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The Saga of Recluce #5
The Death of Chaos
L.E. Modesitt, Jr.'s The Death of Chaos continues his bestselling fantasy series the Saga of Recluce, which is one of the most popular in contemporary epic fantasy.
A threat of invasion from the Empire of Hamor endangers Lerris' newfound peace. Despite the imminent possibility of destruction, the lands of Candar will not unite and Recluce will not heed the peril, forcing Lerris to choose between becoming the greatest wizard of all time ― or seeing his whole world destroyed.
“An intriguing fantasy in a fascinating world.”―Robert Jordan , New York Times b estselling author of The Wheel of Time ® series
Saga of Recluce
#1 The Magic of Recluce / #2 The Towers of Sunset / #3 The Magic Engineer / #4 The Order War / #5 The Death of Chaos / #6 Fall of Angels / #7 The Chaos Balance / #8 The White Order / #9 Colors of Chaos / #10 Magi’i of Cyador / #11 Scion of Cyador / #12 Wellspring of Chaos / #13 Ordermaster / #14 Natural Order Mage / #15 Mage-Guard of Hamor / #16 Arms-Commander / #17 Cyador’s Heirs / #18 Heritage of Cyador / #19 The Mongrel Mage / #20 Outcasts of Order / #21 The Mage-Fire War (forthcoming)
Story Recluce Tales
Other Series by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Imager Portfolio
The Corean Chronicles
The Spellsong Cycle
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter
A threat of invasion from the Empire of Hamor endangers Lerris' newfound peace. Despite the imminent possibility of destruction, the lands of Candar will not unite and Recluce will not heed the peril, forcing Lerris to choose between becoming the greatest wizard of all time ― or seeing his whole world destroyed.
“An intriguing fantasy in a fascinating world.”―Robert Jordan , New York Times b estselling author of The Wheel of Time ® series
Saga of Recluce
#1 The Magic of Recluce / #2 The Towers of Sunset / #3 The Magic Engineer / #4 The Order War / #5 The Death of Chaos / #6 Fall of Angels / #7 The Chaos Balance / #8 The White Order / #9 Colors of Chaos / #10 Magi’i of Cyador / #11 Scion of Cyador / #12 Wellspring of Chaos / #13 Ordermaster / #14 Natural Order Mage / #15 Mage-Guard of Hamor / #16 Arms-Commander / #17 Cyador’s Heirs / #18 Heritage of Cyador / #19 The Mongrel Mage / #20 Outcasts of Order / #21 The Mage-Fire War (forthcoming)
Story Recluce Tales
Other Series by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Imager Portfolio
The Corean Chronicles
The Spellsong Cycle
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter
629 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
254 people are currently reading
2033 people want to read
About the author
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
191 books2,591 followersL. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
March 5, 2021
Wow. Lerris returns from the first book in this saga. If you've read the series this far, it's an extremely important change in direction.
After all, books 2-4 all happen WAY before Lerris, the extremely modest magician of Order who learns the secret of both Order and Chaos, performs a massive miracle of casting down all those Chaos magicians and their armies.
But now, with the weight of so much very important history and the big bright lightbulb going on as we interweave those old, seemingly ancient characters -- so much history -- into the current tale, the whole thing has taken on a brand new level of importance.
And with a title like that, just assume right here and now that something ENORMOUS happens. Cataclysms seem to happen all the time in these books, but just expect something bigger this time.
I LOVED seeing Justin again. All these characters are something special to me. And I can't rightly disagree with all those teaching methods of those Order wizards. I'm sure it'd piss me off, too, but the wisdom is undeniable.
Great series. Getting even better.
After all, books 2-4 all happen WAY before Lerris, the extremely modest magician of Order who learns the secret of both Order and Chaos, performs a massive miracle of casting down all those Chaos magicians and their armies.
But now, with the weight of so much very important history and the big bright lightbulb going on as we interweave those old, seemingly ancient characters -- so much history -- into the current tale, the whole thing has taken on a brand new level of importance.
