The London Stone: The Nowhere Chronicles Book Three by Sarah Silverwood
| The London Stone: The Nowhere Chronicles Book Three by Sarah Silverwood | |
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| Category: Teens | |
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Reviewer: Nigethan Sathiyalingam
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| Summary: A satisfying conclusion to a fantasy series that has been a pleasure to read. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 299 | Date: July 2012 |
| Publisher: Indigo | |
| ISBN: 978-1780620671 | |
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Looking back at The Double-Edged Sword, when Fin set out on an adventure with his friends Christopher and Joe, everything seemed so much simpler and optimistic. Mysteries represented exciting revelations to be discovered rather than powerful secrets with dangerous implications, and the words of the Prophecy were just a warning for future times. Now the Prophecy, and the chaos it promises, has come to pass and Arnold Mather has seized control of power in Nowhere, becoming its dark king.
It was hard to believe, after the shocking ending to The Traitor's Gate, that things could get any worse for Fin and his allies, but conflict, death and destruction form the backbone of The London Stone. The first two chapters set the desolate tone that pervades a significant proportion of the novel, with a surprise Ageing, and a brutal description of the drowning at Traitor's Gate. Christopher survives only by the virtue of the binding magic of the sacrifice he made with the Magi in the first book. Fin and Christopher soon find themselves isolated from each other by the roles that they have to play in the conflict, a conflict that Joe, manipulated by Arnold Mather, is on the wrong side of. Tension rises relentlessly as Arnold Mather's grip on Nowhere tightens, and his corruptive influence creates the threat of total annihilation of all the inter-connected worlds. It is up to Christopher to hold down the fort against his father, while Fin, along with the dwindling remains of the Knights of Nowhere, gathers the aid of the exiled Magi in a desperate attempt to turn the tide.
Fin's honesty and genuine good nature continue to make him a sympathetic and compelling protagonist. I was disappointed by how Arnold Mather dissolved into a two-dimensional archetypal villain, but otherwise, the rest of the characters are all distinct and well drawn out. Sarah Silverwood's writing style continues to be top notch, comfortably drawing out various tones, while never failing to be compelling and very readable.
When it comes to intricately plotted fantasy stories, striking the balance of just the right amount of exposition, sufficient to satisfactorily explain concepts, characters and events but not so much as to make the story wearisomely wordy, is difficult but essential to the success of the story as a whole. I loved the depth and complexity of the plot, with the great range of characters and magical concepts, and the various strands connected from the previous instalments in the series. However, I often found myself feeling frustrated at the lack of explanation or background to various characters and events. For example, I would've loved to learn more about the Magi, but they are hurriedly thrust into the story and ultimately feel like glorified plot devices. While the many unexpected character developments added twists to the story, a lack of proper build-up often made them feel abrupt and out of place. The climax to the novel is intense and satisfying, even if it does slot together a little too conveniently, after the scale of the build-up seen before it.
Overall, The London Stone does a solid job of bringing this enjoyable trilogy to a close.
Thank you to the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
For those who enjoyed the Nowhere Chronicles, another high fantasy epic with a compelling teenage protagonist that might interest, is Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf by Curtis Jobling. Meanwhile, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher is the first book in an intense and well-written series that also includes a passage between worlds.
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You can read more book reviews or buy The London Stone: The Nowhere Chronicles Book Three by Sarah Silverwood at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The London Stone: The Nowhere Chronicles Book Three by Sarah Silverwood at Amazon.com.
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