Rex Regis

Imager Portfolio #8

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

The saga of the Imager Quaeryt, Commander in the forces of Lord Bhayar, reaches a new climax as the great struggle to unify the continent of Lydar enters its final phase. Only the land of Khel remains uncommitted to Bhayar’s rule. Their decision could mean a lasting peace, or more conflict across an already war-ravaged realm.

While the conqueror of Bovaria awaits emissaries to arrive with news of Khel’s decision, other weighty matters occupy Bhayar, his sister Velora, and her husband Quaeryt—not the least of which is the fulfillment of Quaeryt's dream to create the world's first Imager academy, where the magical abilities of these powerful casters may be honed, managed, and put to the service of the common good.

But before that dream may be realized, or Khel’s fateful choice made known, the spectre of high treason threatens to unravel all that Quaeryt has achieved, catapulting him toward a fateful confrontation with Bhayar's most powerful military leaders.

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, High Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Adventure

445 pages, Hardcover

First published January 7, 2014

About the author

L. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.

He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this finishes up this fantasy cycle ending with the latest batch of empire building and the founding of Imager's Isle.

All in all, if you've been reading Modesitt for this long, you know exactly what to expect and it's comforting, predictable, and yet always solidly enjoyable. A little war, a lot of magic, and a never-ending stream of competence-porn.

Saying more doesn't really say anything new. If you want to read the series (and yes, I do recommend it,) then start at the beginning. :)

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

April 2017 review: This ends Quaeryt's story & it ends pretty well. There is plenty left for him to do & we know some of the results due to the first 3 books in the series. Again, I felt this book was a bit too much of a good thing, especially the fawning over Quaeryt. Not awful, just repetitive. I still didn't like Erion, but it certainly sets the imagers' roles as iron fists in velvet gloves, just as Quaeryt wants.

The simplified economic & political parables were all very well done throughout the series & many were paramount in this part of the story. In our complex, high tech world, it's easy overlook some of the basics like how much a decent road or bridge can mean to the economy. Modesitt mentions it in almost every book, but it is a central point in Quaeryt's story. It underscores the central weakness of a libertarian/anarchist system - too often people don't think ahead & are too self-centered or resource poor to do what is necessary for the society overall. It also shows how a central government can't have too many rules for diverse areas & economies, though.

I enjoyed this & made time to finish it quickly, but it only gets 3 stars for going on a bit too long. It's a must-read, though. I'm at a good stopping point since the next books are some centuries later with Alastar as the central figure. There are 2 books published at this time with a third coming out in a few months. When it arrives, I'll dive back in & read those.

July 2014 review: 3 stars - A pretty good wrap up to the series, but 5 books was a bit many for this particular character. He had a lot to do with very limited resources & murky problems. Very realistic issues that went well with the theme of hard work making for good fortune. In 5 books, this point became repetitive. Then Modesitt took him in a direction I didn't care for. I didn't care for the addition of Erion, the god, appearing in the previous book & far less in this one. The character handles it well & there is quite a bit of doubt as to the reality. It might just be a subconscious manifestation. Still, that doesn't add anything & it would have been a stronger story without that.

All in all, a 4 star series & highly recommended like all his books.

[Bryan Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very satisfying ending to the Imager prequel series. You should know that this set of books is set 750 years in the future of the first three Imager books. It concludes the story of the Rex Regis mentioned in the initial trilogy and more importantly the story of his then unnamed imager.

This story returns from the war stories of the previous two into more of the political and philosophical ruminations of the first one. I found it engaging and fun to read. It is full of your classic Modessitt Jr items like

- descriptions of food
- descriptions of clothes
- really crazy names
- wiping the sweat off your brow
- lots of internal monologs
- a young man growing up in a difficult world
- a really sweet romance story

If you like Modessitt Jr, you will like this book. If you don't you won't in spite of the well designed world and the crafting of the story.

Like most of the imager stories I enjoyed the romance part of this book the best. The continuation of the marriage of Valoria (sp?) and Queyrt (sp?)was enjoyable to watch especially after the difficulties they both faced in the previous story. The conclusion of their romance coincided with the end of this story arc and it left me satisfied and pleased for the both of them.

