Rating: 4
Description: Calwyn and her friends are content on their new island, where Calwyn hopes to start a school for chanters. Darrow, however, has taken off in his boat, sunk deep into a depression in the wake of his former friend's death. Heben, a young Merithuran, has come in search of the chanters with the hope of enlisting them on a quest to free Merithuran's chanter children, who are taken away to an undisclosed location whenever they are discovered. The group travels to the Palace of Cobwebs, deep in the Merithuran desert, where court intrigue is the name of the game, and Calwyn's magic will not help her penetrate the nobles' inner circle. A conspiracy is in progress, and when Darrow journeys after Calwyn, he joins what may be a dangerous group of rebels in order to infiltrate the Black Palace, a place Darrow escaped with Samis and hoped never to return to again. Calwyn and her friends want only to free Merithuros' chanter children, but does Darrow have something else in mind?
Review: The second book in the Chanters of Tremaris Trilogy (see "The Singer of All Songs"), this book is a very satisfying second installment, perhaps even surpassing its predecessor. Constable's fantasy world is perfectly fleshed out, but the reader is not hit with a barrage of useless detail. Each character, from major to minor, is unique and relateable in their own way, though Darrow remains stubbornly broody and disappointing (he doesn't deserve Calwyn). This book featured Halasaa much more prominently, and I enjoyed learning more about him and his personality and magics (I find myself wanting a Calwyn/Halasaa pairing to emerge). The plot is original and interesting, progressing fast enough to keep the reader interested, but there's still plenty of exploration of the fantasy world's magics and culture, which are exquisitely wrought. The ending leaves the reader hungering for the next installment. I want more from Kate Constable... Right now!
i thought that this book had prmise but fizzled toward the end. the premise was good but the author never really came through with the story that i felt the blurb promised.
Posted by: zoe at March 23, 2005 01:07 AMI agree that the blurb was wrong for the book. There was nothing about Darrow "having his own plans". At least, there wasn't up until the very end with hints into the third book. Despite that, I loved the book for itself, and was not at all disappointed that the story didn't match its blurb.
I still think Darrow needs to die in a very heroic and tragically martyr-like manner leaving Calwyn to be comforted by Halasaa. ^_^
Posted by: Elena at April 5, 2005 03:35 PMi LOVED it. i wanted a halassa pairing too, but i also like darrow. He is a very real character, he faces depression but soon finds his place. that happened to me and others around me, so i can relate to him most of all. i keep hoping that Calwyn will get her powers back, and judging by the title of the third book, i think she will. I keep dreaming up crazy tamora pierce/Kate constable crossovers. i cannot wait for the last one, but i hope she forgets about the trilogy thing and keeps going with her searies! :-)
Posted by: allie at January 6, 2006 05:45 PMi absolutly loved the book. i cant wait for the third one. calwyn and darrow BETTER hook up or i'll be really disapointed.
Posted by: Lindsay at January 13, 2006 04:32 PM