And with a title like that, just assume right here and now that something ENORMOUS happens. Cataclysms seem to happen all the time in these books, but just expect something bigger this time.
I LOVED seeing Justin again. All these characters are something special to me. And I can't rightly disagree with all those teaching methods of those Order wizards. I'm sure it'd piss me off, too, but the wisdom is undeniable.
Great series. Getting even better.
December 9, 2019
What can I say about this installment in the Saga of Recluce? These books are so, so similar in tone that they kind of blend together in my memory. In this volume, we return to the story of Lerris, whom we met in the first book. Lerris is apparently the strong, silent type and he is frustrating to his consort, Crystal, who wishes he would tell her more about what’s going on in his brain. Crystal is obviously young, as we older women care much less about this particular issue. Crystal also wishes that Lerris would quit going off and getting himself nearly killed in the fight against Chaos. This is a more legitimate concern, but I still found Crystal a bit hypocritical on this issue, as she and the Autarch would immediately summon Lerris whenever the going got the slightest bit tough! I try not to criticize people for doing what I ask them to do!
Whatever is wrong with Lerris, it runs in his family. They are gathered together to fight this war and basically grunt at each other and still refuse to tell each other useful details of how to use order and chaos without destroying everything. Lerris and Crystal end up with a magical link which lets each one know what’s going on with the other person. A fate worse than death, in my opinion! But they asked for it!
An awful lot of time is spent describing the incredibly repetitive meals that these people eat. Honestly, they eat so much cheese that they should be hideously constipated at all times. If an author is going to detail every meal, at least those details should be interesting and maybe make the reader wish that they could try some of the specialities. I come away from these books thankful that I don’t have to stay there for dinner.
Book number 340 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project.
Whatever is wrong with Lerris, it runs in his family. They are gathered together to fight this war and basically grunt at each other and still refuse to tell each other useful details of how to use order and chaos without destroying everything. Lerris and Crystal end up with a magical link which lets each one know what’s going on with the other person. A fate worse than death, in my opinion! But they asked for it!
An awful lot of time is spent describing the incredibly repetitive meals that these people eat. Honestly, they eat so much cheese that they should be hideously constipated at all times. If an author is going to detail every meal, at least those details should be interesting and maybe make the reader wish that they could try some of the specialities. I come away from these books thankful that I don’t have to stay there for dinner.
Book number 340 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project.
September 30, 2017
A great ending to a wonderful series, especially when read in chronological order. (See this review for the list & why. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) It is the 5th published, 18th & last in chronological order. That may change, of course. The author has plenty of room to add more books to fill in a series that takes place over 2000 years.
The all important balance between chaos & order is swinging out of control & Lerris is smack dab in the middle of the mess while in kind of a personal one of his own. He seeks solutions & finds them. Like so many things in life, the results aren't exactly what he wanted. I'd like to say more, but it would be a spoiler. I'll just say that it is chilling & with a little thought, the reader can see farther than the characters.
Highly recommended. I enjoyed reading these in paper at first, but the recent read was all in audio narrated by Kirby Heyborne who did an excellent job.
The all important balance between chaos & order is swinging out of control & Lerris is smack dab in the middle of the mess while in kind of a personal one of his own. He seeks solutions & finds them. Like so many things in life, the results aren't exactly what he wanted. I'd like to say more, but it would be a spoiler. I'll just say that it is chilling & with a little thought, the reader can see farther than the characters.
Highly recommended. I enjoyed reading these in paper at first, but the recent read was all in audio narrated by Kirby Heyborne who did an excellent job.
September 20, 2011
Reading this back-to-back with The Magic of Recluse (which it follows directly in the internal chronology, but is separated by three other books in the publication order) really both shows up how unusually weak Magic of Recluse is and how much the series developed over the course of a couple of books.
