Book three of a trilogy is probably not the best place to start reading a new author. Not an impossible feat though as there are enough clues in the writing her to pick up Mr. Herniman's world and characters.

Tensions are high between the Six Kingdoms of the Lautun Empire and the Southers. Erkal Dortran is the Lord Steward of Ellanguan and he has the task of keeping relations even as Souther forces are based in Ellanguan to help guard against attack from the East.

Against these tensions there is a second story involving the return of a demon called Lo-Khuma. Erkal's son Kellarn is on a quest to prevent the threat posed by the demon. And to do this he seeks the help of the Mage Council, an organisation traditionally independent of (and distrusted by) the Six Kingdoms.

This is fantasy fiction that should appeal to most fantasy fans. It has intrigue, magic, politics, demons, armies and a quest for a lost artefact.

There is real tension in the political power struggles in this tale, and being the final book of the trilogy there is a definite feeling that nothing is certain (except possibly the final victory of good over evil) and at any point any of the characters could die. I've read some fantasy stories that have seemed like the prose version of candyfloss, everything was over-sweet and no surprises were in store – this is different, the events emerged from the plot in a not totally expected manner, and so kept me as a reader turning the pages.

Okay it could be possible to accuse this book being a tad formulaic in a way, but that would be a simple surface criticism due to this is a story set in a dark ages style world, complete with warring nations, magic and demons. And that would make this a criticism that could be levelled at 90% of the fantasy novels being written.

I think the best way of summing up this book is to say I am not all that much of a fantasy fan, added to this I started this on book three, but I did find this an enjoyable read.