This is the concluding part of the
“Chronicles of Ancient Darkness” and there is a worry about the
approach of the end of a 6 novel tale – endings are often the most
difficult part of the story to get right.
The emotion that has run through the
earlier books is maintained, as is the concluding willingness to
place death as a key part of the narrative. Even as an adult reader
there is a shock value to some of the moments when violence breaks
into a domestic scene and I think that is great merit to allowing
children to encounter such content and explore the implications.
The need to make choices between two
imperfect futures, or two equally uncomfortable actions, is also a
good lesson – we should have no expectation that doing what is
“right” will involve doing what is easy.
I hope these comments do not make it
seem that this is a “worthy” moral tale – as to me such a tale
is likely to sound rather dull. I have been captivated and drawn on
through these books by the drama and sense of authenticity in the
characterisation. Read these books because they are great stories
everything else is an incidental bonus.
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