Author: David Eddings
First time published: 1984, Del Rey
THE BELGARIAD #4
Synopsis
End of the Quest
It had all begun with the theft of the Orb that had so long protected the West from the evil God Torak. Before that, Garion had been a simple farm boy. Afterwards, he discovered that his aunt was really the Sorceress Polgara and his grandfather was Belgarath, the Eternal Man. Then, on the long quest to recover the Orb, Garion found to his dismay that he, too, was a sorcerer.
Now, at last, the Orb was regained and the quest was nearing its end. Of course, the questors still had to escape from this crumbling enemy fortress and flee across a desert filled with Murgo soldiers searching for them, while Grolim Hierarchs strove to destroy them with dark magic. Then somehow, they must manage to be in Riva with the Orb by Erastide. After that, however, Garion was sure that his part in these great events would be finished.
But the Prophecy still held future surprises for Garion-and for the little princess Ce'Nedra!
This continues the magnificent epic of The Belgariad, begun in Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, and Magician's Gambit-a fantasy set against a background of a war of men, Kings, and Gods that had spanned seven thousand years-a novel of fate, strange lands, and a prophecy that must be fulfilled!
Reviews of this book
By Kels
from Australia
Date: 11.09.2005
I LOVE this book as everything begins to make sence and some together. He ia crowned king not at the end of the fifth book, but the middle of this one (4th) and i think that is better as he has time to explore his new role and what has just happened which i find all the more interesting. One of the things i like about series compared to stand alone novels is that once you identify with the chracters there is more of an opportunity to explore them and enjoy their exploits, there is also more adventure and interesting circumstances, and these chracters have lots of books written about them- its FANTASTIC.
After i read the Belgariad i wanted more and i was incredibly happy when i learned that the mallorean series joins onto it and not only that but there are 3 other companion novels. thats 13 books!!!!!
Happy, happy, happy
These books can be enjoyed by anyone, i am a teenager and i have them all, and my parents borrow them off me (that part i dont enjoy) my cousins have their own copies, they have the right idea
By Rune Tønnessen
from Tau, Norway
Date: 13.04.2003
The magician Ctuchik is reduced - by his own command - to absolutely naught, and the fellowship returns to the West with the murgo army snapping at its heels. The main concern of Garion and his friends is to return the Orb to Riva, and "coincidentally" that is (in the exactly same room) that the princess CeNedra is to be on her 16th birthday. An obligation that is not without its grumbles.
Garion does what he must do according to prophesy, and finds himself in a new situation. Faced with a lot of boring duties and the (usual) "princess problem", he has enough reasons to want to leave Riva, but being the responsible young man he has become, THOSE reasons are of course no enough to make him leave…
This book deals more closely with Garions development as both a sorcerer and as a maturing young man. His new obligation changes his life dramatically - or so it seems - but his actions changes things even more.
The level of suspense in this book is higher than in the previous books, and the new situation after the "homecoming" gives the reader the chance to dip thoroughly into the splendid waters of Eddings epic fantasy.
Just keep on reading. You wouldnt like to stop now in any case, would you?
