A March Into Darkness

by Robert Newcomb

Book Overview

The defeat and death of the evil Wulfgar should inspire a time of rejoicing throughout Eutracia. But Prince Tristan grieves. Not only is his beloved wife dead, but across the Sea of Whispers, in the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 034547709X
• ISBN13: 9780345477095
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Length: 638 Pages
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Amazing Story

Once I started reading Robert Newcomb, my life was changed. He has never let me down with his content in these stories. I have never been so captivated by another series in my life. In my opinion, it is better than Terry Goodkind, himself.

An entertaining and answer-filled fantasy novel (#5 of 6) with a storyline and plenty of violence; D

I enjoyed reading this book over the weekend very much. I have read the four predecessor books to this one, and enjoyed all of them. They include: Book 1. The Fifth Sorceress Book 2. The Gates of Dawn Book 3. The Scrolls of the Ancients Book 4. Savage Messiah Of the 4 above, Savage Messiah was the only one to disappoint me. While reading it I felt like the first three quarters of the book could have been eliminated since it was so boring (and probably unnecessary). But the last quarter of it was worth the read. By the way, I read the book in a little over an hour at Barnes and Noble. So I didn't waste my money. March into Darkness answered a lot of unanswered questions I had from reading the first four books. I learned much about The Ones who practice the vigors and the Heretics that practice the vagaries. I learned both live on the other side of the world cutoff from the lands of Eutracia and the Parthalon. And I learned much about the scrolls of the vigors and vagaries. Now that Faegan has them BOTH indexed, they are mere cookbooks with many recipes that can be conjured. I'm sure I would not have enjoyed the book as much as I did if I had not read the 4 predecessor books. The main characters in this book (Tristan, Shailiha, Xanthus, Wigg, Faegan, Tyranny and Serena) were great to learn about further as the story progressed. But I was hoping to learn that Faegan would overcome being a cripple. And I was hoping that Tyranny and Shailiha would have each developed a love-interest with someone. Unfortunately these things did not happen. My favorite part of the book was following Tristan from one scene to another, especially while he was with Xanthus and while being educated by the Ones and the Heretics. I would have liked the book better if Tristan had not been so caught up in K'Shari (martial arts) and been more involved in beginning to learn some magic. But that will probably consume the first half of the sixth book which I suspect will lead into Tristan approaching the Heretics and bringing peace between the Ones and the Heretics. Who knows? 5 stars!

Newcomb's best yet

Wulfgar, enemy of the peoples of Eutracia, is vanquished. The Orb of the Vigors, bleeding out magical energy, has damaged Eutracia, leaving its scars across the land. While the citizens rejoice at newfound peace, Prince Tristan is feeling none of the joy of his success. Victory came with a price: his wife, Celeste. He is not the only one to have suffered a loss. Across the Sea of Whispers, Wulfgar's wife, the sorceress Serena, sets in motion her own nefarious plot to bring down Tristan. Prince Tristan and his companions prepare a countermeasure in the hopes of eliminating the threat from Serena, but events beyond their control alter the moves they would make. In the Tolenka Mountains, a menacing wall of azure magic opens and from it issues forth a dark soul, Xanthus the Darkling, who leaves death and devastation in his wake. Sent by the Heretics who dwell in the otherworld, Xanthus is sent to convince Tristan to come and speak with them. Though he is forbidden to bring the Prince by force, he uses his malevolence and atrocities inflicted on innocent Eutracians to sway the young man to his purpose. Yet, even as they commence their journey, Tristan will find that nothing is really quite what he believes it to be. With Tristan removed, the fate of Eutracia falls to his sister, Shailiha. Reinforcing their resolve, she and her wizard companions, Faegan and Wigg, must command the Black Ships and commence their assault on the Citadel. Serena, with the Scroll of the Vagaries in her possession, seeks to lay a hellish trap for those who would undo her designs, and also discovers a dark magic that may undo death itself. A MARCH INTO DARKNESS marks a great turning point for author Robert Newcomb. The story really opens up and reveals some of the solid form that has been shrouded in mystery for so long, especially concerning Tristan and Shailiha. They continue to grow, but Newcomb also finds ways to keep interest in characters such as Wigg and Faegan, and his continued use of the pirate queen, Tyranny, is a welcome pleasure. Serena, while a continuation of the Wulfgar as enemy scenario, makes a logical choice as the villain, for who would want retribution more than one who feels she has been victimized? The darkness referenced in the title is multifaceted. It is a march into Serena's evil conspiracy and it is Tristan's journey with Xanthus to meet the Heretics, but it is also a march into despair, sorrow and grief. Many of the heroes are scarred from the events of SAVAGE MESSIAH, and they bear much weight. Newcomb does a strong job of showing us how each deals with such burdens and the choices they make in how to rise or fall because of them. More than that, though, these elements combine to make A MARCH INTO DARKNESS Newcomb's best book, in both quality of the story and quality of the telling. Some argue that he does not display the skills of Robert Jordan or George R.R. Martin, but he is not meant to. While Newcomb's work does have its own epic scope,

excellent epic fantasy

When the Azur Pass was created during Prince Tristan's war with Wulfgar a battle of the Vectors (good magic) and Valories (bad magic), nobody knew what was behind the glow. Guards were posted there but when a horseman came out of an opening that suddenly appeared; he killed all the guards with ease. He then went on to torture, mutilate, and kill men women and children in a nearby village. The man/spirit Xanthus orders the villagers to go to Tristan and tell him what happened. Xanihus goes to Tristan's homes and orders the Prince to go with him to the portal in the Azur Pass to meet with the Heretics, people who practice the Valories there. He refuses but is blackmailed into following him in order to save his people. As he follows Xanthus, he sees Xanthus torture and kill in order to break his will. Tristan finally gives in when he is forced to partake into the torturee. He meets the Heretics and learns that all is not what he thought and is sent back to his realm to stop the Valories, in the form of Queen Serena, Wulfgar's widow, who is a minion of the Heretics, from forcing the Valories on the entire world. Book Two in the Destinies of Blood and Stone is epic fantasy in the grand tradition of Terry Brooks and Tad Williams. Tristan is a decent man who has to make life and death decisions that most people could never do. There are plenty of action scenes and a support cast that adds valor and depth do this high fantasy tale. Robert Newcomb leaves readers eager for the next installment in his entertaining saga. Harriet Klausner

Robert Newcomb at his best

This book was like an addicting drug and all I want is more. If you are a fan of the series you wont be disappointed.