Standard Modesitt with a disappointing ending

The conclusion of the story arc is exactly what Modesitt fans expect it to be, excellent execution of the same basic formula, unveiling yet another time and place in the rich fantasy world that is Recluse. However, I found the ending to be a disappointment. Not because of how the plot concluded, but in a perfunctory way he ties up loose ends. Usually, he either leaves the loose ends to the reader's imagination, a perfectly valid literary choice, or he has a few chapters or an epilogue of happily ever after. In this, after the climax, he kind of goes "oh, by the way" and wrapped a bunch of stuff up in a single sentence that lacked the detail to make the resolution plausible. I can't say more without risking spoilers, but it really took me out of the story and left me feeling like he hit is word count early and ended it so he could ship it off to his publisher.

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