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White Magic #2
Song of Unmaking
Striving to save the Aurelian Empire, Valeria reached for too much power too quickly and a darkness has rooted inside her. Unable to confess the truth, Valeria turns to Kerrec, her former mentor, one of the elite Riders from the Mountain, home of the gods. But Kerrec, too, is deeply wounded and his darkness may be even deeper than hers -- and he is refusing to face it. Until his weakness nearly destroys the Riders and their immortal white stallions...
As Kerrec is sent from the Mountain on a desperate quest for healing, Valeria is forbidden to follow. But compelled by a power she cannot understand and encouraged by her own stallion, she shadows Kerrec on a perilous mission.
The patterns of deception and secrets have been woven, the threats of war and unrest spread throughout the land, the barbarian hordes return and once more it is Valeria -- and Kerrec -- who must gather their strength and their wounded magic to protect all that they believe in....
But who will believe in them?
As Kerrec is sent from the Mountain on a desperate quest for healing, Valeria is forbidden to follow. But compelled by a power she cannot understand and encouraged by her own stallion, she shadows Kerrec on a perilous mission.
The patterns of deception and secrets have been woven, the threats of war and unrest spread throughout the land, the barbarian hordes return and once more it is Valeria -- and Kerrec -- who must gather their strength and their wounded magic to protect all that they believe in....
But who will believe in them?
496 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2005
About the author
Caitlin Brennan
5 books51 followersA pseudonym used by Judith Tarr.
Caitlin Brennan believes wholeheartedly in the writer's favorite adage, "Write what you know." She is a history buff and a lifelong reader and writer of fantasy, and she breeds and trains Lipizzan horses--the original "White Gods." She lives near Tucson, Arizona, with her stallion, Pluto Carrma III, and his herd of Ladies and his rival the Evil Gelding, along with five cats, two dogs, and a goat.
Caitlin Brennan believes wholeheartedly in the writer's favorite adage, "Write what you know." She is a history buff and a lifelong reader and writer of fantasy, and she breeds and trains Lipizzan horses--the original "White Gods." She lives near Tucson, Arizona, with her stallion, Pluto Carrma III, and his herd of Ladies and his rival the Evil Gelding, along with five cats, two dogs, and a goat.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 2, 2012
The dulcet tones of The Mountain’s Call beckon its readers to the bard’s next number, The Song of Unmaking. If that second song doesn’t quite reach the beauty of her first number, then let’s allow that she’s won our indulgence for a few more bars.
Mind, Caitlin Brennan (aka Judith Tarr) doesn’t do a poor job with the second book in the series. She is still an excellent writer capable of good plotting, easy-flowing dialogue, and interesting characters.
Song of Unmaking picks up several months after the end of The Mountain’s Call and just about a year after the start of that novel. We first follow the actions of the escaped villains, witnessing the reunion of the evil mage Gothard and the hunky barbarian Euan. They manage to escape back to their homeland, but not before stumbling upon a stone of great power.
About the time when the reader starts to wonder whether it is the villain’s story, the scene switches. It goes to the Mountain where the new year’s Called are beginning to arrive for their testing as potential Riders of the gods who inhabit the white stallions. Valeria, the only female rider to ever be Called is now firmly ensconced with both the horses and her lover, First Rider Kerrec. From there we are swept into the land’s political machinations and the war against the barbarians that threatens to be more than a blood-letting upon a field. There is the Unmaking that looms over the land and threatens to destroy everything.
From an author who has such great admiration for horses, Lippizaner stallions in particular, it isn’t terribly surprising that her writing style is elegant and stately. There are some beautiful parallels in the book. We see how great life events are handled by different cultures and the different meanings that they imbue on them. She draws interesting parallels between the Imperials and the tribes, parallels that refrain from passing judgment, though the reader is inclined to do so.
Brennan also deftly handles foreshadowing, giving her readers lots of supposition about what is yet to come in the series, not just in the next year, but for the next generation.
