Here is the final book of the trilogy. There is a bit of a time gap since Allaigna joined the Rangers, but I’m excited to see where the story culminates!

Read: February 26 – March 1, 2024

Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
Book contains: death, blood, injustice, scheming

Purchase a copy from Pulpliterature.com

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A Good Ending to the Series

It has been six years since Allaigna joined the Rangers, and now, as she prepares to leave her grandfather’s service, she is sent on one last mission. The Princes of Brandishaw and Aerach want to reopen the lothgates, and that could mean destruction for both kingdoms. Allaigna and her companions must warn the citizens and stop the Princes before it is too late.

This book didn’t hold my attention as well as the others did, though it didn’t have any of the uncomfortably graphic scenes that the others did either. It was middle-of-the-road for me in that case.

This book was once again split between three characters. Chapters always begin with the first person past tense perspective of Allaigna, now twenty-two years old. Then, we get either Lauresa’s Chorus or Irdaign’s Chorus (sometimes both). Lauresa’s sections are in third person present, and Irdaign’s are first person present. Unfortunately, it is never explained why the story is structured like this. I would’ve liked to know. Something different about this book is that, at the end, it contains a section of the interlude between books 2 and 3, a shorter novella that was published separately, but included here for readers who did not read it elsewhere. Unlike the first book, this one did not contain any illustrations.

I read this book in the usual way again.

Allaigna is now an adult, more mature, and while she is still stubborn, she is no longer the stiff and unaffectionate girl of her youth. She is reunited with friends and family in this, as she must return to her grandfather’s kingdom and castle to prevent him from bringing chaos upon the people in his pursuit of power. All the allies that Allaigna has made over the years will return to her side in this endeavour, which I found sweet.

Allaigna also learns that she’s known her father for years, and she is understandably angry with him. She also encounters problems with her family, after having abandoned them for six years. None of her younger siblings know what to make of her, whether they be angry like Allenry or unaware of her existence such as Vardry.

Landels’ writing continues to be elaborate and skillful. The descriptions were vivid and the action sequences—whether they be in battle or on horseback—were excellently done.

This book, as a whole, was the shortest, as a large chunk of the back half was an included novella. In that case, the pacing was quite a bit faster than the other two books. This book, and both stories within, each had a mission with a time constraint, which was reflected in the writing.

Everything being said, I’d recommend this series to women who enjoy adult fantasy. It has strong ties in female power and independence, and is a great story of legacy and generational complication.

Related Reviews:

Allaigna’s Song book 1: Overture by JM Landels
Allaigna’s Song book 2: Aria by JM Landels
Allaigna’s Song book 3: Chorale by JM Landels