By Tim Lebbon

Titan, out now

Two years have passed since Vince was lost in the Fold, but the rediscovery of the lost town of Longford is the catalyst for mayhem.

This final story in Tim Lebbon’s Relics trilogy brings together many of the loose threads from the first two books to create a very satisfying conclusion. It may be a story that features fairies but it’s by no means a “happy ever after” situation for all of the characters – the stakes are high both for the Kin and for humanity, and inevitably there are casualties.

Lebbon summarises each plotline neatly as the characters are reintroduced and in all cases, their situation has moved on from the end of The Folded Land. There have been hints regarding the latent powers that Sammi possesses, and that’s one of the strongest parts of this book – the teenager isn’t just coping with the stresses of that time of life, but also discovering exactly who and what she is, and hoping that she will be able to do what’s required of her at the requisite time.

The Longford plotline introduces us to an intriguing new character, a survivor by the name of Bone, who has lived amongst humans for the decades since the town was flooded. His quest for answers and what he does with them when he gets them is woven through the book, leading to a very vivid moment amongst the chaos of the final portion of the novel.

There’s still plenty of scope for further stories regarding the Kin, the Nephilim and the fairies but Lebbon leaves the saga for now on a haunting final image.

Verdict: A strong conclusion to a very enjoyable trilogy. 9/10

Paul Simpson