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Spellsong Cycle #3
Darksong Rising
Darksong Rising, the third book in New York Times bestselling author L. E. Modesitt, Jr.'s epic fantasy series the Spellsong Cycle about a singer and music instructor at Iowa State University who gets far more than she expected when she is magically transported to the world of Erde.
Anna, regent of Defalk, faces enemies foreign and domestic who wish to crush her for weilding too much power as well as being a woman. Even within her own realm she faces the threat of civil war. The solutions to all of these challenges is magical, but Anna has learned that powerful magic comes at a high cost.
The Spellsong Cycle
The Soprano Sorceress
The Spellsong War
Darksong Rising
The Shadow Sorceress
Shadowsinger
Other series by this
The Imager Portfolio
The Saga of Recluce
The Corean Chronicles
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Anna, regent of Defalk, faces enemies foreign and domestic who wish to crush her for weilding too much power as well as being a woman. Even within her own realm she faces the threat of civil war. The solutions to all of these challenges is magical, but Anna has learned that powerful magic comes at a high cost.
The Spellsong Cycle
The Soprano Sorceress
The Spellsong War
Darksong Rising
The Shadow Sorceress
Shadowsinger
Other series by this
The Imager Portfolio
The Saga of Recluce
The Corean Chronicles
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
624 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
65 people are currently reading
744 people want to read
About the author
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
185 books2,537 followersL. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 27, 2018
Modesitt Jr.'s writing style is sensitive, and detailed, but I found this book, as well as the second in the series a little tedious. The story is mostly one attack after another on different forts, with the herione, Anna having pangs of conscience the whole time. It's actually nice that the main character has little or no trouble overcoming her enemies, but she has had has much trouble overcoming her own guilt, to the extent that there was little or no joy to be had in any of the victories. Although a decent amount of wordiness was used, it was not enough to rendure the surroundings emmediate, and the lands Anna travelled through failed to come to life, while the people she met, remained wooden. The excitment engendered in The Soprano Sorceress, ended up bellyflopping in the following two books of the series, which do not differ from each other significantly enough to even merit their own volumes. Anna seems isolated in her own realm, and I found it somehow disappointing to be introduced to Anna's enemies, and their thoughts and feelings, to then have them defeated summarily, without Anna really having a clue as to what was driving them. I am reasonably fond of rabid feminist fantasy, but this one ran out of steam for me.
March 27, 2016
I enjoyed this book just as much as its two predecessors (The Soprano Sorceress; Spellsong War), I am looking forward to reading books four and five. I hope to give a more in depth review of all five once I have finished reading the series. But I can say at this point that I really want to see Anna make Erde a better place, and leave behind a legacy where women are treated better in Erde, much like Game of Thrones when it comes to the Machiavelli elements of ruling a kingdom.
December 28, 2013
Pretty fantasy romp. Nice high death toll too. Hilarious. =)
February 6, 2025
I loved the continuation of this series! Love new characters, sad about some of my favorites dying, but such is the story that is weaved! I cannot stress how great the magic system is-so unique-and how the worldbuilding just gets better and better!
January 30, 2013
A world where song is the most powerful force to be reckoned with should appeal to any who claim a great affinity for music, or feel it is true here. In Modesitt's Spellsong Cycle, this is true, where one must be careful of the words they sing. In the third installment, the story continues to follow Anna's(a music teacher from Earth pulled to the medieval Erde where she is suddenly one of the most gifted, or cursed) trials as she tries to bring misogynistic, stubborn rulers to see her views on equality and justice. Between the thirty three provinces and the four countries surrounding the landlocked Defalk, this is a thankless, tiresome task. Her initial intentions start her on a path that lead her to commit more destruction than she ever wished or knew she could.
