DARKNESSES: THE SECOND BOOK OF THE COREAN CHRONICLES
L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
TOR 2003
Hb 492 pgs (with excellent binding maps)
ISBN# 0-765-30704-9
 

As the title indicates, this is the second in a series, so you will need to read LEGACIES first (see review).

The land of Corus has many political boundaries, and of course, battles over those boundaries.  Our hero Alucius has just come home from an extended military tour that included fighting for the Iron Valleys against Madrien, getting injured and taken prisoner, forced to fight for the Matrites against Lanachrona, then escaping to home with a company of other prisoners.  Now Lanachrona is a questionable ally.  The Iron Valleys have always preferred their freedom, but that freedom comes at too high a price--the traders and politicians of the Iron Valleys have sold out to Lanachrona.  Still commissioned to the Iron Valleys' Militia, Alucius' first tour of duty after his leave is that questionable boundary between the Iron Valleys and Lanachrona, that is until the point where the Iron Valley's have been pressured to give in.  Alucius' "Talent" aids him yet again in keeping himself and his men alive as their battles range clear over into the land of Deforya.  You see, Lanachrona had to push the Iron Valleys into an alliance because to Lanachrona's west is a mighty enemy who has harnessed the powers of the ancients.  The Illegeans have magical pteridons (pterodactyl-like creatures which are ridden.  The riders carry magical skylances that fire a blue laser-like flame.  No force on Corus can face this menace, not with only sabres and rifles.  That is why the Lord-Protector of Lanachrona has enlisted Alucius' assistance.

Though he had thought to keep his "Talent" secret, many know of Alucius' abilities of amazing skill in battle because of his extraordinary senses.  He is an expert marksman with an incredible ability to stay alive while facing insurmountable odds.  His men know of Alucius' Talents, but they will not speak of such, because it is Alucius who is keeping them alive as they fight magical weapons and beasts.  But the Lord-Protector of Lanachrona has discovered Alucius' secret, discovered it with his magical Table that "Sees".  And the Lord-Protector uses this information to not only save his land from the pteridons, but also from an even darker magic that threatens all of Corus.

A sample of the text--where Lanachrona's Lord-Protector is speaking with one of his marshals about Alucius:  "'Aellyan Edyss has his pteridons.  We have sent our Talent-weapon as well.  They will fight in Deforya or in the Barrier Range.  Either way, we win.  If the overcaptian prevails, we commend him, and send him back to being a herder, and that is what he wants.' ... 'You do not think this captain will turn his forces against you?' asked Marshal Alyniat.  'Not so long as he is a herder with a stead, and with a mother, a grandsire, and a wife.  The stead is his life.  It is for all herders.'  The Lord-Protector smiled, coldly.  'And if anything should happen to his stead or any of them, I would do far worse to whoever caused it to occur than you can possibly imagine.  I do not like good tools being damaged through pettiness.'  The two marshals nodded acquiescence.  The Recorder shivered imperceptibly."

I found the character Alucius very similar to Modesitt's character Lorn in the Recluce books MAGI'I OF CYADOR and SCION OF CYADOR.  So if you liked those books and are looking for something similar, then this set is a good choice.  If you are a reader unfamiliar with Modesitt's work, LEGACIES is the place to start.  It has rich prose as well as a good story-line, and plenty of action that is concluded with this second book.

KC Heath