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The Rhenwars Saga #2
Darklands
Compelled to obey the dark god he pledged his soul to, Darien finds himself tasked with delivering the people of the Black Lands from under the curse of darkness which shrouds the skies. With the enemy mage Azár, Darien sets out across a barren darkscape to assume his place as the leader of a people who despise him.
As he journeys deeper into the shadowed waste, Darien is confronted with difficult truths that force him to question every loyalty he has ever held. For there, in the brutal proving grounds of the north, Darien will be inexorably forged into the most dangerous adversary the Rhen has ever faced.
As he journeys deeper into the shadowed waste, Darien is confronted with difficult truths that force him to question every loyalty he has ever held. For there, in the brutal proving grounds of the north, Darien will be inexorably forged into the most dangerous adversary the Rhen has ever faced.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2017
210 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Spencer
23 books719 followersM.L. Spencer is an epic fantasy author. Her debut novel Darkmage won the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Award for Fantasy, and her novel Dragon Mage won the 2021 Readers' Favorite Gold Award for Fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 23, 2017
Overall/Tl;dr
An unexpected, interesting read that I think should appeal to a cross-section of fantasy fans. It's dark, but not too bleak; philosophical, but not preachy; complex, but approachable. My only warning is to readers who want a break-neck plot pace, because this one moves fairly slowly and savors the details. On the flip side if you like your plots a bit slower and the time to enjoy every word and reaction, then this will suit you perfectly.
Setting/World-building
Very thorough and well-done. There's two cultures opposed to one another, one a sort of 'outskirts' people in a terrible geographic situation with hints of desert or bedouin culture. The other is more 'civilized' and fortunate geographically, with hints of maybe Turkish and some modern Western culture. Both are interesting and well-presented, and the contrast is very purposeful and important. These differences bleed into the magic system as well, and if you're a high-fantasy fan, there's a lot here to like.
Plot
Mostly everything of consequence takes place in the 'outskirts' or Darklands culture in this particular book in the series (hence the name!). For the Rhen (the more 'civilized' folk), they begin the story worried about invasion, and they end the story worried about invasion. Some things happen here, but it's mostly just filling in gaps and pacing for the other thread.
With the exception of some hints of romance and more elaborate intrigue, this book is the story of Darien as he transforms from a defender of the Rhen to the defender of the Black Lands. Unfortunately I haven't read the first two books in the series (and I intend to), so I think I missed a lot of references to historical events and actions that would have made all of this more meaningful. But regardless...well, see Characters below.
Characters
Darien. It would be fair to say I was...impatient...for the Darien parts of the book. He's the mover and shaker in this story, and he's the guy apparently holding the fate of nations in his hands. Women love him. Men want to be him, well, or torture and kill him. He can use all the cool magic. He's got a demon dog.
There are other characters, too. I guess. OK Quin gets an honorable mention, who's another sort of grey-figure in the book and makes some things happen. There's some bad guys, or at least ruthless guys, some politicians and priests and mages and soldiers. I mean, Darien can't exist alone.
Actually the love interest Meiran annoyed the hell out of me, and I'm pretty sure that's on purpose. Let's just say if Darien were my friend, I'd be setting him up on some new dates. Not that he'd need my help, because they'd come to him.
Writing
There's a very definite style and voice to this writing, which is I think one of the reasons why it catches eyes. Like the plot, it's slow, intricate, and deliberate. There's a lot of emotive language, a lot of dialogue tags and adverbs mixed with detailed description. Again, a delight for some, a con for others.
Final thoughts
I enjoyed the book and certainly want to know how it all ends. There's a great deal of questions and cleverness going on, and I really have no idea how it's going to play out, which is rare and always nice. Ultimately, in Darien We Trust.
I'll also add that Ms. Spencer is a fresh new voice to the scene, and I think fans can expect many more stories to come, which is a nice perk, and another great example of why indie is awesome.
Also not related to the book - this is a new fantasy review format I think I'm going to use going forward...let me know if you like it.
An unexpected, interesting read that I think should appeal to a cross-section of fantasy fans. It's dark, but not too bleak; philosophical, but not preachy; complex, but approachable. My only warning is to readers who want a break-neck plot pace, because this one moves fairly slowly and savors the details. On the flip side if you like your plots a bit slower and the time to enjoy every word and reaction, then this will suit you perfectly.
Setting/World-building
Very thorough and well-done. There's two cultures opposed to one another, one a sort of 'outskirts' people in a terrible geographic situation with hints of desert or bedouin culture. The other is more 'civilized' and fortunate geographically, with hints of maybe Turkish and some modern Western culture. Both are interesting and well-presented, and the contrast is very purposeful and important. These differences bleed into the magic system as well, and if you're a high-fantasy fan, there's a lot here to like.
Plot
Mostly everything of consequence takes place in the 'outskirts' or Darklands culture in this particular book in the series (hence the name!). For the Rhen (the more 'civilized' folk), they begin the story worried about invasion, and they end the story worried about invasion. Some things happen here, but it's mostly just filling in gaps and pacing for the other thread.
With the exception of some hints of romance and more elaborate intrigue, this book is the story of Darien as he transforms from a defender of the Rhen to the defender of the Black Lands. Unfortunately I haven't read the first two books in the series (and I intend to), so I think I missed a lot of references to historical events and actions that would have made all of this more meaningful. But regardless...well, see Characters below.
Characters
Darien. It would be fair to say I was...impatient...for the Darien parts of the book. He's the mover and shaker in this story, and he's the guy apparently holding the fate of nations in his hands. Women love him. Men want to be him, well, or torture and kill him. He can use all the cool magic. He's got a demon dog.
