The Seeress of Kell

The Seeress of Kell (1991) David Eddings

The fifth book of the Mallorean and the tenth book about Belgarion finishes his story. Although David Eddings wrote three more books set in this world, they were books about the past–telling the stories of how Belgarath and Polgara became who they were. This books closes the story on Belgarion and Ce’Nedra.

Interestingly, like the Belgarion, the final chapters are more like an epilogue, and that is, I think, part of the weakness of this series. The last 75 or so pages are rather anti-climatic as David Eddings wraps up almost all of the loose ends. It’s nice to know how things turn out, but as I said, it’s rather anti-climatic in comparison to the events preceding. So you end the book with a good happy feeling, but things have all but completely wound down by that point and it somewhat feels like the author was tidying everything up rather than story telling.

That said, the book and series are still well worth reading. Despite the fact that I don’t find the Mallorean as strong a story as I do the Belgariad, the writing is a bit sharper, the characters are very well developed, and because of that it is very difficult to put the books down–even knowing how things are going to turn out and knowing the events leading up to that result (since I’ve read these books so many times.)

If you have not read the Belgariad and the Mallorean, I highly recommend them. However, recognize that they are epic fantasy, and if you pick up the first book, you’re in for a ten book series.
Rating: 8/10

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