Book Review: Enchanters End Game

Title: Enchanters End Game
Author: David Eddings
Published By: Del Rey Books
Publish Date: 2002
ISBN: 0-345-45631-9
Length: 236
Purchase From: Amazon @ $12.20

Additional Information

Enchanters End Game was originally published in 1984 by Ballantine Books as part of The Belgariad series by David Eddings. In 1995 a hardcover first edition was published which incorporated the last two books of this series. In 2002 a trade edition (large format paperback) was published. This review covers the 2002 trade release and all information above is in reference to this particular publication.

The Story:

After sneaking off in the night, Garion, Silk, and Belgarath begin making their way to fight the evil God Torak. All information up to this point tells the party that the sleeping God is lying in Cthol Mishrak stirring from his long slumber.

The book now splits into two active storylines. One follows Garion on his journey to reach Torak while the other follows the activities of Ce’Nedra. More emphasis is put on Ce’Nedra due to all of the activity going on around her. Garion is simply traveling across the land and trying to go unseen as not to stir up any trouble.

After Ce’Nedra takes it upon herself to unite the lands of the west, Polgara snaps out of her tirade and makes sure the princess follows through. While the plan of uniting the west seems a little far fetched, Polgara thinks that it may just work since there is a vague reference to this kind of activity in the prophecy they have been following.

Ce’Nedra has a tough job ahead of her and needs to get over her dreadful fear of public speaking in order to convince men to pick up arms and become a part of the war effort. With the prodding of Polgara, Ce’Nedra is wildly successful and manages to create an army of incredible size by the time her campaigning is complete.

This new army lead by Ce’Nedra works their way across the land in an effort to draw battle and attention away from the Tomb of Torak so that Silk, Garion, and Belgarath can slip on through and get to the God Torak without issue.

In a bit of a plot twist, everyone required by prophecy manages to arrive at the tomb of Torak together for the final battle. After Torak awakens from his sleep, a battle begins with Garion. As expected, Garion succeeds and Torak is defeated. Garion and Ce’Nedra complete their wedding ceremony and the story ends happily ever after.

My Thoughts:

All in all, this book wasn’t bad. It certainly wasn’t something to write home about, but it does a good job of closing out the series without any blaring gaps in the storyline to raise questions. After the story was complete, there was an epilogue which told us of the wedding between Garion and Ce’Nedra.

While the story is interesting, it is very black and white. This sort of cut and dry story makes it a little tedious to read book after book. I’ll definitely be continuing on with The Malloreon, but I’m going to need to give David Eddings a little rest. Even when I do get back to reading this author, I think I’ll have to break up the books and not read all five, one after another.