The Stone of Farewell suffers from the usual problems of a middle book in a trilogy; the characters are caught midway between their youth and their maturity, the plots of evil seem ascendant, and neither the beginning nor the end are entirely satisfactory. Still, this is by no means a poor example.
Simon’s quest to recover the sword Thorn from beneath the Rimmer’s tree has succeeded, at the cost of some lives and much trouble. He and his companions must now escort that sword back to Prince Josua, where – combined with it’s brother Minneyar – they may be able to defeat King Elias. But first, they must rescue Binabik from his own people, who name him oath-breaker.
This second book in Simon’s quest explores the foreign cultures of the world. Binabik’s people, the trolls, as well as the customs of the Sithi receive attention enough to deepen our understanding. Simon’s own maturity grows, as he comes to terms with the adventure his life has become and acquires skills more appropriate to an adventurer than a kitchen boy. As with The Dragonbone Chair, there are slow parts, but they are less dragging. Readers who enjoyed the first novel will appreciate the improved pacing, especially those who had trouble maintaining their attention during certain of the longer passages.
