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The Last Battle
Book Three of the Dragonmaster trilogy

by Chris Bunch



      In Chris Bunch’s last installment in the Dragonmaster trilogy, The Last Battle, Dragonmaster Hal Kailas, Lord Kailas of Kalabas (and a trail of other titles) finds himself a soldier without a war. Married to his Lady Khiri in Book Two, Knighthood of the Dragon, Kailas now finds married life troublesome and his wife unfaithful. He then sets out to conquer - or at least settle - new lands. He breaks an old friend out of jail and together they battle a return of their old enemies. The battle scenes are detailed and the camaraderie real. Even the use of magic and otherworldly help is rendered convincingly.

One reason his military scenes ring true (even if they are aboard a dragon), is that Bunch was a member of the LURPs, the Long Range Reconnaissance Commandos, in Vietnam and was highly decorated. Like many soldiers home from war, Bunch could relate to Kailas’s difficulty in carving out a new direction for his life. He, however, found new skills as a prolific television writer with a gift for dialogue, penning scripts for Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Magnum P.I., Quincy M.E., The Incredible Hulk, and even Walker, Texas Ranger. It’s not unusual for a war veteran to write about combat, but it is unusual to find one who does so in the realm of fantasy, creating new military strategies using dragons.

The Last Battle is a true page turner. There is thrilling action, daring escapes, and heroes aplenty. There’s romance and magic and deep character exploration. And Kalais even manages to find another love. Great read.

The Book

Roc Trade
December 2006
Trade paperback
ISBN10: 045146110X
ISBN13: 978-0451461100
Fantasy
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE:

The Reviewer

Janie Franz
Reviewed 2007
NOTE: Reviewer Janie Franz is the author of Freelance Writing: It’s a Business, Stupid!, Relaxation Techniques for Children, Relaxation Techniques for Adults; Co-author of The Ultimate Wedding Reception Book and The Ultimate Wedding Ceremony Book. Coming Soon: The Ultimate Wedding Workbook, Get Rich on Love, and Sacred Breath (a sound recording of relaxation meditations).
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