Darkbane

The Legendsong #3

by Isobelle Carmody

The third and final book in the Legendsong series.
Said to be published after the completion of her Obernewtyn series.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

About the author

Isobelle Carmody began the first novel of her highly acclaimed Obernewtyn Chronicles while she was still in high school. The series has established her at the forefront of fantasy writing in Australia.

In addition to her young-adult novels, such as the Obernewtyn Chronicles and Alyzon Whitestarr, Isobelle's published works include several middle-grade fantasies. Her still-unfinished Gateway Trilogy has been favorably compared to The Wizard of Oz and the Chronicles of Narnia. The Little Fur quartet is an eco-fantasy starring a half-elf, half-troll heroine and is fully illustrated by the author herself.

Isobelle's most recent picture book, Magic Night, is a collaboration with illustrator Declan Lee. Originally published in Australia as The Wrong Thing, the book features an ordinary housecat who stumbles upon something otherworldly. Across all her writing, Isobelle shows a talent for balancing the mundane and the fantastic.

Isobelle was the guest of honor at the 2007 Australian National Science Fiction Convention. She has received numerous honors for her writing, including multiple Aurealis Awards and Children's Book Council of Australia Awards.

She currently divides her time between her home on the Great Ocean Road in Australia and her travels abroad with her partner and daughter.

Librarian's note: Penguin Australia is publishing the Obernewtyn Chronicles in six books, and The Stone Key is book five. In the United States and Canada this series is published by Random House in eight books; this Penguin Australia book is split into two parts and published as Wavesong (Book Five) and The Stone Key (Book Six).

Reviews

[Fia]

Oh yay, I just love waiting 11 years between sequels...

[Grace]

Grr. Carmody is really getting on my nerves. Release a book already! I'm sick of waiting!

[Clodagh]

This has been on my to-read list for three years. *Yaaaawn*
Come on, this is my favourite Isobelle Carmody series!

Edit 18/2/15
It's been almost four and a half years. Still waiting.

28/5/16
5 and a half, coming up 6 years. At this stage I don't care how shit it is, I barely even remember the first two books anymore so I won't be able to compare.

12/1/20
Still waiting.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read Darkfall in about 2001, when I was around 12 years old. I was enchanted, and I was SO excited when Darksong was published a couple of years later. The year is now 2019. I will soon be 30. I am still holding out hope that this favourite series of my childhood will one day be completed. She did manage to finish Obernewtyn, so I still have hope!

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

The biggest literary disappointment of my life (so far)... I was completely enraptured by the first two books in this series. I devoured them, and then eagerly waited for this book to be published. And waited. And waited. And waited.
The failure to write and publish this novel has completely put me off Carmody's books - (that, and the fact that Obernewtyn is - on reread - absolutely mind numbingly boring).
I don't normally leave such scathing reviews (especially when a book hasn't even been published), but that's what happens after leaving your fans hanging for 17 years.

[Ashley]

Saw a recent comment from the Mistress of Neverending Waiting on a forum today that she's aiming for it to be out 2018 sometime. So that probably means it won't be out til maybe 2020? Why not add a couple more years to my 12 year wait. Sure. Why not.

Set reminder: check in 3 more years.

[Wayward Cabbage]

That awkward moment when an author publishes "young adult" books... but writes them so slowly her audience are well out of young adulthood by the time she finishes them.... Babies being born now will be young adults by the time she finishes Darkbane.

I never ended up reading The Red Queen because there were too many years since I had read the previous books, and when I tried to re-read them, I just didn't enjoy them.

I can't see that happening with this series, it is just so incredible and I keep wanting to re-read them. The only thing that stops me is that I know I will turn into a rabid beast if I get to the end of Darksong again. I seem to remember it being somewhat cliff-hangery, which is just rude. It is bad enough when the cliff hanger is between books released a month apart, 20 years apart is just a sick joke.