There are other characters, too. I guess. OK Quin gets an honorable mention, who's another sort of grey-figure in the book and makes some things happen. There's some bad guys, or at least ruthless guys, some politicians and priests and mages and soldiers. I mean, Darien can't exist alone.
Actually the love interest Meiran annoyed the hell out of me, and I'm pretty sure that's on purpose. Let's just say if Darien were my friend, I'd be setting him up on some new dates. Not that he'd need my help, because they'd come to him.
Writing
There's a very definite style and voice to this writing, which is I think one of the reasons why it catches eyes. Like the plot, it's slow, intricate, and deliberate. There's a lot of emotive language, a lot of dialogue tags and adverbs mixed with detailed description. Again, a delight for some, a con for others.
Final thoughts
I enjoyed the book and certainly want to know how it all ends. There's a great deal of questions and cleverness going on, and I really have no idea how it's going to play out, which is rare and always nice. Ultimately, in Darien We Trust.
I'll also add that Ms. Spencer is a fresh new voice to the scene, and I think fans can expect many more stories to come, which is a nice perk, and another great example of why indie is awesome.
Also not related to the book - this is a new fantasy review format I think I'm going to use going forward...let me know if you like it.
May 1, 2021
This was a lot better than the previous book in this series.
There is more depth to the characters and the different/alternative planes and the difficulties experienced by the people there add more interest to the overall story.
If any of you are thinking of reading this series then be warned: The Rhenwars saga collection runs in order of books 2,3,4, and 5 on Kindle, and then you get to the end and find that you should have read "Darkstorm" first. So if you buy the collection on Kindle go to the last book first; if that makes sense.
Order to read series in:
Darkstorm
Darkmage
darklands
Darkrise
Darkfall
I will be going straight into reading Darkrise now. I will have to read Darkstorm at a later date but I hope my review saves some of you from the same confusion.
Thanks for reading.
There is more depth to the characters and the different/alternative planes and the difficulties experienced by the people there add more interest to the overall story.
If any of you are thinking of reading this series then be warned: The Rhenwars saga collection runs in order of books 2,3,4, and 5 on Kindle, and then you get to the end and find that you should have read "Darkstorm" first. So if you buy the collection on Kindle go to the last book first; if that makes sense.
Order to read series in:
Darkstorm
Darkmage
darklands
Darkrise
Darkfall
I will be going straight into reading Darkrise now. I will have to read Darkstorm at a later date but I hope my review saves some of you from the same confusion.
Thanks for reading.
June 28, 2017
DARKLANDS is the third novel in the Rhenwars series that is sort of an inversion of the Wheel of Time. The story begins with the protagonists doing their absolute best to fight the various forces of darkness as well as prevent the end of the world as their methods become more extreme, only for them to gradually come to sympathize with the so-called evil doers as their understanding of the universe expands.
in the previous novels, we've had protagonists Branden and Darien break out all the stops in order to prevent underworld god Xerys' forces from overrunning the world. However, Branden's brother Quin and now Darien were both forced to swear unbreakable oaths to serve the hellish deity that have forced them onto the other side. Transformed into, essentially, Ringwraiths, they have been given the task of leading the people of the Darklands from their life in the eternal night.
Rather than find a bunch of Satan-worshiping evil doers, they find an advanced culture which is always living hand-to-mouth due to the fact they have been forced to live in a desert with no sunlight. They can only survive due to the presence of magic and wish to escape their hellish domiciles. Darien's sympathy soon swells, especially as he discovered he's murdered legions of people who just wanted to secure a better life for their descendants.
Dairen's former lover, Meiran, is troubled by this development because she has a one-dimensional view of the conflict as one between good versus evil. She's very much Wrong Genre SavvyTM in that she thinks she's in a Tolkien-esque story where the evil doers are one side where the good guys are on the ther but it's actually a grimdark tale by an author much more interested in questions those assumptions.
In fact, the "good" guys have always been incredibly hypocritical and self-righteous in the Rhenwars books. With the invasion of the world on the horizon, the lesser kingdoms and religious orders are more interested in letting their defenders bleed themselves out rather than offering an ounce of support. The fact the mages have been reduced to almost nothing is a sign the other factions can strip them of their authority as well as power to influence them.
There's romance in this novel but it's an interesting take on the whole "destined lovers" which we normally see in fantasy. Darien sacrificed everything, including his soul, for Meiran and she's disgusted by what he's become. Naia deeply loves Darien despite what he's become but he honestly just sees her as a friend. Quin's lover has been dead and gone for a thousand years but he still holds a torch for her. It's all nice, dark, and well-written which subverts a lot of common cliche.
The only problem I have with Darklands is that it ends on a cliffhanger and it is the first book which doesn't give a definitive conclusion to its storyline. I was quite fond of the fact the stories were "one and done" beforehand.
9/10
in the previous novels, we've had protagonists Branden and Darien break out all the stops in order to prevent underworld god Xerys' forces from overrunning the world. However, Branden's brother Quin and now Darien were both forced to swear unbreakable oaths to serve the hellish deity that have forced them onto the other side. Transformed into, essentially, Ringwraiths, they have been given the task of leading the people of the Darklands from their life in the eternal night.
Rather than find a bunch of Satan-worshiping evil doers, they find an advanced culture which is always living hand-to-mouth due to the fact they have been forced to live in a desert with no sunlight. They can only survive due to the presence of magic and wish to escape their hellish domiciles. Darien's sympathy soon swells, especially as he discovered he's murdered legions of people who just wanted to secure a better life for their descendants.