Most of the writing flaws are greatly mitigated. The onomatopoeia is still present, but as an occasional touch of flavor rather than a method of communicating action - this is much less jarring. Lerris has matured quite a bit as a character - while he's still an obtuse little snot a lot of the time, it's in ways that are much more pleasant to read about and represent much more understandable and relatable character flaws. And the magic system is fully realized and, in fact, taken to its logical conclusion - this is the last book in the internal chronology, despite there being some fourteen others at various points in the timeline.
This is still far from my favorite book in the series, but it makes an interesting pairing with Magic, which it so greatly surpasses.
Most of the writing flaws are greatly mitigated. The onomatopoeia is still present, but as an occasional touch of flavor rather than a method of communicating action - this is much less jarring. Lerris has matured quite a bit as a character - while he's still an obtuse little snot a lot of the time, it's in ways that are much more pleasant to read about and represent much more understandable and relatable character flaws. And the magic system is fully realized and, in fact, taken to its logical conclusion - this is the last book in the internal chronology, despite there being some fourteen others at various points in the timeline.
This is still far from my favorite book in the series, but it makes an interesting pairing with Magic, which it so greatly surpasses.
May 25, 2011
I enjoyed another journey with Lerris. I enjoy the writing style and while some complain about story lines being too similar I don't agree. Another great book in my opinion and one of my favorites so far.
February 22, 2018
It's good to get back to Lerris' story, though sometimes the pace is a little slow. It would have received a 5 star rating, but I think each of the major conflicts were a little anti-climatic.
March 10, 2020
I chose to read this immediately after The Magic of Recluce instead of proceeding in publication order. I note that the author recommends otherwise, but I really wanted to have the prequel fresh in my mind, and all went well, so we'll see if I end up regretting reading out of publication order.
The Death of Chaos continues the story (Down the road just a short spell, with nothing major having developed) of Lerris, Krystal, and others after the conclusion of The Magic of Recluce, with Lerris having taken up full time citizenship in Kyphros as a woodworker and ordermage.
Rather than the white mage Antonin, the antagonists of this story are a number of characters and nations opposing Kyphros. This most specifically becomes the Empire of Hamor, seeking conquest of all of Candar (including Kyphros) and (by book's end) Recluce. The novel proceeds as a somewhat irregularly paced balance between Lerris' confrontations with the enemy, growth in understanding and power as an ordermage, and more "mundane" activities regarding his woodworking profession. All three are interesting, and I particularly enjoy Lerris' day-to-day woodworking projects, his progress, and the relationships he builds in Kyphrien. Modesitt has a knack for making the reader care about the little details that are normally in the background and of little consequence.
Heck, if L.E. wrote a spin off novel that was just called "Uncle Sardit's Memoirs", detailing the reknowned master's business, I'd probably buy it. I like the author's detail that much.
As in the previous installation, the pacing of the book's major events is a little arbitrary, though this one certainly has a slowly built, dramatic climax at the book's conclusion. There are, however, miniature story arcs and climaxes that swell and recede throughout the book, which assist in maintaining interest in the main storyline.
I think if you just described Modesitt's world, characters, magic system, and writing style to me, I wouldn't be very interested at face value. The end product is definitely more than the sum of its parts. This series promises to be a "keeper" for me.
The Death of Chaos continues the story (Down the road just a short spell, with nothing major having developed) of Lerris, Krystal, and others after the conclusion of The Magic of Recluce, with Lerris having taken up full time citizenship in Kyphros as a woodworker and ordermage.
Rather than the white mage Antonin, the antagonists of this story are a number of characters and nations opposing Kyphros. This most specifically becomes the Empire of Hamor, seeking conquest of all of Candar (including Kyphros) and (by book's end) Recluce. The novel proceeds as a somewhat irregularly paced balance between Lerris' confrontations with the enemy, growth in understanding and power as an ordermage, and more "mundane" activities regarding his woodworking profession. All three are interesting, and I particularly enjoy Lerris' day-to-day woodworking projects, his progress, and the relationships he builds in Kyphrien. Modesitt has a knack for making the reader care about the little details that are normally in the background and of little consequence.
