Last to Rise by Francis Knight

Last to Rise by Francis Knight
Buy Last to Rise by Francis Knight at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Fantasy
Reviewer: Loralei Haylock
Summary: A climactic and satisfying conclusion to what has been one of my favourite fantasy trilogies of recent years. I can't recommend it enough.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 384	Date: November 2013
Publisher: Orbit
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-0356501680
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Rojan has spent his life running from any sort of responsibility, but it's all catching up with him now. With the Mishans and Storads both knocking on Mahala's door, war seems inevitable. The inhabitants of Mahala are starving as trade dries up, the natural resources of the city all used. And the paltry amount of Glow the few pain mages can generate isn't enough to protect them.

Rojan's genius younger sister, Lise, and his Archdeacon brother, Perak, have some sort of plan, but it's not ready yet. Rojan isn't convinced the city gates will hold against the Storad assault much longer, and beneath the vertical city are a series of tunnels that could lead the enemy right under their feet.

Once again, it's down to Rojan to try and save the day. Only he'd much rather be eating bacon in the company of a woman - any woman - thank you very much.

This has been one of my favourite fantasy trilogies of recent years, and the final instalment doesn't disappoint. It's somehow simultaneously a larger story - the far reaching consequences of events nicely upping the stakes - and yet a small one. Ultimately, at it's heart, it's a story about Rojan, and there are few characters as horrible, yet endearing, out there.

There was something reassuring about him being up to his old womanising tricks in the opening - he's still the same roguish trouble maker of the first novel, still as much a coward as he ever was. His distinct and often humorous voice contrasts with the darkness inherent to the story perfectly, balancing out all the horror with enough humour to get you through.

Because like the previous two books, Last to Rise covers some darker territory. There are no easy answers for the characters when even their magical advantage could kill them or make them crazy.

Last to Rise definitely doesn't pull the emotional punches. It's a climactic and ultimately satisfying end to a fantastic trilogy that I can't recommend enough. I'll definitely be looking out for anything Francis Knight releases in the future.

My thanks to the publishers for sending a copy.

Another great fantasy trilogy that goes to some quite dark places is the Newsflesh series, which starts with Feed by Mira Grant.

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