:
-it was written & published! Yay!
-Ashe became full wyrm but was still a whiny love sick dillhole, not to mention one of his temper tantrums got someone very beloved & important killed >:(
-well Meridion was all grown up but very far from a badass :(
-no drunken Grunther/Meridion singing, there was hope there at the beginning but alas nope Meridion is kind of noring book nerd
-Achmed finally manned up but it didn't go the way I hoped it would :(

Overall, I am satisfied with the ending but also unsatisfied with the ending. I was really excited after "the grievous blow" scene, really really excited that some awesomely epic stuff was about to happen but alas my hopes were doused. It all made sense because of who Rhapsody was but I still would've liked to see more happen in response to what happened to Grunthor.

Also I was REALLY unhappy with how the Achmed/Rhapsody relationship was brought to a close. Yes he does finally end up with kind of a "happily ever after" but after thousands of years being stuck in the friend zone Haydon could have given him a little more alive time with Rhapsody. That was probably my biggest disappointment of all, he didn't even get one real kiss :(

The very end was kind of slow & dull, it took me days to force myself through it, after everything that happened before I was pretty much emotionally wrecked & not in the mood to read about an underground treck along the root again. Though the very end was as it should've been, Achmed told Ashe back in book 3 how it would go & he was right. I just wish we had gotten a little more is all. ...more

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Jun 02, 2016 Alecia rated it it was ok

I've been reading the Symphony of Ages series since I was 14 years old. Of course, my tastes have shifted a bit since then but on the whole, the books have remained satisfying reading through my adult years...at least up until now.

Spoiler free review: The momentum of the novel just did not hold up for me. The first half of the book was like an extended prologue. We're introduced to Rhapsody's six perfect children and million grandchildren, only one of which has any impact on the story at all. I've been reading the Symphony of Ages series since I was 14 years old. Of course, my tastes have shifted a bit since then but on the whole, the books have remained satisfying reading through my adult years...at least up until now.

Spoiler free review: The momentum of the novel just did not hold up for me. The first half of the book was like an extended prologue. We're introduced to Rhapsody's six perfect children and million grandchildren, only one of which has any impact on the story at all. The second half read like an entirely different book that had been edited down to its bare bones. It just wasn't cohesive. The prophecies that have left a trail of breadcrumbs up to this point are fleshed out in several massive info dumps that are anticlimactic, to say the least. And I wasn't at all satisfied by the endgame for Rhapsody, Grunthor or Achmed. Finally, the central quest of this book seemed like an afterthought and the climax, such as it was, fell completely flat.

This book just left me with a whole bunch of questions and grievances, to the point where I almost wished I hadn't read it. (view spoiler)[

1. Grunthor's death was just completely out of left field. It would have been worth it if we had been able to get any real momentum out of it, but I guess Elizabeth Haydon got tired of sending her characters to war over and over again. That's fine, but Ashe gets let off entirely too easy.

2. Oh, Ashe. For a being that's part dragon, he's sure been a whiny, emotional, spoiled brat the ENTIRE series. The soulmate thing seemed really forced to me. Any romantic, 13 year old farm girl who sleeps with a mysterious boy from out of town who promises to show her the world is going to think that's her soulmate. That doesn't mean you wait your whole life for the guy who loved you and left you! The fact that they became the endgame romance has always irked me, and I hoped he would get killed off to make room for Achmed. Well, I finally got my wish when Ashe gets "killed'...except Achmed gets screwed, once again. And Ashe wants to transition to dragon form so, yet again, he wreaks havoc on others while suffering none of the consequences. F*ck you, Ashe!

3. Meanwhile, Achmed has experienced the friend-zoning of an EPOCH. Somehow Rhapsody, the Namer who can hear the truth in everything, has never realized in a WHOLE ENTIRE MILLENNIUM that Achmed loves her?!? Come on now. His hatred of Ashe clearly went beyond any friend or brotherly concern. A "friend" doesn't get mad when you have kids with your own husband. Anyway, even after his confession of love all he gets from Rhapsody is a kiss. Which I would accept if it weren't for the fact that she picks Achmed to be her baby daddy. He's good enough to be a father but apparently not the good old fashioned way, they've got to summon some spirit child out of magic which results in Rhapsody's untimely death. So not only does he not get any loving...he doesn't even get one single HOUR to experience being part of a family of his own making because Rhapsody is an idiot who couldn't have her baby the normal way.

