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Wizard of the Grove #2
The Last Wizard
Crystal, the last wizard in a land terrified of wizards, joins forces with the humans of her world to seek out and destroy an ancient stronghold of magic
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 1989
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298 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Huff
155 books2,458 followersTanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood Ties.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 5, 2021
This is the second book in the Wizard of the Grove duology, a sequel to Child of the Grove. It's more of a character-study than the first book, and has an interesting take on the role of a hero after the quest is completed, reminiscent in a weird way of Robert A. Heinlein's Glory Road, but in a high-fantasy context. Not among Huff's best writing, but a good, thoughtful read.
July 4, 2012
review from 1990:
This is the second in Huff's Crystal Wizard duology. Unlike most sequels, this is an even better book than the original. You'll probably enjoy The Last Wizard more by reading Child of the Grove first, but this is a definite "must read."
The Last Wizard interweaves three brilliant plot elements, only one of which is safe to give away here:
Crystal had been created for one purpose and one purpose only, and no one gave a thought to how she'd feel when that was finished, knowing the world held no place for her.
Here Huff has taken the ultimate cliché of the hero riding off into the sunset and turned it inside out. More than that, she's dealt with a very real problem: After you've achieved all your goals, after you've landed on the moon or won The Campionship Season. . . . what do you do for an encore? Our heroine has trained her whole life for the climatic battle of Child of the Grove, which she fights at age 17. Like the veterans of any war returning to civilian society, Crystal is set adrift in a world which frankly no longer needs her. Now what? And the "now what?" gets particularly scary if you happen to be immortal. . . .
The second plot line revolves around Lord Death. Here again Huff transcends the usual clichés to produce a characterization that is uniquely hers: logical, consistent, and occasionally poignant, Lord Death is painted with original and striking imagery. Like Death in Terry Pratchett's Disc World series, Huff has created a completely new vision of death, and one more appropriate to the 1980s; but where Pratchett went for laughs, Huff plays it straight.
It is in such characterization that we see Huff's true genius. Forget the "grim reaper", the wise old wizard, the sinister demons waiting to devour the souls of the unwary: Huff's immortals are all incredibly fallible individuals afflicted with the same problems as the rest of us. Instead of the usual pompous pronouncements about good and evil that we get from the stock characters of other fantasists, Huff gives us dialog that could have come from our own mouths. I identified with Lord Death precisely because I recognize myself in this portrayal, and my neighbours in Crystal and her friends.
Huff has rediscovered the essence of all great fantasy: what made the Tale of Gillgamesh and the Illiad successful was that they were the original soap operas. The gods and legendary heroes of the Iliad were a complete bunch of jerks, and their adolescent behaviour was their most pronounced attribute. The gods were us writ large; a way of distancing ourselves from our own failings, so we could discuss and examine them. Nobody wants to be reminded about their own stupid behaviour with the opposite sex, for example, unless it is projected onto the gods, where it is comforting to note that even such all-powerful figures can screw up as badly as the rest of us. This emotional basis of all great fantasy has been forgotten by most modern writers, who instead get hung up on the "technical" details of the magical powers they describe, just as 1950s sf got hung up on warp drives and bug-eyed monsters.
In sharp contrast, Huff's writing emphasizes character rather than stock characteristics, and she packs all of human nature into a few key phrases. There are so many examples of this, I'm tempted to share some of them with you, but the joy of reading Huff's work comes in part from her ability to surprise us with characters whose traits are simultaneously original and intuitively familiar. The signature line of the goddess of chance, for example, is both hilarious and--once Huff has pointed it out to us--obvious and inevitable.
Huff's style is powerful without sinking into the usual pretentiousness, and she uses humour effectively, not only to lighten the mood at appropriate intervals, but also to reveal character. Where Thomas Convanent, for example, whinned continuously for six unrelenting volumes, which is both tiresome and unbelievable, Huff's characters break off their introspection for snowball fights, lovemaking, and the other tension releasing activities of real people.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and await Huff's next project with eager anticipation.
