I enjoyed this on rereading a lot more than I expected to. i remember being annoyed at the ending, but it kind of makes sense to me now. It might still annoy, but I think it's supposed to hurt and harden. The point of the books is this final battle between Light and Dark, both of which seem to be kinds of magic or influence, but ultimately the whole thing is a kind of housecleaning, leaving the world clear for humans to save or mess up as they will. This is achieved through a serious of quests and encounters, often taking place at different but oddly intersecting time periods, with almost decorous rules and restraints. It's all a bit odd and formalised, but hugely atmospheric and thrilling. I mean the climax is put on pause so that both sides can settle a dispute over whether the rules allow a particular player on the field, making it seem a bit like an argument at a children's football match about the birth date or place of residence of a star athlete. It's enjoyably unconventional, and the underlying theme of magic departing leaving humans to fend for themselves is a recurring one, but one whose power seems easier to appreciate when you're older. Bran's decision is genuinely moving, though, but the coerced amnesia still rankles, but then again the Light might have been the Good Guys, but they were always prepared to not be the Nice Guys when it suited them, which is something I like more about these books on rereading. I don't think you could get away with a book where the characters, however likeable, are mostly pushed around from one plot token to the next so passively. A bit more push-back against beloved Grummery would be called for, at a minimum. Still, I loved it.