Heck, if L.E. wrote a spin off novel that was just called "Uncle Sardit's Memoirs", detailing the reknowned master's business, I'd probably buy it. I like the author's detail that much.
As in the previous installation, the pacing of the book's major events is a little arbitrary, though this one certainly has a slowly built, dramatic climax at the book's conclusion. There are, however, miniature story arcs and climaxes that swell and recede throughout the book, which assist in maintaining interest in the main storyline.
I think if you just described Modesitt's world, characters, magic system, and writing style to me, I wouldn't be very interested at face value. The end product is definitely more than the sum of its parts. This series promises to be a "keeper" for me.
June 22, 2010
This book currently occurs at the end of the Recluce saga chronologically and is the direct sequel to the Magic of Recluce.
This novel is quite different from pretty much the rest of the series as it deals with a lot of history and has a larger cast of characters. You really need to read the previous four novels or you will get lost very quickly.
The book deals with the great Empire of Hamor coming to destroy Recluce with it's great fleet. Hamor actually eclipses Recluce as far as concentration of order and destructive capabilities. Most of the book deals with various battle in Candar whose only purpose was to tire and weaken the few powerful mages of Recluce.
Eventually at the end of the book is a massive showdown that leaves Recluce completely sundered and the major characters either dead or significantly crippled in someway.
The overall amount of Order and Chaos is substantially reduced and will no longer play a substantial row for generations. However, war is expected to resume between Candar and Hamor within a few years.
While this book is a conclusion of sorts, I find it very unsatisfying. A lot of people died to create in essence a stop gap. Things are expected to continue as normal within generations which may seem like a lot of time but in this series which takes place over thousands of years is really inconsequential.
In the big picture if just makes the entire struggle appear really futile. I suppose this falls into the theme of Balance where there will be no clear winner in the long run.
This book is really optional and should only be read if you read all of the previous books.
This novel is quite different from pretty much the rest of the series as it deals with a lot of history and has a larger cast of characters. You really need to read the previous four novels or you will get lost very quickly.
The book deals with the great Empire of Hamor coming to destroy Recluce with it's great fleet. Hamor actually eclipses Recluce as far as concentration of order and destructive capabilities. Most of the book deals with various battle in Candar whose only purpose was to tire and weaken the few powerful mages of Recluce.
Eventually at the end of the book is a massive showdown that leaves Recluce completely sundered and the major characters either dead or significantly crippled in someway.
The overall amount of Order and Chaos is substantially reduced and will no longer play a substantial row for generations. However, war is expected to resume between Candar and Hamor within a few years.
While this book is a conclusion of sorts, I find it very unsatisfying. A lot of people died to create in essence a stop gap. Things are expected to continue as normal within generations which may seem like a lot of time but in this series which takes place over thousands of years is really inconsequential.
In the big picture if just makes the entire struggle appear really futile. I suppose this falls into the theme of Balance where there will be no clear winner in the long run.
This book is really optional and should only be read if you read all of the previous books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2020
This is a tough one to review. There's a lot of downtime in the book and my initial thoughts are to say it could have been half the length, but then the character development and your time with them wouldn't have happened, so in the end I get it and understand. However, I came really close to putting this down and for a few weeks maybe only read a few pages here and there. What kept me going is that I've generally enjoyed the series. The writing is good, though I know some make the case that the female characters are generally too shallow, and I could see myself wanting to continue the series in the future, but would have a hard time doing that if I quit halfway through this one.
