On this re-read, I will just add this to my overall summary under the first book: as the trilogy enters the closing laps, the characters are put through the ringer even more, with more political shenanigans, treachery, hopeless endeavours, and backs to the wall. If I was reading this fresh now, I might have taken off a star from vols 2 and 3, because there are some aspects, such as the over sentimental portrayal of Queen Minalde/Alde, and the occasional bit of head-hopping between characters within a scene, that I find slightly irritating, but staying true to my original perception and in view of this still being very enjoyable, I am sticking with the original 5 star rating for each volume. ( )

The Darwath series was originally a trilogy and this novel is the conclusion to that trilogy. I liked the main characters, even with their warts and flaws, so this was a very satisfying book that kept me going to the very end. There were surprises (nope, not going into any spoilers) that made sense with hindsight.

The earlier two books are essential to read prior to this one, but the entire trilogy is a great read for fans of fantasy. ( )

Rudy, now a sorcerer in training, and Gil, who searches for the truth using very modern methods of scholarship, try to beat back the rising tides of the Dark. I'm still annoyed by Rudy and his giiiiiirlfriend Queen Minalde, and I've read the romance between Gil and Ingold before, in Hambly's Windrose Chronicles (different names, same damn characters). I could barely get through the first two novels in this trilogy, but the third book is far better. I adored reading the medieval response to Gil's scientific method, and her feminist ways of thought (that what people wore ages ago could be a clue to their culture, for instance) clashed repeatedly with the fantasy world's resistance.

As readable as it was, however, I am very disappointed by the end of the trilogy. After all sorts of battles and hardship and political and physical fighting, Ingold simply performs a spell and sends the Dark away. Why he didn't do that in the first place, I'll never know. Perhaps he was too busy turning white with strain and smiling grimly at Gil. ( )

Started well but it's almost as if the author tired of the whole thing and just snarfed together a shabby ending. It's kind of a disappointment, really. ( )

This is the completion of what originally was a trilogy, then extended to 5 books. This 3rd book actually completes the plotline of the original novel, in an unexpected way. If you like cliffhanger endings with massive magical battles, you'll have to look elsewhere, but the ending is still satisfactory, even if it leaves you wondering what happens next. Most of this book is about surviving in a 'post apocalypse' fantasy world, with Lovecraftian monsters around every corner and nasty politics. There are battles and magic, just not on every page. I very much enjoyed this series. ( )