Well, If you've made it this far into the series, congrats. If you just so happened to see this review and take the time to look at it, thank you, but before continuing, pick up a copy of the first book, The Merchant of Death, read your way to the tenth book, and then read this review. Don't worry, we'll wait.Now that we have a couple more fans of good ol' MacHale's books, I believe that we can jump right into the final book of Pendragon, called The Soldiers of Halla. This fiction-based book hits the ground running. As soon as you turn the first page, the story continues right where the other book left off. We find ourselves following Bobby Pendragon, the story's antagonist, who is desperately trying to find a way to stop the bad guy, Saint Dane. Why stop Saint Dane? Because he wants to become the supreme overlord of the universe, and, well, he's the bad guy. Anyways, Bobby has just met up with his friends, and learned some VERY important information about the Travelers (the people destined to fight Saint Dane). Unfortunately, if I told you these details, there would be some major spoilers for people currently reading the series. Instead, I'll graze right over the small stuff and tell you the only thing that really matters. Simply put, Bobby finally learns how Saint Dane has the powers he does, and how to stop him. Woah.
With that matter of business taken care of, Bobby and his friends have to figure out what planet they're on. Shokingly, the desolate wasteland that they see before them is none other than the once-thriving planet ______! (Wouldn't want to give anything away now, would we?) After this disturbing fact is established, the Travelers realize that only Saint Dane could have caused this much chaos, which means that they're on the right planet. Once they find him, they learn that his plan is already in full motion. Can Bobby and the Travelers find the strength to save a dying universe? Or are they already too late?
Theatrics aside, this book is phenomenal. From the fast-paced beginning to the unconventional end, this book ties up every last detail and leads you through countless heart-pounding fights and truth-revealing moments, all the while using every single resource it has available to throw you off your mental balance. One moment, Bobby is sneaking through Saint Dane's castle, and the next thing you know, he finds one of his friends, but they're older than Bobby! This is just one of the many "Whaaa?" moments you find when reading this novel.
MacHale puts some pretty powerful ideas out there in this finale. His most notable is that people have the right to choose their own destiny. This has been at the center of Bobby and Saint Dane's conflict from the beginning. Bobby believes that mankind needs to be left alone so that it can become whatever it wants to be. Saint Dane, on the other hand, is sure that mankind will become extinct if left to its own devices. He wants to intervene, and tell people what to do instead of giving them a choice. I agree completely with Bobby's philosophy. Very many countries fight their leaders in a struggle for freedom, or a way to choose their own course in life. Freedom is one of the biggest things that people want in life. Take that away, and people are as good as slaves.
Another example of people's will for freedom is America. Take one look at America's history, and you can see just how strongly people lust for the ability to make their own choices. Countless people left their home country, Britain, in search of a place to live in peace and freedom. Once they found it, they started a new country. Unfortunately, Britain still had its iron grip on the people of America. The Americans wanted independence so badly, however, that they waged war against the best military army known, and won. This is very similar to Bobby's story. An evil ruler rises to take control of everything, but is thwarted by the very people who he tried to govern.
Overall, this book is a recipe for awesome. Start with a base of nine other great books plus a deep storyline. Add 500 pages of action, sorrow, and hope, then stir. sprinkle some beautiful word choice into the mixture and bake at 300 degrees for 1 week. Line with a clever and mysterious ending and serve. This all-you-can-eat-buffet of a book will have you pondering its meaning for days! Do you really need to ask me what I give this book? A+ all the way, man.
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