The Dark Defiles by Richard K. Morgan

Ringil Eskiath, Archeth Indamaninarmal, and Egar the Dragonbane are back in this final installment of A Land Fit for Heroes. Ringil leads an expedition to search for the remains of the Illwrack Changeling, a champion of the Aldrain. The search has been fruitless so far and the members of the expedition are growing restless.

In anticipation of a fight, Ringil has to master the ikinri'ska, a skill that could make a difference later on. But Hjel hints that Ringil's attempt could be dangerous. Meanwhile, the other forces seem to be working their own schemes as well. The Dark Court offered Ringil help, the helmsmen seem to be hiding information, and the stakeholders in the expedition are uneasy. Maybe this time, Ringil's skills and wit might not be enough to get them through.

While most of the book has been consistent in its action scenes and is full of surprises, there are a few changes that I have noticed. One is the tendency for characters to have telepathic conversations and monologues. It gets a bit annoying as it became more common. Another is the inconsistent pace which is similar to the second book. Those details aside, the book still has the familiar elements that made the series intriguing.

I love the author's humor, the details of his world-building, and the magic system. The final few chapters raised some questions however, and I find myself wanting some more and almost betrayed.

The story of the first book of the series seemed shallow, but that changed as the author gradually revealed that the world in which the story was set has depth after all. If there's anything that stood out the most in the series, it's Ringil. Even if I had a few misgivings about the series, I think Ringil was interesting enough to get me though the three books. A Land Fir for Heroes lacked something, but the author was able to create unforgettable characters and my overall experience of the series was still fun and satisfying.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Links to my review of the other books of A Land Fit for Heroes series:

The Steel Remains

The Cold Commands