The book is in roughly four parts: two quests (with some break in between) and big lull and then a final quest. There is, as we have become accustomed to, many pages dedicated to just eating and drinking and what makes it a tough read is that lull; it's exhaustively long but then when the final part of the story kicks in it grabs you hard. The author really pulled it together there and made me fully excited for the story again in the last 60 pages. However, I can't give it four stars. The writing is good, but anything that I was so close to just putting back on the bookshelf just can't be at that 4 star level
The book is in roughly four parts: two quests (with some break in between) and big lull and then a final quest. There is, as we have become accustomed to, many pages dedicated to just eating and drinking and what makes it a tough read is that lull; it's exhaustively long but then when the final part of the story kicks in it grabs you hard. The author really pulled it together there and made me fully excited for the story again in the last 60 pages. However, I can't give it four stars. The writing is good, but anything that I was so close to just putting back on the bookshelf just can't be at that 4 star level
July 10, 2012
I really enjoy Modesitt's fantasy world creations. Though not normally a sci-fi fan, I enjoy his sci-fi books as well. I have read many reviews that find his writing predictable, but to me he has an amazing way of building the world and staying consistent with the rules of magic and the historical background that he builds on book by book.
A complaint I had at first was that each character only had one book. He has since expanded that out to two to three and I love how the characters develop.
The ending of this book was so final and sad, but right as he had alluded to the wrongness of chaos and order being concentrated. He came back and filled out this theme beautifully with the Fall of Angels and the books about ancient Cyador.
What I love the most about his works, is that I find I can read them again every year or so and still enjoy them. Robert Jordan and Luis L’amour are others that I can enjoyable read again and again.
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
A complaint I had at first was that each character only had one book. He has since expanded that out to two to three and I love how the characters develop.
The ending of this book was so final and sad, but right as he had alluded to the wrongness of chaos and order being concentrated. He came back and filled out this theme beautifully with the Fall of Angels and the books about ancient Cyador.
What I love the most about his works, is that I find I can read them again every year or so and still enjoy them. Robert Jordan and Luis L’amour are others that I can enjoyable read again and again.
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
December 31, 2016
In the Death of Chaos, the story of Lerris, Justen, Krystal, Tamra and the other exiles of recluce comes full circle. The story line was great, with lots of awesome battle scenes and crazy magic preformed by black, white, and gray wizards. The story culminates with Hamor attacking Candar and Recluce with a massive fleet of battleships and cannon.
Not only the story line makes this the best book in the series thus far. The characters are lovable and believable, while at the same time completely badass. The dialect and the relationships between characters in this book are very well thought out and realistic. The one thing that I thought Modesitt could use a little work on is his obsession with minute details, some of which don't really need to be included. I mean, he kinda turns a long story into an even longer book by included lots of information that isn't really pertinant to the storyline.
Not only the story line makes this the best book in the series thus far. The characters are lovable and believable, while at the same time completely badass. The dialect and the relationships between characters in this book are very well thought out and realistic. The one thing that I thought Modesitt could use a little work on is his obsession with minute details, some of which don't really need to be included. I mean, he kinda turns a long story into an even longer book by included lots of information that isn't really pertinant to the storyline.
October 11, 2021
This is more like a 3.5 star, but what the heck.
I'm not totally sure what I think of this ending, though it isn't bad. The only question is how good it is. It'd be interesting if Modesitt would write chronological sequels eventually, though for some reason I'm having doubts he will.
It'd probably have to be a few hundred years later when "real" magic is possible again, though. Modesitt wouldn't like to write Recluce novels (I feel) where there is only non-magical stuff going on. He sometimes write sci-fi instead of fantasy, though he seemed to have done that more in his early career.
I'm not totally sure what I think of this ending, though it isn't bad. The only question is how good it is. It'd be interesting if Modesitt would write chronological sequels eventually, though for some reason I'm having doubts he will.
It'd probably have to be a few hundred years later when "real" magic is possible again, though. Modesitt wouldn't like to write Recluce novels (I feel) where there is only non-magical stuff going on. He sometimes write sci-fi instead of fantasy, though he seemed to have done that more in his early career.
