Warlord

This is the third and final instalment of Jennifer Fallon's Warlord trilogy and she ends it in superb fashion.
In this book we see the fruition of many smaller plot threads that were started in the first book. She certainly knows when and how to turn what could be a predictable plot moment into an unpredictable, often shocking, twist. Her gift for characterisation again manifests itself in Warlord . We’ve seen these characters go through trials and travails in the earlier books in this trilogy (Wolfblade and Warrior) and also seen them some years on in the original Hythrun Chronicles series. Here we see them continue to grow and develop and, in many cases, we see what has led them to become the adults we see later.
Damin really comes show more into his own in the book, becoming the character we’re familiar with from the “Hythrun Chronicles” trilogy. He’s intelligent and compassionate but scary when he’s angry. Marla is once again exquisite. She’s become the master manipulator, but Fallon also allows her to grow, and to eventually realize what she has become. Her war with Alija has taken a great toll on her, both mentally and in terms of her family and friends. She’s not afraid to do things many of us would find unconscionable, but she does it out of fierce loyalty to her family, as well as her kingdom. She has to wonder whether her lust for power (in the form of her son being king) is personal or whether it’s because she knows that Alija’s family coming to the throne would be even worse. She’s fully three-dimensional, and while she’s not always likeable, she’s always interesting to read about. The crackling battle of wits between the fierce King of Fardhonya and his high maintenance (yet stunningly canny) daughter Princess Adrina is delightful; as is the banter between Damin and his brothers. The cast of characters is too large to single any others out, but Fallon does a wonderful job with all of them.
When I finally closed the book on this series I sat back and sighed with pleasure. It was a great trilogy, fun to read and I am very glad I waited till I had all three books in my hands before starting on the journey. I simply couldn’t have waited for the next instalment – and I can't wait to see what else Jennifer Fallon has in store for us. show less

I felt this was a satidfying end to the series, though not completely fulfilling. I enjoyed the twist regarding Belynda and once again, Damin is most likely my favourite character in the whole series, though I did enjoy Galon Miar here. And, it was great to see Adrina make an appearance, as I enjoyed her in the Demon Child series.

The war was a little non-eventful and not much happened, despite the build-up to it. It was over very quickly. What I did find intriguing, and always had, was the silent war between Marla and Alija. The pair have been at it for ages, and it was nice to see it finally come to a satisfying end, with one meeting her much needed end.

Overall, I think this prequel series sets up the Demon Child nicely and I now show more wish I'd read them the other way around, but oh well. Still an enjoyable read. show less

The Wolfblade saga comes to its end - although of course they crop up again in the Demon Child books in part.

As has been the case throughout the series, this is epic in scale and scope, although this time all the action takes place in a few week at the end of the 30+ year saga of the whole series.

Marla moves into top gear against Alija, and it works far better than she could have expected. Damin proves his worth as a leader, and manages to get Lernen to lower the age of majority so he can take over Kalandar - and incidentally remove several provinces from the Sorcerer's Collective control after that control is already weakened.

The bad people, even the bad people from book one who have apparently gotten away with it, get their show more comeuppance in a suitably painful fashion - and although their secrets are not really paraded for public consumption, nor proven, they are aired and understood.

Because of the smaller time-frame the story telling is tighter, and there are fewer principle points of view as well, which I think strengthens Ms. Fallon's writing style.

All in all a very satisfying end to a good series. show less

this is the third in a series that I would harterly recomend to anyone. Although the strong femal characters are no so much to the fore in this book they are still there making thier voices heard in what is a very male dominated society.
I do line the passage where one of the women asks the high primce how he would feel if he had not only to do what someone you though of as less able than you said,but then had to open your legs for them because the law says they can.
the treatment of women being seen as not good in shown in both the beating and then suicde of one of the character (she was no longer worth anything as the prince was not going to marry her and she slept with a servant). One Lady turning up at the war camp having escaped her show more husband. The prince required some fancy diplomacy not to simply hand her back over as that was the law, even though she had been badly beaten.
All this and a compelling story line that revolves arround the prince and his mother.
Rich, full and very readable show less

Jennifer Fallon does it again as she wraps up the Wolfblade Trilogy in a very satisfying way. There is only one problem, now I want to go back and reread the Demon Child Trilogy! Damin turns out to be everything you could hope for in a hero, Marla unsheathes her claws and gets down and dirty while everything falls nicely in line for the events in the Demon Child Trilogy. As usual, I was blown away.

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Dragons, Heroes and Wizards

Plot: Conspiracies on all levels, ranging from an interpersonal conflict plot to a war plot. Contary to Warrior, this book keeps up momentum and doesn't get lost in domestic side plots. The endings are a little too drawn out, with one plot line skipping climax completely and going from build-up directly to aftermath.

Characters: Fallon is comfortable with the gang by now and it shows. Some development happens with the younger characters; the older ones are mostly left alone in that regard. Tejay has been annoying before as a character, she's annoying here too as simply too obvious a self-insert the (female) reader is supposed to identify with. Minor character Mary Sue. What's refreshing is that once more a considerable number of show more protagonists have hit middle age and there are no teenage heroics.

Style: Confident prose, though it has its awkward moments. The balance between magic and non-magic conflicts is good. Lots of foreshadowing to the Demon Child trilogy, which is fun at times and annoying at others. Numerous points of view, which gets a little distracting.

Plus: Marla's plotline - fun for the personal vendettas being thrown around. Some really good scenes in the other plots.

Minus: Tejay as a character is simply not convincing, neither is her final position. The Krakandar plotline has no actual climax and wastes all the build-up.

Summary: A good conclusion to the trilogy that fits with what comes next. Nicely done conspiring. show less

Lovely ending to the series. Hope she writes more in this same world.