This is the second in Huff's Crystal Wizard duology. Unlike most sequels, this is an even better book than the original. You'll probably enjoy The Last Wizard more by reading Child of the Grove first, but this is a definite "must read."
The Last Wizard interweaves three brilliant plot elements, only one of which is safe to give away here:
Crystal had been created for one purpose and one purpose only, and no one gave a thought to how she'd feel when that was finished, knowing the world held no place for her.
Here Huff has taken the ultimate cliché of the hero riding off into the sunset and turned it inside out. More than that, she's dealt with a very real problem: After you've achieved all your goals, after you've landed on the moon or won The Campionship Season. . . . what do you do for an encore? Our heroine has trained her whole life for the climatic battle of Child of the Grove, which she fights at age 17. Like the veterans of any war returning to civilian society, Crystal is set adrift in a world which frankly no longer needs her. Now what? And the "now what?" gets particularly scary if you happen to be immortal. . . .
The second plot line revolves around Lord Death. Here again Huff transcends the usual clichés to produce a characterization that is uniquely hers: logical, consistent, and occasionally poignant, Lord Death is painted with original and striking imagery. Like Death in Terry Pratchett's Disc World series, Huff has created a completely new vision of death, and one more appropriate to the 1980s; but where Pratchett went for laughs, Huff plays it straight.
It is in such characterization that we see Huff's true genius. Forget the "grim reaper", the wise old wizard, the sinister demons waiting to devour the souls of the unwary: Huff's immortals are all incredibly fallible individuals afflicted with the same problems as the rest of us. Instead of the usual pompous pronouncements about good and evil that we get from the stock characters of other fantasists, Huff gives us dialog that could have come from our own mouths. I identified with Lord Death precisely because I recognize myself in this portrayal, and my neighbours in Crystal and her friends.
Huff has rediscovered the essence of all great fantasy: what made the Tale of Gillgamesh and the Illiad successful was that they were the original soap operas. The gods and legendary heroes of the Iliad were a complete bunch of jerks, and their adolescent behaviour was their most pronounced attribute. The gods were us writ large; a way of distancing ourselves from our own failings, so we could discuss and examine them. Nobody wants to be reminded about their own stupid behaviour with the opposite sex, for example, unless it is projected onto the gods, where it is comforting to note that even such all-powerful figures can screw up as badly as the rest of us. This emotional basis of all great fantasy has been forgotten by most modern writers, who instead get hung up on the "technical" details of the magical powers they describe, just as 1950s sf got hung up on warp drives and bug-eyed monsters.
In sharp contrast, Huff's writing emphasizes character rather than stock characteristics, and she packs all of human nature into a few key phrases. There are so many examples of this, I'm tempted to share some of them with you, but the joy of reading Huff's work comes in part from her ability to surprise us with characters whose traits are simultaneously original and intuitively familiar. The signature line of the goddess of chance, for example, is both hilarious and--once Huff has pointed it out to us--obvious and inevitable.
Huff's style is powerful without sinking into the usual pretentiousness, and she uses humour effectively, not only to lighten the mood at appropriate intervals, but also to reveal character. Where Thomas Convanent, for example, whinned continuously for six unrelenting volumes, which is both tiresome and unbelievable, Huff's characters break off their introspection for snowball fights, lovemaking, and the other tension releasing activities of real people.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and await Huff's next project with eager anticipation.
November 11, 2018
Crystal, the last wizard, has fulfilled her destiny, now what? In a society where almost everyone hates and fears wizards, with good reason as all the others were evil, Crystal has a hard time convincing most people that she's one of the good guys. And the idea of Lord Death falling in love and acting like an adolescent over it (since he has no experience at this) is both funny and full of pathos. The plot, exploring the keep of an evil wizard to find treasurer, is almost irrelevant to this.
