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The Light of All that Falls by James Islington (The Licanius Trilogy: Book 3)
The gorgeous, exciting conclusion to James Islington’s Licanius Trilogy is The Light of All that Falls. The story begins around a year after An Echo of Things to Come ends and doesn’t really let up until the very last few pages, despite a few brief pauses. This is a brand-new epic fantasy novel in the Wheel of Time tradition. There is a lot to enjoy for fans of intricate world building, including a rich magic system that is essential to the story, numerous political groups, and a cast of people you will care about and adore.
I believe that Islington’s handling of the ideas of destiny, fate, and redemption in The Light of All that Falls—and, really, across the entire trilogy—is where he truly shines. I’ve noticed that fantasy often struggles to deal with these kinds of subjects. A story’s reliance on prophecy might become tiresome. The concept of fate or destiny either devalues the choices that characters make or brings the tension in the narrative to intolerably low levels. But Islington overcomes these obstacles, providing us with a stunning tale that casts doubt on fate and free will and raises the possibility that perhaps the problem lies not so much in the choices one makes, but rather in the motivations behind those choices.
Is having complete discretion over one’s actions a benefit or a curse? And in light of this, how can one be held accountable for their deeds if the past and future are unchangeable in any way? Are the results of decisions completely useless if the past can be erased? There is never a sense that the plot becomes stale while the characters debate these kinds of issues. Instead, this is simply how the various character arcs naturally progress. The story of redemption is the cherry on top, and Islington has done such a masterful job of crafting a credible redemption arc that I am at a loss for words. It doesn’t devalue the actions of the characters or the suffering of the victims. There are repercussions. But there is always a chance for redemption, and I think it’s really hard to describe that feeling. Islington expertly stitches that needle. A convoluted plot incorporating time travel in a way that I’ve never quite seen in fantasy before makes all of this conceivable. Given the universe and magic the author has constructed, it is distinct, captivating, and completely logical.
There are many other aspects of this book that readers will appreciate. As I previously stated, the world of the Licanius trilogy has a rich and complex magic system, and this concluding volume elaborates on and clarifies a number of topics about which I had questions after reading the first two volumes. The plot itself is also extremely intricate, and I thought Islington did a fantastic job in this last volume of tying up all the loose ends in satisfying ways that felt natural without being unduly predictable. It’s challenging to do that when you literally already know what will happen in specific circumstances due to time travel and prophecy. Islington handles it expertly.
I also kept falling in love with these characters, and I thought practically every one of them had enough narrative room to bring their stories to a satisfying conclusion. Even the opponents had a genuine, natural feel to them, like real people who firmly believe they are in the right. The fact that all the various arcs were resolved in wholly gratifying ways would be the best way to put it. I have very few complaints. I thought we didn’t fully understand the backstories of a few characters that sort of appeared toward the end. There were one or two additional places when I thought it was possible that Islington had page count issues and wasn’t given enough time to fully land the plane. Fortunately, those are just a few minor secondary or tertiary narrative components, so it didn’t significantly diminish my enjoyment.
Complex, epic fantasy The Light of All that Falls brilliantly approaches issues and themes in novel ways. Although it has a classic fantasy feel to it, it uses old tropes in novel and exciting ways. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fans of lengthy epics like Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn or Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time will likely find it most appealing. I’m eager to see what Islington has in store for us next.
The Review
The Light of All that Falls
9 Score
This is one of the best fantasy series I've read in the last decade and I highly recommend it. It has an original magic system, combined with time travel and a non-linear story telling approach. I have been looking for to each book in this series after I came across the first novel and was surprised. And I most say for a first time writer, James finished the series very well.
PROS
- Absolutely fantastic!
- Fantastic ending to a wonderful trilogy.
- Beautiful conclusion with consistent.
- An immensely satisfying conclusion!
CONS
- Tedious, circumlocutious, and uninteresting.
- A poor ending to a confusing and over-inflated series.
- Badly printed edition.
- Deeply Disappointing Finish to a Promising Series.
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