This is definitely not a stand-alone book; you may want to go back through and re-read previous books before you dig in again. I'll admit I never did finish this book; it came across as disjointed and occasionally disorganized, and like the author's heart wasn't in it. The world itself is definitely unique, and the very definition of dark fantasy, so if you're into dark Christian fantasy, go for it...but start from the beginning. ( )

So ends one of the best fantasy series I have read.

I have read all of Jeffrey Overstreet's "The Auralia Thread" and it has been a wonderful adventure.

This book does an excellent job of bringing the story to a conclusion. I did make the mistake of reading several of the books many months apart, so I was a little lost with some of the characters and plot lines when I got to the final book. I am looking forward to going back and reading all of the books in succession.

The Ale Boy's Feast finishes "The Auralia Thread" and Overstreet's amazing writing style continues throughout. The characters and especially the environments come alive in this final story.

There are plenty of twists, surprises, and exciting moments in this novel.

I would highly recommend this novel to anyone that is looking for a different take on the fantasy genre.

4.5 / 5 Stars ( )

Overstreet concludes the Auralia Thread series with this book. It has quite a few surprises. Most of the principal characters from prior novels received somewhat less time, and I think this affected the overall continuity. Still, this is one of the finest of modern fantasy series, with well developed characters in a world that is well thought out. I can easily see other series taking place in this universe, and eagerly anticipate the next Overstreet novel. ( )

Honestly, at this point in the series, I'm a little bit lost in all the allegory. I really liked Auralia's Colors, but I think I missed the boat on what all of this is meant to 'be', and now it's just a pale imitation of Lord of the Rings. ( )

As with most fantasy series, it's practically impossible to summarize the events of the story without facing spoiler issues, so I won't. If you think you'll be interested in reading The Ale Boy's Feast, then you really should start with the first books in the series, Auralia's Colors, and then read through all four books in order. And if you liked the first three, then you'll probably love this, the final book.

I've been reading the Auralia's Thread series since only the first book came out, primarily because I liked reading Overstreet's movie reviews, and I was curious if he could write fiction equally well. To begin with, I wasn't convinced. There's an unevenness of tone in the first book, and it sometimes felt a bit too much like an exercise in imitation of Patricia McKillip. All of the books are somewhat difficult to get into--at least in part my own fault, as I never bother to reread the previous books in the series in preparation for a new installment--but by the end, I'm utterly absorbed.

In this regard, The Ale Boy's Feast was no exception. It took me about a quarter of the book to readjust to the characters, plot, and prose style, but once I did, I was completely engaged and stayed up until 3 am to finish it at one sitting. Overstreet's prose is still variable, but he hits the right notes far more often than not, and his use of theological metaphor is very well done, not half as heavy-handed as I was fearing. In fact, once the theological elements came seriously into play (in the last few chapters), the emotional impact was enhanced, and I did find myself slightly teary-eyed. (Okay, it was after 2.30, which might have had something to do with it--but, still!) So, ultimately, I would very much recommend this book (along with the rest of the series) to lyric fantasy aficionados, whether religious or not, with the caveat that it might take a bit of work to become full invested in the story. It is really a lovely book, though.