After the sickness known as Doom destroyed the world as it was known, darkness claimed the land changing it even more. Some people were given magickal abilities and keep to the light while others crave the power the darkness gives them. A war of light versus darkness, of good versus evil, will one day be forced upon a child who is born of the light and lead to goodness. She will see THE RISE OF MAGICKS and fight the fight for freedom.

Fallon Swift's destiny was ordained before her birth when her father Max Fallon is killed and her mother Lana is forced to run to save her unborn child. A prophecy stated that this child would defeat the darkness. A farmer, a good man, takes her in and Simon Swift even delivers "The One" and loves both mother and child as if they are his. Fallon spent years learning the ways of magick, everything she needed to lead and win against the darkness. In this destiny she will free those who are being persecuted by the government and fanatics alike, while navigating life as any young woman who finds love.

THE RISE OF MAGICKS will hold you captive in the power of this tale. It is certainly author Nora Roberts showing her best storytelling skills and the most intense of the trilogy. Fallon is grown but still a young woman with a heavy burden fate has handed her. Duncan MacLeods has been by her side on and off for years until finally he comes back to stay. If he is going to die in the coming war, he will do it by the side of the woman he loves. The romance between them is sweet, a little rocky at times, but given the circumstances understandable, and just as intense and consuming as the rest of this book.

It might seem strange but what made me set aside this book for a few moments was when one of the family's dogs was dying, and they talked about letting him go. This was hard on one of Fallon's brothers and having dealt with the same pain, it struck me as a touch of reality that hinted to normal life. With all the danger, the waging war, talk of war, plans for battles - life moves on as the people of New Hope try to live normal lives. They love, they laugh, they work and play in the times that they can. I really loved the little talk that Simon Swift had with Duncan when he could no longer deny that the boy was in love with his baby.

THE RISE OF MAGICKS is an intense, thought provoking, sad, joyous, sweet and steamy read; there is something for everyone on these pages. In other words, this is author Nora Roberts giving her readers another triumphant adventure.