Despite the great amount of beauty in this book, there are also some flaws. The author seems far more enamoured with her villains than with her heroes. While Valeria doesn’t regret that she chose Kerrec over Euan, I found myself wondering whether Brennan regretted that choice. Euan is a far richer and better developed character than his protagonist counterpart. His actions are better motivated and he demands great sympathy.
Kerrec, on the other hand, the book could almost do without, never mind that the plot turns around him. One is left to wonder why in the world Valeria would put up with him since for the first three-quarters of the book he is nothing but a first-class jerk who seems to have forgotten everything he learned about his lover in the first book.
The pacing in this book also slows way down. While I flew through the first book, this one seemed to plod, taking its time to wander through the world and the inner lives of the characters. It also continued on long past the book’s climax, and the end of the book seemed an arbitrary moment rather than a dramatic choice.
Song of Unmaking is well worth reading simply because it continues the wonderful story begun in The Mountain’s Call. It does not stand alone as the relationships between the characters and the characters’ motivations make no sense if you haven’t read their first story. However, it is a wonderful world that Brennan has created and the flaws are not so great that they should divide you from the joys of these novels.
Mind, Caitlin Brennan (aka Judith Tarr) doesn’t do a poor job with the second book in the series. She is still an excellent writer capable of good plotting, easy-flowing dialogue, and interesting characters.
Song of Unmaking picks up several months after the end of The Mountain’s Call and just about a year after the start of that novel. We first follow the actions of the escaped villains, witnessing the reunion of the evil mage Gothard and the hunky barbarian Euan. They manage to escape back to their homeland, but not before stumbling upon a stone of great power.
About the time when the reader starts to wonder whether it is the villain’s story, the scene switches. It goes to the Mountain where the new year’s Called are beginning to arrive for their testing as potential Riders of the gods who inhabit the white stallions. Valeria, the only female rider to ever be Called is now firmly ensconced with both the horses and her lover, First Rider Kerrec. From there we are swept into the land’s political machinations and the war against the barbarians that threatens to be more than a blood-letting upon a field. There is the Unmaking that looms over the land and threatens to destroy everything.
From an author who has such great admiration for horses, Lippizaner stallions in particular, it isn’t terribly surprising that her writing style is elegant and stately. There are some beautiful parallels in the book. We see how great life events are handled by different cultures and the different meanings that they imbue on them. She draws interesting parallels between the Imperials and the tribes, parallels that refrain from passing judgment, though the reader is inclined to do so.
Brennan also deftly handles foreshadowing, giving her readers lots of supposition about what is yet to come in the series, not just in the next year, but for the next generation.
Despite the great amount of beauty in this book, there are also some flaws. The author seems far more enamoured with her villains than with her heroes. While Valeria doesn’t regret that she chose Kerrec over Euan, I found myself wondering whether Brennan regretted that choice. Euan is a far richer and better developed character than his protagonist counterpart. His actions are better motivated and he demands great sympathy.
Kerrec, on the other hand, the book could almost do without, never mind that the plot turns around him. One is left to wonder why in the world Valeria would put up with him since for the first three-quarters of the book he is nothing but a first-class jerk who seems to have forgotten everything he learned about his lover in the first book.
The pacing in this book also slows way down. While I flew through the first book, this one seemed to plod, taking its time to wander through the world and the inner lives of the characters. It also continued on long past the book’s climax, and the end of the book seemed an arbitrary moment rather than a dramatic choice.
Song of Unmaking is well worth reading simply because it continues the wonderful story begun in The Mountain’s Call. It does not stand alone as the relationships between the characters and the characters’ motivations make no sense if you haven’t read their first story. However, it is a wonderful world that Brennan has created and the flaws are not so great that they should divide you from the joys of these novels.