The inner monologue lines get a bit worn because she seems to run over the same concerns continuously. That does lend the reader a taste of the frustration that Anna must be experiencing. However, about midway through, it does lose a bit of it's pull and ends up being more annoying than heart rending. There is also the element of romantic interest, with the lover, for various reasons, kept at bay. Spoiler alert: The final chapter does include one of the more touching, less nauseating surrenderings to such feelings that I have yet encountered. So a good story idea and overall plot, repetitive on the bulk, but a redeeming and happy(though not truly concluded) ending.
The inner monologue lines get a bit worn because she seems to run over the same concerns continuously. That does lend the reader a taste of the frustration that Anna must be experiencing. However, about midway through, it does lose a bit of it's pull and ends up being more annoying than heart rending. There is also the element of romantic interest, with the lover, for various reasons, kept at bay. Spoiler alert: The final chapter does include one of the more touching, less nauseating surrenderings to such feelings that I have yet encountered. So a good story idea and overall plot, repetitive on the bulk, but a redeeming and happy(though not truly concluded) ending.
July 22, 2016
Like the 2nd book in this series, I do not remember much of this one in particular. I tried to continue to read as often as possible, but illness kept me from reading very often and, sadly, I haven't seemed to retain a great deal of the stories I have finished this month. Here goes.
This review will be much as the last. Anna, the Regent of Defalk & Lady of Loiseau, is still doing her best to hold onto the throne for young Jimbob, the rightful heir of Defalk. Although using sorcery leaves her prostrate, many times for days, she must still use it time and time again to protect those lands. She is also trying to rebuild parts of the country that have been destroyed in previous battles she has fought. Now she must face Rabyn, Prophet of Music and Lord of Neserea, who has no qualms at using Darksong. Is there any possible way Anna can defeat such power? And admist all of this she must deal with growing feelings for one of her staunchest allies, as if she doesn't already have enough problems on her plate.
This review will be much as the last. Anna, the Regent of Defalk & Lady of Loiseau, is still doing her best to hold onto the throne for young Jimbob, the rightful heir of Defalk. Although using sorcery leaves her prostrate, many times for days, she must still use it time and time again to protect those lands. She is also trying to rebuild parts of the country that have been destroyed in previous battles she has fought. Now she must face Rabyn, Prophet of Music and Lord of Neserea, who has no qualms at using Darksong. Is there any possible way Anna can defeat such power? And admist all of this she must deal with growing feelings for one of her staunchest allies, as if she doesn't already have enough problems on her plate.
September 21, 2018
This is the third installment in this series and it's perfectly fine. There is plenty of politics and conniving and scheming. The action is fairly straightforward.
I like that the main character is female and that she's working for more rights for women in this new world she's ended up in. Also I like that this is a pseudo-medieval fantasy thing that's not a generic Lord of the Rings knockoff.
I am not really keen on how tenses shift between the chapters focusing on the main character and the chapters focusing on other characters. I'm not really sure what changing tenses gets you. I mean, it's pretty clear that Lady Anna is or isn't the viewpoint character at any given time anyway and honestly it took me a while to figure out that there was a pattern to the tense changes. I guess this is really a complaint about the first book and now we're just following the convention laid down there, but really.
Overall, I like this book and I plan to read the next one, but I don't think it's, like, great literature.
I like that the main character is female and that she's working for more rights for women in this new world she's ended up in. Also I like that this is a pseudo-medieval fantasy thing that's not a generic Lord of the Rings knockoff.
I am not really keen on how tenses shift between the chapters focusing on the main character and the chapters focusing on other characters. I'm not really sure what changing tenses gets you. I mean, it's pretty clear that Lady Anna is or isn't the viewpoint character at any given time anyway and honestly it took me a while to figure out that there was a pattern to the tense changes. I guess this is really a complaint about the first book and now we're just following the convention laid down there, but really.
Overall, I like this book and I plan to read the next one, but I don't think it's, like, great literature.
September 9, 2014
A conclusion, indeed, that ties up all the dangling questions, including if Anna will ever save her new nation from both internal and external conflict. Darksong truely rises and the stakes were never higher, as she faces serious rivals who will stop at nothing to end the changes she is forcing into Liedwahr.
