kitvaria_sarene's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the amount of magic in here, as I get a bit bored by so many low, to almost none, magic books. I don't need it in every book, but now and then I really enjoy plenty of magic being flung around and interspersed in the world!
I clicked well with the main characters, but some of the side characters could have been a bit deeper for my personal liking, though I hope with some I'll see some more growth in later books of the series - and I'll definitely want to see what happens next! I especially want to find out what side some of them end up on!
The story kept me well entertained and there were so many things yet to be resolved without it feeling overwhelming or hard to follow, which is a big plus in my eyes. I don't like it overly simplistic, but I also don't want to need a flowchart just to keep up. And this one struck a good balance between having multiple things going on and yet not becoming overladen or confusing.
The prose was fluent and easy to follow without sticking out, so it allowed me to dive right into the world instead of consciously reading about the world. At times the pace felt a tiny bit uneven and I would have liked to stay in a scene a bit longer and / or get a bit more information before jumping to the next one,
All in all a great, sometimes grim and all around entertaining read that I'm happy to follow up!
I clicked well with the main characters, but some of the side characters could have been a bit deeper for my personal liking, though I hope with some I'll see some more growth in later books of the series - and I'll definitely want to see what happens next! I especially want to find out what side some of them end up on!
The story kept me well entertained and there were so many things yet to be resolved without it feeling overwhelming or hard to follow, which is a big plus in my eyes. I don't like it overly simplistic, but I also don't want to need a flowchart just to keep up. And this one struck a good balance between having multiple things going on and yet not becoming overladen or confusing.
The prose was fluent and easy to follow without sticking out, so it allowed me to dive right into the world instead of consciously reading about the world. At times the pace felt a tiny bit uneven and I would have liked to stay in a scene a bit longer and / or get a bit more information before jumping to the next one,
All in all a great, sometimes grim and all around entertaining read that I'm happy to follow up!
vividox's review against another edition
2.0
I'm still not sure how to feel about this book, even after finishing it. The story itself is engaging, but I am not a fan of the prose at all. The most melodramatic adjectives conceivable are used at every opportunity leaving you with a sense that every character, setting, or object is the most extreme version of that character, setting, or object to have ever existed. Entire sequences are played out in a matter of sentences, making the story feel like it's being told to you in passing, rather than something you are experiencing. And there were several places in the story where scene changes were so jarring they deflated any rising suspense.
I can't help but draw a strong parallel to Frank Herbert's Dune, in that the plot is remarkable, while the prose itself is spectacularly awful. I'm left wondering what happens next, while simultaneously dreading reading another four books to find out.
I can't help but draw a strong parallel to Frank Herbert's Dune, in that the plot is remarkable, while the prose itself is spectacularly awful. I'm left wondering what happens next, while simultaneously dreading reading another four books to find out.
secre's review
5.0
It's taken me a couple of books to get to the proper beginning of the Rhenwars Saga, but I'm glad that I did! M.L. Spencer has built up a huge and intricate fantasy world here, full of conflicts and power struggles and it all comes together beautifully. Some of the aspects from the prequel certainly added depth to the existing world-building, but there the prequel could just as easily be read once you have finished this series with no loss to your understanding or comprehension. All of the essential parts of the culture and world are delved into without ever feeling like an info dump, instead being essential parts of the narrative as it builds and grows around you.
M.L. Spencer wastes almost no time at all in bringing the world crashing down around both of her main characters, Darien and Kyel. Darien is the only mage to survive the destruction of his home town and whilst he starts as an innocent, the loss of everything he holds dear and the threat of a gateway to Hell being open soon propel him down a far darker and more tortured path. Kyel is merely in the wrong place at the wrong time, and events that he had no control over lead him to being conscripted to the war at the front line. As the two stories converge, both characters are forced to examine exactly what they are willing to do or to become in order to prevent a tragedy.
That's one of the strongest aspects of this novel; M.L. Spencer has a knack for writing heroes who aren't really heroes, they are just in the right place at the right time to make a difference. Darien is a deeply conflicted soul, his grief for his lover and his anger at his brother's betrayal lead him to decisions that are considered an abomination. He has no hope of redemption or even of forgiveness, with even those who previously admired him now reviling him for the power he wields and the choices he has made. It is difficult to know exactly where the line between his personal quest for revenge and the wider context of saving the world from the forces of evil begin and end. As with all things human, the lines blur and twist, making him a complex, multi-faceted character who is willing to destroy in order to save.
This is a rare epic fantasy, in that it ticks all the boxes for world-building and epic struggle between darkness and light for an epic and yet it is also very much focused on the minutia of the characters. There are some wonderful scenes that really bring the tale down to the individual choices and actions of characters and the reverberations they have down the line. The road to success is lined with hard choices and sacrifice, both individually and on a larger scale. It is impossible not to feel for Darien, yet he is a dark character who is traumatised by the horrors he has experienced. Few characters can be seen as wholly light or wholly dark, instead there is an endless spectrum of murky grey on offer.
If you're looking for white knights on noble steeds, then you might want to look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a complex tapestry of conflicted characters thrust into war then this is a fantastic offering.
M.L. Spencer wastes almost no time at all in bringing the world crashing down around both of her main characters, Darien and Kyel. Darien is the only mage to survive the destruction of his home town and whilst he starts as an innocent, the loss of everything he holds dear and the threat of a gateway to Hell being open soon propel him down a far darker and more tortured path. Kyel is merely in the wrong place at the wrong time, and events that he had no control over lead him to being conscripted to the war at the front line. As the two stories converge, both characters are forced to examine exactly what they are willing to do or to become in order to prevent a tragedy.
