DRAGONSPAWN

The final volume of a dark-fantasy trilogy finds its heroes hunting a tyrant on another world.

In the scarred realm of Norland, Jacob Grimwullf is the Dragonspawn, a warrior who battles evil on behalf of magii’ri law enforcers. He’s bonded to the Dragon Slagg, who wants Jacob to slay him and release his “true form.” Slagg initially agrees to protect Jacob and his companions—Link, Michael, and Anja—from his own mate, the Dragoness, but the group barely survives dealing with the winged beasts. Meanwhile, the Wizard Mathias and Jacob’s magii’ri mentor, Luke Graywullf, seek the Book of Runes. With it, they can fashion magical handcuffs to bind Darklord Timon Blackhelm and force him to reverse a spell that’s causing chaos in Norland. Later, Jacob learns that Lord Dunmore plans to betray King Titus to Traegor, King of Demons. When he warns Titus, the paranoid king imprisons Jacob and plans to use the powerful young man for his own twisted ends. Jacob’s only hope is to trick Titus into finding the capable Dragonwitch, La’Nay. Luke’s hunt for Timon takes him through a portal to an alternate version of Norland on another world. He learns that Timon isn’t just hiding there—he’s the ruling President. Rottinghaus’ third Dragonspawn novel is satisfactorily grim, featuring a series of nightmarish scenarios that endanger his heroes. None of the fantasy elements feel overused; Slagg, who “tossed [a victim] in the air like a cat with a mouse, caught him full in his jaws and ground his teeth together,” is consistently awe-inspiring. Incredible carnage results from Jacob’s enhanced abilities as he battles Beastsoldiers while gunning for the duplicitous King Titus. Events simmer down on the other world where Luke hunts Timon, a place that readers will find familiar. Rottinghaus allows reality to intrude on his narrative through a character who complains about “Greenies” and vegetarianism. Overall, the novel’s first half is more riveting and climactic than its second, but fans who’ve followed the series closely will appreciate its late reveal.

An energetic, gore-soaked series finale.