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Barron continues the epic adventures of Tamwyn, Elli, and Scree in the year 1002 in the legendary world of Avalon, a seven-root tree that was planted from a seed by Merlin. The wizard's 17-year-old grandson, Tamwyn, is a wilderness guide with the ability to understand the languages of nonhumans. But, is he his grandfather's true heir–or is he the child of the Dark Prophecy who is destined to bring about the end of the peaceful world of Avalon? In the tradition of classic high fantasy, this is a lengthy novel of the battle between good and evil. It has a fully realized universe replete with a large cast of characters and is laced with some humor, gory battles, and many magical elements. Barron touches on many worthy themes: the power of one person to make a difference; trusting in one's abilities; the fragility of our environment; the need to honor all forms of life. There is much to keep track of and the plot moves along slowly with long explanations that reference Child of the Dark Prophecy (Philomel, 2004) and set the stage for the final installment. Fans of the author's Lost Years of Merlin series (Philomel) will enjoy finding places where the two series converge.