The Immortal Heights

August 1, 2015
Thomas wraps up her trilogy with a grandiose finale, plus a hearts-and-flowers denouement. Elemental mage Iolanthe Seabourne and her beloved, Prince Titus, have survived the attack on the rebel base in the Sahara; now they'll take the fight directly to the tyrannical Bane in his impregnable fortress deep in the heart of Atlantis itself. But even when joined by allies old and new, some expected and some surprising, all their courage, ingenuity, conviction, and sacrifice cannot circumvent the explicit prophecies that both will die in the attempt. While Iolanthe remains a ridiculously overpowered superspecial "chosen one," her stubborn, no-holds-barred personality holds a prickly charm. Titus is still deliciously anguished and adoring, shouldering every responsibility and protective to a fault. Even if the remaining characters function mainly to admire and support these two protagonists, each is also given a moment to shine. The plot surges forward relentlessly through its tumultuous course, navigating the occasional revelatory twists and tender, impassioned eddies, until it finally crests in a confrontation that manages to be simultaneously gloriously over-the-top and oddly mundane-an assessment that might be applied to the trilogy as a whole. Delivers on all the grand epic sweep, lush prose, and overwrought emotion promised by the first two volumes; if that's the sort of thing you like, this is the sort of book you'll love. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

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September 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Thomas does not disappoint in this trilogy conclusion. Telling of the final campaign to defeat the Bane and take back Atlantis, this volume has all the strengths that attracted fans to the first two books: elaborate world-building, a rich historical setting, witty dialogue, down-to-earth characters, and a truly epic romance. There are also some of the weaknesses from the previous entries, and those with less tolerance for detail may find the story slow-going. Still, the characters shine through and the burning romance between Iolanthe (aka Fairfax) and Titus will keep fans turning the pages, especially as they wait to find out once and for all if the prophecy is real and, if so, whether Titus will escape the grim fate foreseen for him. Fantasy lovers looking for a new series should start with the first book and feel assured that if they enjoy it, they will want to read all three. VERDICT A satisfying conclusion to a rich fantasy series.-Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2015
The moment Iolanthe Seabourne and Prince Titus (The Burning Sky, rev. 11/13; The Perilous Sea, rev. 9/14) have been preparing for is quickly approaching. To free the Domain from the tyranny of Atlantis, and to save Iolanthe from becoming the latest elemental mage to be sacrificed to the Bane's hunger for immortality, the two will storm the Bane's stronghold and kill him by destroying his original body. And if Titus's mother's visionsand now their former schoolmate Kashkari's visionsare correct, both Iolanthe and Titus will be killed in the attempt. By challenging herself to craft a satisfying story in which both protagonists are fated to die, author Thomas sets herself a nearly impossible hurdle in this final volumeand then proceeds to clear that hurdle neatly, reversing reader expectations again and again. The protagonists' romance remains strong as each tries to save the other, and the heightened magical action and supremely clever ruses are an ongoing delight, making The Immortal Heights one of those rare creaturesa trilogy ender that's even more powerful than the books that precede it. anita l. burkam

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)