THE DARK REMAINS by Mark Anthony

THE DARK REMAINS by Mark Anthony
Earthlight (Simon & Schuster) - 2001
ISBN 0684860422 - TPB

Reviewed by Rachel Hyde, MyShelf.com
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After a disappointingly repetitive second volume where everything trod water Anthony seems back on form in this third instalment of The Last Rune. This series has much to recommend it – the dual locations of Colorado and Eldh, the varied villains one set of which want to turn the fantasy realm into a sort of theme park) and the gay angle of the story that has characters coming out of their respective closets thick and fast which is unusual for fantasy.

When the novel opens Beltan lies sick in a Denver hospital but ends up getting kidnapped for experimentation purposes and in both worlds the characters discover more about themselves, fight demons and find out some very surprising things. Anthony has created a well-realised world populated with strong interesting characters that is at its best when he is pursuing his own style and at its weakest when he borrows from David Eddings. The tedious Melia and Falken (be nice, dear) could be lost or changed with only gain to the tale, which has a strong character all of Anthony’s own. The ending promises that the fourth book will be highly interesting and if he continues to balance out exciting plot with a tight bunch of characters that readers can identify with then this will be a series to remember. It is when he stays with any one aspect of the story for too long that the novel flags and when he treats the adventures like dancing on hot coals that the tale shines.