The magic of a long series is to have the characters be interesting enough to maintain readers’ attention even as the plot has both a near and far conclusion. Cliff hangers are unsatisfying and no one in his right mind reads a book which says at its conclusion, in effect, “Gotcha! Now read my new book.”

Goodwin appears to thread this conundrum expertly. The characters, a group of five survivors during the end times, navigate their increasingly desperate world with heart and wisdom, guided by the very human but elusive Elijah. The ending is entirely satisfying even as it points toward more to come