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The Well of Echoes #4
Chimaera
All resistance has been crushed. In a few minutes of overwhelming violence the Council's air-dreadnought fleet has destroyed Fiz Gorgo's defences. Xervish Flydd, Irisis and their allies have been condemned to die in a brutal aerial spectacle designed to reinforce Chief Scrutator Ghorr's power and majesty.
Nish is their one remaining hope. But Nish is trapped in a burning watchtower, and hunted by both the scrutators and his former lover, Ullii, whose twin brother he accidentally killed. Before Nish can hope to rescue his friends, he must convince Ullii to spare him, then overcome the most powerful cabal of mancers in the world as well as the Council's four hundred crack guards.
And even if he succeeds, to win the war the allies still have to defeat the scrutators and overthrow Nennifer, the corrupt Council's dread bastion, before the rampaging lyrinx overwhelm all Santhenar.
Nish is their one remaining hope. But Nish is trapped in a burning watchtower, and hunted by both the scrutators and his former lover, Ullii, whose twin brother he accidentally killed. Before Nish can hope to rescue his friends, he must convince Ullii to spare him, then overcome the most powerful cabal of mancers in the world as well as the Council's four hundred crack guards.
And even if he succeeds, to win the war the allies still have to defeat the scrutators and overthrow Nennifer, the corrupt Council's dread bastion, before the rampaging lyrinx overwhelm all Santhenar.
846 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
20 people are currently reading
700 people want to read
About the author
Ian Irvine
74 books661 followersI'm an Australian author of 34 novels, mainly fantasy. They include the bestselling Three Worlds epic fantasy sequence, which has sold over a million print copies. It comprises The View from the Mirror quartet, The Well of Echoes quartet and The Song of the Tears trilogy. I’ve just finished The Gates of Good and Evil quartet, the long-awaited sequel to The View from the Mirror. Book 3, The Perilous Tower, was published recently and the final book, The Sapphire Portal, will be published on November 1, 2020.
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LATEST BOOK
WHY I WRITE
Funny thing is, I never wanted to be a writer. From an early age my ambition was to be a scientist. I’m an expert in pollution and I’ve spent my professional life studying it in far-flung places like Mauritius, Sumatra, Mongolia, South Korea, the Philippines, Papua-New Guinea and Western Samoa, as well as all over Australia. Often scuba diving to the bottom of foul, smelly harbours and hammering tubes deep into the polluted mud to collect samples for chemical analysis. Now that’s living!
I was a small, quiet kid who devoured books from the moment I learned to read. When I was naughty, Mum wouldn’t let me read anything for a week – talk about a cruel and unusual punishment.
I discovered fantasy in the early 70’s, with The Lord of the Rings and the Earthsea trilogy, and was immediately hooked. But there wasn’t much fantasy in those days; within a couple of years I’d read everything available. I wanted more and bigger tales, on vaster canvases, but they didn’t exist. That’s why I had to become a writer – to write the kind of stories I wanted to read.
WHAT I WRITE
I’ve never wanted to write about superheroes or huge, reckless warriors who know no fear. I write epic fantasy about underdogs and ordinary people who, in pursuit of their goals, are put to the limit of human endurance. My characters aren’t fantasy stereotypes, they’re real people with believable motivations and unfortunate flaws. I’m well known for strong female characters who have as many adventures as the men, and frequently get them out of trouble (I have five sisters). My characters are often small or clumsy or inexperienced or handicapped in some way, yet they make up for it with cleverness, ingenuity or sheer, low cunning. My antagonists are real, complex people who do bad things for strong and deeply-held reasons – never ‘just because they’re evil’.
Though my characters suffer every kind of torment imaginable, at their lowest point they discover the truest form of courage – they keep fighting because the fate of the people they care for, and the world they love, depends on them never giving up.
SOME RECENT REVIEWS
"Irvine is a veteran storyteller who excels in sustaining complex plots with well-rounded characters. Here, he delivers a compelling tale of vengeance, loyalty, and the search for a place in the world." Starred review, Library Journal (US)
"That Grand Master of the vast epic is with us again! The first gripping volume of what promises to be a vintage Irvine treat. More please!" Crisetta MacLeod, Aurealis Express
"Incredibly exciting. The end will have you eagerly anticipating the next book." Good Reading (Aus)
"He knows how to spin an epic yarn and tell it with real gusto ... ambitious in scope and tirelessly action-stuffed." SFX
Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ianirvine.au...
Signup to my email newsletter for free books and special offers, preview chapters, news and other great stuff. https://www.ian-irvine.com/join-my-ne...
LATEST BOOK
WHY I WRITE
Funny thing is, I never wanted to be a writer. From an early age my ambition was to be a scientist. I’m an expert in pollution and I’ve spent my professional life studying it in far-flung places like Mauritius, Sumatra, Mongolia, South Korea, the Philippines, Papua-New Guinea and Western Samoa, as well as all over Australia. Often scuba diving to the bottom of foul, smelly harbours and hammering tubes deep into the polluted mud to collect samples for chemical analysis. Now that’s living!
I was a small, quiet kid who devoured books from the moment I learned to read. When I was naughty, Mum wouldn’t let me read anything for a week – talk about a cruel and unusual punishment.
I discovered fantasy in the early 70’s, with The Lord of the Rings and the Earthsea trilogy, and was immediately hooked. But there wasn’t much fantasy in those days; within a couple of years I’d read everything available. I wanted more and bigger tales, on vaster canvases, but they didn’t exist. That’s why I had to become a writer – to write the kind of stories I wanted to read.
WHAT I WRITE
I’ve never wanted to write about superheroes or huge, reckless warriors who know no fear. I write epic fantasy about underdogs and ordinary people who, in pursuit of their goals, are put to the limit of human endurance. My characters aren’t fantasy stereotypes, they’re real people with believable motivations and unfortunate flaws. I’m well known for strong female characters who have as many adventures as the men, and frequently get them out of trouble (I have five sisters). My characters are often small or clumsy or inexperienced or handicapped in some way, yet they make up for it with cleverness, ingenuity or sheer, low cunning. My antagonists are real, complex people who do bad things for strong and deeply-held reasons – never ‘just because they’re evil’.
Though my characters suffer every kind of torment imaginable, at their lowest point they discover the truest form of courage – they keep fighting because the fate of the people they care for, and the world they love, depends on them never giving up.
SOME RECENT REVIEWS
"Irvine is a veteran storyteller who excels in sustaining complex plots with well-rounded characters. Here, he delivers a compelling tale of vengeance, loyalty, and the search for a place in the world." Starred review, Library Journal (US)
"That Grand Master of the vast epic is with us again! The first gripping volume of what promises to be a vintage Irvine treat. More please!" Crisetta MacLeod, Aurealis Express
"Incredibly exciting. The end will have you eagerly anticipating the next book." Good Reading (Aus)
"He knows how to spin an epic yarn and tell it with real gusto ... ambitious in scope and tirelessly action-stuffed." SFX
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 12, 2018
The fourth in the series, a very enjoyable series, if not a little too long, but hey, I enjoyed it, very well worked and amazing characters and story lines.
April 25, 2016
Long.
Initially I thought the main protagonist was Tiane, and then there started to be a plethora of other characters, but at least three Tiane, Malian and Irisis were women. But by the second novel, Tiane stopped being more than a cut-out, Malian was someone who occaisionally appeared from the wings, and Irisis was the beautiful, busty gutsy girlfriend. I tend not to read male authors, and initially thought, with a strong, seemingly interesting female protagonist, this might be an exception, but any character was drained out ot Tiane and by the third book she was just the thapter pilot, and someone who miraculously solved technical problems, a sort of Deus ex Machina in female form.
I hated the fact that, like many books by men, it seemed to be all action, all the time. No-one wa sable to resolve a situation, or succeed in a struggle without it turning around into an even bigger or different struggle. This tendencly, like the sidelining of female characters just got worse as the series went on.
