2.5.

This started off okay. Sure, there were way too many infodumps, who TF cares about these new members of Rhapsody's family when it's the last book, Ashe and Rhapsody's relationship still has some SERIOUS communication problems, but whatever. It was bearable.

Even the first two deaths were pretty well-telegraphed. They were clumsily handled, but there was some foreshadowing.

Then the second third of the book started and it took a nosedive straight into dreck. It turned into Haydon's final fuck-you to her fans, and man was it weird. Certain fans hated Ashe. Well, we got rid of him, but it was Rhapsody who did it! Other fans preferred Achmed and Rhapsody - well, that happened, but in a super-weird and frankly pretty disturbing way (like, not even a kiss, on the night she murders her husband, without having bathed in like a week, Achmed suddenly decides he wants a kid and that's what he's been gunning for this whole time).

And you thought Rhapsody's weird thing with kids and babies was over now that her kids were grown up! Lolnope, it's time for an even more magical baby! We'll mention it 20 pages before so we can say it's not an ass pull. Then Achmed gets to carry the caring-for-the-children torch. It was bizarre.

The last third of the book was okay - Achmed goes on a journey! I didn't think the journey was worth it in the end (MORE INFODUMPS), but whatever.

It was a better ending than the last book, I think. It just forced most of the characters to act contrary to their natures to achieve it.

Don't read past the third book, people. It's not worth it. ( )

This one is tricky...
On the nostalgic side, The Symphony of Ages was my first fantasy series I ever read, and the first trilogy to this day is one of my top favorite fantasy trilogies. The Weaver's Lament feels more certainly a return to form in writing skill and storytelling by Haydon then the previous book, "The Hollow Queen" was. There were also so many nods in this final installment to the first trilogy I could not help but feel a genuine nostalgic connection to it.
With that being said, this book felt extremely rushed, and I think could have served as a truly epic ending had more been put into it.
It felt rushed in many ways; such as the quick and almost lackadaisical way all of Rhapsody's children were introduced and discussed. It felt rushed in the way some characters story arches seemed to conclude. It felt rushed in the way after 1000 years of peace one thing happens that definitely wouldn't happen.
It feels rushed especially in the way of the character Meridion, who promised to be upon his birth an amazing and utterly unique character to this story. However, due to the skipping of 1,000 years in time between the last book and this one, we get to see literally nothing of Meridion's growth. He instead is a just another character in this story that is there to push the plot forward. What a waste.
Also never mentioned even once...Stephen Navarne and Melisande...I was hoping to see more of them.
There were also events that unfolded that felt completely out of place within the larger story that Haydon has painted for 8 other books. Two plot points in particular that involve the Three, that just wouldn't happen, except they do, and it feels like cheating the readers who have dedicated so much time to these characters. It felt sloppy and forced, and unfortunate.
With all that, however, The Weaver's Lament did feel like a strong ending to this epic tale. The last third of the novel felt, right, for lack of a better word. If it it did feel a bit off for missing some key players, it was a fitting end, and truly felt like it came full circle in a way.
In this installment I think the good outweighed the bad, though I am still unsure if that is because I have an emotional attachment to this series and knowing this is the final book makes me biased in some way, or if this book truly was a good read overall. Perhaps, it's a little of both.
I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Elizabeth Haydon and I am excited to see what epic tale she can bring us next, though my hunch is nothing will compare to the Three traveling through that root to the other side of the world and time! ( )

"That is the end of my tale, with illustrations, my song, a symphony of Ages spanning from before the Seren War in the Third Age to the end of this one, the Sixth Age, which in what little I can see of the Future will be known as Twilight. The paradox is complete."

The Weaver's Lament is the 9th and final book in Elizabeth Haydon's Symphony of Ages. I have mixed feelings about this book. I do think it is a fitting end to the series. That said, I also feel unsatisfied with a few key points that happened. A thousand years have passed and the realm has been at peace. The first third of the book is dedicated to introducing us to all of Rhapsody and Ashe's children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc., even going so far as to explain their roles in society though they are all irrelevant to the actual ending of the story aside from Meridion. Then comes an event so completely out of left field that it doesn't make sense in any way other than as a plot point. It was just too convenient to be authentic, especially given the character involved. Just as the situation starts to escalate the perpetrator is easily dealt with and we move on.

Up next is the second half of the book which feels like a different story entirely. This is more along the lines of what I expected when I picked up the book. The pace picks up and I was swept away into the adventure that felt a lot more natural and in line with the characters involved, though it too feels on the rushed side. Perhaps that's my main complaint. The book is too short!

There are some things I really liked. I quite enjoyed Achmed, Grunthor and Rhapsody's little reunion. It felt just like old times. I liked that we're given the explanation of the altered timeline from book 1 and what history would have looked like had there been no intervention. The undead "guardian" Jarmon seemed like a nod to the skeleton guard in The Last Unicorn. If he wasn't then that is quite a coincidence. I had been quite curious about what the underworld was like and it was great to have that curiosity satisfied. Also, Achmed continues to be a bad ass.

The series could easily have ended with the previous book. I do think the things I liked outweigh the things I didn't so I'm glad I read it. Just be sure to keep a box of kleenex handy if you decide to give it a go as you're in for an emotional roller coaster. ( )