January 9, 2011
I just finished re-reading thie book, having read it the first time many years ago. I had forgotten how wonderful this series is, and I have to admit that I enjoyed it far more now than the first time I read it. Beign a bit older and more mature, I think I was able to see deeper into the characters. When I read the books the first time, I remember being exasperated with the heroine Valeria. I was seeing things in much more of a black vs. white mentality, and blaming her for making wrong choices. Now I see a lot more complexity in her life and her choices. Valeria made what choices she had to make in an imperfect world. The author writes characters of such complexity that the become reality in the reader's mind. This is a world that drew me in from the first page, and kept me awake through the small hours of the nigth. I read Song Of Unmaking in 24 hours. It simply would not let me put it down. And though I hate to admit it, I shed real tears at the death of a couple beloved characters.
I have yet to read the 3rd book in this series, but you can be sure I will search for it. The Mountain's Call & Song of Unmaking are among the best books I have ever read. I will admint that I am a devoted horse lover, so that may have influenced my opinion of this series. Typically I am disappointed by the depictions of horses in fiction, but Caitlin Brennan got it right. In her books, the horses are living breathing Gods, and anyone who has a love for horses will feel the "rightness" of her depictions of them. I cannot recommend this book enough.
I have yet to read the 3rd book in this series, but you can be sure I will search for it. The Mountain's Call & Song of Unmaking are among the best books I have ever read. I will admint that I am a devoted horse lover, so that may have influenced my opinion of this series. Typically I am disappointed by the depictions of horses in fiction, but Caitlin Brennan got it right. In her books, the horses are living breathing Gods, and anyone who has a love for horses will feel the "rightness" of her depictions of them. I cannot recommend this book enough.
January 27, 2012
Boooring
July 31, 2019
I enjoyed the first book in this series much, much more than this followup. The first book grabbed me and enchanted me. The horse characters in that book were much more central to the story. I'ts clear Ms. Brennan knows, loves, and communicates with her own horses. They are magical, and the relationships in the first book are outstanding.
This book was much more about the human characters with much less horse. More war.
It was like being on a ride in a familiar setting, opting to take a new and different path, and finding it dark and uninteresting.
This book was much more about the human characters with much less horse. More war.
It was like being on a ride in a familiar setting, opting to take a new and different path, and finding it dark and uninteresting.
August 1, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐
September 24, 2012
Like my previous read, The Dawn Star, Song of Unmaking started out slowly and I was worried that I was going to struggle to read it. It seemed to suffer from that danger that strikes a second book - lack of new action and more consolidation than story. I was happy to be proved wrong.
The beginning shows both Kerrec and Valeria being typically stubborn and refusing to let anyone know they are still damaged from the events of the first book.
Once that is revealed the action really begins, as Kerrec is exiled from the Mountain and Valeria follows him. From there they find themselves still inextricably linked to the fate of the world and now Kerrec's sister Briana has been pulled in as well, linked to the horse gods as well as the empire as the emperor's heir.
I particularly liked the parallels drawn between Kerrec and Briana, bith called to duty by both the empire and the Mountain. Before this, each thought they had to choose one or the other, where now it becomes clear that each is both and they must work together. For Kerrec the Mountain's call is stronger and he will be a rider, but he still has a destiny and duty to the empire as well. For Briana it is the reverse, her greatest call is to the empire and she will be Empress, but she is still called to the Mountain and accompanied now by one of the Ladies of the horse gods. Each has their own place, but each needs to accept the other part of their destiny and their best change to salvage the future is together.
As for Valeria, again she finds that she really is more than "just a Rider" but she begins to realise that raw power isn't enough and she still has much to learn for both her and Sabata to come into their power.
Her relationship with Kerrec is almost non-existent at the beginning of the book following the damage he suffered and the darkness she carries. It slowly builds and changes and is something strong by the end, which was lovely to see.
The visit to Valeria's family at the end was a treat, even if the reason why was sad, and I hope we see more of all of them as the series continues.
I'm glad I have book three on order and I'm lookikng forward to more of the story. I did read somewhere that the story may be going to be six volumes, so the thought that it will take at least another three years to get to the end is a little bit of a downer.
[Copied across from Library Thing; 25 September 2012]
The beginning shows both Kerrec and Valeria being typically stubborn and refusing to let anyone know they are still damaged from the events of the first book.
