Pierce’s fourth and last installment in The
Immortals series, a
quartet about the
strange young orphanl, Verilidaine (called
daine)
Sarrasri, who wields Wild Magic and speaks to animals, is the exciting end to
this series. In the book, Daine struggles to protect her friends and country
from the strange and sometimes terrifying creatures, the immortals, which have
made their way through the barrier that separates the divine
realms from the
realms of mortals. In Daine’s quest to save the kingdom, she finds herself in
the Divine Realms with her friend and mentor Numair Salmalin, struggling to
survive and make her way back to the mortal realms before the final battle for
the sovereignty and safety of her home begins. Along the way, Daine discovers
the answers to the mystery of her father’s identity, the origin of her strange
magic and her complex feelings for Numair. Pierce’s vivid descriptions of the
richly diverse country called Tortall and her array of characters, the book is
difficult to put down. This thrilling final installment in Daine’s story is but
a piece of the tapestry of stories that comprise Tortall’s history. Several
memorable and beloved characters from Pierce’s first series, The Song of the
Lioness Quartet, appear in The Immortals Quartet as friends and acquaintances
of Daine’s. However, whether it is read as a continuation of the history of
Tortall or only as a continuation of Daine’s story, the book is a wonderful
read both for children and adults, which both entertains and teaches about the
importance of self-confidence and self-knowledge, the importance of friendship
and family, and the harmful nature of prejudice. Pierce broaches important
topics in ways that both children and adults can understand and appreciate as she
creates a wonderful and beautiful story of a girl finding her way.