July 17, 2025
As a child, this book unlocked my creativity, filled my heart, and left me in awe. As a sequel to Child of the Grove, it’s a simpler story, which also lends to a tighter pace. At the surface, adventuring through frozen terrain to dismantle the power of an evil wizard’s tower makes for a dangerous quest. Throw in seven goddesses, a deliciously defined pantheon, and the identity crisis the goddesses stir up. This book shines due to the characters and relationships developed throughout it. This was one of my earliest representations of polyamory. While written more overtly a love triangle, Crystal deeply loves her two mortal companions and her dear friend, The Lord of Death, in unique ways. Each relationship fulfills a unique role in her life and emotional well-being. Death, the most powerful being, is the one who feels the most self doubt and jealousy, but both mortal men seem open to supporting Crystal in whatever capacity she needs, learning to move through jealousy, and focusing on what time they have. They accept that she is a wizard, a powerful individual that they cannot tame, and therefore they need to define expectations, love, cherish, and share accordingly.
January 5, 2022
I didn't realize this was a part 2 until I was reading it so I felt kinda lost in a way but it's okay. It didn't last for long since this was it's own story - Crystal had already defeated her greatest enemy and this was her life after that. Living in a world where she's discriminated against due to being a wizard as those before her were evil. She has to fix the things they messed up all the while trying to find her place in the word. It was kinda fun to read.
The romance part... well, I like the endgame couple. I have been rooting for them ever since it was hinted the guy liked Crystal in the beginning but they didn't really have a lot of "moments" so it felt kinda lacking. I wonder if there was more in the first book I haven't read yet though.
It took me a while to finish reading cause even though this should be the type of genre I normally like and enjoy, I guess some of the stuff that happens and the characters didn't really easily appeal to me enough to want to read it all at once. I've also not read book 1 so there's that.
The romance part... well, I like the endgame couple. I have been rooting for them ever since it was hinted the guy liked Crystal in the beginning but they didn't really have a lot of "moments" so it felt kinda lacking. I wonder if there was more in the first book I haven't read yet though.
It took me a while to finish reading cause even though this should be the type of genre I normally like and enjoy, I guess some of the stuff that happens and the characters didn't really easily appeal to me enough to want to read it all at once. I've also not read book 1 so there's that.
March 4, 2017
This book was definitely more like the other Tanya Huff books I have read. The writing still wasn't as strong as in her later books, but still really good. The plot was good and developed at a good pace. The foreshadowing could be heavy handed at times but overall was also good. I would say this book is worth reading, but I would still have a hard time saying it's worth reading Child of the Grove to get this book.
January 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I am not sure if I liked it more or less than the first. The ending has me really tied in knots. I'm happy but I'm sad. In this novel Crystal has to find herself and find her purpose in life now that the whole reason she was created has been fulfilled. Inner dialog with the goddesses was fun and I would have liked more of that. But overall this was amazing and is definitely one I will reread in the future.
May 2, 2021
As good as I remembered despite the way it sometimes dragged and though I loved the ending, it did leave me a bit frustrated. I would have loved to read more about Chrystal and Death.
But that’s just me. A good story, characters I actually got attachment to. Would have loved a trilogy but that story came to an end... or was it a new beginning?
But that’s just me. A good story, characters I actually got attachment to. Would have loved a trilogy but that story came to an end... or was it a new beginning?
August 10, 2021
Unexpected.
It felt like the genre changed from fantasy in the first book to harlequin romance/Twilight drama in the second.
Still contemplating if I liked how the author ended the book. Was going to stop reading it halfway through and I am glad I finished it, though.
It felt like the genre changed from fantasy in the first book to harlequin romance/Twilight drama in the second.
Still contemplating if I liked how the author ended the book. Was going to stop reading it halfway through and I am glad I finished it, though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2025
This second book is a quest for what's next for the heroine after saving the world. It's a straight forward read with a much smaller cast of characters. This is a stronger book than the first but I think you do need to read the first to feel grounded in this world. I really liked the ending.
September 17, 2022
Just ok. Nothing the least bit special. Mediocre in every sense. Do not recommend, do not re-read.
February 16, 2023
One of my favorite books. My copy is very well loved.
December 21, 2024
I only wish we got more of this. Like the part of the story with the wer I really enjoyed and wanted more of it or more of her interactions with people like that.
