The Devising completes the Dark Oak Chronicles fantasy trilogy by Jacob Sannox. Sannox is a writer of great range and versatility and in The Devising he goes against many of the established tropes of epic fantasy, in keeping with the rest of the series. As this is the final instalment, please note this review contains spoilers for the first two books, Dark Oak and Age of the Dryad.

The Devising opens with the surviving characters still reeling from the tumultuous events in the second book, so the early chapters concern people adjusting to the end of the old order and the beginning of a new era. This even applies to the instigator of those world-changing events, as Dark Oak himself readies for war, ensconced in Awgren’s former stronghold of Halwende. He has grown powerful and is not afraid to use his knowledge against the Dryad Queen Nayr and her allies. His former wife, Rowan, is adjusting to her new role as the leader of the humans. She’s conflicted about the task of defeating Dark Oak, sensing that Morrick is still there, if she can reach him.

Meanwhile, on the Isle of Anbidian which is home to the druidic order of the Deru Weid, the warrior Ailsa is thrust into a leadership position following the death of her lover Queen Cathryn. She must prepare for war against Dark Oak and his allies the Weavers, Deru Weid outcasts, and the hoard of Devised marching toward the island. The final story strand features Luthier as he leads the Tinkers on a mission to try and save Cathryn and Lachlan’s children and challenge the ruthless Maconnacks on The Isles.

This setup leads the reader to expect a typical epic confrontation on three separate battlefronts. Whilst there is action and plenty of dramatic twists and turns throughout the novel, The Devising proves to be a different kind of story. For example, in his new form as a Dryad, Lachlan makes the Tinkers confront the folly of the human condition and they start to realise that if there is to be peace on The Isles they need to consider compromise, even though the Maconnacks have wronged them.

Dark Oak also starts to realise his allies and teachers, the mysterious Weavers, have their own agenda and he is not the undisputed ruler of Halwende. There is a sense of emptiness, loneliness and sorrow running through this story, especially in Dark Oak’s chapters, and I think he’s a brilliantly conceived character. He might be the new Dark Lord but I still found him consistently intriguing and relatable, his actions driven by misplaced motives rather than being a caricature of pure evil.

As Dark Oak reflects upon his actions, The Devising explores the choices faced by the characters. This series has been a tale about revenge, but increasingly another theme emerges as Sannox asks difficult questions about whether people can change and whether they deserve forgiveness if they do. Consequently, this novel is thoughtful and philosophical in places, allowing moments of introspection alongside the action and increasing levels of tension as the true stakes facing each of the characters are slowly revealed.

I think Sannox has to be commended for his towering imagination, displayed in the fantasy world he has created. The magic of the Oreads, Sylphs, Naiads and Dryads is used in creative ways, and when their powers clash with those of Dark Oak and his allies the results are spectacular. These create some of the most vivid visual scenes in the novel. Yet there are many quieter, reflective moments as well. The cycle of life in this story means that death is not the end, with the souls of humans returning first as Dryads and then ascending to return as immortal water, air or earth spirits. This allows characters who died in the earlier books to return to the narrative, affording them the opportunity to consider their past actions and mistakes and try to correct them.

In many ways, the series reflects this cycle. The first book is wild and untamed, always unpredictable and in some ways mirroring the short-term outlook and selfish self-interest of humans. Book two explores the impact of the end of the old world order as established powers fall and nature, in the form of the Dryads and the forest, becomes preeminent. In the third novel a new order emerges, even more powerful than the Dryads, but if the ambitions of those seeking such change are to be achieved is the cost acceptable?

The cycle of life also gives Sannox opportunities to tell his story in a unique way. I don’t want to go into details which would spoil the books for readers, but as the plot unfolded in a completely different way to what I was expecting it still made perfect sense, remaining consistent with the world Sannox has created.
Finishing a series means that final book always has a lot to do in order to provide a satisfying resolution not only for that story but also for the trilogy as a whole. In The Devising, I think Sannox did a masterful job. It’s a beautifully written novel and hits the spot for me in having both compelling action and the emotional depth to explore some thought-provoking themes. The Devising ensures the Dark Oak Chronicles gets the excellent finale it deserves, and I highly recommend the whole series to readers who are looking for something different in the fantasy genre.