4. Speaking of which, Rhapsody died as she lived- sentimental and dumb as a box of rocks to the end. And continuing the tradition of getting sidelined, Achmed's son Graal is apparently some sort of prophet who has been pulling strings on both sides of time with Meridion, but only merits a single line of dialogue in the whole book. I'm beginning to think the author just hates Achmed because this is ridiculous.

5. Achmed gets two paragraphs from me because he is clearly the MVP of this series. He keeps everyone else alive, makes the hard decisions, and sacrifices any chance of a shred of happiness to save the world. He deserved better than dying alone in the center of the earth. Hopefully his heaven with Grunthor and Rhapsody is real and he finally gets some action. He's only saved the planet from certain destruction, oh, five or six times. No biggie!

6. It was nice to finally find out Meridion's role in all of this, and get an explanation of the prophecies. It would have been nicer if they'd unfolded a little more naturally with the story instead of Meridion just spilling the beans to Achmed out of pity. "You sacrificed everything to save the world and my mother so I guess you deserve to know the truth that would have pushed you to make your declaration of love to Rhapsody hundreds of years ago. Have a nice life!" (hide spoiler)]

Endings are really hard. There was potential here for a decent sendoff but I feel like everything just got rushed to print and we're missing some exposition that would have helped make sense of this mishmash. If you've read the whole series up until now, it's kind of a tossup on whether I recommend this. If a bad ending will retroactively ruin the entire series, I suggest you run away, quickly, and forget this book exists. Otherwise, just brace yourself for disappointment. ...more

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Jun 26, 2016 S rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

The ninth and last installment of Elizabeth Haydon's outstanding Symphony of Ages series has finally come to a close, as well as my reflection on the series as a whole.

Before I could even begin to write this review and as soon as I set the book down after reading it in under 24 hours, I ended-up moping around for the following few days feeling lost and emotionally distraught.
"Is she serious?!" You might ask and to answer that straight away is yes, yes I' am.

I won't go into details of the plot, ...more

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Apr 12, 2016 Katherine rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016

I first started this series over a decade ago and am so glad to have the story end in such a satisfying way. While the brief introduction to some new characters was a bit distracting, we got to revisit almost all of our favorite ones from previous books. There was a little more rehashing of the previous books than I personally felt was necessary, it might be helpful for those who haven't read the series in a long time and need a refresher on events they discuss. Overall, this was a great last ...more

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Jul 24, 2017 Narilka rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2017

"That is the end of my tale, with illustrations, my song, a symphony of Ages spanning from before the Seren War in the Third Age to the end of this one, the Sixth Age, which in what little I can see of the Future will be known as Twilight. The paradox is complete."

The Weaver's Lament is the 9th and final book in Elizabeth Haydon's Symphony of Ages. I have mixed feelings about this book. I do think it is a fitting end to the series. That said, I also feel unsatisfied with a few key points that happened. A thousand years have passed and the realm has been at peace. The first third of the book is dedicated to introducing us to all of Rhapsody and Ashe's children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc., even going so far as to explain their roles in society though they are all irrelevant to the actual ending of the story aside from Meridion. Then comes an event so completely out of left field that it doesn't make sense in any way other than as a plot point. It was just too convenient to be authentic, especially given the character involved. Just as the situation starts to escalate the perpetrator is easily dealt with and we move on.

Up next is the second half of the book which feels like a different story entirely. This is more along the lines of what I expected when I picked up the book. The pace picks up and I was swept away into the adventure that felt a lot more natural and in line with the characters involved, though it too feels on the rushed side. Perhaps that's my main complaint. The book is too short!

There are some things I really liked. I quite enjoyed Achmed, Grunthor and Rhapsody's little reunion. It felt just like old times. I liked that we're given the explanation of the altered timeline from book 1 and what history would have looked like had there been no intervention. The undead "guardian" Jarmon seemed like a nod to the skeleton guard in The Last Unicorn. If he wasn't then that is quite a coincidence. I had been quite curious about what the underworld was like and it was great to have that curiosity satisfied. Also, Achmed continues to be a bad ass.