I was expecting a trilogy, and slogging through the first three books, I found a forth even thicker tome. Being a completionist, I slogged through that, although it was just more war, more "twists" as the whole thing became a succession of "Perils of Pauline", but for all the characters.
The final insult was that the end was simply a cliffhanger to the next trilogy, and a clear indication that Nish, far from the most interesting character, would be the central figure in that. At this point, I am in absolute fatigue, and wouldn't start any of Irvine's other series.
Initially I thought the main protagonist was Tiane, and then there started to be a plethora of other characters, but at least three Tiane, Malian and Irisis were women. But by the second novel, Tiane stopped being more than a cut-out, Malian was someone who occaisionally appeared from the wings, and Irisis was the beautiful, busty gutsy girlfriend. I tend not to read male authors, and initially thought, with a strong, seemingly interesting female protagonist, this might be an exception, but any character was drained out ot Tiane and by the third book she was just the thapter pilot, and someone who miraculously solved technical problems, a sort of Deus ex Machina in female form.
I hated the fact that, like many books by men, it seemed to be all action, all the time. No-one wa sable to resolve a situation, or succeed in a struggle without it turning around into an even bigger or different struggle. This tendencly, like the sidelining of female characters just got worse as the series went on.
I was expecting a trilogy, and slogging through the first three books, I found a forth even thicker tome. Being a completionist, I slogged through that, although it was just more war, more "twists" as the whole thing became a succession of "Perils of Pauline", but for all the characters.
The final insult was that the end was simply a cliffhanger to the next trilogy, and a clear indication that Nish, far from the most interesting character, would be the central figure in that. At this point, I am in absolute fatigue, and wouldn't start any of Irvine's other series.
July 12, 2014
Shocking and surprising your reader is one thing, losing their trust is another thing entirely. Not Robin Hobb levels of betrayal by any means, but since Nish was easily the least compelling character, I'm not really motivated to continue.
November 29, 2018
This is a series I've liked ok but not loved. I finally decided to finish it.
Its hard to talk about what I found wanting without spoilers so I'll just leave my general impressions.
This book had highs and lows and was trending upwards near end. Then the last few chapters just felt like a hot mess to open up more worms than wrap it up. The name of the book also was misleading as to the focus of the book. Ah well, I think this is the last one in the series. If another does come out I might pick it up.
After some research turns out this series is in the middle of two series? I'd picked up originally on an audible sale and the series listed Well of Echos as book 1. I'd have approached it differently if I had know that ahead of time. That may have changed how I looked at the this series and especially this book but it is a bit late for remove a bad taste.
Its hard to talk about what I found wanting without spoilers so I'll just leave my general impressions.
This book had highs and lows and was trending upwards near end. Then the last few chapters just felt like a hot mess to open up more worms than wrap it up. The name of the book also was misleading as to the focus of the book. Ah well, I think this is the last one in the series. If another does come out I might pick it up.
After some research turns out this series is in the middle of two series? I'd picked up originally on an audible sale and the series listed Well of Echos as book 1. I'd have approached it differently if I had know that ahead of time. That may have changed how I looked at the this series and especially this book but it is a bit late for remove a bad taste.
February 26, 2018
It was hard to read this. There were moments of enthusiastic page-turning where I completly grill into the world of Tiaan and Nish... but these page-turning moments were always trumped by many boring pages of war and arguments ammount the characters that never ended. I struggled but i got there in the end and yes the end was not really an end at all but a cliff hanger to the next series i really didn't want to have to read. But read them I will. I've already bought the books so i may aswell finish of this author i have started. you never know maybe he saved the best to last.
July 17, 2025
A great story. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be continuing with the series as this novel felt torturously prolonged and seriously over-written, in the sense that it should have ended several times, but just kept leaking out of its vessel, so to speak. It reminded me of a game my friends and I played when we were teenagers - we all sat down together, one wrote a paragraph of a story, handed it to the next person, who added and embellished it, and on and on and around and around until the thing ran completely out of control and turned into an utter mishmash. Fun but bombinating nonsense.
