“Kyra came to in total darkness. No, she was blindfolded and gagged.” Thus begins the spellbinding conclusion to The Paladin Chronicles by Neil Port. The Last City of the Dwarves is an epic fantasy that takes readers to wonderful places, exploring strong conflict, and characters with depth. Meet Hakeem and Kynane in their most vulnerable moment facing a deadly army. Jacinto is on a mission to find the lost gold of the dwarves but, having lost her memory, can she trust the adventurers traveling with her? Her greatest challenge yet lies ahead in the last city, the fief of the most powerful sorcerer, Æloðulf. Illvættir is embattled, and the humans are faced with the worst enemy — an army of monsters. Is there hope or will this be the end?

First off, I enjoyed the fact that the author provides clear notes on the setting which gives readers a good idea of the time and place. The characters are well-imagined and elaborately developed. The suspense grows with shifts in subplots and as the reader moves from one storyline to the next. The unpredictable nature of the story makes it an interesting read, for readers are uncertain of what will happen next. Neil Port has a wonderful gift for plot and has written a story that takes readers on an adventure akin to The Lord of the Rings. The setting features unfriendly landscapes, impassable wildlands, and natural elements that reflect the challenges facing the characters. There is humor aplenty; at times it is grim, and at times it is light, and it enriches the experience of the reader. This is one of those stories that you want to read again. It is focused and cinematic.

The Last City of the Dwarves by Neil Port is the seventh book in The Paladin Chronicles. Kynane and Hakeem only have a few troops remaining that can help them battle against a horde of monsters. A quest for a lost city is set in motion as the search for treasure leads a band on a dangerous adventure which will put Jacinta in the path of a powerful sorcerer. Meanwhile, Jess has spent her whole life training for a prophecy and the time grows near where she may have to lay down her life to save everyone around her. Everything comes down to this final battle and the characters will face a few final surprises that will keep you guessing until the end.

Neil Port delivers an epic and satisfying conclusion that ups the danger, the adventure, the chaos, and the fight for survival as each one of the characters is faced with their greatest threat yet. Everything the last six books have built towards has come to fruition as the characters face an epic journey through the mountains. The story weaves between multiple perspectives with various threads that build towards a thrilling conclusion. The different characters each have a different agenda and have a specific purpose for the story. The setting takes place in the Greater Caucasus mountains which provides danger and entrapment for the characters while also pushing each of them to confront monsters, adventure, themselves, and even each other as they fight to survive and to become free. The details are rich as Port delivers extensive history and vivid descriptions to bring this world to life. Maps are added throughout along with links that will provide you with further reading, research, and visuals of these epic quests. The Last City of the Dwarves is thrilling, suspenseful, action-packed, and surprising, making for a satisfying conclusion to an epic series.