Having found at last a way across the sea, Etjole Ehomba is not finding the journey any easier than before. Few things speed him on his way, and many things attempt to delay him. But the herdsman is still holding fast to his promise to the dying Tarin Beckwith: to rescue the Visioness Themaryl from her abductor and return her to her people. He goes with prophecy ringing in his ears announcing his quest is doomed to failure, and himself to death if he continues. Yet he has already staked honor as well as life on this venture, and a prophecy, however many times it has been repeated, is hardly going to hold him back...Continuing the same improbable journey as before, Etjole still manages to find himself a host of new adventures. From things as seemingly mundane as a boat becalmed at sea from lack of wind to the bizarre town populated by ex-denizens of the netherworld, nothing is as it seems. Etjole's still got a pack full of surprises, but some of the items and abilities revealed previously find new and unexpected uses.With all of the buildup, the end managed to be yet another surprise. Here, though, was where the finale may push credulity too far. Hymneth the Possessed has all along shown himself to be little better than a spoiled child at heart, with no concept of what other people really want or feel. From that vantage, it could make sense, but he's also shown to be extremely perverse in his pleasures. I accept the ending, but it does put a somewhat dubious note on an otherwise solid trilogy.The final wrap-up is excellent, though. It moves briskly through the choices everyone makes, showcases the homecomings, and still manages to sneak in a few surprises. Simna, though he would never know it, ends up worst off---but it's his own choice to make, and there's enough of an opening to suggest that one day he might see things differently.For those who enjoyed the first two books, this one is a must read. It works well enough alone but really ought to be read as the cap of the trilogy. I rate this book Recommended.