Typical to the series, yes, there's a lot of riding and eating biscuits and bread, and discussions about whether or not she's doing the right thing; killing hundreds to potentially save millions. But, as usual, that's what makes the character of Anna so wonderful. She's human and angst-ridden and real. And now that she has the chance to make real change, she will do it, despite what tradition or the patriarchy demands.
Plus, we have the moments at the end, where she breaks the Wall, and questions what is *really* a happy ending. Because it is...for now.
Still a great series after all these years.
Typical to the series, yes, there's a lot of riding and eating biscuits and bread, and discussions about whether or not she's doing the right thing; killing hundreds to potentially save millions. But, as usual, that's what makes the character of Anna so wonderful. She's human and angst-ridden and real. And now that she has the chance to make real change, she will do it, despite what tradition or the patriarchy demands.
Plus, we have the moments at the end, where she breaks the Wall, and questions what is *really* a happy ending. Because it is...for now.
Still a great series after all these years.
January 21, 2012
This is an enjoyable and entertaining story. Especially when added to the first two books in the series. That being said, there is little new in this story, and it is entirely predictable. The diminuative plot can be summarized as: people attack the sorceress and she defeats them. Not much to it. The battles and intrigue in this book are almost negligable, especially compared to the first two books. The sorceress destroys opposing forces in less than a page each time. She calls the spell and they're gone. The enjoyable portions were the continuing saga of the characters to which the reader has become endeared in the first two books, and the development of new ideas by the sorceress in this world, for example, the creation of a pony express type of mail system.
Again, though, the book is enjoyable and entertaining, and I'm starting the 4th book immediately.
Again, though, the book is enjoyable and entertaining, and I'm starting the 4th book immediately.
September 13, 2014
It's the third installment in the series and the main character Anna, is still roaming the kingdom of Defalk to try an get the lords to accept a woman Regent. For some reason, despite the fact that she's a powerful sorceress and has never lost a bottle, and is actually improving the kingdom by building bridges and bringing sexy (rain) back - some male lords just can't seem to be humble and respect the new order.
I wonder if the author is basically saying sexist thinking won't disappear until people with sexist views just, well, die off.
Have you made it this far? What do you think?
I wonder if the author is basically saying sexist thinking won't disappear until people with sexist views just, well, die off.
Have you made it this far? What do you think?
October 15, 2007
What happens when a female musician gets pulled from our world into one where music is magic? Read this book to find out possibilities. Intriguing how it explores not only the magic of the world but gender rolls in a fantasy setting.
3rd book in the series, ends the Spell-Song wars although there are two more books with this theme which come after it.
3rd book in the series, ends the Spell-Song wars although there are two more books with this theme which come after it.
July 10, 2016
This was pretty good. I was surprised how easily I was able to fall back into the series, because it’s been several years since I read the first two. I haven’t been reading much fantasy, so this was a nice change of pace.
December 22, 2010
This one was more fun than the second one . . . on par with the first in the spellsong series. Glad I decided to go ahead and give it a shot.
March 31, 2011
Book #3
August 21, 2014
As Anna Marshal's powers continue to increase, and she is now faced with having to defend the regency of Defalk against two man who want to depose her.
January 25, 2018
A really grand finale to the 'Anna' trilogy (the Soprano Sorceress), which had me jumping to buy the next two books in Modesitt's Spellsong cycle. (But see my reviews on them…!)
January 19, 2019
Hard decisions to make for the heroine, the story was okay
April 20, 2019
A continuation in the series, ending seems more like a break in the larger tale. On to the next book.
September 12, 2019
extra 1/2 star
November 1, 2019
Loved
I love his books! I was overjoyed to find he has written more than I thought! I look forward to reading every single book he publishes!
