The last book in the Chronicles of Narnia series, C.S. Lewis's The Last Battle, brings an entire 7 book series to a grand close. Moreso than any of the other books in this series, The Last Battle drips with religious symbolism and an apocolyptic motif. An ape named Shift and a simple donkey named Puzzle bring the story into motion, fooling the creatures of Narnia into believing that Aslan has returned. From there, the battle for Narnia begins. Lewis brings back three of the four original characters: Peter, Edmund, and Lucy, and leaves Susan out because she has stopped believing in the land that she so often travelled to and from as a child. In the battle for Narnia, no character, good or evil, is left out from the fight. Lewis paints a world with words as if he is painting with a brush, showing every detail with such clarity and exquisite detail that it is impossible to not see what he is trying to show you, the reader. Every time I read a book by C.S. Lewis I learn something new, and this book is no exception. What I paid attention to most in this book was the balance of character and scene. Lewis can simultaneously create an action scene with very much detail scenery-wise while still keep his reader connected to the character's feelings and emotion. His battle scenes are well constructed, and never dwell on one scene or action too much. He also taught me about letting your characters lose - something I have a very hard time with. In the end Narnia is destroyed. They lose everything to death, but something is also gained - Aslan leads all who fought to defend Narnia to his country, and the book ends with these final words, "For them, it was only the beginning of the true story, which goes on forever, and in which every chapter is better than the one before."