"A great end to this excellent fantasy series"
Growing up in an impoverished peasant croft family in the
Chyrian lands of Mel'Nir, Gael Maddoc has no hope to
escape from farm life. She detests toiling the land,
finding it boring and costly especially when she looks at
her parents and two older siblings. She sees nothing
positive in her future though she dreams of adventure. That changes when Gael turns seventeen as the priest Druda
Strawn sees something in her especially after she gave to
him last year the ancient map parchment she found. He
arranges for her to train with the Summer Riders as a true
battlemaid while her family's back taxes are paid. Gael
leaps at the opportunity to train as a mounted soldier and
easily adapts to the military regiment with her background
helping her with a stoic acceptance. The Shee Fair Folk also notice something special about
Gael as they believe she is the legend, the Wanderer, "the
chosen servant of the light folk". They begin guiding her
for she is the hope to save the realm. Though the great Cherry Wilder died two years ago, readers
will agree that THE WANDERER is wonderful homage to her
terrific fantasy series, "The Rulers of Hylor". Fans will
not be able to delineate between Ms. Wilder and Katya
Reimann who apparently completed this tale. The story
line is fast-paced from the moment Gael becomes a soldier
in training and never slows down as The Wanderer tries to
make things right. Without any gimmicks, readers obtain a
realm scarred by war and betrayal with a pinch of magic as
a flavoring. This is a fitting tribute. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted May 14, 2004
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