Servant of the Crown

Hamilton brings the Dragonslayer trilogy to a dramatic close (following Knight of the Silver Circle) as the battle for control over magical and political power comes to a head. Master swordsman Guillot and mage Soléne, now joined by Pharadon, the last of the ancient dragons, who wears a human form, try and fail to stop a magical cup from falling into the hands of their enemy, Prince Bishop Amaury of Mirabay. When he drinks from it, Amaury gains enormous power, and Gill and his friends are robbed of their only hope of saving the last young dragon, which would have required the cup’s magic. While Pharadon goes in search of another way to save the dragon, Soléne revives Mirabay’s brain-damaged king, and together he and Gill fight to wrest the kingdom back from Amaury’s control. Hamilton masterfully ties up loose ends while packing this final adventure with intrigue and action, but a sense of emotional connection is occasionally lacking as moments that ought to be wrenching pass in a rush and fall flat. Still, series readers will be satisfied by this suspenseful grand finale. (Mar.)