Product Description

"You want to know the truth."

Sonea has learned much since she was but a penniless urchin possessing an awesome untapped ability. She has earned the grudging respect of her fellow novices and a place in the Magicians' Guild. But there is much she wishes she had never learned -- what she witnessed, for example, in the underground chamber of the mysterious High Lord Akkarin . . . and the knowledge that the Guild is being observed closely by an ancient fearsome enemy.

Still, she dares not ignore the terrifying truths the High Lord would share with her, even though she fears it may be base trickery, a scheme to use her astonishing powers to accomplish his dark aims. For Sonea knows her future is in his hands -- and that only in the shadows will she achieve true greatness . . . if she survives.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9172 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-13
• Binding: Paperback
• 656 pages

Synopsis
In the city of Imardin, where magic and power walk hand-in-hand, a young street-girl, adopted by the Magicians' Guild, finds herself at the centre of a terrible plot that may destroy the entire world ...Sonea has learned much at the Magicians' Guild and the other novices now treat her with a grudging respect. But she cannot forget what she witnessed in the High Lord Akkarin's underground chamber - or his warning that the realm's ancient enemy is growing in power once more. As Akkarin reveals more of his knowledge, Sonea does not know who to believe, or what she most fears. Could the truth really be as terrifying as the High Lord claims? Does an ancient power threaten them all? Or does the guild face a threat from a much closer source?

Customer Reviews

Excitment, Romance and Action brimming with magic - I was gripped to the very end!
Defernatley the best book in the series, I found myself crying at three points in this book! Not only is it engaging and exciting but it is more of a human story laced with fantasy rather than the other way around. Each part of the book is interesting and relevant to the story and the trilogy in general is one I would read over and over, like His Dark Materials and the Harry Potter books.
Followers of the series will not be dissatisfyed with the ultimate installment, I assure you. It will have you gripped to the very end, I just wish there was a "Five Years Later" epilogue!

its like harry potter BUT BETTER!!!
I love the fact that she didnt hold back on anything when she wrote it. the fact that she despises akkarin but then turns out to be his ...... actually no i wont spoil it. read it and find out how this is the one of the best books ever written.

If you like the idea of the "dark side" of magic then you will love the abhorsen trilogy by garth nix. i read the trilogy of these books and i finished all 3 in a week! i was glued to them best books ever.

Quite a let down.
I found the first 2 book quite interesting, although a bit simple.
I was really looking forward to the last book, expecting much more than I got after reading it. In other words, the end was disappointing, as if Canavan was forced to finish the book in a hurry.

Warning: SPOILERS follow.

Ok, Am I the only one who found Dannyl's quest awfully boring? The description of his trips and his affair with his scholar took forever and they were completely pointless.
Another thing that also annoyed me in the 2nd book is that the fist 50 pages or so were dedicated to providing a summary of the previous books to those who have only bought the last part. A trilogy is a trilogy. Those who only buy the last book should expect not to understand parts.

The use of stupid "native" slang like "rub" "raka" etc became very annoying.

Last but not least, the end let me down. As I was getting closer to the last 10 pages of the books, it was still all about repetitive and unimaginative descriptions of battles and nothing more. I kept wondering when is "everything" going to happen?
The answer was never. No catharsis, no closure, like a bad Hollywood action movie.
I may read the sequel, simply out of refusal to believe that that was the end.