January 30, 2019
Summary: Another classic from Modesitt, Order vs Chaos, very interesting characters, great descriptions of wood crafting, and huge destruction in a quite a long but fairly straight foreward plot.
Plotline: Not too many surprises, but well thought out
Premise: I really like the Recluce magic system, works well and is fundamental to all parts of this story
Writing: Simple and elegant
Ending: Oh yes!
Pace: Never a dull moment!
Plotline: Not too many surprises, but well thought out
Premise: I really like the Recluce magic system, works well and is fundamental to all parts of this story
Writing: Simple and elegant
Ending: Oh yes!
Pace: Never a dull moment!
April 11, 2015
Three good books for the price of one
This is quite a long book, divided into three sections that can almost stand on their own. Despite the length, the pace rarely falters. The resolutions to both the internal and external are well written and powerful.
This is quite a long book, divided into three sections that can almost stand on their own. Despite the length, the pace rarely falters. The resolutions to both the internal and external are well written and powerful.
November 14, 2016
Love, love, love this series and will continue reading until I've finished every single book. Balance is the key to everything and its amazing what happens when their is too much chaos or too much order. You can apply the principle to life which makes this so interesting.
August 17, 2023
With this one we finish Lerris’s story and we see and ending of the series as a whole I think timeline wise. I know many of the others come before this. It explained the order /chaos balance really well and merged a few stories very well.
June 6, 2017
More vivid action, interesting philosophy, and fascinating characters -- only slightly marred by occasionally saying Candar when they were talking about Recluce.
March 18, 2018
Intriguing
A cant put it down read.. Can't believe all the stories he has written what an amazing mind!!! Worth the time!!!
A cant put it down read.. Can't believe all the stories he has written what an amazing mind!!! Worth the time!!!
November 5, 2020
Five books into the series, and this one really solidifies the rules that have been slowly revealed around the Chaos/Order balance in the world of Recluce. A really good (and sad) story.
February 9, 2024
The Saga of Recluce series took a step back chronologically in this one, and continued to hint at future revelations -- all the while continuing the steady entertainment of the first four books.
It seems to me that the success of the first book, "The Magic of Recluce," inspired the publishers to ask for more, so L. E. Modesitt, Jr., responded with three books of prequels, which set up the characters for "The Death of Chaos."
As always, it makes the most sense to start at the start, but if you picked up "The Towers of Sunset," and then read "The Magic Engineer" and "The Order War," you'd be chronologically in order for "The Magic of Recluce."
Regardless, I like this series, as Modesitt combines a traditional magic-heavy world with steadily advancing technology, as well as an interesting Balance that requires the forces of Order (black) and Chaos (white) to complement each other while still competing.
In addition, though, Modesitt hints at a more complex backstory than just this world, with references to "angels" and "demons" that have come from, apparently, another planet.
So I'm definitely on board for book six, and I'm hopeful that Modesitt keeps it up for all 22 volumes in the series.
It seems to me that the success of the first book, "The Magic of Recluce," inspired the publishers to ask for more, so L. E. Modesitt, Jr., responded with three books of prequels, which set up the characters for "The Death of Chaos."
As always, it makes the most sense to start at the start, but if you picked up "The Towers of Sunset," and then read "The Magic Engineer" and "The Order War," you'd be chronologically in order for "The Magic of Recluce."
Regardless, I like this series, as Modesitt combines a traditional magic-heavy world with steadily advancing technology, as well as an interesting Balance that requires the forces of Order (black) and Chaos (white) to complement each other while still competing.
In addition, though, Modesitt hints at a more complex backstory than just this world, with references to "angels" and "demons" that have come from, apparently, another planet.
So I'm definitely on board for book six, and I'm hopeful that Modesitt keeps it up for all 22 volumes in the series.
