Review: Still good but not great
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 06 18, 2013
This sixth book in the Godsland series, third in the Balance of Power trilogy, was good but predictable. I did enjoy reading it, and there were plenty of parts that made me feel for the characters, smile and laugh or even feel sad. But as far as substance, I feel Rathbone stepped backwards rather than forwards in his writing.In this book we are introduced to a new character from the getgo, Allette. Another young girl who seems less than what she is and you immediately know she will not only play a relevant role but will also have unexpected importance. We also follow along with Sinjin as he tries to cope with his losses, his unknown future, and his new roll as a leader to a people he knows so little about. And all the while he ends up thrust into a new battle he never initiated against an enemy he didn't ask for.As a whole the story is good, but I can't help but be disappointed. The ending was easy to see long before you read it. Without giving everything away, what happens to Sinjin was predictable, his family expected, and about the only thing that was somewhat surprising was the addition of Allette. The end felt like it literally just ended, no huge, cataclysmic revelations, no long battle and/or death of a long awaited foe, simply a very simple, cleancut end. If not for the end, I would have given this book four stars because the story is good and I Did enjoy it thoroughly up until the very end when it became so commonplace and a bit uninspiring.I still look forward to any future books in the series, it is left open for more, of course, because Rathbone is a good storyteller and has the potential to be a great author. His works, in my opinion, have continued to show growth and depth, and up until this ending have kept me turning the page without fail. And although I was dsappointed with this book's ending, I hold high expectations that Rathbone will "redeem himself" (if you will) in future novels.