Dairen's former lover, Meiran, is troubled by this development because she has a one-dimensional view of the conflict as one between good versus evil. She's very much Wrong Genre SavvyTM in that she thinks she's in a Tolkien-esque story where the evil doers are one side where the good guys are on the ther but it's actually a grimdark tale by an author much more interested in questions those assumptions.
In fact, the "good" guys have always been incredibly hypocritical and self-righteous in the Rhenwars books. With the invasion of the world on the horizon, the lesser kingdoms and religious orders are more interested in letting their defenders bleed themselves out rather than offering an ounce of support. The fact the mages have been reduced to almost nothing is a sign the other factions can strip them of their authority as well as power to influence them.
There's romance in this novel but it's an interesting take on the whole "destined lovers" which we normally see in fantasy. Darien sacrificed everything, including his soul, for Meiran and she's disgusted by what he's become. Naia deeply loves Darien despite what he's become but he honestly just sees her as a friend. Quin's lover has been dead and gone for a thousand years but he still holds a torch for her. It's all nice, dark, and well-written which subverts a lot of common cliche.
The only problem I have with Darklands is that it ends on a cliffhanger and it is the first book which doesn't give a definitive conclusion to its storyline. I was quite fond of the fact the stories were "one and done" beforehand.
9/10
January 17, 2023
I liked the first in this series - obviously, or I wouldn't have read this sequel - bit Darklands is quite a step up again!
My wish for more rounded and three dimensional side characters came through. I couldn't even tell you whose POV I enjoyed most this time around.
More grey areas, and moral dilemmas, more fights and political maneuvering and most if all - more world to explore!
I loved getting to see the Darkland. It was so fascinating to read how they make due with what they have, and make up for what they are lacking. This felt like a world you could get lost in, not just like a stage for a setting.
I have always especially enjoed stories that don't have a clear good and badd sight, but instead making you root for both. ML Spencer does this incrementally and perfectly here.
And again, I just love the sheer amount of magic in here! As much as I like my low on fantasy Grimdark, sometimes I just want l the magic being flung about.
Full five stars for this grilling and addictive tale!
My wish for more rounded and three dimensional side characters came through. I couldn't even tell you whose POV I enjoyed most this time around.
More grey areas, and moral dilemmas, more fights and political maneuvering and most if all - more world to explore!
I loved getting to see the Darkland. It was so fascinating to read how they make due with what they have, and make up for what they are lacking. This felt like a world you could get lost in, not just like a stage for a setting.
I have always especially enjoed stories that don't have a clear good and badd sight, but instead making you root for both. ML Spencer does this incrementally and perfectly here.
And again, I just love the sheer amount of magic in here! As much as I like my low on fantasy Grimdark, sometimes I just want l the magic being flung about.
Full five stars for this grilling and addictive tale!
March 27, 2019
I've given up on this second book in the Rhenwars Saga. Duplication of plot for the basic premise of the first book with variations tossed in. While fantasy, I thought some of the "happenings" were simply bizarre. Exit, stage left, this reader from the Rhenwars Saga.
And correct, I did not finish it. Maybe got a third of the way in.
And correct, I did not finish it. Maybe got a third of the way in.
July 13, 2020
4.1/5
Having read Darklands solidified my view that The Rhenwars Saga is both a love letter and a subversion of Wheel of Time. Imagine if Rand becomes a full antihero and all Aiel turn out to be Dark One's followers with justified cause. Imagine if Aiel Waste is fully cursed and the Forsaken are actually capable, then you'll get Darklands.
Darklands adopts the staple epic fantasy plot of the looming magical catastrophe while exploring the spectrum of grey morality, where the failures and consequences of action carry over to thousands of years to the future. Some mistakes and hiccups made by the characters start small, but they all snowball into the perfect storm of suffering, and they often left with only hard options and dilemmas. Here, Spencer elaborates the metaphysical idea of Chaos as the meeting point of all consequences of the past actions. This is quite an interesting concept which I don't fully buy as so far it only accounts the failures and follies of humanity, both on individual and collective levels.
Special mention goes to Quinlan Reis, a character who steals the spotlight whenever he appears. Servants of Xerys is Spencer's answer to WOT's Forsaken, a collection of complex and capable individuals. I always think that the way Asmodean handled in WOT is a big waste of potential. Quinlan Reis is what will happen if Asmodean is fleshed out and given a more important role and interesting lines, a truly fascinating grey character.
While Darklands expands upon the base that Darkmage has laid, I do think it still falls to the common Western fantasy trapping of Orientalist gaze on the Enemy (who is coded as Middle-Eastern people with exoticised values and culture, despite the elaboration on their cause and unjust suffering).
Again, like its prequel, Darklands offers neither novel and thought-provoking SFF concepts nor original worldbuilding but with what it has it delivers a solid and compelling story.
Having read Darklands solidified my view that The Rhenwars Saga is both a love letter and a subversion of Wheel of Time. Imagine if Rand becomes a full antihero and all Aiel turn out to be Dark One's followers with justified cause. Imagine if Aiel Waste is fully cursed and the Forsaken are actually capable, then you'll get Darklands.
Darklands adopts the staple epic fantasy plot of the looming magical catastrophe while exploring the spectrum of grey morality, where the failures and consequences of action carry over to thousands of years to the future. Some mistakes and hiccups made by the characters start small, but they all snowball into the perfect storm of suffering, and they often left with only hard options and dilemmas. Here, Spencer elaborates the metaphysical idea of Chaos as the meeting point of all consequences of the past actions. This is quite an interesting concept which I don't fully buy as so far it only accounts the failures and follies of humanity, both on individual and collective levels.