I was also very interested in rereading the initial Imager trilogy when I finished this one to see what had become of Queyrt's (sp?) world. I am currently in the middle of the second of that trilogy and it is gratifying to see some of the results of this story reflected in that world.

I think his story craft has much improved from the days of the Magic of Recluse, although, all the elements of classic Modessitt Jr are there, and so I've decided to reread the Recluse novels (and read the ones I've missed) to see how intricately that world was put together.

[Alexander Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with this final book of the series. Normally I like Modesitt books because they are consistent and are ths a familiar friend. Normal stories have a series of small events that build up to a large event. Sort of like build-up, event, build up, event, build up, EVENT. This book was one long build up to a very small and disappointing event. Basically it flatlined. No new character development was necessary and in fact none was given and instead the author rehashed all the basic character building of previous books. The final event of the book was obvious from the earliest chapters (actually from the earlier books) and then when the main character reaches the main event, he can't solve the problem. Instead the author brings in a completely implausible solution (deus ex machina) to solve the problem. The author then spends another 100 pages (1/4 of the book) wrapping up the story. I kept waiting for a twist, or challenge for the main character to overcome (especially as he didn't even solve the main event of the book) but all we receive is a "king" who has been effectively neutered by the author and who has given nearly all authority (other than name) to the main character and his wife.

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

very appropriate ending to Quaeryt's story though of course one wants more in the Imager universe; more in the vein of book 1 with intrigue rather than battles, and almost all the little things from the first books (eg the fate of the last Khanara of Tilbor or of Eluisa's family or who wrote the book about Rholan that is quoted throughout) are settled here, while in a very nice salute to the Rhenn books, new student Imagers with names like Poincaryt and Chartain appear, as well as the path to ascendance for the Ryel high holder family is established despite the very unpromising beginning here of the current Ryel nobleman being Rex Kharst's confidant so his lands being prime target for dispossesion

Great stuff that has a high reread value too and of course it will be one of my top 25 next year...

A more complete review closer to publication date but if you like the series to date, you won't be disappointed in its ending for sure - while here the bar was somewhat lower as from the Rhenn books we know the general outline of the ending, I would still mention that its execution is great as series endings are really hard to do well

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odlican zavrsetak koji fino odgovori na sva pitanja, nagradi pravedne i kazni negativne likove.

Jedino sto mi je smetalo sto ume relativno cesto da se ponavljaju neka objasnjenja i razgovori Koje glavni lik vodi posto istu stvar objasnjava gomili drugih likova. Ima smisla sto se price tice ali majko nervira kada moram nesto treci put da citam unutar 10 strana, al dobro to su vec manje zalbe.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

This volume in the second part of the Imager Portfolio, which started with Scholar, has been about the consolidation of Bhayar’s rule over Tilbor and conquest of the rest of the continent in order to create the continental empire that becomes the Solidar we know in the first volume Imager. It’s been a long ride, or read.

Rex Regis is Bhayar’s title, or it will be if Quaeryt gets the job done, because Quaeryt has been the mover and shaker (sometimes literally) behind many events. Quaeryt’s goal is to create a College where imagers like himself can be trained and protected. In returned, those imagers will back the crown against the High Holders (Lords) and Factors (Merchant Princes).

In case it’s not obvious, imagers are mages. If they manage to live long enough, in a world that reviles them, they can become very powerful mages.

Quaeryt Ryterson is the most powerful imager his country has ever seen. More importantly, he seems to be the most intelligent. His story, told in the books Scholar, Princeps, Imager's Battalion, Antiagon Fire and now Rex Regis, have made the journey of someone who goes through life intending to be the power behind the throne, fascinating beyond description. Quaeryt has always known that his safety, his prosperity, the best legacy he can leave behind him, lie in making imagers as a group useful to the best ruler he can find, or make, and that the ruler in question can never ever be himself with his imaging “sorcery”. His resistance to temptation is steadfast.

Bhayar thinks early in Quaeryt’s career that he can make him more compliant by arranging for a marriage between Quaeryt and Bhayar’s youngest sister, Vaelora. Instead, it becomes a love match that gives both of those strong-willed people a partner they can rely on no matter what fate brings them.

Rex Regis seems to be the story of the final consolidation of the empire. All of the conquered territories have been brought into line, except, now that the war is over, the jockeying for position among the conquerors has begun. Some of the senior military commanders feel that Bhayar is too young to truly be the firm leader that the new world demands. And he listens to Quaeryt much too much, when he should be listening to them!

