The third book in Putney's Dark Mirror trilogy was as exciting and adventurous as the first two and bring the series to a fitting conclusion. This time our young magelings are back in their own time and trying to prevent Napoleon from invading Britain. They need to use everyone's skills and strengths to defeat the powerful general especially since he is being supported by evil war mage Major Lavaux. Our 1804 team of Tory, Allarde, Cynthia, Jack and Elspeth need to call in their friends from 1940 - Nick and Rebecca - to help them defeat Napoleon's army. This episode also firms up the romances that had begun in earlier stories. While Allarde and Tory love each other, their romance is threatened by society. If Allarde continues to be a practicing mage and marry another mage his father the Duke will be forced to disinherit him. Tory doesn't want Allarde to have to give up the land that is so much a part of him but Allarde knows Tory's love is more important than the land or the Dukedom. Jack and Cynthia's romance is also threatened by society. Cynthia is the daughter of a duke and Jack is a commoner. Jack worries that Cynthia will regret giving up her society life. And, finally, Nick and Rebecca's romance is also threatened. Rebecca is a Jew in 1940 and is concerned about loving a gentile. Because all of the mages are young, the romances are not explicit beyond some kissing but the love they feel for each other is clear and evident because the writing is so evocative.I think readers will get caught up in the magic and the adventures in these stories and will painlessly learn a lot of history while reading too. I recommend the series to readers who like magic, time travel, and romance and can't imagine any reader being disappointed.