Special mention goes to Quinlan Reis, a character who steals the spotlight whenever he appears. Servants of Xerys is Spencer's answer to WOT's Forsaken, a collection of complex and capable individuals. I always think that the way Asmodean handled in WOT is a big waste of potential. Quinlan Reis is what will happen if Asmodean is fleshed out and given a more important role and interesting lines, a truly fascinating grey character.
While Darklands expands upon the base that Darkmage has laid, I do think it still falls to the common Western fantasy trapping of Orientalist gaze on the Enemy (who is coded as Middle-Eastern people with exoticised values and culture, despite the elaboration on their cause and unjust suffering).
Again, like its prequel, Darklands offers neither novel and thought-provoking SFF concepts nor original worldbuilding but with what it has it delivers a solid and compelling story.
July 18, 2017
Reviewed by Kim Heimbuch for San Diego Book Review
Dark fantasy fans looking to stow away the day with a good book will revel in the newest release “Darklands”, book three of the Rhenwars Saga series, by award-winning Indie author M.L. Spencer.
The purpose of a series is to start with the first book and read them sequentially, though realistically speaking, this likely happens less often than an author would like. As readers are spontaneous beings, writing a successful book that is not only part of a series but that also stands alone, exemplifies the raw talent of an author, which Spencer exudes from page-to-page, and book-to-book, allowing for readers to indiscriminately read however and whatever they like, whether they choose to read all of the Rhenwars Saga or just “Darklands”.
You can read this entire review and others like it at San Diego Book Review.
Dark fantasy fans looking to stow away the day with a good book will revel in the newest release “Darklands”, book three of the Rhenwars Saga series, by award-winning Indie author M.L. Spencer.
The purpose of a series is to start with the first book and read them sequentially, though realistically speaking, this likely happens less often than an author would like. As readers are spontaneous beings, writing a successful book that is not only part of a series but that also stands alone, exemplifies the raw talent of an author, which Spencer exudes from page-to-page, and book-to-book, allowing for readers to indiscriminately read however and whatever they like, whether they choose to read all of the Rhenwars Saga or just “Darklands”.
You can read this entire review and others like it at San Diego Book Review.
October 18, 2018
This book has me completely enthralled. The depth of the characters is very well written. I am very anxious to start on Darkrise. I hope Meiran gets over herself.
August 24, 2018
This book differs from Darkstorm and Darkmage in the scale of its conflict. Rather than being about a battlefield, this story heavily focuses on Darien and Meiran sorting out their dynamic after all the repercussions of Darien's choices in Darkmage.
The main characters spend time planning and negotiating their terms building up to what will perhaps be all-out war, but the imminent clash does not yet arrive in this book. We do learn a lot more about The Enemy, their lifestyles, their struggles, and their humanity. Spencer has created a unique and thriving culture in a region with a perpetually dark sky.
The story is smaller in scope, the stakes more intimate. The ending gives little resolution, leading into what I presume will be major problems for the next book to tackle. The emotional struggles in Darklands are heartbreaking. This author so skillfully teases up angst and turmoil for the characters. Darien has even more consequences to suffer for his actions in the previous book. It's hard to watch him suffer so, as I often find myself rooting for him. Meiran herself bends the definition of the Oath of Harmony, while relentlessly advocating to uphold it. Maybe it's my own skewed sense of priorities, but I found a hard time relating to Meiran and her perception of righteousness.
Just when they seem to have an understanding, Darien & Meiran find themselves in an unpredictable conflict of interest. Spencer is an expert at weaving characters' choices through differing motivations, leading to true questions of what defines right and wrong.
Darklands is a story of tenuous promises, and reminds us even the strongest bonds can lead to fragile alliances.
The main characters spend time planning and negotiating their terms building up to what will perhaps be all-out war, but the imminent clash does not yet arrive in this book. We do learn a lot more about The Enemy, their lifestyles, their struggles, and their humanity. Spencer has created a unique and thriving culture in a region with a perpetually dark sky.
The story is smaller in scope, the stakes more intimate. The ending gives little resolution, leading into what I presume will be major problems for the next book to tackle. The emotional struggles in Darklands are heartbreaking. This author so skillfully teases up angst and turmoil for the characters. Darien has even more consequences to suffer for his actions in the previous book. It's hard to watch him suffer so, as I often find myself rooting for him. Meiran herself bends the definition of the Oath of Harmony, while relentlessly advocating to uphold it. Maybe it's my own skewed sense of priorities, but I found a hard time relating to Meiran and her perception of righteousness.
Just when they seem to have an understanding, Darien & Meiran find themselves in an unpredictable conflict of interest. Spencer is an expert at weaving characters' choices through differing motivations, leading to true questions of what defines right and wrong.
Darklands is a story of tenuous promises, and reminds us even the strongest bonds can lead to fragile alliances.
October 7, 2017
Only one complaint
Very well done! But, even with the minor grammatical faux pas my only complaint is I want more! Rather than writing "The End" it should say "To be continued"!
Very well done! But, even with the minor grammatical faux pas my only complaint is I want more! Rather than writing "The End" it should say "To be continued"!
January 5, 2023
This is the 2nd time I have read this book (series) Loved this series, especially the characters.
I can't get enough❣❣❣
I can't get enough❣❣❣
April 16, 2023
I fairly enjoyable second book to the series.
M. L Spencer is my first experience with a Inde authour and I am very much looking forward to finishing the series.
M. L Spencer is my first experience with a Inde authour and I am very much looking forward to finishing the series.
June 3, 2017
Originally reviewed at West Coast Book Reviews.