But are there really traitors within their midst, or is Quaeryt seeing shadows in men’s hearts at the end of a long and dangerous campaign? Or have fugitive imagers from the defeated rulers suborned loyal men?

Some campaigns never end. Some victories are hard won. And some warriors who deserve to see the peace they have fought for are not fortunate enough to live to see it arrive.

Escape Rating A: Quaeryt’s journey has been a never-ending pleasure to read. I say this having been up until 2 am the first night reading Rex Regis because I didn’t want to stop. But each book has been just that way. Even though Quaeryt has usually been in the position of either bureaucrat or soldier on campaign, he’s always been a self-aware observer of his situation, and his observations are interesting. His mind is never idle, and he’s always trying to make things better.

Modesitt has managed to make both bureaucracy and the hurry-up-and-wait of a long military campaign into compelling reading.

There’s also a bit of the “head, heart, synthesis” trio, or classic Freudian Power Trio among Quaeryt, Bhayar and Vaelora. (Think Kirk, Spock and McCoy from the original Star Trek series.) Quaeryt represents cold logical analysis, Vaelora is the emotional heart, and Bhayar as the ruler has to make the final decisions.

Quaeryt has earned the loyalty of the men who serve with him. He could have used that loyalty to become ruler himself. He could even have become a tyrant. Listening to the logic of why he doesn’t, it’s refreshing. It’s not often that the hero is also in effect a beta character; someone who sets out to create a power structure behind the throne.

I’m not 100% positive whether Quaeryt’s entire saga is done, or not. Rex Regis ends at a point where we can see the “empire that will be”, the place that it is at the start of Imager. Quaeryt’s entire story has been a prequel for the first trilogy. But, there are also loose ends that could still be tied up. I would love to visit this world again.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

“A fool has many choices, a wise man far fewer.”

Another rousing fantasy in the imaging world. The final story of the Quaeryt thread.

���Quaeryt Rytersyn … you may be the most powerful imager ever and a hand of Erion, but you are an idiot!”

Well done. The usual quibbles about slow pace, repetition and poor editing, but it’s great fun to read. Probably even better on audio.

“Only the Nameless is infallible. The rest of us must do the best we can.” And Sometimes I wonder about just how infallible the Nameless is, thought Quaryt, if there even is a Nameless.”

Quaeryt is a skeptic. He doubts just about everything, including himself and god. But … three epiphanies (two witnessed by others, one accompanied by tangible evidence), and he still doubts. (Quibble: Erion, not Quaeryt, is victorious at the climax.)

“That was what I saw as well.” He shook his head. “I still doubt the existence of either the Nameless or Erion. But that was what I saw.”

[Jon]

Rex Regis appears to be the final installment in the Imager Portfolio, which is a little sad, as I was truly enjoying the series. I'd hoped, however, that it would go back to the future, and continue where Imager's Intrigue left off. In this book, Modesitt goes about methodically wrapping up loose ends in the war with Bovaria, so that Bhayar's rule over the combined realm of Solidar can proceed smoothly, and so that Quaeryt can become the first maître of the Collegium.

Quaeryt and Vaelora leave Antiago behind and ride slowly north back to Variana, stopping along the way to meet with high holders and factors and to impress on them the importance of being loyal to their new ruler, Bhayar. Once they arrive, Quaeryt and his imagers begin the constructive (rather than destructive) work of building and repairing roads and structures in the new capital of the empire, and also constructing the new home for the Collegium on the Isle of Piers. Bhayar appoints the couple as his chief administrators, with the power to get the business affairs of the new country on a firm footing.

The only fly in the ointment seems to be a couple of Bhayar's senior commanders who have ideas of their own about how things should go now that Rex Kharst has been eliminated. All the other minor plotters can be dealt with quickly, but Quaeryt eventually has to be dispatched to make sure the plot is real and to defuse it if he can.

Not a lot of action or tension in this book; it's just a wrap up and deals with mundane issues that Modesitt needed to get off his chest.

It will be interesting to see what series he tackles next.

