by Trudi Canavan

Book Three of The Black Magician Trilogy

1. The Magician’s Guild
2. The Novice
3. The High Lord

“You want to know the truth.”

When we finished The Novice, Akkarin, the High Lord and Sonea’s Gaurdian, has explained to her why and how he has taken up the practice of Black Magic.

Sachaka, a country with whom the Guild fought a mighty war many years ago, has regained its power in Black Magic. They have vowed to destroy the Magician’s Guild and the city of Imardin. The High Lord is the only one who knows the magic that the Ichani magicians possess, and as such, is the only magician with the power necessary to defeat them.

Sonea, when faced with proof of Akkarin’s story, decides to help the High Lord and learn Black Magic herself. However, when the Guild discovers Sonea and Akkarin’s secret, they choose not to believe the Ichani threat and banish the duo to Sachaka.

While Sonea and Akkarin are in Sachaka, they learn of the Ichani’s plans to invade the Magician’s Guild. They must return to the land they are forbidden to enter and save the Guild to prevent the Ichani magicians from destroying their country. They must rely on Akkarin’s allies - the Thieves and their Underground.

But can two exiled black magicians and a handful of the Warrior guild magicians halt a caravan of determined, extremely powerful Ichani Black Magicians?

Will the Guild recognize the legitimate power of Black Magic in time to save itself from annhilation? Who is the Thieve’s mysterious Sachakan ally? And what of Sonea’s growing attraction to the High Lord Akkarin?

Personal Rating: 8
AH… THE ENDING!!!! Gah…. I really don’t like the very end of the book. I had to wake the Lord of the Realm when I finished the book at 2am this morning to say..“How Awful!” What a horrible conclusion to this epic trilogy! That aside, The High Lord is the best book of the trilogy in my opinion. Not nearly as predictable as the former two, there is much more action and suspense in this final piece of the story.

Content Rating: E
As with the previous two, The High Lord is sure to be appealing to fantasy readers of any age.