Third in an exciting fantasy trilogy called 'Balanced Sword' comes PHOENIX ASCENDANT. We get a quick recap of the adventure to date, and maps. Kyri has left her home after her family were killed, but in another city she learns that the supposedly just faction of holy warriors may have been behind the deaths. She seeks vengeance. A prince called Tobimar has left his people in Skysand while in search of his ancestral homeland. The two meet in the city of Zarathanton and team up, along with a diminutive adventurer named Poplock Duckweed, quite appropriately as he is of the Toad race. Poplock is really well written, perching on someone's shoulder, slurping up beetles and picking locks happily.

By now the heroes have coped with battle and treachery, magic and dragons. Refugees are flooding the land from a coming Chaos War so the adventurers arm themselves and travel. We meet them helping to repair the structure of the Valata Tower temporarily in an effort to save people trapped there after a magical explosion. Kyri the swordswoman has been given the title of Lady Phoenix and has learned to call fire. She is astonished to meet a family member who is able to confirm her suspicions about a person of status being responsible for evil acts. Deciding to put an end to this double-dealing, Kyri and her companions head for the city of Evanwyl to confront him... through the haunted Rivendream Pass.

I'm trying not to give anything away as there are some real surprises in store. The incidentals are rewarding too, such as a bespelled scroll, a clockwork crossbow and a sand- demon. With gods and demons involved, the story includes the metaphysical. Anyone who has been following the adventurers will be thrilled to continue the quest as Kyri faces the fact that she is cursed and Tobimar realises that he loves her. Personally I find the growing sureness of love provides an emotional strength to this third instalment which may make it more powerful than the others.

Author Ryk Spoor uses some modern terms such as data, matrix, analysis, which are appropriate as used and serve to remind us that language has changed over centuries. Ryk Spoor also writes science fiction but he enjoys running fantasy role playing games, from which his written adventures grew. We can see this influence in the provision and growth of distinct and unusual characters, and in the strong proportion of conversation in which all are allowed to speak as equals - something unusual in medieval times. PHOENIX ASCENDANT is just right for adventurers of all shapes and sizes.