[Stefan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rex Regis is the eighth overall novel in L.E. Modesitt Jr.’s Imager Portfolio and the fifth one in the series-within-a-series about Quaeryt. The first three novels, with Rhennthyl as their protagonist, were set later in this fictional world’s timeline. Scholar, the first Quaeryt novel, moved the story several centuries into the past, initially making these books feel somewhat like prequels that mainly served to show the origins of the world of Imager, Imager’s Challenge and Imager’s Intrigue.

However, five books later, this second series of Imager books actually feels more solid than the first one. Quaeryt has become a more interesting character, and the plot has slowly but inexorably gained momentum. Even though I was initially sceptical about benching Rhenn, I now feel that the five Quaeryt novels are stronger and more rewarding than the initial three Imager books.

In case it isn’t clear by now, this review is about the eighth book in a series. What follows will contain spoilers for earlier volumes.

Read the entire review on my site Far Beyond Reality!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rex Regis is a well written conclusion to a long story. The 5th book following Quaeryt and Vaelora consolidating Bhayar's rule, the book nicely ties up loose ends while leaving intriguing hints at the continuation of the world with a female imager. I appreciated the conclusion of Quaeryt's story but it was not the action packed adventure the other books were, nor was the intrigue as compelling.

[Lupine Smile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid book in the series. Not a lot of action, but plenty of thought provoking insights.

[Eamonn Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

How satisfying it is to settle down with another long, solid novel by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. ‘Rex Regis’ continues the story of Quaeryt, the powerful imager involved in a great campaign to unify the continent of Lydar. Quaeryt also wants to set up a college of imagers where people with the talent can be safely harnessed to practice their arts and serve the state. He works for Lord Bhayar and is married to his master’s sister, Vaelora. He’s a kind of Merlin to Bhayar’s Arthur. Note that Bhayar is the Rex Regis of the title, not our hero. As the story begins, Quaeryt has just conquered the land of Antiago and must embark on making the country of Khel commit to Lord Bhayar’s rule. However, Quaeryt has risen high and fast in the ranks of the kingdom and there are other powerful men who would like to bring him down. He has to watch his back.

In the usual steady way of Modesitt books, troubles mount for Quaeryt. The former ruler’s imagers have vanished and at least three of them are reputedly very dangerous. Untrustworthy Sub-Marshal Myskyl, who took several regiments to pacify the north, has sent no dispatches for months. Quaeryt suspects he may be secretly planning an uprising against the Rex Regis. Meanwhile, our hero is given the rank of administrator and tasked with all the minor problems of governing the conquered territory: repairing roads, collecting tariffs, taking a census of the important landowners and so forth. Modesitt is very concerned with the practicalities of government and little concerned with heroic fantasy conventions. Let’s face it, King Elric of Melniboné seldom worried himself with such minutiae and Conan the Administrator is not a title we are ever likely to see. Modesitt’s approach is original and he makes the details interesting if you have a political bent, which I do.

Our hero is a bit down on businessmen or factors as they are called herein. He finds them more interested in making money than in doing the right thing. He also dislikes how they benefit from works performed by Lord Bhayar’s men, such as roads and bridges, but resent paying taxes to contribute to the cost. They also resent paying the cost of food and board for the army that conquered them, which I find acceptable but Quaeryt thinks mean. His view is that Lord Bhayar is much less of a tyrant than the tyrant who ruled before and they should thank their lucky stars. He also dislikes many High Holders, the landed gentry, who are only interested in preserving their traditional rights and privileges. That said, he can work with reasonable men and women from both camps.

Modesitt’s fantasy is so realistic that even the powers of his hero have a kind of scientific rationale. Imagers draw atoms from the surroundings to create the objects they image, so copper coins are easy to make as copper is abundant but an imager who tried to make gold coins when there was no gold about might kill himself in the attempt. This power of mind-over-matter is fantastic but vaguely plausible. However, Quaeryt can also ‘image project’ a sense of confidence and self-assurance that makes servants quail. He can emanate emanations of authority, like Major de Coverley in ‘Catch 22’, the officer so awesome that no one ever dared ask his first name. He can even broadcast a compulsion to tell the truth so that underlings won’t lie to him. All this is useful but doesn’t have the same scientific rationale as imaging objects.

