- Hardcover: 507 pages
- Publisher: St Martin's Press; First Edition edition (1 Oct 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0312868227
- ISBN-13: 978-0312868222
- Product Dimensions: 24.9 x 3.8 x 16.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,194,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Darksong Rising: The Third Book of the Spellsong Cycle
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"The consistent excellence of L.E. Modesitt makes him by far the most entertaining of today's fantasy writers."--"Romantic Times"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
L.E. Modesitt, Jr. has gathered a large, devoted following with his bestselling Recluce novels. With the Spellsong Cycle he has broadened that following, creating a compelling, innovative fantasy world where music is magic and men rule with an iron fist.
Darksong Rising is the third Spellsong book, and concludes a trilogy featuring Anna Marshall, the music teacher and soprano from the Midwest transported into a fantasy world where magic works according to musical principles -- making her a powerful magician. Now known as Regent of Defalk, Anna must battle men who would destroy her and claim Defalk for their own.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book continues Anna's adaptation to the new world in which she finds herself. Yet again, she is subject to attacks by people who (if they had any common sense)would be supporting her. This book advances Anna's relationships with the other characters. I especially like the fact that they are shown to have flaws and problems of their own. L.E. Modesitt Jr continues to show that there is no such thing as absolute power, and that there are consequences to people's actions.
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Arrived on time, was in very good condition - looked like an old library copy. Was bought as a present; recipient very happy with it! =)
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
18 reviews
37 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Currently in Holding Pattern
15 Jan 2000
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I adore 95% of Modesitt's writing, and have read all his books. And, I am very very comfortable with his feminist support vibes in this particular series. This book, however, seemed to be parked on the tarmack awaiting a signal from the tower for lift off. I would prefer that Anna get past the self absorbed, menopausal whining and complaining. She is portrayed as THE most powerful person on that world, yet she has mastered neither her emotions, nor her self pity. Too much self-talk nattering plus the reminders of her gluttonous nutrition are waaaaay boring. I had hoped for a deeper exploration of drum magic and for a more dynamic battle over the magic power struggle between Anna and the sicko, perverted teenage ruler Rabyn. I want to know more about the Matriarch and the Seers in Wei, and where/when they will come alive in this storyline. Anna needs to meet with the aforesaid powerful women, find her inner power, stop her whining, and as much as I have loved the developing flirtation with Lord Jecks she needs to get it on with or marry him. A much richer character development is needed by now on all the principals in this story. I would like greater insight into the use of "music magic" as it still is not concrete enough to be believable. Can Anna get her daughter to send books across the mist on pharmacology/chemistry/herbology so she can develop even rudimentary medicine to help her new people? The best part of this book were the closing 4 or 5 paragraphs. Mr. Modesitt warmed my heart with the exquisite, breathless moment of that long awaited recognition of love between Anna and Jecks. Even with the feminist focus in these novels, the author's message of love provided the true power in this story that, hopefully in future novels in this series may awaken and transform Anna at last.
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Book Three and the series is already dragging.
11 Dec 1999
Format:Hardcover
This book could have been titled "The Spellsong War, Part 2" due to the lack of any fresh plot direction. Again, the story of Anna and Defalk revolves around subduing rebellious lords and hostile neighbors, restructuring society, Anna's attraction to Jecks, and her inner turmoil over her lethal use of magic. By repeating the plot of the last book without providing a sense of an underlying purpose or direction, Modesitt reduces the series to a list of battles that prompts this reader to ask "so what?" Another disappointing aspect of this book was that after all the build-up about Anna's enemies and their drums, the actual confrontations were anti-climactic. Victory came too easily and quickly, even when Anna was caught off-guard. We did not see any protracted magical struggle or situation where Anna was overwhelmed, forced to retreat, and compelled to devise a new strategy. If Modesitt plans to continue this series, I hope he introduces some fresh elements.
Sorry if this review appears twice, but Netscape crashed when I hit the submit button!
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Anna continues to change the world
15 Feb 2000
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
"Darksong Rising" is a worthy successor to the two earlier books in the series. Anna is a believable (and enjoyable) character, and her attempts to wrestle with a new world are good entertainment. The transformation of Defalk continues, and her efforts make a really enjoyable read. Yes, she does whine a bit much about her exile from her children (although in this one at least a hint that she might be recognising that her new life is better). Yes, her sexual frustration over Jecks is also a bit much, too often. But she is entitled to some complaints, given the calls made upon her for selfless sacrifice to help others. I agree too that we could do with a bit less of the "men are dreadful" line. But her magical conflicts are excellent, and I would recommend the series to any fan of fantasy.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Fantasy > Epic
- Books > Science Fiction
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
