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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Treading in Tolkien's Territory!, November 3, 2000
Don't give up on this one! It slow in catching fire, but once it does...oh, boy--watch this story burn! Similar to the third installment of Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," Lawhead's third Albion book starts somewhat slow and atmospheric, but succeeds in setting the stage for greater things to come. We follow Llew's journey as a king and husand, watching as he falls in love with his land and his lady. When both are threatened, "The Endless Knot" comes alive, following Llew, Cynan, Scytha, and the Ravens as they journey to the Foul Land in search of the kidnapped brides. The depictions of evil and malice are imaginative and memorable, and even more awe-inspiring are the victories of the Swift Sure Hand toward the end of the trilogy. For the first time in this series, I felt my breath taken away as it has been at times in reading Tolkien's masterpiece. This book contains imagery beyond anything I've read by Lawhead before, and he tidely--if not a bit quickly--ties it all together at the end with a clear connection between Llew's sacrifice for his bride and the sacrifice of Christ for his church (his bride, as well). Though the biblical allegory is minimal, it's effective. We reach the end of the story exhilarated and exhausted, only to find we are back at the story's beginning. In this clever manner, Lawhead demonstrates the circle of life and "The Endless Knot." Instead of feeling knotted up, I felt freed...by the story, by the prose, by the clear and purifying Song of Albion.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A passionate ending to a profound literary symphony!, August 15, 2002
If literature is music, then Lawhead's "Song of Albion" trilogy is a profound symphony, with a tremendously passionate ending. In the final book of the series, "The Endless Knot" (which sees the welcome return of Llew as the narrator), both the High King Llew and his ally King Cynan find themselves wives: Llew the beautiful Goewyn, and Cynan the mysterious Tangwen. Without becoming sappy or secular in his depiction, Lawhead shows the beauty of pure and passionate love between husband and wife. But Llew's joy is quickly dashed as the two queens are abducted and carried off to distant lands. Accompanied by their warband and the bard Tegid, Llew and Cynan set off in pursuit. The quest through hostile lands and far-off places turns into a Tolkienesque journey, as the land itself becomes the essence of evil, with putrid smells and hidden enemies. As they venture into the heart of evil through the Foul Land (Tir Aflan), our heroes must battle a hostile landscape and its corrupt creatures which have been awakened by evil, such as the dreaded Wyrm which has been awakened by evil. When they finally discover the source of the evil that has stolen their brides and threatened Albion, the shock is greater than ever, because it ushers in a final battle is against the intruder Simon (Siawn). The conflict reaches an apocalyptic climax in the closing pages, as Llew and Simon meet face to face. The cruel bondage of many that Llew seeks to liberate is a clear portrayal of the horrific slavery to Satan. Meanwhile in Llew, Lawhead paints a portrait of the work of Christ as Messianic king, who "becomes justice for his people" who in turn can "shelter beneath his protection" (p82). Like Christ, Llew sacrifices his own life to rescue his bride. And just as the Bride of Christ will be completely redeemed on the day of His return, so Llew's arrival culminates in a grand conflagration that purifies the world of evil and transforms it to perfection. "Out of the molten heat, I saw the foul land of Tir Aflan recast, reshaped, and in fire reborn. Nothing escaped the refining fire of his irresistible will: all imperfection, all ugliness, all weakness and deformity, all frailty, infirmity, disease, deficiency and defect, every fault and failing, every blight and every blemish, every flaw effaced, purged, and purified...When the fire at last subsided, Tir Aflan had been consumed and its elements transmuted in a finer, more noble conception: recreated with a grandeur as far surpassing its former degradation as if an old garment had been [taken] away and not merely restored, but replaced with a raiment of unrivalled splendor." (p394). Lawhead's extensive description of this cosmic transformation is moving, and all the more moving because of its deep spiritual significance for Christians. Llew's dazed shock at returning to the real world in the end mirrors the reader's emptiness after a passionate and profound journey to the other world. "How could anyone ever understand even the smallest, most minute part of all I had experienced? I had been a king in Albion! I had fought battles and slain enemies, and had, in turn, been killed. Only, instead of going on to another world, I had been returned to the one I had left. Nothing had changed. It was as if nothing had happened at all. All I had done, all I had experienced meant nothing." (p411) Yet Llew also returns with a new understanding of is present world. After witnessing the reminder of Christ's sacrifice at the celebration of the Lord's Supper in a local church, he realizes the profound significance of his own experiences for the present. "This is my body, broken for you ... Ancient words, words from beyond the creation of the world. Words to explain all that had happened to me. Like a star exploding in the frigid void of space,understanding detonated in my brain. I knew, knew, what it meant...Albion had been transformed - and this world was no longer the same either. Though not as obviously manifest, the great change had already taken place. And I would find it hidden in a million places: subtle as yeast, working away quietly, unseen and unknown, yet gently, powerfully, altering everything radically. I knew, as I knew the meaning of the Eucharistic words of Holy Kingship, that the rebirth of Albion and the renewal of this world were one. The Hero Feat had been performed." (p413). Llew has a deeper understanding of the growing kingdom of Christ as a result of his heroic and sacrificial death that redeemed his bride, the Church. It is this understanding that makes a journey to Albion more than worthwhile. The return to the real world is dazing, but one returns with a renewed excitement about Christ's kingdom. In the end, the Song of Albion is like a literary symphony, with powerful profoundness and passion that captures your heart and sweeps you off your feet, and a magnificent finale that leaves you astounded as the echoes of the last note fade away. Like any great symphony, "The Endless Knot" is literary music that unravels your emotions. By ending this tremendous series with such a brilliant and emotional conclusion, the "Song of Albion" has more than matched Lawhead's "Pendragon Cycle", and given it a place among the greatest in contemporary Christian fantasy. If words are music, then this is a song for the heart, soul and mind well worth listening to!
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Step three in one of my all-time favorite trilogies., October 16, 2002
Well, here we go. This is the light at the end of the tunnel, and what a journey it's been so far.
A treacherous claimant to the throne of Albion has been defeated. Now Llew Silver Hand rigtfully and completely reigns as Aird Righ (High King) of Albion and all seems right. He and Lady Goewyn admit their love for each other during a festive celebration and soon a wedding is in full swing. I loved the gentleness of the passion shown between the two without it becoming crude or overly explicit.
However, as is soon discovered, all is NOT right, yet, within Albion. Llew is hearbroken to think that just as his kingship is established he must leave Albion forever. He insists that the giving of his silver hand means that he must have someting more to do... a further task to accomplish in Albion, and indeed he does.
The final part of this BEAUTIFUL three act play concerns the retrieval of a treasure known as the Singing Stones (stones that hold thanks to magical means the ancient "Song Of Albion", and which played a prominent role in both THE PARADISE WAR and THE SILVER HAND), along with the kidnapping and rescue of Queen Goewyn from the clutches of the villainous Siawn Hy (Simon Rawnson under his Celtic name).
I really loved the many parallels in all three books between the ancient Celtic world and that of Christianity. The most moving thing to me in the book is the way in which the goal is achived. The sacrificial death of High King Llew for the sake of Goewyn and his people transforms Albion back to a state even greater than its former pristine glory, and mirrors perfectly the sacrificial death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus that saved the souls of the entire world. Fittingly, when Lewis is sent home, the people of this world have a new eagerness and fervor and a greater genuine love for Jesus. Just as Albion is restored, this world gets changed in quite a dramatic way too. Also, the romantic aspect of Llew's life does take a gently uplifting turn at the end of the book but I won't spoil that for you. Read it yourself and find out. ;)
All in all, the only thing I didn't like about this book is the fact that it's conclusion means that the Song Of Albion series is over and complete. I find myself wishing there was more to read, more to tell. A sure sign that a series has touched you is that you wish there was more, and this series definitely did that for me. I find an earlier reviewer's comparison with a powerful and passionate symphony more than fitting. GREAT work Stephen. My hat is off to you forever for writing such a great of work.
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