ISBN: 0-7564-0080-5 Order from: Amazon.com
A satisfying conclusion to an apocalyptic struggle, the book features pleasant characters, and somewhat sketchy, view-hopping plot.
Reviewed by David on October 05, 2003
Genre: Fantasy (Dragons, Ecology, Time Travel)
Synopsis: This is the final book in the Dragon Quartet trilogy. The world was created by four dragons: the personification of Earth, Fire, Water and Wind. After creation, the four eternal, Elemental Guardians have slept for eons. But now, the planet is dying under the relentless onslaught of human depredation. The atmosphere is poisoned, the trees have all but vanished, global warming flooded the coastal areas, and made a deadly desert of the rest of the world. Can the Dragons, and four humans linked to them, save the dying earth? This is especially difficult, with one dragon missing, and one turned corrupt and cruel.
Full Review: Despite being part of the larger sequence, the author makes an attempt, largely successful, to bring the new readers up to speed. The four human Dragon guides—two men, and two young women from wildly different eras—are well portrayed. They are intelligent, flawed, emotional and courageous. Each one is different, and they all grow in the course of the book. The Dragons are more sketchy, but their interaction with their guides is pleasantly complex.
The plot moves quickly. By design, the narration often splits into four viewpoints, and frequent jumps between times and space take their toll on continuity and emotional involvement. Nonetheless, the author does her best, without repeating information and using multiple views to paint a coherent picture. There is a bit too much handwaving of magic, and almost-magical technology. However, the high-fantasy feel tends to obscure minor details, and the ending is suitably romantic and final.
On the whole, this is satisfying conclusion to a fast, but not overly elaborate fantasy, with ecological overtones, and minor, unobtrusive preaching.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6; Style: 5.5; World-building: 4.5; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 2003, Donald A. Wollheim (DAW), November 2003, Mass market paperback, 512 pages
ISBN: 0-7564-0080-5 Order from: Amazon.com