Here we are with another review of this series, and we’re now at book number 9.
Unfortunately, this is the first book in the series that was disappointing for me. The plot was very predictable, and for me, nothing particularly significant stood out. Of course, a few events were exciting and well-written, but they weren’t enough to elevate the overall pace or impact of the story.
As the synopsis suggests, this is the book where Lindon returns to his homeland to try and save his people from the imminent danger they face. That’s essentially the entire storyline: Lindon and company desperately trying to protect his people while racing against a deadline and dealing with their powers being suppressed by a mysterious force field surrounding the valley.
While some character interactions and lore reveals were fun and interesting, they weren’t enough to make the plot as engaging as it needed to be. The whole thing felt too predictable—many events could be guessed ahead of time, even without reading in detail.
Two things made this book particularly frustrating to read. First, the ending was plain and simple (aside from the final chapter). The developments were easy to foresee, so the excitement of being surprised or caught off guard was completely missing. Second, the characters—specifically Lindon. You could argue that this is a positive aspect of the book, but here’s the thing: Lindon, who left as the weakest character in the first book, returns and is underestimated by everyone. Then he suddenly overpowers them, leaving them shocked by how much he’s changed. This is a very familiar trope in this genre, which made the progression feel repetitive and, again, predictable.
On the bright side, I did enjoy the pacing—it’s what helped me finish the book. If it had dragged on any longer, I probably wouldn’t have made it to the end. Thankfully, the last chapter hinted that big things are coming in the next installment, so I’m looking forward to that.
In the end, I’m both happy and disappointed after finishing this book. Disappointed because it didn’t live up to the level of the previous books, and happy because I can finally move on to the next one.
Final rating: ★★☆☆☆