That's one of the strongest aspects of this novel; M.L. Spencer has a knack for writing heroes who aren't really heroes, they are just in the right place at the right time to make a difference. Darien is a deeply conflicted soul, his grief for his lover and his anger at his brother's betrayal lead him to decisions that are considered an abomination. He has no hope of redemption or even of forgiveness, with even those who previously admired him now reviling him for the power he wields and the choices he has made. It is difficult to know exactly where the line between his personal quest for revenge and the wider context of saving the world from the forces of evil begin and end. As with all things human, the lines blur and twist, making him a complex, multi-faceted character who is willing to destroy in order to save.
This is a rare epic fantasy, in that it ticks all the boxes for world-building and epic struggle between darkness and light for an epic and yet it is also very much focused on the minutia of the characters. There are some wonderful scenes that really bring the tale down to the individual choices and actions of characters and the reverberations they have down the line. The road to success is lined with hard choices and sacrifice, both individually and on a larger scale. It is impossible not to feel for Darien, yet he is a dark character who is traumatised by the horrors he has experienced. Few characters can be seen as wholly light or wholly dark, instead there is an endless spectrum of murky grey on offer.
If you're looking for white knights on noble steeds, then you might want to look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a complex tapestry of conflicted characters thrust into war then this is a fantastic offering.
taisie22's review against another edition
5.0
Aiden and Darien Lauchlin are brothers, sons the Prime Warden, the highest of the mages. When Aiden unseals the Well of Tears and releases the Eight, it's up to Darien to fight the armies of the Enemy and seal the Well once more.
This is the second time I read this, mostly because I read it before the prequel Darkstorm which sets up the Eight and the Well of Tears. Once I read the prequel, I reread this one to continue the series and keep everything in order. It's well worth rereading.
This book takes place one thousand years after the first. Darien is a tortured soul, for a while the last of the Mages. He gathers a band of recruits to help him, but most of the responsibility rests on his shoulders.
This is a good fantasy series. Darien is an anti-hero in the mode of Thomas Covenant. He must make impossible choices, mostly to his own detriment in order to save his world. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the Rhenwars Saga.
This is the second time I read this, mostly because I read it before the prequel Darkstorm which sets up the Eight and the Well of Tears. Once I read the prequel, I reread this one to continue the series and keep everything in order. It's well worth rereading.
This book takes place one thousand years after the first. Darien is a tortured soul, for a while the last of the Mages. He gathers a band of recruits to help him, but most of the responsibility rests on his shoulders.
This is a good fantasy series. Darien is an anti-hero in the mode of Thomas Covenant. He must make impossible choices, mostly to his own detriment in order to save his world. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the Rhenwars Saga.
taisie22's review against another edition
5.0
Darkmage is a dark fantasy, richly written, and filled with fascinating characters. The action starts almost immediately and takes the reader on a journey through a detailed and nuanced world.
Darien Lauchlin is an acolyte, called back to Aerysius, the city of the mages after a stint on the frontier guarding against the enemy in the Dark Lands. It is his time to rise up to the level of mage, an occurrence marked treason from within and the destruction of Aerysius as the Well of Tears is opened and chaos reigns supreme.
Darien has incredible powers but is bound by his oath as a mage not to unleash his magic despite the temptation to do so. Accompanied by the priestess of Death, Naia, and his new acolyte, Kyel Archer, Darien sets out to save his world without losing himself at the same time.
The detailed world-building is amazing. It is very easy for the reader to picture each scene in the various lands they travel through. The characters are diverse and always engaging. There is great poignancy in the romance between Naia and Darien, as well as his lost love, Merien, who was sacrificed to open the Well of Tears. The pressures on Darien are immense, but his responses are believable as well as his befuddled acolyte, Kyel.
I can't wait to read Darkstorm and the other coming books in the Rhenwars Saga. If you like dark fantasy, this is a book you want to read.
Darien Lauchlin is an acolyte, called back to Aerysius, the city of the mages after a stint on the frontier guarding against the enemy in the Dark Lands. It is his time to rise up to the level of mage, an occurrence marked treason from within and the destruction of Aerysius as the Well of Tears is opened and chaos reigns supreme.
Darien has incredible powers but is bound by his oath as a mage not to unleash his magic despite the temptation to do so. Accompanied by the priestess of Death, Naia, and his new acolyte, Kyel Archer, Darien sets out to save his world without losing himself at the same time.
The detailed world-building is amazing. It is very easy for the reader to picture each scene in the various lands they travel through. The characters are diverse and always engaging. There is great poignancy in the romance between Naia and Darien, as well as his lost love, Merien, who was sacrificed to open the Well of Tears. The pressures on Darien are immense, but his responses are believable as well as his befuddled acolyte, Kyel.
I can't wait to read Darkstorm and the other coming books in the Rhenwars Saga. If you like dark fantasy, this is a book you want to read.
winters's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mika123's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
vladmech's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting story an world but just too depressing of a tale for me to properly enjoy.
rocabarraigh's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alwroteabook's review
5.0
Darn that was good - here's the review: https://www.alwroteabook.com/2018/10/17/review-darkmage-by-ml-spencer/