A sweet end to the series. Had completely forgotten most of it

I’m very sad to see this series end, and you bet I’ll be picking up more Tamora Pierce books in the future. The series as a whole develops Alanna wonderfully, as well as the Prince, I think. Some of my favorite moments in this book were when characters exhibit behaviors that are so different from how they acted in the previous books. I definitely recommend the series if you’re a fan of feminist fantasy - and any good fantasy, for that matter.

Things I Liked

1. Alanna’s Evolution: This installment saw Alanna confront her desire for a future. In the first book, she wanted to be a lone knight errant and saw femininity as a weakness. In this book, she has changed her attitudes, embracing femininity while still remaining a tomboy in some respects. I also loved how she confronted the prospect of being a hero or feeling useless in the world after achieving the highest glory. It was a welcome, down-to-earth theme that resonated with me.

2. Prince Jonathan’s Evolution: The previous books showed the Prince exhibiting spoiled, almost controlling behavior, which almost turned me off to his character altogether. In this book, however, he changes so much that I genuinely loved his development over the course of the series. He goes from being a bit presumptuous to pleading Alanna and George to acquiesce to his requests. He also shows himself to be a man of honor, and I loved that he wielded power in a responsible, admirable manner.

3. Big Stakes: While the stakes of the previous books were high, this book spanned so much geography that the stakes felt even higher. Alanna is not only acting for the good of Tortall and its surrounding territories, but making decisions that can affect other kingdoms - even the known world - as well.

Things I Didn’t Like

1. Pace: Maybe this complaint is inadequate because this series is intended for younger readers, but I felt like parts of the book moved way too fast. I wish more time had been spent on exploring Alanna’s emotions and psychology, including her feelings towards George. I also wish more time was spent on untangling what was going on with Thom and Roger.

2. Roger’s Accomplices: This may be personal taste, but I didn’t find Roger’s accomplices interesting or their motives captivating.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in knights errant, heroic quests, magical artifacts, assassination plots, issues of succession, sorcery, and necromancy.

3.5 stars

I love this series because starting each book I think, "Oh yeah, THIS is my favorite in the quartet!" It just gets better with each one. This book does a great job both ramping up the stakes and showing the growth and maturation of each character. My only complaint is Alex - I assume the author was leaving his motivations unsaid because she felt they were obvious, but on each reread I'm left unsatisfied. Was he magicked by Roger? Is he just a sociopath? Why is he ok with the complete destruction of the kingdom? My end conclusion is usually that for whatever reason, his entire purpose in life was to prove he was the best, all else be damned, and maybe there's a scene on the cutting room floor that better explained it all.
Overall though, very satisfying wrap to the series and one I'll never tire of rereading. Already looking forward to coming back to it in a couple years!