Endings, especially the endings to trilogies or series, I often find are the hardest part to get right, shortly followed by beginnings. There’s a desire, probably rightly, for the ending to be biggest climax in a story, although I not that both Game of Thrones and A Storm of Swords defy such wisdom and it doesn’t seem to have done George any harm. Upbeat endings I find particularly difficult – surely to be the biggest climax there must be the toughest struggle to achieve a success? Maybe this is why I tend to go for bittersweet and downbeat endings more often than not. But then again I’ve enjoyed plenty of books where the ending has been obvious for many chapters and yet remained thoroughly enjoyable. Mumph. Sometimes I convince myself I know nothing. Please feel free to tell me your favourite endings, whether they were obvious or a complete surprise.

I’m posting this while England are in extra time against Italy. At this point a win would be a complete surprise…

Meanwhile, a couple of reviews have sprung up. Apparently The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice is full of pubs and The Order of the Scales is too slow.

The Apprentice is a fun and rapidly moving fantasy novel with elements of coming of age and rite of passage, along with thieves, villains, pirates, rogues, wizards who seem to do nothing wizardry and pubs. Plenty of pubs. Bookgeeks.

“Pacing aside, it’s very difficult to resist getting caught up in the cold, calculating behavior of Stephen Deas’ majestic and determined dragons.” Citybookreviews stand out from the crowd by finding the story moves too slowly.