- Hardcover: 576 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz; First Edition edition (24 Jan 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0575072695
- ISBN-13: 978-0575072695
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.6 x 5.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,051,289 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In a book world awash in sword-slinging fantasy novels, each trying to out-Jordan the other, the arrival of yet another big new series on the scene is... no big deal. But much to the delight of readers bored to tears by doorstopper clones, Elizabeth Haydon's three-part tale is unique, thrilling, and utterly romantic from start to finish. The story of a magical singer of extraordinary power and her battle with a blood-soaked demon began in Rhapsody and continued in Prophecy. The trilogy's final volume, Destiny offers fantasy fans something they crave, but don't often see--a great ending.
When last we saw our lovely heroine Rhapsody and her two best friends Achmed and Grunthor, they had just rescued the Sleeping Child from the evil tendrils of the F'dor. But as they found out through the tragic loss of their young friend Jo, the three must follow the demon's trail of violence and blood, finding the children it has spawned across the land in order to track it down and destroy it once and for all. As in the previous two books, Rhapsody's love of her friends and desire to save children in danger drive her most reckless actions.
Elizabeth Haydon delivers us from the fantasy traps of never-ending plots, wooden characters and yawn-inducing battles. She takes much of her style from romance and suspense novels, rather than historical fiction, giving her books real depth of emotion and humanity. It's true that there are spots of sentimentality that may leave some hardened adventure fans groaning, but that very thing may help explain why Haydon's books have succeeded with crossover romance readers so admirably. We can only hope she'll set her sights on another swoony adventure as soon as possible.--Therese Littleton, Amazon.com
Review
Barely a week passes without some new fantasy trilogy forcing its way into an overcrowded field. So why should we pay attention to Haydon? Certainly eyebrows were raised at the $3m film deal signed on the basis of a synopsis for her earlier Rhapsody, but (fortunately) the writing has justified the hype. While Haydon sometimes adopts the purple prose that is the curse of the genre, she is a writer of real distinction, with the adventure of Destiny conjured with maximum vividness. In Rhapsody a fellowship was created: three companions who found themselves to be the world's only hope. The eponymous Rhapsody, a singer, Achmed, the enigmatic assassin, and Grunthor (shame about the Dickensian name), the abrasive muscle of the group. The trio may be the only hope for averting a world-threatening catastrophe. Haydon's interest in folklore pays off handsomely here, and she creates her own mythology with effortless skill.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a suitable conclusion to the trilogy, mixing high drama andvery personal story lines into a believable whole. Haydon has alreadyshown that she is willing to kill off key characters, so make noassumptions about who makes it through to the end! This book finally tiesoff all the themes which have been recurrent through out the trilogy,covering 1400 years of strife and unhappiness on behalf of the displacedCymrians, involving dragons, monsters, and a power of song so great it canovercome anything. I'd recommend reading the other two books first though!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Destiny is a mostly fitting conclusion to this excellent trilogy; there is an evolution in the story from book to book which works well. In the first book we are introduced to the core characters and Haydon invests valuable time in their characters and relationships - and in our feelings for them. In the second she began to weave in the much bigger picture of their new world and all the threads and prophecies come together well in the third.
This third volume is a rewarding but slightly frustrating read. I found myself rooting for the characters when they were in danger, found myself seething with anger at injustices, frustrated when they were thwarted and thrilled when they succeeded. There are some extraordinary battle scenes, a well-developed world, intriguing (and sometimes slightly dark) heroes and much besides. Haydon has been extremely ambitious, and successful, in establishing her world (possibly with a view to further novels in the same setting).
In her attempts to create such a deep, broad and rewarding tale I do think Haydon has slightly over-engineered this final instalment, especially towards the end of the novel. She has, in my opinion, fallen into the trap for fantasy authors of creating characters that are too powerful. There seems to be nothing that Rhapsody in unable to do, ditto Achmed, Grunthor, Ashe and numbers of others. It became difficult to conceive of an enemy who could challenge such an array of heroes and in the process much of the tension vanishes.
And so it proves. The battle with the demon becomes a footnote, rather than a thriling denouement to the trilogy, and instead the novel ends with a less than satisfying contrived finale with characters whose involvement had previously been minimal. I had so much enjoyed so much of the trilogy that I felt a bit cheated.
This third volume is a rewarding but slightly frustrating read. I found myself rooting for the characters when they were in danger, found myself seething with anger at injustices, frustrated when they were thwarted and thrilled when they succeeded. There are some extraordinary battle scenes, a well-developed world, intriguing (and sometimes slightly dark) heroes and much besides. Haydon has been extremely ambitious, and successful, in establishing her world (possibly with a view to further novels in the same setting).
In her attempts to create such a deep, broad and rewarding tale I do think Haydon has slightly over-engineered this final instalment, especially towards the end of the novel. She has, in my opinion, fallen into the trap for fantasy authors of creating characters that are too powerful. There seems to be nothing that Rhapsody in unable to do, ditto Achmed, Grunthor, Ashe and numbers of others. It became difficult to conceive of an enemy who could challenge such an array of heroes and in the process much of the tension vanishes.
And so it proves. The battle with the demon becomes a footnote, rather than a thriling denouement to the trilogy, and instead the novel ends with a less than satisfying contrived finale with characters whose involvement had previously been minimal. I had so much enjoyed so much of the trilogy that I felt a bit cheated.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a NO-star (zero -nil) book!
I liked the first two books: Rhapsody and Prophecy. They had that little extra to make them stand out in the bulk of fantasy lying on shelves and tables all around,and I was really looking forward to Destiny. BUT!This is a total timeconsuming waste of paper.The book lost me after a few pages although I had to read it 'till the end because it was bound to improve.
NOOO way!
I liked the first two books: Rhapsody and Prophecy. They had that little extra to make them stand out in the bulk of fantasy lying on shelves and tables all around,and I was really looking forward to Destiny. BUT!This is a total timeconsuming waste of paper.The book lost me after a few pages although I had to read it 'till the end because it was bound to improve.
NOOO way!
Ryle hira (the Ancient Lirin saying) and probably a little bit better without this book.
An estimated 2/3 of the book is "outtakes" from Rhap. and Prop., and every dream and prophecy is repeated 'ad nauseum' which breaks the book's momentum. The plot is not strong enough to hold the 500plus pages since we (those who read the first two books) can guess the outcome, and I really can't find the "triumphant conclusion to the Rhapsody trilogy" mentioned on the jacket...
Conclusion: Enjoy Rhapsody and Prophecy - two fine books.
Destiny: Save your money - you will not miss anything - and go for Flewelling, Gentle, Wurtz or others...
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Indeed a triumphant conclusion! Treat yourself to it
This was a SPECTACULAR book and, if anything, it raced along in comparison to the methodical world-building of the first two.
In this volume. Read more
Published on 11 May 2002
I wish I had the skills of the author to describe this book
It is a good thing there is going to be a fourth book because while this one settles the 'current affairs' it sets the scene for further possible stories. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2002 by Penny4em
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