In Angel Fire East we find out what is happening with John Ross - A Knight of the Word - and Nest Freemark ten years after their last get-together in Seattle. In the mean time Nest has gone on to win Gold medals in the Olympics (twice) and is the reining World Champion and record holder in many middle distance running events. However, several months before, she decided to quit her running as her ingrown demon wolf (Wraith) is starting to control more and more of her and almost escapes during one memorable race. A race Nest wins, but only because of Wraith's influence.

Now Nest is living at her old house in Hopewell, IL and watches the world go by. We find out that she's been married for a while to a guy named Paul, and is involved with her church and community, but that is all we really know of her world.

John Ross has also continued with his life. He is still an itinerant Knight of the World who roves the U.S. drawn by his nightmares to places where he can affect a battle between the demons and mankind. His nightmares show him what might happen if he fails and he learns from those what to change in the situations he finds so that the nightmare does not come to pass. He is more successful than not, and his reward is always to get a new mission from the Word - or its representative The Lady.

In this volume, he is visited by a nightmare that shows him dying on a cross. It turns out that he somehow manages to capture a unique magical creature known as a Gypsy Morph, but he fails in not protecting it enough from the Void. Through this dream, Ross finds out how to capture this Gypsy Morph and he goes on to do so and then runs around the countryside to escape the hordes of demons who are attracted to it. It is kind of interesting to see how Ross - who is obviously fighting on the side of goodness - has to steal cars and cause pain to people who befriend him without a care or remorse as he does so.

Eventually, the Gypsy Morph changes into a little boy and call out "Nest" so Ross comes with him to Hopewell. On the side of the demons, a diabolically clever demon named Findo Gask has assembled a team of three other demons and is waiting in Hopewell for exactly this to take place. The four demons have the run of the town and affect an abusive Deputy Sheriff to help them as well as other townsfolks. Placing the book in Hopewell allows us to spend much time in the park that is Pick's special preserve as well as see what has happened in the 15 years since Running with the Demon featured the same locations.

I quite enjoyed reading this book and thought that Terry Brooks has regained his form for plotting and action. Since the demons are soulless and not interested in what takes place for their human victims, some of the deaths and destruction that they cause makes much sense. However, since they are supposed to feed on their victims, it was surprising not to have anyone taken in this way?

On the other hand, Terry Brooks's vision is very dark and foreboding. So, some of what we learn is not particulaly nice. For instance, Bennett Scott makes a return appearance but now she is no longer a precocious five year old but rather a 20 year old single mother who is a complete and utter loser and drug addict.

Even positive relationships like the love that springs up between Josie and Ross is left hanging. Ross's return to Hopewell rekindles the love affair, but a twist at the end of the book ensures that this love does not go on. That was very disappointing to me.

More disappointments had to do with the finish of the book. The final confrontation between the Word and the Void plays out much as one would expect, but some how Findo Gask is allowed to simply leave town with no ill effects. John Ross is given a highly problematic release from his vows and goes "home" and Nest is left with one three year old and the Gypsy Morph. Of course, since the whole point of gaining control of the Morph is to affect how it develops and affects the world, the immediate suspicion is that a fourth book in the series is imminent, yet that is not the case - there is no fourth book planned for this series. So, that is why I am taking one star away - the conclusion that isn't.

Other than that, this was an enjoyable romp in a dark world view.

Angel Fire East isn't an appropriate name for this book. It should have been named something else because there's one small reference to the title which has nothing to do with the story. Whatever. However, it is a great book. Here we get a glimpse into the life of John Ross once more and Nest Freemark as well. They join forces to save the Gypsy Morph from the Void and it's demons. It's riveting through it all. I've read it once before and still couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the next book coming out in August. Highly, highly recommend this book as well as the rest of the series!!

When John Ross dreams of a crucified man telling him the location of a rare gypsy morph, and that the loss of that magic led to the downfall of the human race - then glimpses his own face upon that crucified man - he determines to find the gypsy morph and solve the secrets of its magic no matter what. Finding it will be the first task - although he knows it will be in a cave on the Oregon coast and what town it will be near, that doesn't necessarily narrow it down. Then capturing it will be a problem. Then the hardest part will be maintaining his hold on it without it being captured by demons, who will be attracted to it like bees to honey.

He finds the cave with the help of a resident of the area who knew all the caves around. He captures the morph with a net provided by the Lady. And he keeps one step ahead of the demons by remaining constantly on the run. Discovering what the secret of the gypsy morph is, and what it wants to become, however, seems to be impossible - until it finally assumes the form of a little boy and utters the word "Nest" and nothing more.

Nest is warned of their impending arrival by a demon named Findo Gask, who shows up on her doorstep and warns her to not help John Ross or take in the gypsy morph, or she will have only herself to blame for the results. Nest is unaware of this, but Findo did not come to town alone - he brought along three more demons because he has been thwarted repeatedly in his attempts to capture John Ross and the gypsy morph over the past weeks.

To complicate matters more, Bennett Harper - whom Nest had once saved from the feeders on the cliffs overlooking the river - turns up on her doorsteps with her daughter. Bennett is an addict and is looking for help and a place to stay. Of course Nest takes her in - but the demons see Bennett as a way to get to Nest.

By the time John Ross arrives with the gypsy morph in the form of a little boy, Nest has a full house.

What happens over the course of the next few days is alternately terrifying, horrifying, heart-rending and heart-warming. It shows the depths to which people can sink, as well as the heights to which they can ascend, all the while doing their best to pull others up with them. This made a satisfying end-cap to the trilogy, while leaving enough of an open end for additional books set in this world if the mood should strike Mr. Brooks (and we all know how he is!).

I can definitely recommend this trilogy to anyone who enjoys classic themes of good vs. evil, especially those with particularly thought-provoking ideas involved. These were very good books - read them!

I am a huge Terry Brooks fan. This book does not disappoint. I have introduced my grandson to Terry Brooks, and he enjoyed this book as much as I did.

A group of demons stake out Nest's hometown waiting for John Ross to seek her out. The conclusion of 'The Word and the Void' series.

I have to admit, I enjoyed the first book in this series "Running with the Demon" the most, this third installment brings the series to a satisfactory close. The second book, "A Knight of the Word", seemed more of an interlude, but "Angel Fire East" brings the story back to its origins: the small town of Sinnissippi. Something about demons running around a small town (as opposed to a large city like Seattle, the setting in "A Knight of the Word") seems to be more frightening. Enjoyed it, but I felt the main characters made some foolish choices obviously meant to increase the suspense. Overall, however, glad I finished it.