Modesitt's 12 volume Imager Portfolio, a solidly believable exploration of the games of power and their price, of how history shapes men spectacularly and its major players are so frequently forgotten, leaving only traces or hints of what and how they succeeded or failed to gain or lose what they most desired , culminating in this final work with the last Rex Charyn , realising that far from holding back change it must be embraced and moulded to advantage all not some and that in doing so some terrible prices must be paid not just by others but by those whom others think can do much more than is really possible.
Modesitt has always rounded his Fantasy not in "magic" as such but on a logically consistent possibility not just dragons, mysterious spells or "just because" and generally there is always a price to be paid for such power . This series has over time seen Solidar created under one powerful and ruthless Rex and ultimately over ages of social and change and commercial innovation evolve into a completely different society, with all the complexities of conflict, ambition, stupidity, sorry and loss that any society will suffer as it develops and changes.
It is never easy to end a Science Fiction/ Fantasy Series satisfactorily but Endgames truly is a satisfying ending to a series of great and fascinating writing with all its complex explorations of human frailties, strengths and weaknesses, beliefs and sorrows. Highly recommended.