Elenium (3) - The Sapphire Rose by David Eddings
And now to The Sapphire Rose (in German die Rose aus Saphir, in French La rose de saphir) the final part of the Elenium. I read it in English where it had 502 pages. Originally published in 1992.
Ehlana finally woke up, and now is healed! But this doesn't solve all their problems: They still have to stop Annias from getting Archprelate and give justice to him and his companions. And with the Bhelliom, other dangers are revealed... and Sparhawk still must destroy the most evil god who ever existed in the world. And as if that wasn't enough, the friends stumble across a war, as they travel to the Archprelate's Citadel. What a good thing they have divine AND royal help: Because the young queen will not sit behind in safety when her fiancé is riding towards a possibly interesting voting.
I really, really, love this book. And Ehlana is so cool. Give her one minute and she makes you marry her. Give her two minutes and she makes a butler to a pope. Give her five minutes and she'll make a stone cry and it looks as easy as breathing. Yes, that's our favourite queen! It's so wonderful how she wraps everyone around her little finger – thieves and criminals as well as goddesses! And she does know what she wants. The boys are right. Sparhawk made her a woman of steel. And now he pays the price. But I don't think He minds :). However, there never was a woman better at rhetoric – or making you fall in love with her – or play-acting and politics than Ehlana.
By the way, the latter, the politics, were gorgeous. As were all the bureaucratic fineries against Annias. Really, really well done! I guess that brother really was declared Saint afterwards! And Talen does come in handy, doesn't he?
I LOVE Bevier's religion, by the way. He's so devoted – and so very well with others! He he... Let us all pray you will not make the same mistake as your dear, mislead brother...
Flute is and always will be wonderful. But, I fear, the poor girl will never have a pet whale. Sparhawk can be so cruel! Well, she has war horses instead, that's better than nothing.
The final fight was very well done. As are Bhelliom and the Troll Gods. Hey, in comparison to the Styrics the trolls really know what's important in life: Instead of thousand they have gods for ice, fire, food, war and... fertility. They really rock, as do the nomads, as always.
Humour was gorgeous, as were the ideas... hm, I think that was it, what I can say about this book. Everything downright positive – and true to the core.
For characters, style, ideas, plot and the rhetorical as well as the politics I give stars. Plus SoGH.