Is it finally end of the road for the Raven?

Meddling with dimensional magics has opened a rift above the college city of Xetesk, and this time it doesn’t just lead to the dragons’ dimension – nothing so friendly, as hoards of soul-stealing demons soon fill Balaia. Forget the Raven, this might just be the end for humanity.

But of course, we can’t forget the Raven. This novel does indeed have the feel of a last stance, with the situation on Balaia desperate beyond reasonable hope. Two years pass before the Raven – now ‘retired’ and having left the land they once saved but would now persecute them by way of thanks – even become aware of the situation. It’s a suicide mission, but if they can’t succeed, neither life nor death will have peace from the demon hoardes.

Both strength and flaw in this novel was the sheer desperation of the situation. Barclay paints a grim picture very well, but it’s still hard to understand at times what takes so long – these are demons! Hoardes of them!! Yes, explanations are given, but the logical feel is that they should have just swept in and won in a matter of days. None of this two years malarky.

That said, it builds to a fitting conclusion to a series that I rather enjoyed. I don’t think it was ever brilliant, but it was entertaining and readable, and brought a welcome sense of vulnerability to ‘heroic fantasy’.

And yes, I did get the conclusion I was after. Like the series, it wasn’t brilliant, but it was satisfying.