mass market paperback, 914 pages
English language
Published Jan. 29, 2004 by Bantam Books.
On a mission to the Out Islands to destroy the dragon Icefyre, who has been frozen in a glacier for millennia, Prince Dutiful and his Skillmaster FitzChivalry match wits with the Fool, an enemy determined to free the dragon.
The ending of the trilogy was perfect. Nicely tied up loose ends, opened up the world further, and lots of character development.
My favorite bit was in the epilogue, when Icefyre puts his head on the hearth to fulfill the promise the prince made.
"the outcome poised and uncertain, possibilities hovering" is a phrase used in the epilogue, and the saga draws to a close at long last yet there's still that thread left dangling, isn't there? Still the idea of perhaps, possibly, more to tell.
But, even had I finished this work not knowing there was more I would've found it most excellent. It's a solid, weighty end to a chapter in Fitz's life handled very well.
