Book three in the Women's War series (after Queen of the Unwanted, 2020) introduces new, multifaceted characters and expands on the intertwined narratives of the trilogy. Delnamal, disgraced former King of Aalwel, was presumed dead after the destruction of his nation's well. Although gravely injured, he has discovered a lethal, previously unheard of magical ability and is determined to use that power to regain his throne and put women back in their proper place. Leethan, abbess to unwanted women in a restrictive warrior nation where females are still considered property, suffers from prophetic dreams. One dream in particular may hold the key to the future, but at a grave cost to those involved. Sovereign Princess Alysoon continues to mourn the loss of her daughter and is outraged to learn the murderer Delnamal is still alive. She vows to do whatever it takes to stop him and is more than willing to offer her own life to accomplish that goal. The conclusion to Glass' excellent trilogy blends political maneuvering, ambition, revenge, treachery, unreliable farsightedness, and requited and unrequited love. Sacrifices are made, but redemption comes from the most unexpected sources. Fantasy and series fans will be thoroughly satisfied with the results.

The third and final volume set in a high-fantasy world where women reign. In The Women's War (2019), a discarded queen casts a spell that lets women decide when and if they have children. By the end of Queen of the Unwanted (2020), a plot to reverse the Blessing--or, as the men call it, the Curse--that set the first book in motion leaves that spell unchanged while seriously damaging the source of all magic in the kingdom of Aaltah. Fans of the first two novels will likely be satisfied with this concluding volume. Good is rewarded. Evil is punished. And the trilogy ends on a hopeful note that delivers on the feminist-lite promise with which the series began. As was the case in the first two installments, the emphasis here is on interpersonal relationships, palace intrigue, and political maneuvering among royals. Readers heavily invested in, for example, Ellin's marriage to Zarsha will get to spend plenty of time listening to them flirt and strategize over dinners in her private quarters. Readers more interested in action will likely conclude that Glass lingers over phenomena such as late-night pastries a bit more than is necessary. This would perhaps be less notable if there wasn't a striking sameness to all these scenes. There are, evidently, a lot of royal banquets in Ellin's world, and each time she is forced to endure one we are reminded that they are long and tedious and that a private meal with her husband is a luxury. While she enjoys this luxury, she and Zarsha have conversations into which the author weaves in backstory she's already shared at least a few times. And this is the model that Glass uses for the many, many, many characters in this novel: Reintroduce the characters in the scene, show them doing something they've done several times before, and maybe inject one new detail that nudges the plot forward. There are exceptions to this rule, but not many, and the end result is a story that runs more than 1,800 pages across the whole series and still feels very small. The lackluster conclusion to a trilogy that might have succeeded better as a single, heavily edited volume. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In this trilogy's previous installment, King Delnamal severely damaged Aaltah's Well to quash the powerful magic it allowed women to harness; he seemingly died in the effort. His half-brother Tynthanal has become regent to the infant king; he struggles with the role and for having left his heart (and unborn child) in Women's Well. Meanwhile, in the Abbey of the Unwanted, Mother Leethan has visions of a young girl on a journey and a war of succession; at its center are three women up against three men to determine the future of their world. Delnamal turns out to be alive, but in a new form, and he's intent on finding his way back to power. He becomes the symbol and weapon in a war to decide the future of Aaltah. With its gender binary focus and Western Europe-inspired setting, this story does not offer much diversity, but its themes of patriarchy and women's autonomy resonate. VERDICT Glass's final volume of the "Women's War" trilogy is a satisfying, if lengthy, conclusion to the series.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Glass neatly ties up her epic Women's War fantasy trilogy (after Queen of the Unwanted) in a doorstopper that sees kingdoms rise and fall on the willingness of their leaders to embrace change. Ex-King Delnamal of Aaltah's unsuccessful attempts to reverse the magical Blessing/Curse that provides the women of Seven Wells with perfect control over conception and the capability for lethal retaliation for rape has left Aalwell's precious magical well profoundly damaged and has transformed Delnamal into a walking cadaver. He keeps himself alive by fatally plucking the life-giving mote of Rhokai from living beings, making him the perfect weapon for a patriarchal holy war. Meanwhile, Mother Leethan of the Abbey of the Unwanted wrestles with visions of a succession war, a girl child on a journey, and three powerful women facing down three men to secure the fate of the world. Glass brings her creative, gendered magic system back to center stage, which will leave some readers longing for a more nuanced, less binary take. She carefully builds the individual relationships between family members, allies, and foes, deepening emotional immersion. Despite the hefty page count, no individual interaction feels like filler, though readers will be anxious to get to the inevitable climax. This is a worthy conclusion. Agent: Miriam Kriss, Irene Goodman Literary. (July)