The book was not bad. It was a perfectly satisfying conclusion to a good series. However, I can't help but be a little...disappointed. The book could have been so much better than it was. There was action, but it was all fairly predictable

Spoiler

Whenever there is a battle scene, you can expect at least 7 drinlings will die as a rule of thumb

. Even what was suppose to be the most epic parts came across as a little boring. Looking back, I don't remember a single time that I felt invested in any of the trials the characters were going through. Even the deaths (and there were a lot of deaths) did not suck me in like they usually do in other stories. Furthermore, the characters I really like in the last few book came across as flat in this one

Spoiler

Jason was completely useless in the third book! I really liked his character in the first book and expected him to develop some sort of awesome power over the series, but he paled in comparison to everyone else. His group always had to protect him and fight his battles for him...literally. Even Corinne was a better swordsman than him; she at least beat a lurker. I really don't understand why everyone respected him so much

. And the ending. It was so frustratingly anticlimactic

Spoiler

Why did no one see Maldor die!! Are you kidding me? We waited three books for it to happen and all we get is Galloron saying that Maldor must be dead because he can no longer "sense him." And Rachel returning home. I know that the prophecy said that one must stay and one must go, but why did it have to be Rachel? Jason really does not have much going for him in that world (other than his romance with Corinne which was never really fleshed out), whereas Rachel is insanely powerful. Rachel definitely pulled the short end of the stick

. I really expected Brandon Mull to pull out a spectacular ending that tied up all the loose ends, but when I got to the end of the book, I felt like saying, "That's it?" All and all, the book was okay, but I definitely expected more.