Sunday, February 22, 2015

Covenant’s End - Ari Marmell

Covenant’s End
Ari Marmell
Pyr, Feb 17 2015, $17.99
ISBN: 9781616149864

After being away from home for just under a year in self-exile, Widdershins the thief, accompanied by her god Olgun whom no one else worships, begins the journey back on an eerily empty road to Davillon.  In town she expects most, if not all her friends, to shun her for deserting them. 

After sneaking into her hometown, Widdershins finds out her adversary Lisette also is back.  Lisette is much stronger than ever; fueled by her vendetta against Widdershins and a Faustian deal she made.  Widdershins quickly realizes her enemy has powerful partners inside the ruling class and worse the supernatural realm.  To defeat Lisette, she and Olgun desperately need allies; but most of her friends distrust her and remain angry at her for leaving without them.

The fourth and final fantastic Widdershins fantasy (see Lost Covenant, Thief's Covenant and False Covenant) brings the heroine, her god and her antagonist home for an excellent climax that resolves the major subplots.  The protagonist’s trademark schizophrenic debates with her deity add biting satirical humor especially when she overhears casual phoniness and transgressions.  Readers will relish Widdershins to the rescue of those who scorn her but wonder who, if anyone besides Olgun, will have her back.


Harriet Klausner

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