The series could easily have ended with the previous book. I do think the things I liked outweigh the things I didn't so I'm glad I read it. Just be sure to keep a box of kleenex handy if you decide to give it a go as you're in for an emotional roller coaster. ...more

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Mar 04, 2017 Taisin rated it it was ok

Well... that was some ending. The summary for this book should be "random tragedy strikes randomly", and that - apart from a still unholy amount of exposition and repetitions of the pervious books - is my largest problem with it. Nothing in the book is logical, plot is non existent, all the tragedy comes from the stupidity (of Ashe and his generals) and of sudden prophecy execution. Not that sudden prophecy execution is in itself bad - but there's no, absolutely no reason to it, apart from the Well... that was some ending. The summary for this book should be "random tragedy strikes randomly", and that - apart from a still unholy amount of exposition and repetitions of the pervious books - is my largest problem with it. Nothing in the book is logical, plot is non existent, all the tragedy comes from the stupidity (of Ashe and his generals) and of sudden prophecy execution. Not that sudden prophecy execution is in itself bad - but there's no, absolutely no reason to it, apart from the desire of the author to force Achmed to fulfill his role (view spoiler).

First part of the book is pure sugar. It's all about how everything is great in the world and how happy the big family of Ashe and Rhapsody is. Over and over again. And then the random tragedy strikes twice - and all falls apart.

(view spoiler) ...more

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Apr 04, 2016 Nemi rated it it was ok

Shelves: own-the-printed-version

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 24, 2016 David Teachout rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle, fantasy

So it ends. I went from trepidation, to shock, then more shock with a bit of despair, curiosity at how he rest would fall out and ended in a whole lot of inner tears. I'd call this ending a tragedy, but with so much triumph involved, I'm not sure that fits. Tragi-umph? I don't know. What is clear is that these characters were more than just people in the pages of a book, they represented the best qualities of humanity, even when they were anything but human. Their journey went to the heights of ...more

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May 08, 2016 Liz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016

With a heavy heart, I finished the BEST series I've yet to read and let's be serious, there won't be any better ever written.
I'm so happy, albeit bitterly; to finally hear the end of this tale.
It's so wonderfully woven together, no wonder it's been so easy to wrap myself in it like a blanket.

Thank you, E.H
thank you so very much

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Mar 06, 2019 Erin rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-print, fantasy, guilty-pleasure, fantasy-epic

2.5.

This started off okay. Sure, there were way too many infodumps, who TF cares about these new members of Rhapsody's family when it's the last book, Ashe and Rhapsody's relationship still has some SERIOUS communication problems, but whatever. It was bearable.

Even the first two deaths were pretty well-telegraphed. They were clumsily handled, but there was some foreshadowing.

Then the second third of the book started and it took a nosedive straight into dreck. It turned into Haydon's final ...more

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Jun 21, 2016 Carole Johnson rated it it was amazing

I got the Kindle download this morning and read straight though until a few moments ago. I was absolutely blown away. Anyone who enjoyed this series, you owe it to yourself to read this. It's utterly beautiful. All the things I'd been longing to see were there, every question was answered. It was intelligently and masterfully written, and several times I had to stop to either wipe tears away, take a breath, or blink. The humor that made me fall in love with Haydon's writing in the first place is ...more

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Nov 18, 2015 Lost Girls rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, 2016-favorites

It has been 15 years since I began the journey of the Symphony of Ages. I have had several questions go unanswered and now, finally, "I have seen the Weaver's tapestry beyond the Veil of Hoen," and it was incredible. Elizabeth Haydon has outdone herself.

"I have seen both the first strand of Time, which was burned when Time was altered, and the second one in which it was remade."

Why was Rhapsody an old woman when she first met Ashe and why was he insane? The tale of the original strand of Time, It has been 15 years since I began the journey of the Symphony of Ages. I have had several questions go unanswered and now, finally, "I have seen the Weaver's tapestry beyond the Veil of Hoen," and it was incredible. Elizabeth Haydon has outdone herself.

"I have seen both the first strand of Time, which was burned when Time was altered, and the second one in which it was remade."

Why was Rhapsody an old woman when she first met Ashe and why was he insane? The tale of the original strand of Time, before it was altered, is finally revealed to us. We learn about a woman from Achmed's past named Werinatha and what became of her. I was shocked to see prophecies being fulfilled that I incorrectly thought had long been fulfilled.

