The High Lord - Trudi Canavan

Advantages: A brilliant finale to brilliant series, development of characters superb
Disadvantages: Possibly a bit weak in the middle of book...and the very end is a bit of a let down

The boring but necessary stuff Title: The High Lord Author: Trudi Canavan Publisher: Orbit Fantasy Illustration(paperback): Steve Stone Price(paperback): 7.99 Series: The Black Magician Trilogy ISBN 1841493155 Quick synopsis To understand a lot of the settings in the book the first and second books are rather required reading. To back track very quickly: Sonea was a slum girl found with magic power and taken against the wishes of many into ...
...guild she saw Akkarin the high Lord using black magic. Shortly after she is admitted to the guild Lorlan (the administrator of the guild) truth reads her and finds out. The High Lord works out that Lorlan knows to much and kidnaps Sonea from Rothan (her magicain guardian) by taking over her guardianship and threatening each with the others lives. Right and onto the book I am actually meant to be reviewing! In the 'High Lord' Sonea saw Akkarin kill ... Read review

Advantages: Amazing book, had me hooked from start to finish!
Disadvantages: It ended the series!

...a year since sonea won the challenge against Regin in the Arena and a lot has changed! Now knowing the truth about Akkarrin should she accept what he has shown her? Should she believe him, and yet more important what does this mean for her? Should Sonea help Akkarrin? Is there truely an ancient power that threatens all of Imardin? If so if she chooses to believe and help Akkarrin could she face what this means to her place at the guild. The 'crimes' ...
...more so can she face the guild and her former guardian, Rothens shame if she helped akkarrin and was caught? Murderers are occuring more frequently and sonea has to make her choice soon, but what will she choose? After reading the first two books of this series in a short space of time i could not wait to get my hands on this one! I was not disappointed! The book had me hooked from start to finish, and the ending also had me in tears and feeling ... Read review

Advantages: The best in the trilogy
Disadvantages: None - there WILL be another series to follow :)) (just found out today)

The Plot It is a year on since Sonea won the Challenge against Regin. At that time she "saw" something that she has been unable to understand completely, and she is now seeking to discover more about her (Magician's) Guild guardian High Lord Akkarin. Her original guardian Rothen is worried for Sonea; he has suspicions similar to Sonea's and is worried for her safety. He is also concerned that her new guardian is not taking sufficient care of her. ...
...could be either someone within the guild itself, or a rogue magician is around. He needs to investigate without alerting anyone to the problem; specifically one person who he fears could be involved. Ambassador Dannyl is doing his own research whilst traveling with his companion Tayend, and is also doing some extra research for Rothen. Meanwhile the High Lord has his own problems, and is doing his best to solve these without causing issues for ... Read review

Advantages: Wraps the trilogy up neatly.
Disadvantages: It's the last book.

This is the final book in the Black Magician trilogy after The Magician's Guild and The Novice. As Akkarin's chosen student and hostage, Sonea feels trapped. The other students resent her for the perceived privilege that they feel should rightly have gone to one of them, and that she would happily hand over to be free. Despite the High Lords' references to an ancient enemy, this being his reason for studying and practising the black arts, Sonea ...
...there are murders occurring in the city. People found dead with hardly a mark on them, certainly not enough to explain their deaths. However to those in the know they appear to be the work of a Black Magician. Is Akkarin responsible? A wonderful conclusion to the trilogy. The story pulls you along through each twist and turn. Some things that happen are predictable, others are wholly unexpected and serve to keep you thoroughly engrossed. Yet again ... Read review

Advantages: The finale to an amzingly rich fantasy tale
Disadvantages: just like the others this book is hard to put down

...or series of books, by the time i get to the third one it feels as though the author has run out of steam - not so with this book, it is as compelling as the 2 before it. This book can be read alone without detracting from the detail but you may want to read the others first in order to experience the full richness of the work the author has put into this tale. We rejoin Sonea at the guild just under a year later. Sonea is now accepted and in most ...
...she is still troubled by the man who has claimed her guardianship and the 'murder' she saw him commit. Lord Dannyl's travels lead to an unexpected result and the truth comes out about the High lords actions which in turn lead to some startling revelations about Sonea herself. This is very hard book to describe because I really do not wish to ruin the enjoyment of a new reader by explaining the plot twists. It is a compelling read and although it ... Read review