October 25, 2025
Now this novel was a well thought out piece of art. It takes its time explaining why this happen in this world the way it does and why the main players in this story wind up passing as they must. It was a very sad, but necessary ending to what was a great encapsulation of the first five novels in this series. I have to look to see if the maps after this story change to show the change in the Recluce geography. I also wonder how long we continue to hear about Lerris in future stories, no matter how far into the future we go (if Modesitt ever does). I read this book when I was much younger, but I clearly did not remember the significance of this book going forward in the series, so rereading it at this time was like reading it for the first time. In this story, we have tiny fragments of order and chaos being combined to produce heat in the world. In later novels, we learn the “explosive effect” of separating the two at the smallest levels (in effect what nuclear power has done for the real world). I cannot wait to “rehash” the rest of this series (and there are two new ones that I havent even read yet that have come out since I restarted the series in 2025). Onwards!!
December 18, 2019
This one wraps up some loose threads from the first four in the series, but we never get an explanation of why using order magic is harmful to hearing and sight. Why does lying give an order wizard a headache? The easy explanation would be that order is good (chaos is therefore bad) and doing something harmful or dishonest hurts the order mage. But that doesn't hold up because the author goes to great lengths to explain that neither order or chaos is inherently bad - they're just part of Nature (i.e., Balance). I don't see how having order mage's go blind or suffer hearing loss contributes to the story and it would make it easier and more consistent if they didn't suffer blindness or hearing loss. Also, the explanation of long life is a bit nonsensical. If you've somehow managed to permanently change the structure of your cells to enable long life, your hair wouldn't go white and you wouldn't get wrinkles from using magic that suddenly go away as you recover from the use of magic.
I actually like the series but I would enjoy it more if it didn't have so many illogical assumptions.
I actually like the series but I would enjoy it more if it didn't have so many illogical assumptions.
October 18, 2021
I book I enjoyed until the ending
*spoilers*
I enjoyed most of this book, and the 4 that led up to it, and I find Lerris a very likeable character, BUT this book has soured the 15 or so prequels that I don’t think I will end up reading. The end of this book seems to give us only heroes who are damaged, who will inevitably die young, and societies that aren’t really substantially better.
The book would have been so much better even if the plot remained exactly the same, but the story emphasised the importance of the struggle, and the actual people the heroes were protecting more. We only really see the collateral damage and the tragically damaged heroes, and not, for example, the children of the heroes in an epilogue able to grow up in a period of relative peace, offering hope that when disaster comes knocking again there will be people of a caliber to meet it.
*spoilers*
I enjoyed most of this book, and the 4 that led up to it, and I find Lerris a very likeable character, BUT this book has soured the 15 or so prequels that I don’t think I will end up reading. The end of this book seems to give us only heroes who are damaged, who will inevitably die young, and societies that aren’t really substantially better.
The book would have been so much better even if the plot remained exactly the same, but the story emphasised the importance of the struggle, and the actual people the heroes were protecting more. We only really see the collateral damage and the tragically damaged heroes, and not, for example, the children of the heroes in an epilogue able to grow up in a period of relative peace, offering hope that when disaster comes knocking again there will be people of a caliber to meet it.
January 27, 2018
Again, a great story and on the whole a worthy conclusion to the narrative of Lerris in book 1. However, maybe I'm getting too used to Modesitt's style, but as in book 4 I found the middle of the story a little tedious. Lots of circumstantial detail but not a lot going on.
Also, I got a little tired of the constant harping on Lerris's mistakes when no-one's bothering to teach or warn him! Especially when Krystal, his partner, gets angry with him and won't say why. Later it's made out that the reasons were obvious, and Lerris should have realised what was going on ages ago. Well, from the info given, my sympathies were entirely with Lerris! I would have got just as upset, and I'm not a wet-behind-the-ears youngster. All a little contrived.
The ending, however, was gripping, as Lerris finally comes into his own as the first and greatest earth wizard in the history of Recluce.
