KELCIE MURPHY AND THE RACE FOR THE REAPER'S KEY

Freed at last, evil King Balor makes his move against the long-divided Lands of Summer and Winter in this climactic Celtic-inspired series closer.

Readers may well wonder how the two fiannas, or bands of student warriors—led by light-skinned Kelcie on the Summer side and by “ruddy brown” Lexis on Winter’s—are ever going to overcome Balor. As fiendishly powerful and clever as he is, Balor spends most of this story forcing or tricking them into doing his bidding while sending monsters out on successful diversionary attacks. Still, the young folk have a hard-won ability to work together as well as the advantage of being on the side of right. And so, along with rescuing one another from his onslaughts of kelpies, spider-trow, fire foxes, bane bats, and other terrors, they’re able at last to find a way to close the Abyss separating the Lands and bring the Never-Ending War to a decisive close. Despite plenty of fighting, Kelcie suffers few personally meaningful losses. By the end, Kelcie, who’s at the head of a sprawling fantasy cast of diverse species, not only renews relationships with both of her immortal parents but at last exchanges a sweet kiss with her royal anam cara (“soul friend”), Niall, wrapping events up in a way that will satisfy returning fans.

A tidy resolution for a derivative but adventuresome trilogy.