[Morgan Tonkin]

17 years and counting………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

[PeachesNScream · Rating 1 out of 5]

My advice is to avoid this author and particularly this series all together.

I was a devoted fan from the first Carmody novel my dad bought me when I was 12. I have tried over the last 30 years to keep faith to keep interested to be positive. I defended her all over the net many many times when I saw her slow writing processs criticised. No longer. I am absolutely disgusted with her laziness and greed.

This novel will never be published.
I read the first novel Darksong when I was 17 in 1997. I read the second when I was 22. I am now 43.

That is 21 years to complete one novel.

Not a series just one novel and one she supposedly had already written some of in 2006 -17 years ago. In fact, if you do a deep dive you see she has a consistent bluff about when we will see this book - it’s been 2-4 years perpetually for the last 21 years. I cant post the links but in 2002 it was promised for 2006 with a later update some pages were written, in 2008 she told fans it was well underway but in 2014 it was to be finished in 2016, then 2018 now it’s supposed to be finished in 2024-25. Yeah right Carmody. Fool me five times shame on me. Fool me for 21 years it’s all on you.

Nevermind the 40+ year wait for her first novel series to be finished. With a rushed and controversial ending.

And if you do that deep dive it suddenly becomes clear why she’s lied to fans for so long: it’s easier to make money off them by not writing a thing and doing guest appearances, readings and other things more ego and wallet rewarding than actually writing.

She doesn’t give a s**t about readers just money. She has a Patreon FFS. Every post is advertising her exclusive writing retreat mentoring which are totally unaffordable by anyone outside the 20% in between vague promises of books that haven’t arrived.

That’s not an author that’s someone using their early success as a platform to con rich people out of money.

My advice is just avoid completely. Nasty woman with questionable ethics, underused talent and no discipline or work ethic. At the schools I teach we removed her books from the curriculum due to her change in focus from creating to dollars - and that’s all the public schools in nearly entire Australian state.
Badly done Isobelle, badly done.

[Ebony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be able to finish what I STARTED to read 22 years ago!
I've been waiting to read the final book since 1997 when it first came out. I read the first, was delighted, waited for 2002 to read the second book... NOW I'm 38 AND STILL WAITING!

[Lillian de Vries · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just love starting a trilogy only to find out the final book hasn’t even been written yet.

[Elizabeth]

Looks like we'll be waiting quite a while longer, friends.
https://isobellecarmody.net.au/about-...

Plans to work on it in 2022, "tentative estimates" to publish in 2025.

[D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Checking in on this page in 2024. I know I didn't read the previous volume when it was brand new, but it does feel roughly like 20 years since I read the previous two. I hope this final volume gets published soon because I will probably start the whole trilogy over again because I can barely remember what happened except that the story was not over yet.

[Jules Murphy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I absolutely love the first 2 books but it's been 28 years since Darkfall. I understand how hard it is to complete tasks, but at this stage can't there be a developmental editor or ghost writer at this stage? The answers to our questions about this series have been minimal and I will not read any Carmody until this series has been finished, it's just not ok.

[shannon saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the time since I read book 2, I made a whole person. Birthed him, raised him, cheered him on as he grew up, and then wept when he left home. It'll be like a full circle moment if this book ever makes it to my hands.

[Renee Tosheva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is she dead? Seriously, has anyone checked on Isobelle?

EDIT: Checked. Have seen a book released only just last year. Am relieved… yet irritated. Have found acceptance within myself that Darkbane will only ever exist in our collective dreams - closure of sorts. Fin.

[Tania Smith]

Still waiting...20+ years later honestly I'd give up if the first two books weren't so good. At this stage I'd be happy to see a book cover for Dark Bane.

[Sarah Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am really hoping one day I will be able to read the final instalment of this series. Hopefully before I die.

[Alesha]

I have been waiting a decade for this book. Seriously.

[Naomi]

Grrrr! Hurry up and release already!

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"published in 2016" -2017 status

…still waiting in 2023. last novel was released in 1998 i believe.