The three worlds face salvation or destruction as the
Bronze Canticles come to a close.
Calsandria once stood as the finest city in the world.
Destroyed by the Dragonkings, the city was ruined and
forgotten. Generations later, rediscovered and rebuilt by
the Mystics, the towers of Calsandria once again stand tall
and proud. But there are those who would see the city and
the heretics who live there brought down. And as in all
human cities, the politics within are often as great a
threat as what lays beyond the city walls. Theona, a woman
of no magic but true vision, sets out on a journey to
locate a lost heir and finds herself in the middle of a
maelstrom that could herald the end of the world.
In the world of the Goblins, a scientist named Lunid builds
a machine that will allow her access into the other worlds.
Can a Goblin army with their war machines be far behind?
The Faery world is in turmoil. Dwynwyn, the Queen of the
Dead, faces the threat of invasion by her mortal enemy, the
Kyree, and their allies. Frantic, the Faery Queen makes a
desperate decision. In a bid to save her people from total
destruction, she makes an unlikely alliance. If her plan
succeeds, her people will have a chance at a new life in a
new home. If it fails, then nothing is really lost, as she
and her kin face certain death if she doesn't take her
chance.
Choices. Individuals making decisions, important and
seemingly unimportant. Choices made with thoughts of grand
conquest, or merely a selfish desire for vengeance. Choices
made out of desperation. Choices made out of greed. Or the
pain that comes from inconsolable grief and rage. But
sometimes, sometimes...choices made out of fellowship,
friendship and self-sacrifice. Choices large and small that
can save a world or bring it to its knees.
I've enjoyed the parallel world that the Hickmans have
created for The Bronze Canticles series. The dream links
that connect them, but that they can't always quite
translate, are fascinating to watch as point of perspective
shifts from world to world. MYSTIC EMPIRE is very
traditional fantasy with dragons, elves, fairies, dwarves,
goblins and humans all vying for the same, or almost the
same space. Even though this story was brought to a
satisfying conclusion, I would be surprised if the Hickmans
don't choose to visit this universe again.