Sergei Lukyanenko concludes his "Day Watch" series with Last Watch. Like the previous novels, this one consists of a mini-trilogy, three connected stories that contribute to a larger narrative.
Anton Gorodetsky, our narrator and a Higher Magician on Moscow's Day Watch, travels to Edinburgh, Scotland, to investigate the murder of a young Russian man by what appears to be a vampire. Sent by Gesar, head of the Day Watch, Anton is surprised and wary to also receive offers of help from Zabulon, head of Moscow's Night Watch. When Anton arrives in Edinburgh, he discovers a complex conspiracy formed by a Light One, a Dark One, and a Higher Vamipre, who are seeking to find and use a spell created by Merlin. Not only are they willing to shed blood, but if they unleash the spell, they have the potential to destroy all Others (those with magic powers and/or natures).
As usual, the world of the Others fails to fall into simple Light/Dark, Good/Bad binaries. Anton struggles with his own sometimes ruthless boss, as well as his compassion for human beings and his protective instincts as a father and husband. A foray to Uzbekistan adds a somewhat exotic flavor to the tale and fleshes out the character of Gesar more comprehensively.
This may not be the best entry in the series--I think the first novel, Day Watch, was the strongest--but it's an entertaining and essential read for fans of the previous books. For anyone who hasn't read the earlier novels, though, I'd advise doing so before tackling this one.
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