Dark Remains, the: No.3: Last Rune

The Dark Remains, the third volume of Mark Anthony's The Last Rune sequence, shares with its predecessors Beyond the Paleand The Keep of Fire, a...more

The Dark Remains, the third volume of Mark Anthony's The Last Rune sequence, shares with its predecessors Beyond the Paleand The Keep of Fire, a strong sense of two worlds and the rules by which they operate. Our own world is one where reason holds sway, but is not the only factor. As Travis and Grace struggle to save the wounded knight Beltan, whom they have brought through a portal from his own world, they have to deal not only with hospital bureaucracies, but also with powerful business interests who are as prone to using magically modified hunting beasts as they are crooked evangelists and sophisticated bugging equipment. Much of what is going on in the magical world of Eldh, from the murder of gods to the jockeying of priests and royal advisors for prestige, is best understood through reason as well: the former goddess Melia proves a competent detective. Anthony effectively balances a large cast of flawed well-intentioned characters and some interesting villains, many of whom know no more than the heroes what ultimately is going on; the set pieces of violent and magical action are involving and exciting as well as psychologically and emotionally plausible.--Roz Kaveney   less