Once that is revealed the action really begins, as Kerrec is exiled from the Mountain and Valeria follows him. From there they find themselves still inextricably linked to the fate of the world and now Kerrec's sister Briana has been pulled in as well, linked to the horse gods as well as the empire as the emperor's heir.
I particularly liked the parallels drawn between Kerrec and Briana, bith called to duty by both the empire and the Mountain. Before this, each thought they had to choose one or the other, where now it becomes clear that each is both and they must work together. For Kerrec the Mountain's call is stronger and he will be a rider, but he still has a destiny and duty to the empire as well. For Briana it is the reverse, her greatest call is to the empire and she will be Empress, but she is still called to the Mountain and accompanied now by one of the Ladies of the horse gods. Each has their own place, but each needs to accept the other part of their destiny and their best change to salvage the future is together.
As for Valeria, again she finds that she really is more than "just a Rider" but she begins to realise that raw power isn't enough and she still has much to learn for both her and Sabata to come into their power.
Her relationship with Kerrec is almost non-existent at the beginning of the book following the damage he suffered and the darkness she carries. It slowly builds and changes and is something strong by the end, which was lovely to see.
The visit to Valeria's family at the end was a treat, even if the reason why was sad, and I hope we see more of all of them as the series continues.
I'm glad I have book three on order and I'm lookikng forward to more of the story. I did read somewhere that the story may be going to be six volumes, so the thought that it will take at least another three years to get to the end is a little bit of a downer.
[Copied across from Library Thing; 25 September 2012]
March 26, 2012
This is the second book of a three book series. White horses are Gods, they dance in patterns that will show the future. Their riders are "called" and then tested to become Riders. In the first book Valaria is the first female ever "called." She disguises herself as a boy and passes all the tests, only to be revealed as female and is told she cannot be a rider. Head rider Kerrec takes her as his responsibility and his aide. When this book starts, both Valaria and Kerrec are trying to recover from earlier events. Kerrec leaves the mountain and Valaria follows. They must attempt to save the Empire. I thought the characters were well developed and likeable. Their struggle to save the Empire dictated they act alone, without the assistance of the military. However, they did have the help of the Gods. I loved this book. I'm looking forward to reading the third book in this series.
November 17, 2014
A world easy to immerse myself in. I hadn’t read Mountain’s Call, and indeed, I had this story in my “To Be Read” pile for quite a while. I was digging through the pile one day and saw it. Fell in love with the cover all over again.
And now I’ve fallen in love with the story as well. It was well-written, had a well-rounded and thought out world, well-characterized, and emotional. Now I need to go pick up Mountain’s Call so I can see the beginning of Valeria’s story, when she answers the call to become a Rider.
And now I’ve fallen in love with the story as well. It was well-written, had a well-rounded and thought out world, well-characterized, and emotional. Now I need to go pick up Mountain’s Call so I can see the beginning of Valeria’s story, when she answers the call to become a Rider.
April 9, 2011
I truly enjoyed this book, but I found it a little long (the end, while enjoyable, seemed to drag on and I felt it was a bit tacked onto the end). The insight (pyshical, rather than just telling) into the culture and world of the barbarians was interesting and I enjoyed that. Rhodey was also a wonderful character, probably my favourite (it was nice to have a 'normal' guy in there amongst the abnormal, spectacular ones).
August 28, 2016
I couldn't get the first book of the trilogy on the reader, so I started here. While it was obvious that there was a previous book, it didn't detract from the story. A good job of making both sides of the conflict sympathetic. Loved the horses. Reading the third book now, have the first on order from the library.
February 29, 2012
This is one of the best series I have ever read. I've read this book twice and it was just as good the second time. I highly recommend this series for readers who enjoy this genre.
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December 28, 2016"he was born hating anyone who had what he couldnt have."
"what is it with men that they would rather bow to anything male, however unwilling and unsuitable, than to a woman?"
"what is it with men that they would rather bow to anything male, however unwilling and unsuitable, than to a woman?"
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews