The Way into Darkness

Connolly’s epic fantasy comes to a resounding resolution (after The Way into Magic) in this gory, action-packed third episode. The once vibrant Peradaini Empire has become a scattered collection of tyrannical holdings struggling to feed and house the refugees fleeing an invasion of monsters. Tejohn Treygar, once fiercely loyal to the king above all else, now realizes the very survival of the human race depends on him, transcending any of his political concerns. He reunites with the young magic-user Cazia to hunt down a scholar reputed to have a powerful fighting spell, but when they finally reach their goal, they discover the scholar gone mad and his research destroyed. Armed primarily with their wits, Tejohn and Cazia must innovate, rally the survivors, and lead from the front through surprising twists and turns. This violent, tense installment successfully wraps up the deeply complex story, though some readers will wish the protagonists learned more through deduction and less from blazing revelation. There’s so much going on that the immersive prose sometimes feels expository, but the sweeping storytelling propels the reader right to the satisfying finale. (BookLife)