Also, I got a little tired of the constant harping on Lerris's mistakes when no-one's bothering to teach or warn him! Especially when Krystal, his partner, gets angry with him and won't say why. Later it's made out that the reasons were obvious, and Lerris should have realised what was going on ages ago. Well, from the info given, my sympathies were entirely with Lerris! I would have got just as upset, and I'm not a wet-behind-the-ears youngster. All a little contrived.
The ending, however, was gripping, as Lerris finally comes into his own as the first and greatest earth wizard in the history of Recluce.
December 27, 2016
This fifth book in "The Saga of Recluce" returns to the story of Lerris, the main character in the first book. I thought it slightly below the usual standard for Modesitt's fantasies ... which means I enjoyed it a lot. Lerris is a very likable character, trying very hard to do the best he can. I found the minor thread to do with Lerris and his parents particularly effective, and was moved by such a seemingly small thing as whether or not Lerris would send them a letter.
I note that Justen, the protagonist of the fourth book in the series, also plays an important part. I also note that the scenes from the perspective of the villains struck me as the weakest.
I note that Justen, the protagonist of the fourth book in the series, also plays an important part. I also note that the scenes from the perspective of the villains struck me as the weakest.
December 18, 2019
If you liked the first 4 books, you're probably gonna hate this one. If you liked or even loved the characters the author has spent so much time and effort building up, bad news: they die at the end of the book.
Not only do they die but they die in an utterly pointless, short-sighted act that also destroys the magic system of this world.
All to slightly delay a war that is going to happen in a few years anyway.
Oh and if you're looking forward to a future book fixing all of this and providing a satisfying conclusion, guess what? This is where the story ends. Yep, book 5 is the end of the Saga of Recluce, the next 15 or so books are all prequels.
Not only do they die but they die in an utterly pointless, short-sighted act that also destroys the magic system of this world.
All to slightly delay a war that is going to happen in a few years anyway.
Oh and if you're looking forward to a future book fixing all of this and providing a satisfying conclusion, guess what? This is where the story ends. Yep, book 5 is the end of the Saga of Recluce, the next 15 or so books are all prequels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2020
I found this to be the worst book thus far in the series.
The author seems to go with a lot of repetitive stuff from book to book. In this book it was 300+ pages of how to craft with wood, and of course the usual focus on food and drink.
I had to push myself hard to finish it, it was just that boring and the ending felt very much like the rest of the book - *YAWN*.
I bought the first 20ish books in this series when Amazon had a sale a year or two ago and after this one, I am going to need a break as I cannot stomach reading about crafting/food/drink anymore.
The author seems to go with a lot of repetitive stuff from book to book. In this book it was 300+ pages of how to craft with wood, and of course the usual focus on food and drink.
I had to push myself hard to finish it, it was just that boring and the ending felt very much like the rest of the book - *YAWN*.
I bought the first 20ish books in this series when Amazon had a sale a year or two ago and after this one, I am going to need a break as I cannot stomach reading about crafting/food/drink anymore.
May 27, 2020
Took me a while but it was worth it. I think the early pace was really slow for me and I couldn’t quite follow all the different armies because I didn’t remember all the players for The Magic of Recluse. Add in the randomness of locations that were hard to find in the map... but once I got into it, I was hooked. I LOVE when Lerris gets his apprentice. Such a touching moment and it made me glad to see it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2020
Lerris has settled into being a woodworker and building a life with Krystal. But this newfound peace is endangered when both Candar and Recluce come under the threat of invasion from the Empire of Hamor. Despite the imminent possibility of destruction, the lands of Candar will not unite and Recluce will not heed the peril. Lerris is faced with the challenge of becoming the greatest wizard of all time—or seeing his whole world destroyed.
July 25, 2022
A great follow up to Lerris's story from The Magic of Recluce. It adds and explains lore on the current state of recluce, Lerris's famiky, and the magic and history of the land. I would have liked to have a few more knots tied such as who the druids are, what recluce will look like after this story, and why Lerris's family went there separate ways so long ago. Overall really enjoyed and would recommend.
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