November 5, 2017
The fourth and final book of The Well of Echoes series was exciting from start to finish. Finding out about the Lyrinx's history was the best part for me and it came just before the final showdown in the book between humans, Lyrinx and Aachim.
July 10, 2018
Writing style of second series was much more readable than in previous one because of no timeline jumps back and forward. Characters were still quite invincible and survive despite many perils they walk through.
May 13, 2018
Enjoyed the whole series but felt the ending happened all to quick in comparison to the rest of his writing. Did not see that ending coming though!
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
November 23, 2023
8/10
Very detailed, as are the other books in the quartet, but an intricate story with many plot lines and fascinating characters. The conclusion was darker than I had hoped.
Very detailed, as are the other books in the quartet, but an intricate story with many plot lines and fascinating characters. The conclusion was darker than I had hoped.
December 27, 2023
The pace was great. It closed out the story lines effectively with some twists that were unexpected.
I was hoping that was the end of the saga but alas it continues.
I was hoping that was the end of the saga but alas it continues.
July 19, 2024
I enjoyed reading it!
June 23, 2012
### Product Description
All resistance has been crushed. In a few minutes of overwhelming violence the Council's air-dreadnought fleet has destroyed Fiz Gorgo's defences. Xervish Flydd, Irisis and their allies have been condemned to die in a brutal aerial spectacle designed to reinforce Chief Scrutator Ghorr's power and majesty. Nish is their one remaining hope. But Nish is trapped in a burning watchtower, and hunted by both the scrutators and his former lover, Ullii, whose twin brother he accidentally killed. Before Nish can hope to rescue his friends, he must convince Ullii to spare him, then overcome the most powerful cabal of mancers in the world as well as the Council's four hundred crack guards. And even if he succeeds, to win the war the allies still have to defeat the scrutators and overthrow Nennifer, the corrupt Council's dread bastion, before the rampaging lyrinx overwhelm all Santhenar.
### About the Author
Ian Irvine lives in the mountains of NSW, Australia.
SUMMARY:
Fantasy fiction. All resistance has been crushed. In a few minutes of overwhelming violence the Council's air-dreadnought fleet has destroyed Fiz Gorgo's defences. Xervish Flydd, Irisis and their rallies have been condemned to die in a brutal aerial spectacle designed to reinforce Chief Scrutator Ghorr's power and majesty. The only one left uncaptured is Nish, but he is trapped in a burning watchtower, and hunted by both the scrutators and his former lover, Ullii, whose twin brother he accidentally killed. Before Nish can hope to rescue his friends, he must convince Ullii to spare him, then overcome the most powerful cabal of mancers in the world as well as the Council's four hundred crack guards. And even if he succeeds, to win the war the allies still have to defeat the scrutators and overthrow Nennifer, the corrupt Council's dread bastion, before the rampaging lyrinx overwhelm all Santhenar.
February 17, 2017
Wow, what a powerful ending! There were so many climactic endings to story arcs, I kept thinking things were finished but they just kept coming. 5 stars for a great sci-fi / fantasy adventure, interesting characters, and a vast world vision, so well imagined! 1 star off for the descriptions of war (not at all gratuitous, just not my favourite thing). I've realised this is the 2nd series of books - now I'll have to go back and read the first, then third and fourth series - can't wait!
October 7, 2010
Like the rest of the books in this series, this was extremely impressive in that it had more thoughtful character development than almost any other fantasy I've read (and I've read a few!) BUT I just felt the need to write this review to qualify the four stars I am compelled to give the book, by saying that the ending of this book made me so angry I threw the book across the room and couldn't bring myself to talk to anyone in a civil tone for hours - think 800 pages of wonderful novel completely ruined in the last 50 pages...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2011
Chimaera är den fjärde och sista boken i serien "The Well of Echoes".
Irvine lyckas med något ganska unikt i det att han lyckas knyta ihop berättelsen och avsluta serien på ett bra sätt, samtidigt som han ändå lämnar en dörr öppen för en framtida fortsättning. Det finns också en fortsättning i serien "The Song of the Tears", men då ifrån ett något annorlunda perspektiv.
