7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great story, but the ending was confusing, September 30, 1999
By A Customer
This sequel to Child of the Grove tells a great story about the relationship between Crystal and Lord Death. The characters are well-rounded and very easy to sympathize with. I also liked the mythology "backstory".
However, the last 20 pages of the book were disappointing. It turns into a "dungeon crawl" complete with traps and monsters. At the end, the deep and breathtaking conflict between the characters is resolved in two pages, and wasn't described in enough detail to be dramatically satisfying. A kind of "deus ex machina" end with no ties to the beginning.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crystal Meets Her Match, August 4, 2009
The Last Wizard (1989) is the second fantasy novel in the Crystal duology, following
Child of the Grove. In the previous volume, Crystal awoke Kraydak's Doom and diverted the wizard as the creature swooped down on him. Then the dragon took Crystal back to her family and returned to the earth.
In this novel, Crystal is the child of Tayer and an Elder being. Her step-father is Mikhail, who loves her as if she was his own child. She was trained by the Centaurs and is now the last Wizard.
Raulin is a former soldier of the Empire. Now he is an adventurer looking for hidden treasure.
Jago is Raulin's brother. He never had to serve in Kraydak's armies, but he knows that such service hurt Raulin.
Lord Death is the only true son of the Mother-Creator. Before he was born, there was no death. Still, those born or created since have suffered death. He is immaterial and incapable of moving physical objects.
In this story, twelve years have past since the death of Kraydak. Crystal is talking to Lord Death in a tavern when Jago is brought into the room more dead than alive. A brindle had attacked him and only Raulin's frantic thrusts had kept Jago alive. Lord Death suggests that Crystal save Jago's life.
Two and a half days later, Crystal gains consciousness in a room within the tavern. The innkeeper had placed her in a room upstairs and had tended her while she was asleep. Unlike many who had encountered Crystal, Dorses sees Crystal as a young woman who happens to have the powers of a wizard.
Others at the tavern also accept Crystal as a person rather than a wizard. The barkeep Ivan is half in love with her. Nad the blacksmith accepts her talents and skills as not unlike his own, although much more powerful. Yet others both fear and hate her for being a wizard.
Crystal discovers that seven goddesses have survived within her own mind. Whenever she loosens her mind shields, some of the goddesses try to escape. Yet they are very powerful when acting in concert.
Raulin and Jago ask Crystal to go with them to find a wizard's tower. They have come upon a map showing the way to the tower and could use someone with wizard powers to nullify the magical traps.
But Crystal decides that she has more important things to do. She needs to learn how to prevent the goddesses from possessing her body. She leaves the tavern to go her own way, but soon finds herself traveling with the brothers on the way to the tower.
Meanwhile, Lord Death gradually discovers that he loves Crystal. He is most reluctant to admit such love even to himself, but this emotion guides his actions. Others around him become aware of his feelings, but Crystal doesn't have a clue.
This tale takes Crystal and her friends to the wizard's tower in the mountains. She gathers two more companions on the way. Yet she is not aware of the test that awaits her.
When they arrive, the tower itself is gone. The wizard's Doom had destroyed the upper levels while terminating the wizard. Yet the lower parts are still standing, filled with the physical and magical traps of a paranoid wizard.
This novel concludes the duology. The ending is quite surprising. Read and enjoy!
Highly recommended for Huff fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of applied wizardry, young innocent women, and true romance.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No