Shadowsinger

Spellsong Cycle #5

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

The Climax of The Spellsong Cycle

Secca, foster daughter of the Soprano Sorceress, and now her successor as Sorceress Protector of Defalk, must deal carefully with her willful master and wield her power to save his kingdom from the armies, fleets and master sorcerers of the Maitre of Sturinn. Faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, she is forced to test her own powers over and over again, while teaching her new husband and her inexperienced apprentice the skills they will need to aid her in creating spells powerful enough to shake the foundations of the world.

The Spellsong Cycle
The Soprano Sorceress
The Spellsong War
Darksong Rising
The Shadow Sorceress
Shadowsinger

Other series by this author:
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.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Magic, Science Fiction Fantasy, High Fantasy, Science Fiction

Unknown Binding

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

L. 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

Reviews

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the end, the legacy we leave behind is one wrought in truth and action.

Secca was never my favorite (I still miss Anna), but she does show growth in this final installment of the Spellsong Wars. Facing not only the might of Sturinn directly, but even her own liege and his cowardly manner. If not for the legacies in spellsongs and friendships forged by Anna, it all would have been for naught. Here we see how terrible Spellsongs can truely be, how low people will go for power, and how high self-sacrifice can raise someone.

Plus, the Maitre is (was) an idiot.

Good end to a long tale, with a little left over for a sequel if Modesitt ever planned to expand the universe (like with a prequel)... hint, hint...

[DaveA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, as are the rest of Modesitt's fantasy books. Also, like the rest of his books, a lot of pages are devoted to characters traveling from place to place. Also, the main character has obligatory self-argument about having to kill her enemies at least a half dozen times in the story. It is still entertaining, though.

[Gabriel De · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a very good one where Secca as Sorceress Protector of Defalk must now deal with the armies, fleet and master sorcerers of the Maitre of Sturinn. During this time she tests her power many times and she has to teach her husband and her apprentice the skills necessary to aid her create extremely powerful spells to defeat the Maitre of Sturin. Very good read.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really was a great conclusion to the series. However, I'm greedy and would really love more. A girl can hope..right?

[Kes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a fitting end to the series - Secca grew on me a lot. We see her making the hard decisions that Anna did, including mass murder - and culminating in her killing Jimbob in his castle. We also see Secca become ruler-in-truth of Defalk.

There's a lot of worldbuilding here, and further developments of sorcery. Secca looks at Anna's notes, and uses the more devious spells, there's development in wards, and even the side-participants are more open to building up their own sorcerous resources instead of lancers. We also find out why dancing is prohibited (as a form of darksong).

3/5 stars

[Robert Catlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A satisfying saga.

Quite satisfying end to the Spellsonger saga. It would be interesting to learn of the aftermath of the war to end war but leave it to the imaginings of fans. Modesitt has created a tale that captures the imagination while entertaining the reader. Where is the balance between genders, and what are the answers to ethics were warfare is concerned? As with great literature these novels invite the reader to l reflect on questions pertinent to life everywhere and at all times.
I highly recommend this book.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding! (No pun intended)

This finishes an epic tale of music that powers the world (and gives the world its powers). I enjoyed each book of the series and want more--the sign of a superbly written work. I hope Modessitt has written (or will write) more books set in Erde.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character is dead.

Why was this book even written? Anna is what made the series great, this book falls flat without her.

[Darin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly feel bad for Jimbob. I didn't think he was that bad of a character in the first two books; but apparently this is the story that Modesitt wanted to tell.

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well it is finished, the intrigue was there, the philosophy of power and the frailty of man was there. But I found it lacked heart to give it five stars.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completes the series well.

[Marion Phillips-van der Laan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still a good story but it is the same story as in the previous 4 books and therefore a bit predictable.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly, not my favorite Modesitt series. I like music, so I had high hopes. All five books really seemed similar to each other. Singing, eating, killing people. Repeat.

[Hershel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a fine casual read. What keeps you going is the nuke spell.

[Sarah Heal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, but the proof reader wants shooting!

[TK · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good end to the series.

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imaginative story line, much better on first reading.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A satisfying finale to this short series.

[Sam Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal ending to a wonderful series!! Loved every bit of it!

[Robert Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a detailed review check out

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC82t...

[Vera Loy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book for 2026. I read the entire series again and thoroughly enjoyed them, finishing with this one at the start of the New Year

[Jay Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so with this book the Spellsong Cycle draws to a close. A fitting end to the series, it continues right where the Shadow Sorceress leaves off. Secca battles the Matire of Sturrin and other elements nearer at home as she tries to secure a lasting peace. All conflicts are resolved and truely terrible songs are sung, devistating the land.

The series as a whole, I've read 3 or 4 times now, each time enjoying it greatly. I'm sure I'll read them again in a few years and a few years after that as well, time and time again.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book, an excellent conclusion to the series. I enjoyed the views into the other characters that were provided by Modesitt. It helped to understand the motives of the various forces, and to see things from their point of view, rather than just reading from Secca's point of view. It allowed a deeper understanding of how the other characters thought, making them more human, as you now had an insight to their motives. They were no longer just another name on the list of Secca's enemies, or allies.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun ending to a solid series. I enjoyed the idea that greater knowledge combined with spellsong was extraordinarily effective, but was a bit confused since a lot of spellsong seems to rely on being able to visualize effects, so it seems that just singing the words if you don't know what they mean terribly well wouldn't be particularly effective. Anyways, a fun book. A series definitely worth a read for fans of Modesitt, but not where I'd recommend new readers start.

[KenziTheRagin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally! The best thing about this series is that I am done with it. The concept is appealing, the broad strokes of the story compelling, but the details, the details! Those G. D. repetitive details! This book could have been 300 shorter is they didn't keep doing the same little things over and over and over and over.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

The grand conclusion of the Spellsong Cycle has Sekka destroying all of various slime ranching from a nation that keeps it's women in chains and cuts out their tongues if they talk too much to her 'ruler' who tries to betray and then kill her. Things should be quiet now for a long time, a decent read.

[Tracey]

Again okay if a bit predictable

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the end, I wasn't as satisfied with the storyline as I was when I started. However, if you read all 5 books of a series, there must be something going right!

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series has been ok, but not my favourite of his.

[Andrew Brumpton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good conclusive book for the series with Secca taking on the formidable Maitre of Sturinn. Nice twists in places and while the conclusion was somewhat inevitable a good and interesting read.