Midnight's Mask: A Book Review

Having finished this book a few days ago, it is high time I got on with the review, so without further ado here it is. Midnight's Mask by Paul S. Kemp is a Forgotten Realms novel. It is the third and final part of the Erevis Cale Trilogy, which is named after the central character. The book follows on directly from the ending of Dawn Of Night with only a few pages devoted to an interlude featuring an ancient monster of the deep which would reappear later in the book.

With the gigantic obsessed sea monster out of the way, the story resumes with Cale, Jak and Magadon fleeing the vengeful guardians of Skullport, whilst struggling to come to terms with Riven's betrayal and susequent alliance with their enemies (Azriim, Dolgan and the Sojourner, they having polished off Serrin). In no time at all the trio are back on the Plane of Shadow thanks to Cales ability to step between worlds. Here they are stunned by the revelation that Riven's betrayal was part of a plan, one they had agreed upon (but subsequently blocked from their minds by use of Magadons psionics lest their telepathic foes read their intentions).

Riven meanwhile gets to meet Azriim and Dolgan's master, the incredibly powerful Sojourner who easily sends Cale and Co fleeing when they jump in to Riven's location to take the mastermind down. That the Sojourner plans something big is made apparent throughout this book and the one previous to it, but what he does (and why he does it) did surprise me.

In one of the most brutal assaults I've ever read, he massacres every living thing (and a few undead too) in a temple/tower to Cyric (the God of Strife and Murder) and then steals the tower itself, teleporting the entire structure halfway across the continent to his island to serve as a conduit for the spell he needs to cast. He sought to create and control a Crown of Flame (an Eclipse) and to this end uses Epic Magic to pull one of Selune's Tears (A group of asteroids that trail in the moons orbit) from its orbit and use it to block the sunlight over his island. What got me, is that he does all of this simply to be able to walk on the surface again (sunlight is fatal to him), for a day before dying happily!

The book, as with the others in this trilogy, is very well written. The fight scenes are fast and brutal and the author doesn't gloss over just how a medieval city would be, with vice, villainy and especially the smell detailed expertly. The ending of this book leaves a huge plot thread hanging, and so I now find myself eagerly looking forward to his next trilogy (starring many of the same characters), the first book of which will be out in November. Look for its review shortly afterwards!