http://allbookedup-elena.blogspot.com... ( )

This one has a less fast paced plot, and primarily centred around the development of the new settlement, Sanctuary. The ending is good though, and it gathers pace there to an excellent conclusion. In fact, it's surprising there's a fourth book, since this is so clearly an end to the over-arcing story of the series so far. ( )

Kiron gets pushed further forward (did he ever really notice that he was Commander of Jousters?), exciting adventures, a deus ex machina or two to wipe out all the enemies and a conventional happy ending. I'm kind of surprised she wrote the next book, actually. ( )

This series seems to be losing some of it's spirit. It just seemed to go on for a bit too long and felt almost like an excercise in writing a series rather than a serious inclusion in the series.
The fight between the magi and the jousters and the other magic users intensifies and starts to get serious. More and more children are turning up dead or drained. The Magi are planning to do more damage.

It is a problem sometimes with Mercedes Lackey that her bad guys rarely seem to have shades of grey involved. ( )