Badzey’s spirited seventh entry in the Grey Riders series confronts a question traditional epic fantasies don’t often address: what happens after the war with darkness has been won? The answer, of course, is more adventure—sometimes of a more personal nature than the world-shaking previous book—plus surprises like the conversion of a goblin commander to Christianity. Again lacing a thread of faith into a fantasy world inspired by Tolkien, Lewis, and good ol’ Dungeons & Dragons paperbacks, Badzey brings fresh energy to traps, trolls (undead this time!), and halflings ducking danger under camouflage cloaks. This blend of the familiar and the pleasingly novel (the metal serpents!) will entice lovers of the genre, even as this entry’s narrative thrust lacks some of epic fantasy’s urgent stakes and sense of self-discovery.

Tower of Light is something of an extended epilogue, starring tested heroes who now hold positions of power, undertaking an elective mission of rebellion. To that end, Badzey centers young Brandi, still training as a Grey Rider, worried about her Daemonic rages, and facing a classic fantasy hero dilemma: concentrate on honing her skills, or race off to help her people as they “suffer under the oppression of the Dark Faiths.” Soon, a delegation of heroes, royalty, and heroic Grey Riders soar south to inspire a rebellion and free kingdoms still gripped by that darkness.

The geopolitics are complex enough to be interesting but not needlessly complicated, and Badzey is generous with the pegasii, dragons, vampires, and characters with histories intimately connected to earlier books, including the offspring of heroes. The elegiac feel and sense of reunion mean that, at times, narrative momentum is slowed for emotional payoffs, though fans of the series will relish these moments. The surprise is that Badzey still conjures such spirited action, missions, and fun, demonstrating by the end that the fate of a single village can feel every bit as pressing as that of realms.

Takeaway: Spirited fantasy finale in a classic vein, alive with adventure and faith.

Comparable Titles: Patrick W. Carr, S.D. Grimm.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-