The Third Book of the Dun Cow: Peace at the Last: 3 (The Books of the Dun Cow, 3) Paperback – Illustrated, 26 Nov. 2013

After readers were 'hooked' by the first book, the second proved less than noteworthy, but this third installment proves worth the wait. All of our favorite characters, including Chauntcleer and Mundo Cani are reprised in believable fashion as well as new animal characters that maintain reader interest. Shorter in length than the previous two books, anyone who has read the first two books will see that the author fluidly brings the trilogy to a conclusion that makes even John Wesley Weasel proud.

I wasn't sure this particular book series could go anywhere after the death of the primary protagonist. But Pertelote involuntarily and by default fills in the hole left by Chauntecleer's absence. She clearly is not as strong of a character, nor is the primary villain she faces as strong as what was faced in the past, but it just goes to show that life continues on, even after the peak has been reached. This series definitely peaked with the impossible to surpass gift to literature known as The Book of Sorrows, but it was nice to see that there was some aftermath. Life always has aftermath after peaks, and the story never seems to end when you think it should.Wangerin again eloquently subjects his fictional creations to incredible physical and emotional violent abuses, reminding me of a child destroying his Lego or Sim City creation, only to build it up to a fraction of its glory again later.  And we are again reminded that it's not always the competent that have the greatest longevity, as certain meek and bumbling animals far outlive other mighty predators that fall victim to a premature fate. But even when the reader is armed with that foreknowledge of the story, that is still inadequate preparation for a few surprises that occur.

Absolutely great book. This 3rd book is the one that ties together the initial 2 books and reaches a final and exciting conclusion to the little group of farm animals, the final battle between good and evil and the greatness of God.

Walter Wangerin, Jr. takes the reader deep into the complex emotions and character of each animal. The details of his descriptions of each animal create vivid pictures for the reader. This is the shortest of the books of the Trilogy of the Book of the Dun Cow. The journey to peace does not come easily. Such a journey took a variety of styles of leadership from various animals to keep a light of hope always shining. Even in the journey toward peace there are losses along the way.

I really loved the ending, it was beautiful, but the beginning of the book is graphic in a very strange way, I felt the writer could have communicated thoughts and ideas without going that way. Worth a read to finish the trilogy, and the ending is redemptive.