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Summary
Summary
THE SPIRIT OF THE ANCIENT CHAMPION, SORAHB, WAS REBORN INTO THE BODY OF A DEGHAN YOUTH.
There is not much time left on the Hrum's self-imposed limit -- only a few months. If in that time they don't take all of Farsala, then the Farsalans will regain their independence.
Ceaselessly, Soraya, Kavi, and Jiaan work to keep control of what little land remains free from Hrum rule: parts of the countryside, the badlands, and the walled city of Mazad. They have many people helping them, but there is still one important piece missing: a sword that is able to withstand the Hrum's watersteel. In the end Farsala will fall if it can't win in battle.
But one thing none of these young heroes can foresee is the growing desperation of the Hrum leaders. It will lead some to break their own laws and sacred pacts and will reveal truths to Kavi, Soraya, and Jiaan about the nature of war, the nature of human beings, and -- most importantly -- the nature of themselves.
Hilari Bell builds the action and intrigue to a crescendo in the final installment of this critically acclaimed trilogy.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 6-10-Jiaan, Kavi, and Soraya-the three young Farsalans attempting to wrest their fallen nation from the conquering Hrum-are back in this final installment of Bell's trilogy. Invoking the name of the legendary Sorahb, they lead the tiny, ill-trained army, organize the peasants, and practice magic as taught by the mysterious, desert-living Suud. The sword that they forge represents both their discovery of the secrets of Hrum steel as well as their ability to create a new, unified Farsala. The young people work according to their particular talents, learning to cooperate and to forgive past transgressions. Primarily, they learn that the world is not a place of black and white, but gray-enemies can be noble and supposed friends can deceive. How one proceeds in the face of that knowledge is the main thrust of this novel. Readers who enjoyed the earlier adventures will be happy to see this epic to its conclusion, but the book does not stand on its own. No attempt is made to recap any previous information. The seamless interweaving of the ancient heroic poem of Sorahb into the downfall of Farsala gave the first novel depth, and its loss is heavy in books two and three. Purchase where the earlier titles have a following.-Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Three heroes, Jiaan, Kavi, and Soraya, banded together to lead their country against the invading Hrum in the second book of this well-imagined fantasy series; here, the trio impersonates the mythic hero Sorahb. Through warfare, magic, and trickery they deliver Farsala from the occupation. Sympathetic characters, ingenious episodes, and taut emotional construction bring the series to a stirring finish. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Kavi, Jiann and Soraya fight unflinchingly for their country's freedom as the Hrum's onslaught continues. If Farsala can resist for one year, the conquering army will withdraw, following a strict code of honor and efficiency. However, Farsala's own army has been decimated, corruption threatens the Hrum's code of honor and, perhaps worst of all, the Hrum possess watersteel swords that shatter all others. Jiann gathers and trains a peasant-based army in the desert, sheltered by magic-practicing desert dwellers. Soraya spies and uses occasional fire or weather magic; Kavi spies and cultivates his broad connection with Farsala's people. Animosity and deep grudges simmer between the three leaders, but all three embody Sorahb, Farsala's ancient legendary hero--though the country's peasants and craftsmen embody Sorahb too, despite their widespread belief that he's a single leader in hiding. An intriguingly almost-parallel Sorahb story is told between chapters. Moral complexity never wavers, and issues of war, society and class are nuanced and authentic in this impressive climax, memorable for its individual characters and extensively detailed cultures. (Fantasy. YA) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Bell brings the Farsala Trilogy to a rousing conclusion, replete with fierce battles and nerve-wracking incursions into enemy territory by the young heroes who are fighting to save Farsala from becoming part of the Hrum Empire. The author maintains the complexity of her main characters and the intensity of the story line: the Hrum have only a few months, according to their self-imposed time limit, to conquer Farsala or depart the land. An edge-of-the-seat finale for the trilogy's readers. --Sally Estes Copyright 2006 Booklist