The Noble Good Fortune of the Cleverly Credible Mr. Rutland Quincy Sherwood

The Noble Good Fortune of the 

Cleverly Credible Mr. Rutland Quincy Sherwood

Following the likes of Tolkien and Lewis, novelist Daniel Reed teleports his readers to a world of wide-eyed wonder and amazement, all the while intertwining adventure and intrigue with deeply woven characterizations and important life lessons that transcends fantasy and impacts you to your very being.  His first trilogy centered around the fantastical adventures of Rutland Quincy Sherwood and especially his lineage, and how the journey impacts the characters who partake in it.  Much like real life, it's not always about the destination, but the journey - and it's the journey that changes us for the good or ill, depending on how we deal with it.

For this epic conclusion, Arthur Sherwood and his crew travel across the pond in search of the evil Eve, who threatens not just their lives, but could possibly bring about a new world war that'll threaten the lives of not just those on this planet, but the other realms as well.  It's a fascinating tale that centers mostly in our world, which gives us a deeper appreciation for the characters and the long journey they've found themselves on through years of adventures and growth.

Much like with any trilogy, you always expect that the road will be paved with not just success, but heartache as well.  Daniel Reed brilliantly provides the readers with characters that we've known for years, and also give us an understanding that sometimes victory comes with great sacrifice, and even through victory there's still tragedy - but he also gives comfort to the characters (and again, the readers as well) to never give up hope even when it seems hopeless, even when the enemies are gathering all around you, that there's still good left in the world and to never give up hope.

Not only can you sense a deeper characterization in Arthur, Eliza, and the others, but you can sense a deeper characterization in the author's life as well.  You sense the journey that not just the characters have embarked on all these years, but the journey the author himself took to get to this point, and all the life changes that've shaped his worldview and prioritizes what's most important in life - faith and family, and the enduring hope that no one is too far gone from redemption.  Sometimes good and bad isn't black and white, and there's always room for forgiveness - especially if the antagonist doesn't necessarily deserve it.

It's been a long journey for Arthur Sherwood, but it all pays off in this epic conclusion to a fantastic fantasy trilogy by a new author who's just beginning to scratch the surface of his own creative juices, leaving the readers eagerly anticipating his newest work to follow, while providing us with a satisfying and deeply emotional conclusion to the Sherwood trilogy.

The Score: A