This is the final volume in ‘The Image Portfolio’ series, I assume, which possibly explains why the dramatic climax comes a bit early. There’s a lot of wrapping up to do. It was interesting, however, and I finished the book wanting more. Between the first three books of the series and the last five, there is a large gap in history. Moreover (this isn’t really a spoiler), Quaeryt’s wife is pregnant at the end and it is prophesied that her offspring will be that rare individual, a female imager. Room for a sequel there, surely?

I have a notion that like all Modesitt’s works, ‘Rex Regis’ won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but fans of ‘The Imager Portfolio’ will surely enjoy it. I recommend the whole series but you can safely start with Book IV, ‘Scholar’, as that is where Quaeryt’s adventures begin. The first three books are about a different chap at a later date. They’re good, too.

Eamonn Murphy
This review first appeared at https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/

[Metaphorosis · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews

Summary
Having conquered Antiago on behalf of Lord Bhayar (though without his knowledge), Commander and imager Quaeryt sets off to investigate potential trouble in the north of previously conquered Bovaria.

Review
Despite a break of several months from this series, I returned with my enthusiasm … rapidly diminished on contact with the actual text. Almost every problem of the previous books recurs here – magic is a black box, Quaeryt almost-quarrels with his wife in non-charming ways, we hear about profession color-coding, we get a review of every lager Quaeryt drinks – seriously, I thought about making a color-coded map of lager quality in Solidar, with hundreds of data points – and we hear in detail and with repetition about every decision Quaeryt makes. In chapter 3, for example, he determines to ride out toward the capital three days after his wife feels well enough, which may be Vendrei or Samedi. He repeats this information to every subordinate and acquaintance he happens across. And because Modesitt details each day, we hear it pretty much every day until – thank goodness! – they finally leave, at which point we can revert to the standard repetitions about how Quaeryt looks like a child of Erion, colored clothing, lager quality, etc. That and endless repetitions of “This reminds me of something [mythical figure] Rholan said”, and a vague quote from an in-story book.

The one saving grace of the book is that we do, at last, learn a little something about the legendary Erion. Not much, but by the time you get there, you’ll be grateful for anything. That and Quaeryt continues to resolve complex problems by a) whining that none of this would have happened if people were only good, and then b) using magic to kill everyone. There is almost no problem that Quaeryt has ever encountered that can’t be solved with deadly magic and the belief that people bring it on themselves. And no one gives him any credit for it!

Lord Bhayar, meanwhile, seems to do less and less lording, restricting himself to a) being critical of Quaeryt’s every action, and b) asking Quaeryt for advice and then taking it while complaining that Quaeryt gives him no choice, since his advice is always right.

I suppose you could also count new magic powers as a novelty in this book, but since Modesitt is using magic as a black box anyway, it’s hard to say anything is really new. He does manage to forget some earlier uses of magic, though. There are new names introduced, but unfortunately, I put almost all of them in the ‘boring trivia and politics’ category. If they’re good, they’ll be kind, generous, disciplined, and efficient. If they’re bad, they’ll be venal and lazy – and probably end up killed by Quaeryt with magic at some point. But it’s important to remember that Quaeryt should never hold serious power. And it’s almost impossible to forget, since we’re reminded at least once per chapter – occasionally backed up with quotes from Rholan. We do also learn one little tidbit about the mysterious book about Rholan. So that’s two pieces of minor mystery address in only 450 pages.

My spouse asks me why I don’t give up on a series I clearly find deadly dull. And it’s the same answer as for the last book (and for the next three) – I bought the books, and I’m going to read them. But if I had been buying them one by one? I’d have stopped a long time ago.

[Yev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rex Regis was the final book of the Quaeryt Quintet. There were many ways it could have been better, but then it would have been a different style entirely, for better and worse. Primarily my issue with this and the previous book was that they spent far too much time on activities that I didn't find particularly interesting because they were mostly transitory. 

The first half was similar to the previous book, but also had parts that were a bit more more like Princeps and that was what I enjoyed most from this entry. The latter half was information gathering from various sources as they travelled to determine the truth of a matter. After that's resolved, there was a bit about long term plans. I wish much more has been used to detail this part instead of almost not quite half being about the day to day matters of traveling a considerable difference.

