Third in The Sunset of Magic series, Bort’s People by Alistair Potter chronicles a mission instigated by the secretive Counsel of Wizards to the planet Mirt, home of the warlike Harrowen peoples. The Counsel had believed that the Harrowen had been restricted to their own planet, but their attempted invasion of the peaceful planet of Nephus and the subsequent bloody war proved this not to be the case. Senior wizard Zepphal, who is himself a Harrowen, is charged with investigating. Bort, a hulking Trollid who had believed himself to be the last of his race, until he discovered a young female during a brief adventure on the planet Parhal, believes there are more Trollids to be found on Mirt.

So, along with his good friend, Lofti, (a Dunnit Sprite), they arrange to travel with Zepphal via a magical World Gate. To find answers, they must cross mountains and deserts and journey to the Harrowen Emperor’s capital city. On the way, they meet Pruth, a Shil Dragon Rider, help to heal her wounded beast, visit Zepphal’s home town to learn something of the local situation, and traverse the hazardous dragon lands to reach the Emperor’s citadel, where they learn the astounding truth behind the strange meteor showers which have become a feature of the planet’s night skies. Determined to set things right and return to their home planets, the small band makes its plans, but they are struggling against incredible odds - can they possibly prevail against the Emperor’s enormous might?

I have been lucky enough to review the two previous books in this series, and although your enjoyment of this last may be enhanced by reading them, it is not necessary to have done so to appreciate this latest chronicle. Alistair Potter is an accomplished author able to create credible authentic characters who remain long in one’s memory. Lofti the Dunnit Sprite is a marvelous example, a great character who I sincerely hope we will meet again in future stories. Mr Potter’s inventive plots are a joy and occasionally we get a glimpse of his humanity and concern for the planet and its environment peeking through his immaculate prose. Bort’s People is highly recommended and, if you can, try to read the whole series; you will not regret it.

Bort's People by Alistair Potter is a fantasy/action adventure book and the third in The Sunset of Magic series. This is a book that would appeal most to an audience made up of young adults and adults who enjoy fantasy fiction and/or who have enjoyed The Sunset of Magic series. In Bort's People, Bort, Lofti, and Zerphal embark on a journey between Nephus and Mirt. In order to reach their destination, they have to transverse the void between the two worlds and hope that they survive the experience intact and unaltered. Each character has their own reasons for making the journey which has joined them together in this adventure.

Bort's People (The Sunset of Magic Book 3) by Alistair Potter is a well written fantasy that does not waste time on pointless details. Instead, Alistair Potter launched me straight into the adventure right alongside Bort, Lofti, and Zerphal. I personally found Zerphal to be my favorite character. I liked how he was a member of the Council of Wizards and his desire to learn of how his species made their escape from Mirt. While I did enjoy reading Bort's People, I would personally recommend that readers begin with the first book in The Sunset of Magic series so that they fully understand the characters and the plot of the series. I felt like I was missing out by not starting at the beginning! However, that did not detract from my enjoyment of it and instead it only kindled a desire in me to seek out the previous books.

Bort's People by Alistair Potter is a captivating third entry in The Sunset of Magic series. It is a fantastic tale that combines fantasy and adventure to drive entertainment to readers. Readers are introduced to powerful characters, each on a mission to a very dangerous place, a place fraught with obstacles and dangers. Meet the daring agent of the Council of Wizards, Zerphal, on a mission to find out how the Harrowen, his own kind, could escape Mirt, across the dreaded void. Bort of the Trollid race is about to find out the fate of his own people, kidnapped 300 years ago, accompanied by his sidekick, Lofti. Can these characters succeed in their quests?

I haven’t read any previous books in this series and it was interesting that I never needed to read the other books for me to get into the story. Right off the bat, the reader is pulled in as the author describes the adventure of Lofti in the opening paragraphs of the magical tale. The reader is carried away and plunged into a fascinating world, a well-imagined setting, with characters that are rock-solid, purpose-driven and determined about their mission.

One of the things that made the read exciting is the way the author gets the reader worried about the characters. One can’t read this story without the nauseating sense of things going awry any moment soon, and the feeling accompanies the reader throughout the entire story. A lot happens and characters get themselves into very tight situations. It takes a great imagination to craft such scenes and to fashion such characters. The writing is great, the characters memorable, and the plot filled with unpredictable twists. Bort's People is a wonderful adventure with characters that readers will get addicted to.