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The bestselling author's epic fantasy trilogy comes to a dramatic end. The "cold, tense, creeping dread lasts right up until the final confrontation" (Tor.com).Since the Dark Ones returned, the world has been laid to waste. The land's wizards have been slaughtered, its cities destroyed, and its people scattered in terror, and few have witnessed more of the destruction than Rudy and Gil—two ordinary Californians who found their way across the Void, and took up arms in defense of a strange show more and magical world. She learned the ways of war, while he found within himself the powers of a great wizard. Both of them will need all their strength to survive this final challenge. Ingold, the master wizard, has devised a spell to hide the user from the deathly stare of the Dark, and he intends to use it to strike at their very heart. Finally, Rudy, Gil, and the rest of mankind's survivors will take the offensive, bringing an end to this terrible war, for better or for worse. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Barbara Hambly, including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author's personal collection.. show less
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Rudy, now a sorcerer in training, and Gil, who searches for the truth using very modern methods of scholarship, try to beat back the rising tides of the Dark. I'm still annoyed by Rudy and his giiiiiirlfriend Queen Minalde, and I've read the romance between Gil and Ingold before, in Hambly's Windrose Chronicles (different names, same damn characters). I could barely get through the first two novels in this trilogy, but the third book is far better. I adored reading the medieval response to Gil's scientific method, and her feminist ways of thought (that what people wore ages ago could be a clue to their culture, for instance) clashed repeatedly with the fantasy world's resistance.
As readable as it was, however, I am very disappointed by show more the end of the trilogy. After all sorts of battles and hardship and political and physical fighting, Ingold simply performs a spell and sends the Dark away. Why he didn't do that in the first place, I'll never know. Perhaps he was too busy turning white with strain and smiling grimly at Gil. show less
As readable as it was, however, I am very disappointed by show more the end of the trilogy. After all sorts of battles and hardship and political and physical fighting, Ingold simply performs a spell and sends the Dark away. Why he didn't do that in the first place, I'll never know. Perhaps he was too busy turning white with strain and smiling grimly at Gil. show less
Great 'conclusion' to the original Darwath trilogy (later expanded by two books). Everything I've said regarding the first two books applies here...save that I think the series actually improved each entry. Just really interesting setting, villian(s), unexpected twists, magic system, etc. I was a little worried about the story stumbling at one point regarding the inquisition, but it quickly moved on and kept us on track with our main plot.
The Darwath Trilogy is an entertaining read, but suffers from a couple of fatal flaws.
First, the main characters don't matter to the story. Nothing they do has any significant impact on the plot and the main story problem (The Dark) is resolved without them.
The other problem is that the main characters don't really change. They 'level up' in skill, but don't experience any significant character growth. In one sense this doesn't matter, because they don't really have anything to do with the story, but in another sense if your main characters don't have any impact on the story, well, that's a problem.
Hambly would, fortunately, go on to write much better books.
First, the main characters don't matter to the story. Nothing they do has any significant impact on the plot and the main story problem (The Dark) is resolved without them.
The other problem is that the main characters don't really change. They 'level up' in skill, but don't experience any significant character growth. In one sense this doesn't matter, because they don't really have anything to do with the story, but in another sense if your main characters don't have any impact on the story, well, that's a problem.
Hambly would, fortunately, go on to write much better books.
This is the completion of what originally was a trilogy, then extended to 5 books. This 3rd book actually completes the plotline of the original novel, in an unexpected way. If you like cliffhanger endings with massive magical battles, you'll have to look elsewhere, but the ending is still satisfactory, even if it leaves you wondering what happens next. Most of this book is about surviving in a 'post apocalypse' fantasy world, with Lovecraftian monsters around every corner and nasty politics. There are battles and magic, just not on every page. I very much enjoyed this series.
On this re-read, I will just add this to my overall summary under the first book: as the trilogy enters the closing laps, the characters are put through the ringer even more, with more political shenanigans, treachery, hopeless endeavours, and backs to the wall. If I was reading this fresh now, I might have taken off a star from vols 2 and 3, because there are some aspects, such as the over sentimental portrayal of Queen Minalde/Alde, and the occasional bit of head-hopping between characters within a scene, that I find slightly irritating, but staying true to my original perception and in view of this still being very enjoyable, I am sticking with the original 5 star rating for each volume.
Ordinary Californians Rudy and Gil, now integral to a magical world ravaged by the demonic Dark Ones, join master wizard Ingold and other survivors for a final, desperate offensive, using a powerful spell to strike at the heart of the darkness despite treacherous alliances, fanatical foes, and the inherent terror of the encroaching shadow. The story culminates in a perilous invasion, forcing characters to confront shifting politics and their own fears as they fight to end the war for better or worse.
The Darwath series was originally a trilogy and this novel is the conclusion to that trilogy. I liked the main characters, even with their warts and flaws, so this was a very satisfying book that kept me going to the very end. There were surprises (nope, not going into any spoilers) that made sense with hindsight.
The earlier two books are essential to read prior to this one, but the entire trilogy is a great read for fans of fantasy.
The earlier two books are essential to read prior to this one, but the entire trilogy is a great read for fans of fantasy.
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Gallimard, Folio SF (287)
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- Canonical title
- The Armies of Daylight
- Original title
- The Armies of Daylight
- Original publication date
- 1983-07
- People/Characters
- Alwir of the House of Bes (Chancellor); Bektis (Court Mage); Blid the Soothsayer; Caldern; Vair na Chandros (Commander); Dakis the Minstrel (show all 30); Altir "Tir" Endorion; Eldor Endorion (High King); Gnift; Icefalcon (Nyagchilios, Pilgrim of the Sky); Ilae; Ingold Inglorion (Archmage, the Desert Walker); Janus of Weg (Commander); Kara of Ippit; Kta; Maia of Thran (Bishop of Penambra); Melantrys; Minalde "Alde" of the House of Bes; Dame Nan; Govannin Narmenlion (Bishop of Gae); Gillian "Gil" "Gil-Shalos" Patterson; Inquisitor Pinard; Seya; Shadow of the Moon; Rudy Solis; Stiarth na-Salligos; Thoth the Scribe (the serpentmage, Recorder of Quo); Tomec Tirkenson (landchief of Gettlesand); Ungolard; Brother Wend
- Important places
- Keep of Dare, Vale of Renweth, Darwath
- First words
- When the wizard Ingold crossed the Void between worlds to save the infant Prince Tir from the destruction of Gae, Gil Patterson and Rudy Solis tried to help him. (prologue)
The night was still. - Quotations
- "Why do I put up with this?" he demanded rhetorically.
"It's very simple," Ingold replied, draping one arm around the frayed shoulders of the awesome and intellectual warrior at his side. "Since nothing is ... (show all)fortuitous, you yourself chose this world over the one that you were born in. ... Even a cursory comparison of the two worlds proves that you are out of your senses." (chapter 17, p.309) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The shadows of the wanderers rippled hard and blue about their feet as the three moved off down the hill to take the southward road.
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