I love his books! I was overjoyed to find he has written more than I thought! I look forward to reading every single book he publishes!
September 4, 2023
This is the third book in the Spellsong Cycle, continuing the story of Anna, a former assistant professor now transported to a world where songs can cast spells. It was a week when I was looking for a book that would provide familiar, reliable entertainment, so I picked Modesitt, most of whose fantasy I've liked (and, in some cases, loved).
"Darksong Rising" was exactly what I'd anticipated, solidly engaging and enjoyable, though not among my favorites of Modesitt's works. This is detailed, methodical fantasy, neither lyrical nor flamboyant. Some readers won't care for it, but, for me, Modesitt is very immersive. That said, I was popped out of the story by the several times that Anna thinks to herself "this wouldn't happen in a novel." Yet I liked the various references to poetry, including repeated brief snippets from "Easter, 1916" by Yeats.
I note that the body count is high. Indeed it is high enough to make both this reader and Anna herself question her decisions. Modesitt ensures that there are no easy options.
Three and a half out of five rhymed stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
"Darksong Rising" was exactly what I'd anticipated, solidly engaging and enjoyable, though not among my favorites of Modesitt's works. This is detailed, methodical fantasy, neither lyrical nor flamboyant. Some readers won't care for it, but, for me, Modesitt is very immersive. That said, I was popped out of the story by the several times that Anna thinks to herself "this wouldn't happen in a novel." Yet I liked the various references to poetry, including repeated brief snippets from "Easter, 1916" by Yeats.
I note that the body count is high. Indeed it is high enough to make both this reader and Anna herself question her decisions. Modesitt ensures that there are no easy options.
Three and a half out of five rhymed stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
May 5, 2020
In "Darksong Rising", Modesitt completes his Spellsong trilogy, chronicling the adventures of Anna Marshall, the Iowa State University music instructor unwillingly brought to Erde by a magic spell. Anna, a powerful sorceress thanks to her training as a singer, is regent of Defalk for Jimbob, its teenage ruler. To protect Defalk’s people, Anna has turned herself into a military strategist, an administrator, a politician, a role model, and a magical construction engineer. The underlying theme of this volume is stewardship—its responsibilities and its costs. Modesitt shows how Anna must change her assumptions about herself (what she will and will not do) to be true to the responsibilities she has taken on as regent. As disgruntled misogynists and greedy noblemen challenge her rule, Anna must provide for the land and people under her protection, before she can steal time to build herself a new life in the strange feudal land where she has found herself. As Anna and Lord Jecks (Jimbob’s grandfather) gradually acknowledge their growing attraction, Anna must fight battles, rebuild Defalk’s damaged infrastructure, re-establish trade, expose plots, and forge alliances, all while establishing an educational plan for Defalk’s future leaders to ensure the survival of her programs.
"Darkness Rising" is another of Modesitt’s deeply philosophical novels disguised as an
action-adventure-military fantasy.
"Darkness Rising" is another of Modesitt’s deeply philosophical novels disguised as an
action-adventure-military fantasy.
May 1, 2020
😎Love this book and this author!🤓 There's action, adventure, intrigue, politics, murder, castles, clogged sinuses from too much dust, and lots and lots of unpaved roads traveled on horseback.😋
But, seriously, ☺ the author obviously did his research on medieval European life and warfare to be able to craft such a well detailed and believable fantasy world. 🙂
The first third of the book is slow as all the various plotlines get woven together. And then! Bam! 😃 Lots of action as the Regent of Defalk works to enforce the law and order in a world where men don't have too much respect for either, nor for women to boot.
There's a lot of ponderings on Anna's part about what the good moral route of action would be to take, and this book/series has gotten me to wonder "how would I react in the same situation?" (My personal conclusion is that I would have run and hid in a quiet place to bawl my eyes out😭and slowly go insane😳😵 from being in an entirely different world of course! ...Which is the sensible and perfectly normal reaction😜)
😊But, I would definitely recommend this book and series to anyone who loves fantasy medieval settings, strong characters, intelligent characters, and political intrigue.
