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Darkness #2
Darkness Descending
Now Turtledove returns to the story of a World War in a world where magic works, with this moving second volume. Algarvian soldiers corral Kaunians to send them west, towards Unkerlant, to work camps. The Kaunians left behind are worried about what the work camps might mean, but are assauged by Algarvian lies.
In Kuusamo, scholars race to find the relation between the laws of similarity and contagion. Rumors abound about the Algarvian work camps, rumors most cannot believe as true. But the mages know, for they can feel the loss of life in their very souls.
Turtledove's cast of characters takes on its own life as the reader sees the war from all sides and understands how the death and destruction benefits no one, not even the victors.
In Kuusamo, scholars race to find the relation between the laws of similarity and contagion. Rumors abound about the Algarvian work camps, rumors most cannot believe as true. But the mages know, for they can feel the loss of life in their very souls.
Turtledove's cast of characters takes on its own life as the reader sees the war from all sides and understands how the death and destruction benefits no one, not even the victors.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2000
16 people are currently reading
625 people want to read
About the author
Harry Turtledove
564 books1,967 followersDr Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced a sizeable number of works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 30, 2025
The second novel of the darkness series was significantly better than the first. The pace was great with lots of important things happening and a minimal amount of filler. Some POV characters are kind of a drag to read through but the majority of them are really interesting. Imagining a world war with magic is such a cool concept! My only complaint is that most of the male characters act the same and there doesn’t seem to be a ton of character growth with them, but there are some excellent characters with good arcs too. Im excited to see where the story goes next!
May 25, 2022
A world much different from our own – and at the same time quite similar – explodes into war. The country of Algarve easily conquers Forthweg, Jelgava, and Valmiera. As they begin to move against Unkerlant, they unleash a terrible new weapon of magic on the world; a weapon that uses the life energy of slaughtered Kaunians, an ancient race of people who have become the scapegoats for all that is wrong with the world.
This world is one where dragons cruise the air and leviathans the seas. Ley lines criss-cross the planet, providing a means of transport and energy. Mages work their magic for such mundane things as stopping the aging process of food products, all the way to cloaking the troops on both land and sea. Magical “eggs” are dropped on the enemy as troopers engage in battle on behemoths.
Into this magical world at war, Harry Turtledove drops a myriad of characters. They are from every country and every walk of life; all the way from the Unkerlanter peasant to a Foreign Minister of Zuwayza. Soldiers on both sides of the fight present different points of view, as do the occupiers with those occupied. This vast spectrum of viewpoint characters (seventeen at last count) can be confusing at times, but it’s necessary to create the feeling of how this world war is playing out across the globe.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
This world is one where dragons cruise the air and leviathans the seas. Ley lines criss-cross the planet, providing a means of transport and energy. Mages work their magic for such mundane things as stopping the aging process of food products, all the way to cloaking the troops on both land and sea. Magical “eggs” are dropped on the enemy as troopers engage in battle on behemoths.
Into this magical world at war, Harry Turtledove drops a myriad of characters. They are from every country and every walk of life; all the way from the Unkerlanter peasant to a Foreign Minister of Zuwayza. Soldiers on both sides of the fight present different points of view, as do the occupiers with those occupied. This vast spectrum of viewpoint characters (seventeen at last count) can be confusing at times, but it’s necessary to create the feeling of how this world war is playing out across the globe.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
December 29, 2016
With the setting and character introductions out of the way, Turtledove is able to jump right into the action with this second installment in the World at War series. This one picks up where Into the Darkness leaves off, with the invasion of Unkerlandt and Algarve in full swing and ... there is far too much in this massive plot for me to put down here. Lets just say that a lot happens, as the fortunes of war sway one way then another, and major events unfold that will determine the direction of the entire series. Each character is following their own separate journey, largely being dictated by world events out of their hands.
DARKNESS DESCENDING, while long, eases the frantic-seeming pace of INTO THE DARKNESS where the point of view character changed practically every other page. The same style of switching characters (and situations) frequently was used here, but not in such a confusing and jarring way as it was in that first book. And, I was glad to see that Turtledove stuck with the same POV character lineup for this second volume, helping the reader feel more comfortable with names and situations through familiarity. Really helped give this book a more smooth feel.
I see some of the other reviewers here have criticized Turtledove's seeming lack of ability to portray emotion (particularly with Vanai and her terrible circumstances). While I agree to some extent, I think its just his style of writing that leaves much of the emotion up the the readers' imagination.. Obviously its a BIG DEAL for Ealstan to leave his parents house, but you wouldn't know it just by reading Turtledove's description of the event. While you know Talsu hates seeing the Victory Arch torn down, you just have to imagine it for yourself to get the emotional intensity. Maybe its that Turtledove thinks a little bit goes further than it does, or maybe he thinks its better for the reader to just put himself in the characters position to get the emotion. Either way, his characters do come off as wooden when their emotional reactions to major events are either glossed over or ignored. If you can expect it (like you should if you've read Turtledove before) you can get past it without it taking too much from the story, but if you need to have the emotions explained this book won't be your favorite.
Overall though, I was very pleased with the way the story progressed in DARKNESS DESCENDING. Each of the characters are going through major changes, and none of the story seems like filler. Hopefully Turtledove can keep it up in Through the Darkness. Recommended!
DARKNESS DESCENDING, while long, eases the frantic-seeming pace of INTO THE DARKNESS where the point of view character changed practically every other page. The same style of switching characters (and situations) frequently was used here, but not in such a confusing and jarring way as it was in that first book. And, I was glad to see that Turtledove stuck with the same POV character lineup for this second volume, helping the reader feel more comfortable with names and situations through familiarity. Really helped give this book a more smooth feel.
I see some of the other reviewers here have criticized Turtledove's seeming lack of ability to portray emotion (particularly with Vanai and her terrible circumstances). While I agree to some extent, I think its just his style of writing that leaves much of the emotion up the the readers' imagination.. Obviously its a BIG DEAL for Ealstan to leave his parents house, but you wouldn't know it just by reading Turtledove's description of the event. While you know Talsu hates seeing the Victory Arch torn down, you just have to imagine it for yourself to get the emotional intensity. Maybe its that Turtledove thinks a little bit goes further than it does, or maybe he thinks its better for the reader to just put himself in the characters position to get the emotion. Either way, his characters do come off as wooden when their emotional reactions to major events are either glossed over or ignored. If you can expect it (like you should if you've read Turtledove before) you can get past it without it taking too much from the story, but if you need to have the emotions explained this book won't be your favorite.
Overall though, I was very pleased with the way the story progressed in DARKNESS DESCENDING. Each of the characters are going through major changes, and none of the story seems like filler. Hopefully Turtledove can keep it up in Through the Darkness. Recommended!
November 25, 2024
With Harry Turtledove you know what you’re going to get. No-nonsense utilitarian prose. An episodic narrative seen from many points of view. Actions telegraphed long before they happen. Reminders of information previously revealed (in that respect it’s as if Turtledove may himself have needed reminding.) Characters not acting for or as themselves but there simply to make a point or progress the plot. Not great literature certainly, perhaps not even literature at all.
And yet somehow it doesn’t seem to matter. His grand sweep carries you along. Even when his inspiration is ridiculously obvious – as it is here in an allegory of our Second World War, with the Kingdom of Algarve standing in for Germany as the baddies and its main opponent, the Kingdom of Unkerlant, a Soviet Union analogue; still baddies (or at least its ruthless ruler is,) as was true in our 1940s. There is no true counterpart to the US however, the other countries here (all political entities in this scenario are Kingdoms) are all too small - and none parallel the British Empire either.
The feature of this series, an exotic flourish, is the fantastic elements; ley lines, dragons, unicorns, behemoths, leviathans, magic; all pressed into military service. Apart from that the war follows a familiar pattern.