My fabulous brother in law and fellow Virgo knows just how pull my strings. He gives me, oh say, book three in a series, then watches in full-on amusement as I drop everything, helpless against the impulse to run to the book store for books one and two.
Being "she who must have the entire set" can seem like a nonsense compulsion, but getting more books isn't really a bad thing at all, right?
So when M.L. Spencer offered ARCs of Darklands, I readied myself to burn through the first two.
When she said I wouldn't have to read the first two in order to have a good grasp of the goings on in book three, I decided the only way to know for sure was to hold back my inner collector and start reading.
First, I was super happy to see Darklands was edited by the fantastic Morgan Smith, writer of solid, honest heroines and immersively tactile fantasy worlds.
Though loaded with repercussions, heartache and grief from the previous two books in the series, Darklands opens with its own ominously laden action. The line between life and the afterlife quickly blurs and left me with the feeling of straddling both sides of the conflict filled streams winding through the book.
I also loved the balance of voice between the various characters. To me, none stood out over the others and each clearly availed me of the differences in the way they see each other. Each change in point of view made a point of pushing the plot further or pivoting it around in a new direction while maintaining a great feel of being its own small story.
I also felt a good sense of The Rhen and The Black Lands though I suspect much of the setting for book three is in areas not yet explored in books one and two. Though there are a good part of the lands I didn't get to by jumping in to book three, they have the solid feel of the place where your best friend, mage mentor, etc. grew up and gave them life through their first-hand telling.
Darklands is a complete, dark, anything goes fantasy that brings together one of the ultimate challenges in fiction, the balance between life and death, and with it what happens when the very balance of light and dark is thrown awry. Find room for Darklands on your bookshelf and in your escape time. At night. Outside.
So, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Virgo my way through Darkstorm and Darkmage.
I received an advanced review copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
My fabulous brother in law and fellow Virgo knows just how pull my strings. He gives me, oh say, book three in a series, then watches in full-on amusement as I drop everything, helpless against the impulse to run to the book store for books one and two.
Being "she who must have the entire set" can seem like a nonsense compulsion, but getting more books isn't really a bad thing at all, right?
So when M.L. Spencer offered ARCs of Darklands, I readied myself to burn through the first two.
When she said I wouldn't have to read the first two in order to have a good grasp of the goings on in book three, I decided the only way to know for sure was to hold back my inner collector and start reading.
First, I was super happy to see Darklands was edited by the fantastic Morgan Smith, writer of solid, honest heroines and immersively tactile fantasy worlds.
Though loaded with repercussions, heartache and grief from the previous two books in the series, Darklands opens with its own ominously laden action. The line between life and the afterlife quickly blurs and left me with the feeling of straddling both sides of the conflict filled streams winding through the book.
I also loved the balance of voice between the various characters. To me, none stood out over the others and each clearly availed me of the differences in the way they see each other. Each change in point of view made a point of pushing the plot further or pivoting it around in a new direction while maintaining a great feel of being its own small story.
I also felt a good sense of The Rhen and The Black Lands though I suspect much of the setting for book three is in areas not yet explored in books one and two. Though there are a good part of the lands I didn't get to by jumping in to book three, they have the solid feel of the place where your best friend, mage mentor, etc. grew up and gave them life through their first-hand telling.
Darklands is a complete, dark, anything goes fantasy that brings together one of the ultimate challenges in fiction, the balance between life and death, and with it what happens when the very balance of light and dark is thrown awry. Find room for Darklands on your bookshelf and in your escape time. At night. Outside.
So, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Virgo my way through Darkstorm and Darkmage.
I received an advanced review copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 19, 2017
Darklands is a thrilling and momentous foray behind the veils of good and evil. M.L. Spencer turns evil inside-out to explore the long-term costs of the desperation and sacrifice in previous books, as well as the consequences of demonizing another people. Deeply fascinating, Spencer's thoughtful and in-depth world-building animates an impossible realm. Clinging to life, a resilient population within a cursed land toils for each square inch of arable light in a black world. They live in darkness, and when their light goes out they will starve.
The setup is quick and definitive; it wastes no time delivering the stark conflict in visceral terms. Spencer truly loves her characters, and it shows in how vivid their pain is. They suffer grandly in her loving charge. I enjoyed how some higher technologies like steam power offset the magical deficits of the cursed people, and Spencer's ironic wit shines in the God of Chaos, who struck a covenant to stabilize the world long ago. Darklands is a compelling read, an enthralling premise, and a heart-rending study of the depth and complexity of the human soul.
The setup is quick and definitive; it wastes no time delivering the stark conflict in visceral terms. Spencer truly loves her characters, and it shows in how vivid their pain is. They suffer grandly in her loving charge. I enjoyed how some higher technologies like steam power offset the magical deficits of the cursed people, and Spencer's ironic wit shines in the God of Chaos, who struck a covenant to stabilize the world long ago. Darklands is a compelling read, an enthralling premise, and a heart-rending study of the depth and complexity of the human soul.
May 10, 2017
When I started this book, I had a fairly clear idea of who the bad guy was. I had a clear idea of who the bad guy was at the end too.
The depth of the characters in this book is really what makes it stand out from other fantasy stories. Absolutely worth a read. I have to catch up with the first two, and can't wait for the next.
The depth of the characters in this book is really what makes it stand out from other fantasy stories. Absolutely worth a read. I have to catch up with the first two, and can't wait for the next.
March 22, 2019
As with the previous two, the audiobook narrator is skilled, but leaves something to be desired. Particularly when it comes to pronunciation. Quite a few words just sound... odd.
Now, I'm thrilled to report that we're finally seeing a few things come together (or have a full explanation) that have been unclear to me prior to this one.