July 29, 2016
To me, THE LAST WIZARD is a study in the craft of writing. Not just in how Tanya Huff writes this particular story, but in how reading can shape future authors. I last read this book at least fifteen years ago. What you must understand is that I have to read or watch or listen to something at least twice before it sticks. I remember how something made me feel, but I almost never remember anything else. Case in point: This book. I remembered that it was my favorite fantasy book in high school. And I had vague recollections of the female main character in snow with boots made of woodsmoke. Yes, I know, it’s an odd thing to remember. But, truthfully, I couldn’t even remember her name, let alone specific plot points. And here’s why I bring this up… There is a particular subplot involving a red-headed god of death that eerily mirrors a subplot involving a red-headed grim reaper in the first draft of my very first novel. Now, that subplot doesn’t exist anymore and hasn’t for several years, but it startled me to realize this. There’s also a subplot involving voices the main character, Crystal, hears in her head that is crazy-similar to the subplot I started in my second novel and am currently bringing to fruition in my third (though mine can’t possibly end the same way because reasons). These facts actually really upset me. I spent a whole day crying to my husband about being a hack. Finally, I think he got tired of it and convinced me that he could name at least three other books he’s read with the voice-in-the-head thing. Also, he reminded me that it’s okay to be inspired by others, as long as you make it your own. The final version of my Grim Reaper is nothing like Lord Death, and that’s okay.
Rereading it all these years later, I can see why the book had such a strong impact on my writing psyche. It is a huge improvement on CHILD OF THE GROVE in that there is no necessary exposition cluttering up the first third of the book. We jump straight into the plot and it doesn’t stop until it gets to the end. Just as before Ms. Huff showcases her excellent use of “show don’t tell” and really lets the reader feel what is going on in the characters heads. That being said, there were a few times when I felt we got a little too far from Crystal. The writing is in third person omniscient, but still our main character is Crystal. A few paragraphs about what someone else thinks or feels is one thing, but a few times it went on for pages.
I was left with a few questions, though I don’t think they warrant a third book. What happens to the other five wizards’ towers? Why does Jago look so much like Getan? If Crystal becomes a __________ then does she go off to another plane of existence to _________? And if so what does that mean for Lord Death?
Overall, I think this book is sure to remain one of my favorite fantasy novels. It’s no LORD OF THE RINGS, but it has a womanly appeal that I just can’t deny. It’s well written with realistic characters and parts of the plot make my black little heart all fluttery.
Rereading it all these years later, I can see why the book had such a strong impact on my writing psyche. It is a huge improvement on CHILD OF THE GROVE in that there is no necessary exposition cluttering up the first third of the book. We jump straight into the plot and it doesn’t stop until it gets to the end. Just as before Ms. Huff showcases her excellent use of “show don’t tell” and really lets the reader feel what is going on in the characters heads. That being said, there were a few times when I felt we got a little too far from Crystal. The writing is in third person omniscient, but still our main character is Crystal. A few paragraphs about what someone else thinks or feels is one thing, but a few times it went on for pages.
I was left with a few questions, though I don’t think they warrant a third book. What happens to the other five wizards’ towers? Why does Jago look so much like Getan? If Crystal becomes a __________ then does she go off to another plane of existence to _________? And if so what does that mean for Lord Death?
Overall, I think this book is sure to remain one of my favorite fantasy novels. It’s no LORD OF THE RINGS, but it has a womanly appeal that I just can’t deny. It’s well written with realistic characters and parts of the plot make my black little heart all fluttery.
November 18, 2014
An improvement over the previous book! I know I gave that one 3 stars as well, but I think I gave it a pity 3. This one gets 3 too, because while I liked it I do have to admit it isn't great.
A lot of the things I didn't like about the first book aren't present. While the first book covered generations leading up to our main character in back story that took way too long, this one is all about Crystal. She has a new love interest that is more... well.. interesting. Actually she has a couple new love interests and one is sort of... eh... Also, this one is more of a quest, an adventure. Not all Fantasy needs wars and evil all powerful enemies. The new characters that surround her are for the most part more interesting. The few that return from the first book have small parts, and are generally the ones I initially liked anyway.
Like I said, there are still flaws. First of all, this may be one of the only works where the embodiment of Death is kind of a pussy. Well this, and Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey I guess. This leads me to the ending. I did not care for the ending. Now this wasn't a "it ruins the whole book!" level of dislike, but I really felt it should have been better. It felt like the kind of ending that should have come after a lot more development to the main character. Now I read these books partially because they were a duology and I didn't want to get myself roped into another unending fantasy series so I'm glad things were relatively short. Still, I think the ending required more build up, more development. It just sort of suddenly happens, and is confusing. I sort of guess what happens, but sort of not. It was one of those books where I saw how many pages were left and was like "that is not enough time to suitably end this." And I was right. It is just kind of like, BAM, GRAND ENDING!
Still, not enough to ruin the book. It's not a terrible ending. I just think it could have been better. And these aren't terrible books. They are ok. This one I'd even call good. There is just a lot of fantasy out there to choose from. If you want an adventure written by a woman with a female protagonist, I say go for this. If you read the first book and were a little disappointed, I say stick it out, this one is better.
A lot of the things I didn't like about the first book aren't present. While the first book covered generations leading up to our main character in back story that took way too long, this one is all about Crystal. She has a new love interest that is more... well.. interesting. Actually she has a couple new love interests and one is sort of... eh... Also, this one is more of a quest, an adventure. Not all Fantasy needs wars and evil all powerful enemies. The new characters that surround her are for the most part more interesting. The few that return from the first book have small parts, and are generally the ones I initially liked anyway.
Like I said, there are still flaws. First of all, this may be one of the only works where the embodiment of Death is kind of a pussy. Well this, and Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey I guess. This leads me to the ending. I did not care for the ending. Now this wasn't a "it ruins the whole book!" level of dislike, but I really felt it should have been better. It felt like the kind of ending that should have come after a lot more development to the main character. Now I read these books partially because they were a duology and I didn't want to get myself roped into another unending fantasy series so I'm glad things were relatively short. Still, I think the ending required more build up, more development. It just sort of suddenly happens, and is confusing. I sort of guess what happens, but sort of not. It was one of those books where I saw how many pages were left and was like "that is not enough time to suitably end this." And I was right. It is just kind of like, BAM, GRAND ENDING!
Still, not enough to ruin the book. It's not a terrible ending. I just think it could have been better. And these aren't terrible books. They are ok. This one I'd even call good. There is just a lot of fantasy out there to choose from. If you want an adventure written by a woman with a female protagonist, I say go for this. If you read the first book and were a little disappointed, I say stick it out, this one is better.
November 26, 2011
This was a really good book though like the first one it led up to this big moment and then....it was done and you were left going....what just happened here.......Overall all a good read and I would reccommend it if your looking for some light reading.
June 30, 2016
An early book by Ms Huff, her character development is good, one feels the depth of loneliness of multiple main characters, a dwarf who loved long ago, the wizard and her admirer.
It was easy to relate to characters. Although this reads as an early novel, it was also engrossing.
It was easy to relate to characters. Although this reads as an early novel, it was also engrossing.
December 16, 2018
Reread Sept 2010.
Reread December 2018.
Reread December 2018.
March 25, 2011
I liked this volume of the duology much better than the first book.
June 1, 2009
The heroine is great. I love the love story and how it is really inclusive of multiple kinds of love. Also adventure, mgaical stuff, castles, love! Good, quick, easy fun read that's well written!
March 31, 2011
superb, but she seems to have shot down sequels - phooey!
November 16, 2011
Tension, anguish and terror. The ending made me cry.
May 30, 2012
Eehh. Not really worth it
January 29, 2016
Lovely. I read the first Wizard book by Huff, but don't remember much. Didn't matter. This by itself was lovely and profound in a way I've come to expect from Tanya Huff.
February 15, 2021
really enjoyed this story.
May 30, 2021
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
January 24, 2013
Read this book years ago, loved it then, loved it as much when I reread it.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews