Last of the First by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I generally look forward to these Saga of Recluse books for one thing in particular: Slow and Steady Rational Thought and Action. The characters almost always wind up being truly excellent individuals excelling where everyone else gets muddle-headed or mired in their old momentum.

It's REFRESHING to see rational people get ahead so easily. It warms my heart. And this one is no different from ANY of the others. Indeed, it feels almost exactly like all the others. How many characters started out from lowly beginnings only to learn to harness order magic or chaos magic, join the military, learn they have a knack, only to trounce over everyone and rise in the ranks only to trounce all the old guard magicians at their own game and come out on top?

Um, really, it's a massive trend. Massive. Anyway. I enjoyed this a LOT right until the point nearing the end where we just up and upended EVERYTHING. Or rather, the author did. As if it was just too much bother to do the slow build and slow grind as usual. And just... decapitate the progress.

I GUESS that's an end? Most of the previous books were set pieces so this kind of blowout is kinda expected and then it all wraps up for another look at another time period with another set of suspiciously similar MC's. But this was kinda special because we've stuck with THIS character for much longer than expected. And, indeed, after reaching the capitol and JUST NOW getting his bearings on the intrigues, I fully expected it to go on at least another book or two.

And you know what? I would have had a good time.
It's a COMFORTING read. They always had been.

So, I guess I'm just scratching my head. I hope the author is okay.


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