But, seriously, ☺ the author obviously did his research on medieval European life and warfare to be able to craft such a well detailed and believable fantasy world. 🙂
The first third of the book is slow as all the various plotlines get woven together. And then! Bam! 😃 Lots of action as the Regent of Defalk works to enforce the law and order in a world where men don't have too much respect for either, nor for women to boot.
There's a lot of ponderings on Anna's part about what the good moral route of action would be to take, and this book/series has gotten me to wonder "how would I react in the same situation?" (My personal conclusion is that I would have run and hid in a quiet place to bawl my eyes out😭and slowly go insane😳😵 from being in an entirely different world of course! ...Which is the sensible and perfectly normal reaction😜)
😊But, I would definitely recommend this book and series to anyone who loves fantasy medieval settings, strong characters, intelligent characters, and political intrigue.
May 10, 2019
This is the third book of a five book series. By now the novelty of a sorceress who uses music to cast spells has worn off; the story should have something else to capture the reader's attention by now, but this book does not. Anna the sorceress has a battle with an enemy to the east, so she uses a fire spell to incinerate the opposing soldiers and her army wins. She battles an enemy to the west, and uses a fire spell to burn their solders to death. Another victory for Anna. In her homeland a lord rebels against her and sends a battalion to fight Anna and her allies. Guess what happens? Yes, the fire spell torches the rebels. The book is extremely predictable. The author needs to introduce some obstacle for Anna, such as a foe that can counteract her fire spells. I will start to read the fourth book in the series, but if it is more of the same I will stop reading that book and the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2021
This feels like the end of Anna's story: she gives up on going home, and corresponds with Elizabetta only through select letters.
In the meantime, she continues settling Defalk - both from
3/5 stars
In the meantime, she continues settling Defalk - both from
3/5 stars
April 6, 2021
Book 3 of the series is a good followup that continues Anna's quest to reshape Defalk with her ideals. It's enjoyable to read about a feminist protagonist whose main conflict is to battle rampant sexism. The story moves along at a leisurely pace, so that the reader experiences the full effects of a campaign - the triggers, the journey, the anticipation, the battle itself, and the aftermath of the campaign. The main and secondary characters are also evolving based on Anna's actions and attitudes. This series is becoming a truly memorable fantasy series, and I am eager to read the final two books in the series.
June 4, 2019
Again a solid three...for the 3rd book in the series.
This book tries to flesh out a few of the other rulers.and finally we get some movement on the romance theme.
..but as always, it suffers from a very cardboard cutout world, where some of the "rules" or how things work are not logical at all and only there to move the plot in a certain predictable direction. ..and getting a little tired of the asthmatic sorceress repetitively hacking away with her lollipops.
This book tries to flesh out a few of the other rulers.and finally we get some movement on the romance theme.
..but as always, it suffers from a very cardboard cutout world, where some of the "rules" or how things work are not logical at all and only there to move the plot in a certain predictable direction. ..and getting a little tired of the asthmatic sorceress repetitively hacking away with her lollipops.
October 18, 2021
Bad in the worst way a book can be bad: incredibly boring.
Ana never feels like she is in any danger, all of her problems get solved almost immediately, and the book feels like rereading the same 5 chapters over and over again as the events take place in seemingly an endless loop without any growth or change.
It became very hard to care about anything that was going on.
Ana never feels like she is in any danger, all of her problems get solved almost immediately, and the book feels like rereading the same 5 chapters over and over again as the events take place in seemingly an endless loop without any growth or change.
It became very hard to care about anything that was going on.
December 29, 2017
The first two books were full of silly popcorn fantasy fun, but this final book felt like a bit of a slog. The characterization was all fairly perfunctory, and the conflict felt manufactured and low stakes. I’d still recommend the first book in the series, but this one is pretty skippable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews