See short summary for book 1 - the only thing I would modify this with, on August 2020 re-read, is that this does suffer slightly from the middle book of a trilogy syndrome, because the characters are split up and I did remember the big shock-horror revelation early on in my re-read. But staying true to my original perception, I am leaving this at 5 stars. ( )

Many middle books of trilogies feel a bit weaker. We've met most of the main characters, and the author doesn't really resolve the storyline. Still somehow, there needs to be enough story to keep our interest. This book does that. This fantasy follows the pattern of Tolkien's The Two Towers and splits up the characters. Rudy and Ingold head off to the wizards' city while Gil and Minalde stay behind in the Keep.

Through Rudy's eyes, we learn more about the nature and perils of magic. Gil is a historian and intent on finding out more about the physical infrastructure of the Keep while trying to dodge most of the political and social infighting. I found both alternating stories interesting in their own way. Unifying them both is the threat of the Dark and how people deal with adversity and tragedy.

I enjoyed the story and, while I noticed it was the middle book, I also thought it had enough going on that it wasn't significantly weaker than the first book. Highly recommended for fans of The Time of the Dark. ( )

Part two of the Darwath trilogy, which was written in the early eighties. Rudy and Gil are still trapped in a medieval fantasy realm on the verge of complete collapse. A tiny portion of the population is holed up in the Keep of Dere, a mysterious black keep built before recorded history. The social order is slowly collapsing, which makes the power struggles all the more vicious. Rudy and the powerful wizard Ingold set out to get help from the remaining wizards, while Gil and Queen Minalde remain behind, trying to investigate the Keep’s secrets while maintaining the tense community. I skipped whole sections of Rudy and Ingold’s trek across the kingdom, because A) I don’t buy Rudy as a character and B) long descriptions of the land=unreadable. The other problem I had was that it seemed like every other page, one character of the other was described as “going pale” or “becoming white with strain” and then the unimaginable pain and suffering they were going through was described. I agree that the characters are heroes—I don’t need them to perpetually comment on how heroic they all are. I found it increasingly annoying. All that said, this is good solid fantasy, complete with fairly unique characters, a well-developed world, and a compelling danger. ( )

Continuing the trilogy.

Gil and Ruby have now split up, Gil staying in the Darwarth fortress keeping the Dark at bay and using her old scholarship powers to un-riddle church records, while Rudy does the Quest journey thing to Quo with Ingold to find the grand leader of the wizards and see if he won't come out from behind his palace to lend a hand in aid. Gil's is the more interesting storyline as she explores the old keep, but Rudy takes more words as he wonders about a bit. I wasn't convinced of the plot line in Rudy's quest, but apparently the Dark really want Ingold. We've yet to find an explanation why.

Good world building fine characters and great writing. What's not to like in the middle of trilogy? - apart form the last 50 pages being an excerpt form the next book rather than part of this one. I don't mind the first chapter but 50 pages is far too many. ( )

This is the continuation of the excellent Darwath Trilogy (which later became 5 books). There's little or no dropoff in this book. By now Rudy and Gil are integrating themselves into the community, as much as they can while on the run from The Dark. Gil has found a niche with the Guards, but Rudy is still searching, and still trying to learn how to be a wizard, much to his surprise. Good characters, good writing, excellent plot. On a side note, I don't think its an accident that one minor character and one major family name appear in Gregory Keyes' Thorn and Bone series. ( )