Customer Reviews

Limbreth Gate (The Ki & Vandien Quartet)

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"The Limbreth Gate" is the culmination of the Windsinger Series. It rises beyond adventure in challenging the reader to confront destiny, good vs. evil, freedom, and divinity. Ki's enemies entice her to the domain of the Limbreth, a bored and arrogant local god. He reveals to Ki the secrets of her past, and forces her to view her brief life from his own timeless perspective, thereby manipulating her to do his will. From this spell, Ki's lover Vandien, assisted by a savage Brurjan, attempt to rescue her. But what is the difference between "rescue" and "kidnapping" - snatching her away from her chance for enlightenment and creative fulfillment? And who is to say what one's purpose in life should be? This is a book you will think about a long time.

This is the third volume in the Windsingers quartet (after Harpy's Flight, The Windsingers and before Luck of the Wheels).

The book begins with Ki and Vandien in the city of Jojorum with a new wagon, supposed to meet after getting supplies.

But Vandien is kidnapped, and Ki tricked into crossing through the Limbreth Gate, believing she's following Vandien who didn't wait for her. She finds herself in a strange world of perpetual dusk.

The book goes on to tell the story from both sides of the gate: Vandien helps Chess and Jace, a young boy and his mother from the Limbreth world, survive in the hostile heat and burning light of Jojorum, and searches for a way to trick the gate keeper, to chase after his partner and save her. Ki for her part still thinks she's following Vandien, but is slowly poisoned by the world's water and charmed by the glowing light of the Limbreth.

I found this volume diverting but not as gripping as the previous one. The Limbreth world was intriguing but rather direful and disquieting, Chess and Jace presaged of an interesting story but turned out a tad too obtuse and narrow-minded. Although Megan Lindholm's writing style is still extremely pleasing, as a whole I found that all the plot lines missed that little something...

There isn't much I could say about the third part of this trilogy which I haven't already said in my reviews of "Harpy's Flight" and "The Windsingers." Ki, our favorite Romni, who so much cherishes her independence and free will has to find out how easily that can be robbed from her. Only Vandien, who loves Ki and to whom a commitment would also mean losing some independence can help her to regain it.

If you read the other parts of the trilogy, you will probably be surprised how it all turns out and perhaps not comfortable, but still be satisfied. That is because things stay believable and Lindholm made the wise choice not to kitsch it up. Especially Ki's statement at the end makes her more human than ever and you will feel along with the change Vandien has to cope with. This is again what I already said makes Lindholm's characters so believable, because she gives them comfortable and uncomfortable feelings in themselves and toward each other, something we all know and can relate to.