Crusader [Paperback]

The Wayfarer Redemption has gone from pure brilliance to utter disappointment with this final installment of the series by Sara Douglass. As a life-long reader and lover of fantasy I have never been so appalled by the conclusion of a fantasy series - especially one that started out so good. I thought hard about whether or not to even write this review, fearing that my negativity might turn off many readers to Sara Douglass' other work. However, I was so stunned by the poor quality of Crusader that I decided that I must let other readers know how I feel.

I found the original Wayfarer Redemption trilogy, books one, two and three of this now six book series, to be absolutely brilliant. The scope of the world, the depth of the characters, the original use of magic and the epic story lines make it one of my favorite fantasy worlds. However, what started out as an amazing series quickly turned sour when Sara Douglass tacked on another three books - Sinner, Pilgrim, and finally Crusader. While it is said that the Wayfarer Redemption was always meant to be a six book series, there is a huge difference in quality between the first and second trilogy.

Everything that was accomplished, fought and struggled for in the original trilogy is quickly and utterly destroyed in this second trilogy and thus makes the original trilogy pointless and trivial. Everything, literally, is wiped out. Tencendor and everything in it - gone. Washed away like the first trilogy was nothing important. This is extremely frustrating for all the readers who spent so much time reading the first trilogy and struggling with the characters as they finally defeat Gorgrael and create peace for Tencendor. Then suddenly the demons come and, poof, all gone.

Crusader is, by far, the worst of the series. The writing becomes erratic and the plot lines start to exceed being fantastical and venture into the realm of ridiculousness. The use of magic in Crusader loses its rules and boundaries and suddenly characters, especially DragonStar, are able to do whatever they want. In all fantasy, magic must have rules and limitations in order to make it meaningful and not omnipotent. The Star Dance used to be the very original and creative way that magic was cast. In Crusader, there are no longer rules. Characters have magic when they need it and it just does whatever is needed to bail them out. DragonStar can practically do anything with his Acharite magic and in many instances it is truly ridiculous. Magic always (pardon the pun) magically appears just at the right time, even though the characters have no prior knowledge or training on how to use it. It simply works - all the time - and all the characters know just how to use it.

One of the low points in Crusader was the sudden and random relationship between Zenith and WolfStar. Out of nowhere, Zenith realizes she is in love with WolfStar and then begins a relationship with him. All this despite the fact that WolfStar raped her and she claims to be truly in love with StarDrifter. This extremely frustrating love triangle never receives any sort of resolution. All three are suddenly eaten alive at the same time. The end. Even worse, Axis barely grieves about this and then its just forgotten.

I don't wish to give away too much for those who actually make it to the end of Crusader without giving up, but believe me when I say the end is terribly disappointing. All the random magic and ridiculous elements come together to culminate in an ending that left me wondering what had happened. I had to reread the last several chapters and I still don't really understand what is supposed to have happened. So much of Crusader turns bizarre that nothing past the middle of the book really makes sense anymore. Poorly constructed connections with the original trilogy mesh with unresolved plot lines and mix together with ridiculous occurrences and last minute magic casting to form a conclusion that is so random it is hard to fathom.

So much of Crusader is bizarre and ridiculous. I really had a hard time believing it was written by the same author. If you are reading this after having finished Crusader, I'm sorry that you also had to endure such a train wreck ending. If you are reading this and haven't started the second trilogy, don't. The first trilogy stands on its own and is better if you never read the second trilogy. I wish I hadn't.

The "Wayfarer Redemption" series ends, appropriately enough, in a gush of sentiment, forced pathos, melodrama, and a good healthy gooey dollop of cheese. What more can you expect, after the last few books? Still, I do have to admit that the final battle between Good and Evil gives new meaning to the word "anticlimactic." I don't want to give anything away, but usually the Good Guys are supposed to fight for the outcome where the earth ISN'T destroyed. Once you give ground there, it's a somewhat slippery slope, you know?

Another problem here is the ever-multiplying number of locations Douglass creates, made worse now by the fact that most of them aren't real. There's Sanctuary, but then they leave it. There's a Field of Flowers, AND a Garden, and I have no idea of the significance of either. Is the Field Heaven, or just a waiting room for the Garden? Are they the same thing? How come the Field is both an afterlife, and occasionally completely empty when DragonStar goes there?

And then there's Zenith. Oh, Zenith. Honey. In my last review I told you to fish or cut bait re: your dilemma with StarDrifter. I most certainly did not tell you to jump overboard and go trolling for sharks. WolfStar? Really? The problem with this setup is that Douglass doesn't even try to make it convincing. She needs Zenith to be in a certain situation, so she just plops her there, with no motivation whatsoever. It's contrived, and it feels contrived, and it cheapens what should have been one of the book's more poignant tragedies.

I was, perhaps, a little too generous in my assessment of "Pilgrim." I cut it some slack on the grounds of its sheer entertainment value. Well, no danger of that here. Someone needs to tell Douglass that sensationalist, bloodthirsty, gruesome, graphic violence does not qualify as entertainment (this was one of the many, many problems with "Hades' Daughter," as well). Beyond that, the implausible plot and character developments pretty much ruined this story for me. It's too bad that this half of the series had to end this way. Looking back, while I would still recommend the first three books of the series, the second trilogy is just not worth the effort overall.

I read this book, just like another reviewer, a few years ago while because I ordered the paperback from Australia, now however I want to buy this again in hardcover because I really like the story. Guess that says a lot about me (I'm a collector) and about how I feel about the story (It's great!).

They other reviewers said the story turned weird and was difficult to understand, I disagree...

Yes it took an unexpected turn, but this is merely "high" fantasy...strange but beautufull things happened and If u have an open mind you will love this...however this isnt "realistic" (for as far as that is possible) fantasy, so if u are after that U might pass this book.

On a final note, I live in Holland and I'm Dutch...English isnt my first language nor did I study it in school, I however read this book in English and it was not difficult to understand even for someone like me, I dont know why the other reviewers would say it is...maybe they couldnt grasp the scope of the fantasy aspect of it, or maybe they couldnt stretch their own imagination around the story that is told here...yes its weird its fantastical...but it does make sense and it is most of all FUN!

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