This is the 9th and final book in the Symphony of Ages series and is set 1,000 years after the Hollow Queen. We have so many new characters to meet and I loved them all. I had a little trouble keeping them straight and remembering all their names, but so many had names with such meaning that at times I would tear up or smile to myself and think, "I caught that, Ms. Haydon." Haydon made me feel so much nostalgia, joy, sadness, heartbreak, pure rage and love for the characters who I will miss so dearly. When I finished this book I was emotionally spent and had gone through a good deal of kleenex, I might add.

If you've never read Threshold, the short novel Haydon wrote for the book Legends II back in 2004, I highly recommend it. I had to put the Weaver's Lament aside and reread Threshold because it ties in so well and really shows how Haydon knew exactly where she was going and how the story would end, early on. It tells of the final days of MacQuieth's son, Hector, and his companions who stayed behind on Serendair right before the island's cataclysm and fills in the gaps of the terrifying, near disaster that we learn about in Weaver's Lament.

"That is the end of my tale, with illustrations, my song, a symphony of Ages spanning from before the Seren War in the Third Age to the end of this one, the Sixth Age, which in what little I can see of the Future will be known as Twilight. The paradox is complete." - Meridion

At long last, and with heavy hearts, we say goodbye to Rhapsody, Grunthor, Achmed and Ashe. This was an amazing finale to a wonderful story many, many years in the making! I can't say that it was a satisfying ending because, to be honest, I will never be truly satisfied and will always want more stories from Haydon. She is a dragon's treasure trove of tales and I will wait patiently, as I always do, for her next masterpiece.

-SW ...more

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Jul 14, 2016 Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller rated it really liked it · review of another edition

“The Weaver’s Lament”, the ninth and final book in the “Symphony of Ages” series by Elizabeth Haydon, takes place over 1000 years after the conclusion of the previous book (“The Hollow Queen”). The first third of the book was an account of how the characters’ lives had progressed over the millennia. It read much like an extended epilogue, which I didn’t mind because I’m always clamoring for more “where are they now?” content at the end of a good series. Even though this catch-up-the-reader “The Weaver’s Lament”, the ninth and final book in the “Symphony of Ages” series by Elizabeth Haydon, takes place over 1000 years after the conclusion of the previous book (“The Hollow Queen”). The first third of the book was an account of how the characters’ lives had progressed over the millennia. It read much like an extended epilogue, which I didn’t mind because I’m always clamoring for more “where are they now?” content at the end of a good series. Even though this catch-up-the-reader storytelling wasn’t particularly eventful, it was enjoyable.

Then Haydon used the remainder of the book to rip out my heart… and I’m still reeling.

I love this series first of all for the characters – it’s one of the few that boasts nonhumans as main POVs, a trait which demands much more creativity on the author’s part. The series also has dragons (which is always a win in my book), and they’re represented in a way I’ve never seen before, so major kudos to Haydon for originality. I also love it for its total immersion into this world’s rich culture and histories. The world is so well conceived it feels like a real place, and I will probably miss the overall “feel” of it more than anything else.

I admit I hadn’t enjoyed the last couple of books as much as I’d wanted to, even though they were good stories. I think the reason might be the multiple perspectives used to tell the tale. For me, the selling point of this series has always been about the Three – Rhapsody, Grunthor, and Achmed. While the other POVs were interesting, they just didn’t bring the same flare to the story. In “Weaver’s Lament”, Hayden recaptured the magic of the series by focusing solely on the Three and bringing their epic saga to an end.

Overall, “Weaver’s Lament” was one of the more satisfying series enders I’ve read in ages. The series as a whole is well worth your time if you like fantasy. Even so, I find it a little difficult to recommend with confidence. The first hundred pages or so of book one are hard to get through (not including the awesome prologue), mostly because it’s a bit confusing and drawn-out. The series also has a ton of story recap and discussion which, while integrated seamlessly, sometimes takes away from plot advancement. Between all of that, however, are moments of pure brilliance which make the whole series worthwhile. All the rehashing might make for a long-winded story, but after reading this series over the course of fifteen years, I can honestly say I remember almost everything about it quite vividly. My recommendation is, if you love fantasy and have a bit of patience, pick up The Symphony of Ages series – it won’t let you down.

Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller www.nikihawkes.com ...more

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Mar 04, 2016 Lucy Hayes rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, female-authors, long-awaited

After finishing The Hollow Queen, I was a bit confused. "She has one more whole book," I thought to myself, "but she already finished up the story. Now what?" It seemed silly to leave the last book out of the ongoing plot and come up with a new one AND finish it AND wrap up everything in a satisfactory manner. It can be done, but I was skeptical.

The first half of this book was emotionally wrenching. Keep the tissues with you, folks. I was a wreck. Lots of stuff happens, much explanations are ...more

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Jun 26, 2016 Sharanda rated it it was amazing

This ending made me happy and left a feeling of hope. Perfect

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Jun 06, 2016 Michael Dunn rated it it was ok

Really just a very long epilogue and tedious at that. Series really should have ended after three books. the whole story of the Sorbold emperor wasn't worth the time.

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Sep 02, 2017 Mike O'brecht rated it liked it

The ending of this was a bit anticlimactic, but still very good and very emotional. To me, something that very much brings the book together and makes it the 3 star I've indicated.

The beginning of the book I found too slow, and too much about the Rhapsody and Ashe relationship and family. Something I could have done without personally.

Overall a good finally to The Symphony of Aged series, which I've enjoyed very much over the last 15 or so years.

If you ever have a chance to pick this series ...more

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Jan 21, 2018 James Hein rated it really liked it

So the series is finally complete. This has taken a number of years from start to finish but in theend I think most will be happy with the way Elizabeth ended it.

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Sep 22, 2015 Gaijinmama rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I've been a huge fan of this series since the first book. Wow, was it really 16 years ago?! For many readers that's half of their lifetime, or more. Consider my mind Officially Boggled.
That said, I would have given 3.5 if Goodreads allowed it. With 4 stars, I'm being generous. Honestly, I am disappointed. Think last Harry Potter book, which I actually threw across the room.
I couldn't throw this one, as I was in a restaurant and didn't want to be kicked out.
Think X Files after Mulder left. Or ...more

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Dec 31, 2016 David rated it liked it

I must admit, I thought that book 8 (The Hollow Queen) was the final book in this 'trilogy.' That book has a fitting end that wrapped up most of the loose ends from previous books. That begs the question: why write book 9? I understand that the author wants one more paycheck out of The Symphony of Ages gravy train. People need to put bread on the table- I get that. However:

This book is set 1000 years after the previous book. What happened 1000 years after the time on Earth when we had feudal ...more

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Jun 02, 2016 Andrea rated it liked it

I honestly hadn't even realized that this series was still going until I received an email from Goodreads telling me about the month's new releases by authors that I read. I ordered the book immediately, since the original trilogy is still among my favorite stories, and the later ones weren't bad either.

This book takes place a thousand years after the end of the last one, and the land has been at peace until a relatively minor incident gets blown out of proportion and Stuff happens. Most of the ...more

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Aug 17, 2016 Corinne Fowler rated it it was amazing

Oh. My. God!!! Such a beautifully bittersweet ending to a beautiful masterpiece like the Symphony of Ages! I will not give the ending away, but WHAT an emotional rollercoaster I was on when I read this! Everyone goes through their own personal tragedy that intertwined with the other, leading up to an emotional ending that I will never forget. Every time I think of it, I want to cry my eyes out. And I have been reading these books since I was 15 years old!

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Oct 01, 2016 Glyder rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The completion or the journey.

Elizabeth is an amazing author. This was one of the best series I have ever read. The depth of the characters were outstanding. I was hooked from the first book and wasn't ever disappointed throughout the rest. I liked the way she ended their journey back at the beginning.
I look forward to reading more of your work in the future
Again well done.
I definitely recommend this book to everyone.

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Jul 04, 2016 Fiannawolf rated it liked it

Finished this series while watching over my grandma. At one point she commented, "What's the matter...you look ill. Want some of my soup?"

Oh my goodness. Why did it have to be him.

Pros: I got to see how a favorite series ended.
Cons: I still have questions.
+Why him...I liked that guy very much. My favorite. He's gone. Lament indeed.

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Jun 27, 2016 Colleen rated it it was ok

I loved this whole series--till this one. I think she should've left well enough alone. This one picked up the story after 1000 years and with nothing significant happening in the world, It seemed as if she didn't know what to do with the characters we've grown so fond of throughout the series and was just tired of the whole thing. Very disappointing.

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Sep 04, 2016 Carol rated it it was amazing

Shelves: i-own, fantasy, series, ebooks, favorite-authors

Very satisfying end of this series. Questions were answered, explanations given, death & life, sorrow & joy. There's enough of an opening that Ms. Haydon could continue if she so chose, but this thread of books, the story that began, now many years ago, with Rhapsody has been completed. Most excellent!!

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Jun 25, 2016 Dri C.C. Richardson rated it it was amazing

Absolutely beautiful. It could not have ended more perfectly. I downloaded it yesterday morning and read straight through to he end. It was... everything that I needed it to be and more. Thank you so ridiculously much for concluding this series so perfectly ;___;

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Jan 29, 2017 Karin rated it did not like it

This is why most series end after the happily ever after. I was perfectly happy with the ending of book 8.

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Dec 18, 2018 Firecat rated it it was ok · review of another edition

While this book was somewhat enjoyable, it lacked something the early books in the series had. It just didn't flow the same way, or have the same 'feel' to it. Instead of being well thought out and well written, it felt rushed and tacked on, like it was done just to fill space and tie everything up all neatly in a bow. The 1000 year time jump was just plain unnecessary, too. Especially when the events of those thousand years were barely touched on. And the synopsis on the cover? HIGHLY While this book was somewhat enjoyable, it lacked something the early books in the series had. It just didn't flow the same way, or have the same 'feel' to it. Instead of being well thought out and well written, it felt rushed and tacked on, like it was done just to fill space and tie everything up all neatly in a bow. The 1000 year time jump was just plain unnecessary, too. Especially when the events of those thousand years were barely touched on. And the synopsis on the cover? HIGHLY misleading as to what this book was about.

(view spoiler)[I was PISSED about what was done to Grunthor, both that he was killed off at all and at the despoiling and dismembering of his body after... and all over a "misunderstanding". Not one little piece of any of it was necessary in the least. That whole situation had no real thought behind it, no real reason for it, and seemed like nothing more than a convenience to drive what came later, and the war that was threatening was averted a little to easily and conveniently for my liking.

Rhapsody and Achmed... I'm glad he finally confessed his feelings for her, but the poor man has been through enough in his life. Why couldn't he have had a proper night with her, just once? The conjuring of a baby between them... ultimately ending Rhapsody's life... as well as the appearance of the Lord Rowan and the posthumous conversation with Meridion again seemed far too convenient and again not very well thought out. Also... how could she not have known, with all the research she had done into it, that conjuring a baby rather than making one the natural way would kill her? Especially when she was going to perform that very same ritual for her daughter and her daughter's wife! I do not find it the least bit believable that she wouldn't have found a way to dig up every detail about the ritual to make sure it was safe to do it.

Ashe... he was a whiny bitch the whole time, ruining the liking I had gained for him in earlier books. He had to have known how his commander would interpret his words about Grunthor. Because why say that sort of thing at all if you didn't want someone to go after him and kill him? Ashe didn't deserve to become a dragon, in my opinion, but he did deserve the pain he would have gotten when learned of Rhapsody's death and how it had happened. But would he have rampaged at her loss? Would he have been able to grieve without a rampage? We'll never know now, thanks to the way the author chose to leave that particular thread hanging.

Achmed... he probably had the best ending of the Three. His was most in line with his character and story to date, and the only one that was really satisfying. He accomplished his goal to wipe out all the f'dor, and the wyrm at the core of the world had already died. And in the end, he was reunited with Rhapsody and Grunthor in the Afterlife. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I was highly dissatisfied with this book in a way I was not with the others in the series. The ending could have been so much better with more thought, with more time and effort put into it. In short, while there were parts I enjoyed it was an extremely disappointing way to end the series. ...more

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About Elizabeth Haydon

Elizabeth Haydon

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Elizabeth Haydon (* 1965 in Michigan) is a fantasy author, whose 1999 debut, Rhapsody: Child of Blood, garnered comparisons with Goodkind, Jordan, and even Tolkien. She has written two fantasy series set within the same universe, The fantasy/romance/whodunit fusion called The Symphony of Ages and the young adult series The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme.

An herbalist, harpist, and madrigal singer, ...more