Description:

From Publishers Weekly

The prolific Modesitt (The Saga of Recluce; The Spellsong Cycle) delivers a solid, well-paced sequel to Legacies (2002), set in the fantasy world of Corus, home to humans and a variety of odd creatures. After a slow opening that may perplex new readers, the action soon picks up. The soldier Alucius, one of the few to possess the magical Talent, is trying to keep himself and his men of the Iron Valley Militia alive until he's discharged and can return to the wife he loves. The Council, however, sells them out to the Protector of Lanachrona, whom they must serve as the Northern Guard. Sent by the Protector to help the Landarch of Deforya fight the grassland nomads, Alucius must call on all his Talent powers and military skill to combat Pteridons, mythical flying beasts, summoned by the nomads' leader, Aellyan Edyss. Later, after an audience with the Protector, Alucius learns that he must battle the greatest evil where he least expects to find it. Convincing dialogue, exciting military action and a neat conclusion that leaves the door open for subsequent adventures will find fans satisfied.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The sequel to Legacies [BKL O 15 02] continues the experiences of Alcius, the nightsheep herder who is Talented (magically, that is). At the end of Legacies he escaped from being a controlled prisoner (of war) and freed his homeland from the threat of one invader by destroying the source of the mechanisms of control. But the world of Corus broke into a squabble of states after its magic, high-tech culture collapsed, and those states are still fighting, betimes with magical weapons, betimes with military and economic coercion. The ruling council of the Iron Valleys, Alcius' homeland, refuses to raise enough revenue to support an effective militia, and Alcius, now a militia captain, must struggle with insufficient resources. Faster paced than Legacies, Darknesses is, since it concerns multiple states and their political ambitions, much more intricately plotted. Reading Legacies before tackling it is advisable, but because Alcius is like many other Modesitt protagonists, turning the pages to see what the author's current quiet, competent hero will do next is always a pleasure. Frieda Murray
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