While these five books provided an interesting view of daily life, this and the previous spent far too much time on matters that should have been lesser priorities. There are often reasons why stories are structured in certain ways and the more dramatic moments are focused rather than an attempt at realism. These books have been highly informative about what I specifically like and dislike about providing minutiae and having a slice of life slant. Which to say that I prefer it to be the focus rather than presented as a liminal space between plot points. The ending was suitable, though rather curtailed.

Overall it was enjoyable enough and served well in its purpose of basically being the sort of comfort reading that I prefer. It's a shame that it wasn't better than it was, if only because it could've been truly enjoyable if it stuck with how the first two Quaeryt books went.  I'll be reading the rest of Imager Portfolio sometime within the next few months, which again will be a whole new cast of characters and a different time period.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queryt has always known Myskyl was a wrong officer, and now he has dropped out of communication. Quaeryt is the obvious person to investigate. When Bhayar sent him, he didn't really expect Quaeryt to walk into the middle of Myskyl's forces with only three other imagers to support him. And Quaeryt didn't expect Myskyl to be ready for him.

The last of the 5-book series about Quaeryt, the poor scholar who became the right-hand man of Lord Bhayar, conqueror who united the entire continent of Solidar. The threads come together, with powerful schemers to be outmaneuvered, the final portion of the continent to be integrated, and the future of all imagers to be cemented and preserved.

[Pedro Marroquín · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buen final a esta serie de 5 libros, en la que todo queda resuelto, e incluso habla de dónde salen algunos conflicto de la primera trilogía. Como siempre, a ratos es demasiado cansino con sus ideas sobre el buen gobierno, sobre todo tras 8 libros hablando de lo mismo, pero es algo que no debe impedirte disfrutar de la historia, y como el protagonista sienta la bases de todo. A-

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel wraps up Quaeryt’s story line as he works to unite the continent under his king and found the Imager’s collegium. If you are with me so far, you know what to expect. If you are not with me, you need to go back and read some of the earlier volumes. This is the eighth Imager Portfolio novel.
Modesitt, L. E., Jr. Rex Regis. Imager Portfolio No. 8. Tor, 2014.

[Groucho42 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final of this sequence in the series, this book follows the consolidation of Lydar into Solidar. The focus is on some questionable military leaders who may threaten the king's rule. Khel is given short shrift in a fly-by near the end. This one is almost totally about local politics in Bovaria. It's an ok capstone to the sequence.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda glad to see the end of this series. I liked the MC for the most part but his interactions with his wife got extremely repetitive and tedious. Does every single chapter have to end with the banter about the MC wanting sex and the wife not wanting to give it up? Then the MC acts the Simp to appease the bitchy wife to smooth things over? Tiresome.

[Evalyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not going to lie, I wanted to DNF this book when Skarpa died. I love Skarpa, he is hands down the best character in this whole damn series and I really do not see the point behind him being assassinated. So no. I did not like this book and I'm kinda done with this series, not looking forward to the next 4 books, tbh.

[Jaipal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books is the final of this chapter in the forming of Solidar. As I've mentioned in other reviews, it's predictable but readable. I do recommend his books for the world building and look at alternatives to governance.

All in all, a must read for fans of the image portfolio. For others, it's not bad but can be formulaic if you've read other novels by the author.

[Micheal D Pyett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Rex Regis

Another great story. I don't think Modesitt has ever written an even substandard book. I always pre-order and look forward to the next book. I highly recommend all of his books.

[Lonnie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great end to the story of Queryt. Another solid book by Modesitt Jr. Interesting to see how Solidar came about.

There were times when Bhayar's character was a little unbelievably pliant, but given who the main character was, perhaps that makes sense. Over all I enjoyed it alot.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I will miss the main character from these last 4 books. Every story needed to end and this was feeling a tad bit stale. The universe though is still wonderful and looking forward to trudging further into the Imager Portfolio.

[Elorin Achiad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning climax

I found the book engaging and interesting and the climax was an amazing centerpiece of a great storytelling. I think this was the ideal resolution of Quaeryt's story.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great final volume of Quaryt storyline. Enjoyed it very much.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A satisfying conclusion to the Imager prequel focusing on Quaeryt. The only issue is the gimmick used to get Quaeryt out of the most dangerous moment in the story.

[Gail Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

just keeping track of my books

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rereading the series and still enjoying it!