I don't like science fiction. I got three pages in and put in down. It's still floating around the house some where but I won't be reading it. ( )

I admit that I have not read the first three novels, so i am at a significant disadvantage in reviewing this book. I found some of Ms. Croggon's world to be interesting (the elementals), but found Maerad hard to really care deeply about. I'm generally pretty annoyed by "Special Snowflake Syndrome", which Maerad has in spades. I also found much of her mythology and approach really derivative of both Tolkeinian and Welsh tales. I don't feel compelled to read the other three books, particularly, except an idle curiosity over why this war was being fought after all.

That said, I bet i would have loved this as a young teenager. ( )

I cannot give higher praise to a book I have not yet read through. While it took a bit to get into it, I felt Croggon did an admirable job bringing a new reader (me) up to speed. I was completely enthralled by the first battle scene, and since classwork requires that I crawl out of the book regardless, I've decided to borrow the first 3 books from the library before finishing this one.

The story is engaging, the characters believable and the world's magic system seems well thought out. I look forward to reading this book, but not until after I finish the ones that come before it. ( )

The Singing by Alison Croggon is the Fourth Book of Pellinor and the conclusion to the saga. Maerad a young woman who grew up as a slave had discovered she is a Bard. In this series, a Bard can be a musician, artist, herbalist, scientist or an artisan. All can use the Speech ,which is an ancient language spoken at the beginning of the world and understood by animals and Earth Elementals. The first three books catalog Maerad,s journey to and acceptance as a Bard, discovery of her brother, Hem and each one's journey to find and understand the Singing,an ancient relic that can defeat the Nameless and his Black Army that is advancing north to destroy the Seven Kingdoms of Annar. They must find each other across a land beaten down and destroyed by battle and a remorseless enemy who employs child armies.
The Singing was a very satisfying conclusion to this book series. I enjoyed the final half of the book. It dealt with Maerad coming to terms with her powers and having to be the one in prophecy to destroy the Nameless. One thing I enjoyed about the series of books are the appendices. The back story and history of all the people and lands encountered are told in depth in them. The main artifice of the books is they are a translation of documents found in a 1991 dig in Morocco. But this is limited to the forward and notes along with a faux bibliography. The story is untouched by this.

How incredible to reach the end of this series!
I was so excited to see how the adventures Maerad,Cadvan, and their brother, Hem, would end; as usual, Croggon does not disappoint. She provides readers with an incredibly detailed adventure and a fantastic conclusion to a long, amazing series.