In this episode the hitherto always victorious Algarvians are held before the Unkerlant capital, Cottbus; the magical equivalent of the Manhattan Project trundles on slowly in this world’s southern regions; Kaunians are already suffering the early stages of a Holocaust, being herded into ghettos, transported to the front to be killed so that mages can use their deaths to unleash sorcerous energies on the enemy; and it seems as if one of the characters may be destined to become a counterpart of Anne Frank - though I admit her prior experiences have been fairly different.
Sourcing cinnabar, a mineral necessary for dragons to breathe fire, is being set up to be the main Algarvian military objective of the next book, precursorily promising a battle to emulate Stalingrad.
This society of Turtledove’s is, however, almost relentlessly sexist and misogynistic.
And yet somehow it doesn’t seem to matter. His grand sweep carries you along. Even when his inspiration is ridiculously obvious – as it is here in an allegory of our Second World War, with the Kingdom of Algarve standing in for Germany as the baddies and its main opponent, the Kingdom of Unkerlant, a Soviet Union analogue; still baddies (or at least its ruthless ruler is,) as was true in our 1940s. There is no true counterpart to the US however, the other countries here (all political entities in this scenario are Kingdoms) are all too small - and none parallel the British Empire either.
The feature of this series, an exotic flourish, is the fantastic elements; ley lines, dragons, unicorns, behemoths, leviathans, magic; all pressed into military service. Apart from that the war follows a familiar pattern.
In this episode the hitherto always victorious Algarvians are held before the Unkerlant capital, Cottbus; the magical equivalent of the Manhattan Project trundles on slowly in this world’s southern regions; Kaunians are already suffering the early stages of a Holocaust, being herded into ghettos, transported to the front to be killed so that mages can use their deaths to unleash sorcerous energies on the enemy; and it seems as if one of the characters may be destined to become a counterpart of Anne Frank - though I admit her prior experiences have been fairly different.
Sourcing cinnabar, a mineral necessary for dragons to breathe fire, is being set up to be the main Algarvian military objective of the next book, precursorily promising a battle to emulate Stalingrad.
This society of Turtledove’s is, however, almost relentlessly sexist and misogynistic.
August 7, 2017
I found this book to be a lot better than the first and a lot easier to follow, although I don't know how much of that was due to it just being a better book, and how much was due to the fact that the first book did the heavy lifting in introducing locations and characters, allowing this book to go straight to the action. Either way, without having to do a long, hard slog through explanations and back story, we barreled forward with the war and never stopped moving. Spending more time with the characters made them more easily distinguishable from each other (although there are a couple that I think have names that are still too close together), and also allowed for more emotional investment in the different plot arcs.
One of the gripes I expected to have was that none of the POV characters die, but about 3/4 of the way through one finally does. I still think losing one POV character out of all of them, and not until the third year of a war, is rather unrealistic. On the other hand, if you asked me who else to get rid of I would shield most of them going "Not this one! Choose someone else!" So there you are.
I keep reading that this is a loose allegory for World War II, but the further along we get the less I see it. Other than it's a world war, and the fact that there are some Jewish-Holocaust parallels, I don't really get it. Plus there are plenty of other times in history, and in fiction, where all available countries were fighting each other and were scape coating a race or type of person as "the problem," and therefore expendable, so I don't think that this draws a direct line to WWII. On the other hand, I'm two books in to a multi-book series, so maybe the comparison will crystalize as we go along. But trying to keep one eye on the allegory while still enjoying the plot for what it is got too tired, so I gave up and I'm just reading the novels as their own self-contained world. It is much, much better this way.
One of the gripes I expected to have was that none of the POV characters die, but about 3/4 of the way through one finally does. I still think losing one POV character out of all of them, and not until the third year of a war, is rather unrealistic. On the other hand, if you asked me who else to get rid of I would shield most of them going "Not this one! Choose someone else!" So there you are.
I keep reading that this is a loose allegory for World War II, but the further along we get the less I see it. Other than it's a world war, and the fact that there are some Jewish-Holocaust parallels, I don't really get it. Plus there are plenty of other times in history, and in fiction, where all available countries were fighting each other and were scape coating a race or type of person as "the problem," and therefore expendable, so I don't think that this draws a direct line to WWII. On the other hand, I'm two books in to a multi-book series, so maybe the comparison will crystalize as we go along. But trying to keep one eye on the allegory while still enjoying the plot for what it is got too tired, so I gave up and I'm just reading the novels as their own self-contained world. It is much, much better this way.
September 3, 2022
I read this book in two "bursts" - one in April of this year, and then the end of August - start of September. I was enthralled, but the book (a fantasy analogue of World War II) is dense. Properly dense, too - there are so many different characters that you jump between, and the political narrative can sometimes be kind of tricky to keep a hold of in your mind with a constantly changing shift in perspective, but the shifting in perspective works brilliantly.
Without the changes in point of view, the scope of the story as a "world war" would be seriously hampered. But you also get a great insight into the minds and thoughts of the characters presented, giving the war a particularly grim, real feeling. The feeling of charges and retreats, and of being pinned down in forests filled with mines, comes through perfectly on the page. If there is one large issue with the book (aside from how tricky it can be to get into the right mindset to read), Turtledove loves to repeat himself. Sure, this can be helpful with the shifts in perspective (or if you pick the book up after a long absence like I did!) - but you do start to notice that characters love to regurgitate the same thoughts and ideas that it almost becomes monotonous? Still, this isn't always a bad thing - sometimes a little bit of repetition helped me settle in the character's mind a bit more. I would have appreciated a bit less, though - but still, hugely enjoyable. A rich and engaging fantasy novel about what is really World War II, but figuring out parallels and whatnot is a big part of the fun for me.
Looking forward to starting the next one - and finishing it in another six months!
Without the changes in point of view, the scope of the story as a "world war" would be seriously hampered. But you also get a great insight into the minds and thoughts of the characters presented, giving the war a particularly grim, real feeling. The feeling of charges and retreats, and of being pinned down in forests filled with mines, comes through perfectly on the page. If there is one large issue with the book (aside from how tricky it can be to get into the right mindset to read), Turtledove loves to repeat himself. Sure, this can be helpful with the shifts in perspective (or if you pick the book up after a long absence like I did!) - but you do start to notice that characters love to regurgitate the same thoughts and ideas that it almost becomes monotonous? Still, this isn't always a bad thing - sometimes a little bit of repetition helped me settle in the character's mind a bit more. I would have appreciated a bit less, though - but still, hugely enjoyable. A rich and engaging fantasy novel about what is really World War II, but figuring out parallels and whatnot is a big part of the fun for me.
Looking forward to starting the next one - and finishing it in another six months!
December 6, 2017
Ealstan and Leofsig are more likable than Sidroc. Sidroc needs to learn how to have some respect for women. He is also really annoying. I would not like it if he were my cousin. I like Ealstan and Leofsig's relationship as brothers as well as their relationship with their father Hestan. All three of them are accepting of Kaunians (Sidroc is not). Ealstan even falls in love with a Kaunian girl named Vanai. Vanai's grandfather Brivibas doesn't need to treat Vanai the way he does--she was only trying to protect him from working himself to death. The war between Algarve and Unkerlant continues... The Algarvians are rounding up the Kaunians and are killing them by using sorcerous energy which they are then using against their enemies. Pekka is working on a top secret project with other sorcerers. Garivald is discovering that he can write subversive songs. King Mezentio of Algarve and King Swemmel of Unkerlant are both bad guys.
August 2, 2018
A fantastic retelling of World War 2 set in a time of magic and fantastic beast. However it’s such a retelling of WW2 that events and people became unbearably predictable that I quit the series about 2.5 books in. May revisit at some point, and I know more than a few people I’d heavily recommend this too, but if you aren’t looking for WW2 redux, avoid at all cost.
December 19, 2025
The book makes little sense without the preceding work in the series. It jumps around a lot in terms of which characters and location you are looking at. There's an overreliance on sex and sexuality to grab the reader's attention because none of the characters have much character at all.
August 10, 2022
Nothing really stands out just a continuation of the previous book with plot ideas we say coming with this being a fantasy version WW2 horrors threw magic-lenses.
October 6, 2014
This part 2 of Harry Turtledove's "Darkness," series. I guess there are six in the series. I started reading this one right after I read volume One. I got involved and finished it fairly quickly.
This is a fantasy novel, written with Turtledove's usual exactness and attention to detail. It is a very rewarding read. I liked it very much. The premise of this novel is that in this place, Magic works. There are dragons and magic spells that work, monsters in the sea. There is a great war beginning and gradually getting bigger and more serious. The plotting is intricate and very much resembles Earth, during the First and Second world wars. People are being dragged in and their lives are changed for better or worse. This is like reading a novel of real history, not fiction. I really enjoyed it.
But--and there is always a "but"--at the end of this novel I was thinking that there were four more in the series. I guess they end at the end of the war. Do I want to know who wins/loses? And my answer is "no." Not right now. I've got a lot of other things I'd rather be reading first.
So read and enjoy. Very good. I'll finish the series later.
This is a fantasy novel, written with Turtledove's usual exactness and attention to detail. It is a very rewarding read. I liked it very much. The premise of this novel is that in this place, Magic works. There are dragons and magic spells that work, monsters in the sea. There is a great war beginning and gradually getting bigger and more serious. The plotting is intricate and very much resembles Earth, during the First and Second world wars. People are being dragged in and their lives are changed for better or worse. This is like reading a novel of real history, not fiction. I really enjoyed it.
But--and there is always a "but"--at the end of this novel I was thinking that there were four more in the series. I guess they end at the end of the war. Do I want to know who wins/loses? And my answer is "no." Not right now. I've got a lot of other things I'd rather be reading first.
So read and enjoy. Very good. I'll finish the series later.
February 12, 2012
This is the second book in the six-part series. I read the first book (Into the Darkness) several years ago and I have been casually browsing for the second book since then. Like the first one, this book is fairly graphic, yet not so graphic that it's unreadable. The book follows most of the same characters and the historical events mirror those of the Second World War. Turtledove does take quite a few liberties (for example, amalgamating similar countries into one country or doing the same with the history of one country such that the governments are not really a reflection of their real status during WWII). It has been, thus far, pretty easy to read, especially for someone who is pretty familiar with European history and culture.
July 6, 2016
I can give a number of reasons why I would expect not to like Darkness Descending (or the series for that matter): too many characters, too many countries, too many wars, no real ending and rather slow reading (took me four weeks to finish these 600 pages).
Yet I rather enjoyed it, once again most likely because of the diversity of the characters, which are smart, irritating, boring, nice, naïve, arrogant, stupid, mean and everything in between.
But where for Into the Darkness I hesitated between 3 and 4 stars, there is less doubt here: a very solid 3 stars, but no more.
Yet I rather enjoyed it, once again most likely because of the diversity of the characters, which are smart, irritating, boring, nice, naïve, arrogant, stupid, mean and everything in between.
But where for Into the Darkness I hesitated between 3 and 4 stars, there is less doubt here: a very solid 3 stars, but no more.
November 10, 2009
Keeping in mind the differences mentioned in the first volume review - the aristocratic ethos of Derlavai is quite far away from Earth cca 1940 despite the obvious parallels - this volume covers "1941" to a large extent
As good (or whatever your opinion of Derlavai 1 is) as the first, I read it as fast as I could and now I am moving to #3 since I really like this series so far
As good (or whatever your opinion of Derlavai 1 is) as the first, I read it as fast as I could and now I am moving to #3 since I really like this series so far
August 17, 2012
Very detailed, engaging plot, but no direction. It just follows people's lives through the war, and does a great job of bringing it to life, but there doesn't seem to be anything toward which the story moves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2015
Interesting concept; however, I don’t know much about World War II to understand all the references. This work is ambitious, but nonetheless it is done well –despite all the characters, it is easy to follow since the plot is tight.
Want to read
September 6, 2017IL: UG - BL: 5.8 - AR Pts: 38.0
September 6, 2013
World At War #2
December 4, 2013
I enjoyed this series as the characters are used well throughtout the war. I like the combat scenes and enjoyed the world in which Turtledove's action plays out.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews