A solid ending to Neryn's story, in a series I really enjoyed. For some reason, it was hard to get swept up in it initially, although I still love the world, the combination of magic anf brutality, of mystery and hope. ( )

Although I liked the first two books in this trilogy well enough, I feel like that this last book was more fulfilling somehow, and that I was better able to appreciate each of the books as a whole. A satisfying conclusion to an intriguing, captivating story. ( )

Alban is a land is turmoil, a land crying out to be healed and there are those who stand ready to hear that call. Humans and Good Folk alike have been preparing for the war that is too come, for the battle that will determine Alban's fate and their own. Word has spread and the people, and Good Folk, are ready for a change. But when the time comes not everyone will fight for a free Alban, as there are some people still willing to fight for the tyrant King, and there are still others, Good Folk among them, who will be forced.

Owen Swift-Sword is one of the King's most trusted men. As an Enforcer Troop Leader and most skilled Enthraller he holds a very influential position at court, privy to all the most intimate dealing in the kingdom. Flint is a man loyal to the rebel cause of Alban and plays a most important role to the resistance based at Shadowfell. But these two lives will collide at the final battle, for no one man can be torn in two for so long without breaking and although he is willing to die for the rebellion, he would gladly give his life to see Neryn safe.

Neryn faces a great challenge; she must use her gift during the battle to save Alban, calling the Good Folk to the rebels' side to fight for freedom. But the greater challenge still is staying alive long enough to see this done. However word of another Caller, one that is powerful enough to draw the Good Folk from her presence is worrying enough, but worse still is the news that this rival Caller is in the service of the King, willingly. With time running short and her training not yet complete, Neryn will be put to test, but even if it were still possible to save the land she loves, she may still lose the man she loves.

The Caller unites the elusive and magical Good Folk with the rebels of Shadowfell, all willing to fight and die for Alban's freedom in a final battle that will once and for all decide their fates. Many friends and allies have died along the way and many more will fall before the end, but with so much preparation, heartache and faith placed in the plan, the culminating bloody battle will be one of both hope and heartbreak. A beautifully bitter-sweet ending to an engaging and sincere series. A memorable story filled with rich and enduring characters that will live on in our hearts and minds. ( )

Goed derde deel in de 'Verboden Magie' serie. Wel een langzame en wat taaie start, maar dat werd op een derde van het boek wel beter gelukkig ( )

The sequel to Shadowfell and Raven Flight. I found it underwhelming. By this point in the trilogy, there's really only one direction the story can go in - the rebels have to finally confront their tyrannical king, obviously - and I had a pretty good idea how that was all going to end. Also, I wasn't invested in Neryn's relationship with her travelling companions, not the way I was in the previous books; Neryn was not invested the way she had been previously.

The story picked up once Neryn left for Summerfort and delivered a reasonably tense final showdown. If I was 15 - if I still had the same standards and expectations I had of books at that age - I might have been very satisfied with it all.

But I'm not. I can't help feeling that this trilogy did not live up to the promise of Shadowfell. ( )