Darknesses

By L.E. Modesitt Jr.

Book Overview

Darkenesses , book two of the Corean Chronicles, continues the epic fantasy series by L. E. Modesitt, Jr., author of the bestselling Saga of Recluce. Enter this new and exciting world. Millennia ago, a magical disaster caused the fall of a civilization, the end of a golden age. New civilizations emerged from the ancient destruction and chaos, knowing little of the past or the disaster. Corus today is a world of contending countries, humans, and supernatural creatures. It is a place of magical powers, and of a few people who are talented enough to use them. Alusius, a captain of the Twenty-first Company, faces new challenges, both military and magical. A would-be conqueror has somehow revived sorcerous creatures of legend to assist in his crusade to reunite the continent under his rule. Neither the officers above him nor the men under him know it, but Alusius's Talent is their only hope for victory, or even survival. The Corean Chronicles Legacies Darknesses Scepters Alector's Choice Cadmian's Choice Soarer's Choice The Lord-Protector's Daughter Lady-Protector Other series by this author: The Saga of Recluce Imager Portfolio The Spellsong Cycle The Ghost Books The Ecolitan Matter

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765346338
• ISBN13: 9780765346339
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 544 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Keeping you up at night

I just had to purchase Darkness after having read Legacies. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed in the second of this series. The book moved seamlessly into the second story and again there was no letdown which means I couldn't put it down. I did lose sleep trying to finish it. I am anxiously awaiting for the next one in the series.

Engrossing

This author rarely disappoint.One of the few consistant authors on the market, although I find his style to be somewhat colorless - All modesittian heroes think/behave the same way - it suits him, and his books are always great read, weither sci-fi or fantasy. Darknesses is no exception a satisfying thick sequel, full of what we liked in legacies. If anything, it ended too soon.

Excellent sequel

Alucius, once a prisoner of the Matrites, is now back among friends--but some of his "friends" seem worse than the enemy! When it is time to return to his men after a month long furlough with his family, Alucius is attacked by assassins. He survives, but this is just the first of many situations where he is put in harm's way. He becomes convinced that he has a powerful enemy among the Iron Valley Council, but he doesn't know who it is or why he is hated.When the Iron Valley is taken over by the Lonachronans, Captain Alucius is assigned an impossible seeming mission far from Iron Valleys and his family. There he is betrayed when his "allies" flee leaving him to hold against overwhelming numbers of nomads.This book is well worth your time. An excellent sequel to Legacies.Mark E. CooperAuthor of The Warrior Within (ISBN:0954512200)

Answers and More Questions

The Corean Chronicles, "Legacies" and now "Darknesses," are set in a maturely conceived world. These stories are set on the continent of Corus, about 1,000 years after the Cataclysm. Corus has forgotten most of its technology, and even a millennium later the pre-Cataclysm empire of the Duarchy is remembered as an idyllic time.In Corus, a few rare individuals, including Alucius, the hero, have Talent, the ability to do magic. In "Legacies" Alucius started to come to terms with his Talent. In "Darknesses" he must save both his family and his world. In "Legacies," Alucius, literally "from light," is a Soarer's child, and there is more than a hint here that some or all of his Talent may have been bred into him. The uses and abuses of power and technology are one of Modesitt's recurring themes, and those themes are developed more thoroughly and more subtlely here than in any of his earlier works.Modesitt's writing continues to improve. His plotting is more intricate and complex, his characterization is three dimensional, and his pacing, always his best skill, is now impeccable. Unlike many of his recent works, you will not be able to predict the good guys, the bad guys or even the flow of the story. The surprises keep coming."Legacies" mostly raised questions. Some are answered by "Darknesses," and while Modesitt reportedly said this closes the Corean Chronicles, there are many, many loose plot thread and mysteries. This is a richer, deeper world than the setting for the Recluce stories. I look forward to the next installment.This is a good yarn, well told.

strong epic fantasy

On Corus, sheepherder Alucius possesses a powerful, untapped Talent that he tries to hide while serving his mandatory military time. Alucius just wants to go home to his wife Wendra so though he is a captain in the 21st Company he avoids trouble as much as possible in order to avoid becoming noticed.Warlord Aellyan Edyss finds and opens an ancient vault containing magical weapons and legendary beasts from a time long before the Cataclysm. Aellyan plans to use his weaponry to conquer and then rule Corus. Alucius realizes his dilemma once he understands the threat posed by Aellyan. If he displays his prowess and succeeds in defeating the warlord and his magical army and arsenal Alucius will become visible to his superiors and a pawn of individuals like the Lord-Protector of Lanachrona. If he hides his Talent by doing nothing, he will probably die.DARKNESSES, the second book of the Corean Chronicles (see LEGACIES), is a superb fantasy due to the abilities of L.E. Modesitt, Jr. to make a world of magic and mystical beasts seem real. The story line combines plenty of action with strong characters and even a sense of history. Alucius is a delightful reluctant hero and his opponent is more than just a vile villain as he is a complete character too. The support cast such as Wendra and the magically created beasts add depth to a strong epic fantasy that will have the audience wondering where the author will take them next.Harriet Klausner