In fairness, that lack of clarity might be my own fault (I listen while driving and doing other things that sometimes require my attention, so inevitably I miss things from time to time), but this one definitely answers those questions.
I love the development of the people of the Black Lands, and the whole idea of the Black Lands in the first place!
More than that, though, I absolutely love that we get to spend some more time with Quin! He is without doubt my favorite character in the series. I think that's partially because so far he has had the widest arc with the most room for growth, but also because people keep confusing him for a man with ideals or honor and the shenanigans that result are utterly fantastic!
That being said, in this one we get to spend some more time with a few other characters that get a whole lot more development, and several of them are really growing on me. I'm really starting to like Darian and Kyle, and the women as well (apologies, I have no conception of how to spell their names, so I'm not going to try).
There are some truly tragic, heart-wrenching moments in this one that are really drawing me further into the world and these characters' stories in particular. I am a little disappointed with some of them, as there are things not turning out so well for these wonderful characters that were totally avoidable if they'd just suck it up and deal!
As always, this review is completely spoiler-free, so I won't go into details on any of that. Suffice it to say, this book had me tearing up a bit at some points, and had me wanting to throw something at certain characters at others! And in contrast, there were other moments that had me busting up laughing!
The fact that I can have all those responses in this one book is utterly fantastic!
Similarly, let's talk about the romantic entanglements for a moment. I have a tendency to avoid books where romance is a major part of the plot because, well, frankly those sub-plots are usually very poorly written, in my experience. (very few things have the ability to annoy me as quickly as "These people met and there was tension." then we skip a week or two, and suddenly we're hearing about their heartfelt expressions of undying love and adoration. UGH! I need to know how and why those feelings developed if you want me to believe it)
So far, in this series there has only been one romance that didn't feel genuine, and was because (drum-roll please) **gasp** it wasn't genuine. But all that is explained in the book it takes place in. And apart from that one, the romances that happen in these books actually feel real! And even the tragic ones (which, let's be honest, is most of them!) are wonderfully presented and evoke some real feelings when reading them.
Especially in this book! Oh my gosh, talk about ripping my heart out!
M. L. Spencer, you are a horrible human being!
Thank you so much for everything you've written!
Now, while I do have some ideas at this point as to where the story is actually heading in this series, I'm reasonably certain that I'm going to end up being wrong (which is one of the things I love about these books)! And I can't wait until the next two books are released in audio so I can see where this is all going and how it's going to play out.
Now, I'm thrilled to report that we're finally seeing a few things come together (or have a full explanation) that have been unclear to me prior to this one.
In fairness, that lack of clarity might be my own fault (I listen while driving and doing other things that sometimes require my attention, so inevitably I miss things from time to time), but this one definitely answers those questions.
I love the development of the people of the Black Lands, and the whole idea of the Black Lands in the first place!
More than that, though, I absolutely love that we get to spend some more time with Quin! He is without doubt my favorite character in the series. I think that's partially because so far he has had the widest arc with the most room for growth, but also because people keep confusing him for a man with ideals or honor and the shenanigans that result are utterly fantastic!
That being said, in this one we get to spend some more time with a few other characters that get a whole lot more development, and several of them are really growing on me. I'm really starting to like Darian and Kyle, and the women as well (apologies, I have no conception of how to spell their names, so I'm not going to try).
There are some truly tragic, heart-wrenching moments in this one that are really drawing me further into the world and these characters' stories in particular. I am a little disappointed with some of them, as there are things not turning out so well for these wonderful characters that were totally avoidable if they'd just suck it up and deal!
As always, this review is completely spoiler-free, so I won't go into details on any of that. Suffice it to say, this book had me tearing up a bit at some points, and had me wanting to throw something at certain characters at others! And in contrast, there were other moments that had me busting up laughing!
The fact that I can have all those responses in this one book is utterly fantastic!
Similarly, let's talk about the romantic entanglements for a moment. I have a tendency to avoid books where romance is a major part of the plot because, well, frankly those sub-plots are usually very poorly written, in my experience. (very few things have the ability to annoy me as quickly as "These people met and there was tension." then we skip a week or two, and suddenly we're hearing about their heartfelt expressions of undying love and adoration. UGH! I need to know how and why those feelings developed if you want me to believe it)
So far, in this series there has only been one romance that didn't feel genuine, and was because (drum-roll please) **gasp** it wasn't genuine. But all that is explained in the book it takes place in. And apart from that one, the romances that happen in these books actually feel real! And even the tragic ones (which, let's be honest, is most of them!) are wonderfully presented and evoke some real feelings when reading them.
Especially in this book! Oh my gosh, talk about ripping my heart out!
M. L. Spencer, you are a horrible human being!
Thank you so much for everything you've written!
Now, while I do have some ideas at this point as to where the story is actually heading in this series, I'm reasonably certain that I'm going to end up being wrong (which is one of the things I love about these books)! And I can't wait until the next two books are released in audio so I can see where this is all going and how it's going to play out.
December 2, 2018
Book 2 take place two years after Darien had sacrificed his life to close the well of tears and had sold his soul to Xerys the God of Chaos and Lord of the Underworld in order to release Meiren the woman he loves! he had also killed Arden Hannah, one of the eight dark mages, servants to the dark lord and had subsequently taken her place amongst the eight. Now the well was opened once again and the eight were let loose on the world. The last sentinel of Aerysius needed to unleash his inner demons in order to carry out the job which was entrusted to him. Renquist the prime warden of the eight had ordered Darien to bring the light to the black lands, the same lands he had fought against two years prior. The people who he had always just thought of as the enemy now had a face and once he arrived in the dark lands he could not believe the thousand years these people had survived the way they did, without the sun and all that grew under it. His shame and regret knew no bounds and he vowed to save the people of the Khazahar but in order to do this the people of the Rhen, his own people, would face their once saviour as their now subjugator. And Kyel, Meiran and Naia were the only people the Rhen had to depend on against such a strong adversary and all three were bound by the chains on their wrists pertaining to the oath of harmony! This second book was even darker than the first novel as it deals with death and the re-awakening from death and torture, and Meiran's turning away from Darien who still loves her unconditionally. This is a brilliant novel and the world building of the Black Lands, Bryn Calazar and the Khazahar is awesome! The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so I am all set to read book 3 as the story is very gripping.
October 3, 2019
Audiobook provided for honest review (having sat on the ebooks). A solid continuation to the Rhenwars Saga while once again torturing reader and character alike with power plays and casual brutality with neat, fluent prose and a nod to the middle east.
Having read the arc of the new series it was interesting to go back and read the origin and backstory of numerous characters with their strong backstory and individuality - despite of a circular nature of events in the vein of WOT.
Of the three books I’ve read, I found this the weakest - more due to the prequel and book one being stronger stories and the ending here being an inconclusive pause.
Naia and Kyel are once again (hilariously) out of their depth and in effect they become a backstory to the evolved relationship of Meiran, Darien and Quinlan. They also need to learn the use of rope and chains...
Darien does remind me of Sam in Supernatural, but I think it’s the combination of floppy hair and not staying dead.
The last two are intriguing and thoughtful in deed and plot and complement each other on how to cope with the darkside. Meiran has a tasty moment of ruthlessness at the end to show her character, yet of the Rhenwars characters to date she’s my least favourite. It is easy to see why the mage class is now a triumvirate in the privvy as I find her a bit feckless and wait to see how she develops by the end of the series and in the next audiobook instalment.
The strong story and narrator once again work very well together and highlight the author’s ability to put together a tight package that does everything the tin says and leaves you happily wanting more and seeing if the curve balls twist or stick.
Having read the arc of the new series it was interesting to go back and read the origin and backstory of numerous characters with their strong backstory and individuality - despite of a circular nature of events in the vein of WOT.
Of the three books I’ve read, I found this the weakest - more due to the prequel and book one being stronger stories and the ending here being an inconclusive pause.
Naia and Kyel are once again (hilariously) out of their depth and in effect they become a backstory to the evolved relationship of Meiran, Darien and Quinlan. They also need to learn the use of rope and chains...
Darien does remind me of Sam in Supernatural, but I think it’s the combination of floppy hair and not staying dead.
The last two are intriguing and thoughtful in deed and plot and complement each other on how to cope with the darkside. Meiran has a tasty moment of ruthlessness at the end to show her character, yet of the Rhenwars characters to date she’s my least favourite. It is easy to see why the mage class is now a triumvirate in the privvy as I find her a bit feckless and wait to see how she develops by the end of the series and in the next audiobook instalment.
The strong story and narrator once again work very well together and highlight the author’s ability to put together a tight package that does everything the tin says and leaves you happily wanting more and seeing if the curve balls twist or stick.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2020
Darklands picks up some time after Darkmage. The Well of Tears is again opened by the enemies of the Rhen, servants of the God of Chaos stalk the land, and it's up to the intrepid characters to stop it.
I felt the pacing of Darklands was a bit slower than the first book but also a bit more consistent. The plot didn't have a whole lot of bumps and read like it was setting up for much more momentous events to come. There's a lot of character building and relationship development, and a couple of interesting new characters were introduced. The story threads for two players I really liked in the first book--Naia and Kyel--take somewhat of a backseat but hopefully their tales pick up in coming volumes. Difficult choices are made by the characters and consequences--for actions old and new--are felt. Spencer has a talent for building suspense and putting characters you care about in mortal danger and I had a handful of "grip-the-arm-of-my-chair" moments. (In case it's unclear, I consider that a good thing.)
As with the first book, the world-building is excellent and there's a lot to take in as the cast traipses around the black and broken lands of the north, where the enemies of the Rhen lurk.
Darklands leaves the reader with a lot of questions about what's going to happen next. Fortunately, most of them involve sympathetic characters, so one must read on. Still recommending this series for fans who like some epic-style adventures.
I felt the pacing of Darklands was a bit slower than the first book but also a bit more consistent. The plot didn't have a whole lot of bumps and read like it was setting up for much more momentous events to come. There's a lot of character building and relationship development, and a couple of interesting new characters were introduced. The story threads for two players I really liked in the first book--Naia and Kyel--take somewhat of a backseat but hopefully their tales pick up in coming volumes. Difficult choices are made by the characters and consequences--for actions old and new--are felt. Spencer has a talent for building suspense and putting characters you care about in mortal danger and I had a handful of "grip-the-arm-of-my-chair" moments. (In case it's unclear, I consider that a good thing.)
As with the first book, the world-building is excellent and there's a lot to take in as the cast traipses around the black and broken lands of the north, where the enemies of the Rhen lurk.
Darklands leaves the reader with a lot of questions about what's going to happen next. Fortunately, most of them involve sympathetic characters, so one must read on. Still recommending this series for fans who like some epic-style adventures.
January 19, 2019
A fast-paced work delving into human nature’s ideas of prejudice toward things we do not understand or associate with as our own “norm.”
My favorite excerpt:
“Things happen the way they do because they’re set in motion by our actions. And then, from there, they tend to follow a certain trajectory. Every decision we make has consequences. Tremendous consequences, so many that we have no way of foreseeing them all or anticipating what direction they’ll take us in. Everything that happens, happens as a result of our own actions, our own decisions.
“That’s what Chaos is,” he said, leaning forward. “It’s the sum of the consequences of every decision we’ve ever made coming back to haunt us in the end.”
My favorite excerpt:
“Things happen the way they do because they’re set in motion by our actions. And then, from there, they tend to follow a certain trajectory. Every decision we make has consequences. Tremendous consequences, so many that we have no way of foreseeing them all or anticipating what direction they’ll take us in. Everything that happens, happens as a result of our own actions, our own decisions.
“That’s what Chaos is,” he said, leaning forward. “It’s the sum of the consequences of every decision we’ve ever made coming back to haunt us in the end.”
October 19, 2020
I’m certainly loving this series. Honestly, if you haven’t read The Rhenwars Saga, you must!
It’s been two years since Darien Lauchlin made his sacrificial act in the Well of Tears. It bought him two years. Two darn years?! For damning his soul to Xerys in an effort to save the people of Rhen. This time, he is tasked in helping the people of Caladorn, a descrecrated home of his Enemy known as the Blacklands. Can he rescue them out under the curse of darkness? Darklands is a tale of good against evil. Is Darien Lauchlin good? Or is he evil? You must judge for yourself. This novel is an action packed adventure of sorcery, demonic powers, and heroism. An amazing epic read!
It’s been two years since Darien Lauchlin made his sacrificial act in the Well of Tears. It bought him two years. Two darn years?! For damning his soul to Xerys in an effort to save the people of Rhen. This time, he is tasked in helping the people of Caladorn, a descrecrated home of his Enemy known as the Blacklands. Can he rescue them out under the curse of darkness? Darklands is a tale of good against evil. Is Darien Lauchlin good? Or is he evil? You must judge for yourself. This novel is an action packed adventure of sorcery, demonic powers, and heroism. An amazing epic read!
April 24, 2018
For me, this has easily been the best book of the series so far. Ms. Spencer was able to turn a disappointing beginning, with the portal that was fought so hard to be closed, opened yet again, into an absolutely stunning turn of plot. Over the course of the novel she expertly twists the mind and personal morals, forcing the reader to question their own ideals of right and wrong and ultimately wonder, what truly defines evil.
I can't wait to dive into the next chapter and eagerly anticipate the conclusion in the final book after!
Well done Ms. Spencer. Truly masterful.
I can't wait to dive into the next chapter and eagerly anticipate the conclusion in the final book after!
Well done Ms. Spencer. Truly masterful.
November 4, 2020
Even worse than the first, this book keeps trying to draw me into a story extremely shallow but masquarading as deep, leaving me with a feeling of discomfort at how ridiculously badly written it all is. Darien and his clique are all the very incarnation of what I hate in characters: irrational sociopaths who do not behave like normal humans in order to push plot contrivances. The book would like me to suspend my disbelief and receive only disappointment in return for the entirety of the book, with virtually no payoff.
August 23, 2019
We learn of why the Well of Tears was created in the first place. There is a new danger for all things made of magic, and that includes the mages. Darien also gets placed with the people he saw as an enemy due to the way he was raised. Darien sees how the others live, and has to defend and help them.
I'm ready to journey with our characters to see what the outcome is with the magic and the people in the darklands.
****FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW****
I'm ready to journey with our characters to see what the outcome is with the magic and the people in the darklands.
****FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW****
January 22, 2018
Excellent sequel!
Darklands is an awesome novel following the lives of Kyle and Naia as they seek to protect their world from danger once more. Darkmages enter their realm again; some out for blood and others hoping for atonement for their sins. I can't wait to read the next installment of the series! I highly recommend any novel by ML Spencer!
Darklands is an awesome novel following the lives of Kyle and Naia as they seek to protect their world from danger once more. Darkmages enter their realm again; some out for blood and others hoping for atonement for their sins. I can't wait to read the next installment of the series! I highly recommend any novel by ML Spencer!
October 30, 2018
I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. All the characters are becoming more alive with their conflicts and narrow perception of their world. In a way it is a mirror of what is going on today in the world. The story keeps building to some kind of conclusion and I can't wait to find out what.
February 17, 2020
Book was a bit short and seemed to lag a bit in places. Still not a bad read.
The whole concept of "right and wrong" is interesting, and from what I've seen in this book the characterization of Merien just wasn't believable. She is very black and white, and for someone who has actually been to hell and had someone sacrifice so much for them, she should be more in the grays.
The whole concept of "right and wrong" is interesting, and from what I've seen in this book the characterization of Merien just wasn't believable. She is very black and white, and for someone who has actually been to hell and had someone sacrifice so much for them, she should be more in the grays.
March 18, 2018
Better than the first two
Still a tough read for me, I just never was captured by the story and characters. However, I believe the story is well written and this is the best of the three books so far. I wish I had started with this one first.
Still a tough read for me, I just never was captured by the story and characters. However, I believe the story is well written and this is the best of the three books so far. I wish I had started with this one first.
May 17, 2018
An exciting saga continues!
This part of the story was fast moving and knitted together very good. The story continues to built towards an exciting finish. New people are introduced and a new plan comes forth from Darien. I look forward to the next book!
This part of the story was fast moving and knitted together very good. The story continues to built towards an exciting finish. New people are introduced and a new plan comes forth from Darien. I look forward to the next book!
December 8, 2018
Good book and good series
This author reminds me of many of the great authors I’ve read. He does start out slow but he’s actually explaining everything to not lose you in the depths of his characters.
This author reminds me of many of the great authors I’ve read. He does start out slow but he’s actually explaining everything to not lose you in the depths of his characters.
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