I'm so in love with this whole series. Alanna is about as badass at they come, and this last book doesn't disappoint. It's been wonderful watching her grown and mature, and it all comes together in this book. She's not just an accomplished knight, she's an accomplished woman, and an accomplished person. Even the way this series deals with sex and relationships is brilliant. It's very straight-forward, without taking over the story or being too graphic. Although this book does have a bit of a love triangle, it doesn't feel like she's been destined for one person through the whole series, and it doesn't feel like she has to pick between two or three suitors. It just feels...natural.

I somewhat liked the action sequences in this book and I'm giving a star because I didn't think Alex or Delia would ever show up again.

But otherwise this book makes no sense and the pacing is atrocious. I can't believe how much random crap happens AND how boring it was.

Again, to be clear, I loved this series when I was a teen and I think I'm simply too old for it now.

Finally, the promised action! After being disappointed with the third book, this book gave me the action and adventure I was looking for. Alanna finally had a quest and did something big and heroic. That was great. I wish the actual "quest" quest part had last a little longer, but overall the book was much more exciting.

Some new characters were very interesting and exciting to have. They definitely gave the book a different feel and it was nice to see Alanna interact with girls who were similar to her. The plot, for the most part, took quite a different turn. There was a quest, there was political issues as Jon takes the throne and an idiot tries to take George's (which woefully fails, as George ends up RETIRING, of all things).

The only thing I didn't like was the relations. While I understand that, the way the characters ultimately turned out, things wouldn't work differently, I still prefer Alanna and Jon. They had a fight. They moved past it. That was real. But their personalities just changed so much from the beginning that it wouldn't work.
The introduction of the Shang Dragon was great. I loved seeing the different fighting style, the discipline. I just wished he'd since been one of those best-friend/brother characters. I think Alanna could've benefited more from that.
The ending between Alan and George . . . passable. Wasn't great, wasn't terrible. That's about it.

Now, the worst part of the book was ... the villain. Seriously - bringing back the dead? While it makes sense for the villain, something else would've been far more exciting. Especially since I don't know what his actual goal was. It should've been Alex, and I guess it was to some extent. Though he should've had better motivation, because it was that which motivates a child. He was already known to be better than her! Why did he feel the need to fight to the death AGAIN? Get a life . . .

Still, this book was an improvement on its predecessor. And as a finale, it was excellent. Alanna is definitely high on my list of heroes. Because all flaws aside, The Song of the Lioness is a wonderful adventure. And this capped it off perfectly.

review to come

4.25 stars - best book out of the four