En väl genomarbetad värld med färgstarka, en fängslande story, och trovärdiga karaktärer gör att Irvine absolut är i klass med Jordan och Eddings. För den som gillar genren är det här ett måste.
Irvine lyckas med något ganska unikt i det att han lyckas knyta ihop berättelsen och avsluta serien på ett bra sätt, samtidigt som han ändå lämnar en dörr öppen för en framtida fortsättning. Det finns också en fortsättning i serien "The Song of the Tears", men då ifrån ett något annorlunda perspektiv.
En väl genomarbetad värld med färgstarka, en fängslande story, och trovärdiga karaktärer gör att Irvine absolut är i klass med Jordan och Eddings. För den som gillar genren är det här ett måste.
April 23, 2014
"He, Nish," and "'Irisis is so beautiful' sigh" aside, this was an exciting and well written book. I had a few issues with it, particularly the rushed ending and the feeling that a number of important things were never quite explained. Like what's an amplimet anyway? What does it want to do? But I wonder whether I might have known if I had read some if the previous quartet. Anyway, I will be reading the next trilogy, just because I have invested time in this series and want to know the end.
May 8, 2016
Overall the series was okay, it had some parts where I just had to read another chapter and some where I had to force myself through.
I wish Tiaan would have a bigger part in it seeing as she was the only character I truly liked. I hated reading Nish's part cause I never liked him, he was just a dumb blob asking silly questions and annoying everyone.
The cliffhanger in the end was okay but it seems Nish will be a main character in the next series so I will probably not read it.
I wish Tiaan would have a bigger part in it seeing as she was the only character I truly liked. I hated reading Nish's part cause I never liked him, he was just a dumb blob asking silly questions and annoying everyone.
The cliffhanger in the end was okay but it seems Nish will be a main character in the next series so I will probably not read it.
May 17, 2010
this was a good book, the end made me cry though... I won't spoil it don't worry. It is quite a lot of information to absorb and I would recommend taking a break between each of the books (considering how huge they are) so the information of the previous book can fully sink in...that's what I had to do anyway :)
All in all, a very good read!
All in all, a very good read!
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April 15, 2019
[Short review from memory before I re-read and review at a later date:
This was read at a time I almost exclusively read High Fantasy. I kinda miss those days. I have fond memories of reading the book, just not the books that much. Good writing, a nice and intriguing plot and just excellent High Fantasy all round. Definitely worth a re-read if I find time.]
This was read at a time I almost exclusively read High Fantasy. I kinda miss those days. I have fond memories of reading the book, just not the books that much. Good writing, a nice and intriguing plot and just excellent High Fantasy all round. Definitely worth a re-read if I find time.]
February 8, 2011
Putting a cliffhanger at the end of a series is extremely disrespectful of your readers who just invested a substantial amount of time into your books. Next time just call it a 7 volume series, and not a 4 volume series ending with a cliffhanger into the followup 3 volume series.
July 31, 2011
Did not see that ending coming. Very good set of books. This last book in the series was a much faster pace and definitely a page turner. Highly recommended. Need to read the next set to find out what happens to them all.
August 17, 2015
I enjoyed most of this series, but I'm kind of annoyed with the ending. I know there's more books, but I've been lead to believe Tiaan won't be a major player and Nish will be taking the lead role, so I'm pretty much done with the series. Nish character always rubbed me the wrong way.
July 29, 2011
Although it's a great commentry on war and the way it drives technological advances, with some recognisable political figures, I found this a disappointing end to a great quartet.
May 30, 2012
Wonderful ending to a great series with a terrifying twist at the end. Well done.
March 24, 2013
How could you leave me hanging like that Ian. Can't wait to start the next series.
March 16, 2014
I want to read the song of tears now ahhhhhh
November 21, 2013
cant remember too long ago, but i kept reading the series!
November 23, 2020
Amazing end to the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews