Elegy for a Lost Star

"Elegy for a Lost Star" sets the stage for a major turning point in the Symphony of Ages series. The dragon Anwyn, who has lain for three years in a deathlike sleep in a grave of rock and black coal, is freed by the cataclysm that concluded "Requiem for the Sun." Disoriented and confused, she remembers only two things: the person who trapped her in dragon form and locked her in a rocky grave--Rhapsody; and an all-encompassing desire to wreak vengeance. Meanwhile, Achmed, the Firbolg king, resumes rebuilding his shattered home, while a guild of merciless assassins set about taking revenge on him for the killing of their leader. A horribly deformed but magical being finds its way through a carnival of freaks to the palace of an evil despot, who sees in it the potential to be the instrument by which his plans of conquest and brutal domination of a continent will be realized. This novel earns its place among Elizabeth Haydon's best for its masterful weaving of multiple character arcs and escalating conflicts. With the rise of new leaders, both good and evil, the long-awaited birth of the Child of Time, the dark plans of assassins and rulers, a confrontation that shakes the relationship of the Three, and a battle to the death between two dragons of unimaginable elemental power, the seeds of chaos are planted for a war that will, by its end, consume half of the world. Haydon's signature lyrical prose and complex world-building shine, delivering a captivating read that pushes the series towards its epic conclusion. The emotional depth of the characters, particularly Anwyn's struggle with her dragon nature and thirst for revenge, adds a layer of complexity that elevates the narrative beyond typical fantasy tropes.