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themadmadmadeline's review against another edition
While I enjoy this series very much, I had trouble with the third installment; the first two novels in the series were wonderful examples of high fantasy within a rich and detailed historical setting. However, Darkwitch Rising almost seemed too convoluted, and had too many "twists" in it. I was distracted by the unnecessary plot twists, and I think the novel could have been wrapped up quite a bit sooner than the 725 pages allowed.
Even though this novel fell a bit short of its predecessors, I still feel the need to finish the series- I'll be taking a short break before I read the fourth and final novel.
I genuinely love the idea behind this series, but this was not my favorite. Towards the end of the novel I became quite intrigued. Unfortunately, the first 500 pages did very little to keep my interest.
Even though this novel fell a bit short of its predecessors, I still feel the need to finish the series- I'll be taking a short break before I read the fourth and final novel.
I genuinely love the idea behind this series, but this was not my favorite. Towards the end of the novel I became quite intrigued. Unfortunately, the first 500 pages did very little to keep my interest.
jschreiber's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
jasmyn9's review against another edition
5.0
In the third book of The Troy Game, we once again see all the old players, plus a few new ones that got caught in the game during book two. Cornelia and Genvissa make quite an astonishing discovery about themselves and their history, as do Brutus and Coel. The Troy Game itself even plays a new bigger role in all that happens.
A great addition to the story, it propels the characters forward in a journey with an as yet unclear ending.
A great addition to the story, it propels the characters forward in a journey with an as yet unclear ending.
shanbear16's review against another edition
3.0
If I had to give this review a title it would be "quiescent". OMG does Sara Douglass use that word about 20 times. I counted it 3 times on one page at one point! More gratuitous sex scenes (especially in the beginning with Charles and Eaving's Sisters) and a lot more violence. This book, I feel, really kind of lost the plot. It gets a lot more magical - which is fine, but it's the characters that really let me down. I know Douglass's point was to show how much they are growing and changing; it seems like everyone ends up getting a Supernatural role to play. But I feel like she took too long to get there, and I'm still left confused about where this story is going. For two books we're told one thing and now suddenly everything is changing (some of it for the worse IMO). I think this series worked better when it felt almost like an alternative history, but with enough realism in it to feel like we're reading about the real London.
angelahayes's review against another edition
5.0
5 Stars
Darkwitch Rising is the third book in The Troy Game series by Sara Douglass. Part of my 2019 reading challenge was to read an Australian author- well how do I narrow that down, there are so many great Aussie authors, but Ms. Douglass was one of the first Aussie authors whose work I fell in love with. I have devoured everything she had ever written and was devastated when she lost her battle with cancer back in 2011. Her books really stuck with me over time, and I don’t revisit them as often as I’d like. The last few months have been emotionally draining for me, and I really wanted/needed to lose myself in another world- so I chose to revisit some old favourites that have a comforting nostalgia associated with them. I couldn’t choose just one of her books, they are all so great, and quite a few of them are interconnected- so I chose to read them all.
I still love this series as much as I did the first time I read it. It is an epic fantasy interwoven with mythology, history, gods and goddesses, an evil Minotaur mysteriousness, fun, revenge, intrigue, sorcery, good vs evil, adventure, action, drama, magic, and so much more I won’t go into here so as not to spoil the surprises.
Ms. Douglass weaves her stories quite masterfully, crafting a truly believable and sumptuous world in which to set her story. Her attention to detail brings her world and story to life. This is such a complex and multi-layered story which Ms. Douglass choreographed brilliantly- there are multiple story threads woven through these books, two major ones playing out at the same tim-, one in the future, and one in the past. So engrossing!
The Troy Game Series Books are:
-Hades Daughter (Book One)
-God’s Concubine (Book Two)
-Darkwitch Rising (Book Three)
-Druid’s Sword (Book Four)
Epic fantasy done so very well!
Happy Reading!
Darkwitch Rising is the third book in The Troy Game series by Sara Douglass. Part of my 2019 reading challenge was to read an Australian author- well how do I narrow that down, there are so many great Aussie authors, but Ms. Douglass was one of the first Aussie authors whose work I fell in love with. I have devoured everything she had ever written and was devastated when she lost her battle with cancer back in 2011. Her books really stuck with me over time, and I don’t revisit them as often as I’d like. The last few months have been emotionally draining for me, and I really wanted/needed to lose myself in another world- so I chose to revisit some old favourites that have a comforting nostalgia associated with them. I couldn’t choose just one of her books, they are all so great, and quite a few of them are interconnected- so I chose to read them all.
I still love this series as much as I did the first time I read it. It is an epic fantasy interwoven with mythology, history, gods and goddesses, an evil Minotaur mysteriousness, fun, revenge, intrigue, sorcery, good vs evil, adventure, action, drama, magic, and so much more I won’t go into here so as not to spoil the surprises.
Ms. Douglass weaves her stories quite masterfully, crafting a truly believable and sumptuous world in which to set her story. Her attention to detail brings her world and story to life. This is such a complex and multi-layered story which Ms. Douglass choreographed brilliantly- there are multiple story threads woven through these books, two major ones playing out at the same tim-, one in the future, and one in the past. So engrossing!
The Troy Game Series Books are:
-Hades Daughter (Book One)
-God’s Concubine (Book Two)
-Darkwitch Rising (Book Three)
-Druid’s Sword (Book Four)
Epic fantasy done so very well!
Happy Reading!
katiekatinahat's review against another edition
4.0
I tried this series because I liked the Wayfarer Redemption books so much, and I have to say I enjoy basically all of the books by Sara Douglass.
sam_smith_of_tencendor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ryner's review against another edition
3.0
This third installment in Douglass' 'Troy Game' series had a lot of potential initially, but went downhill about halfway through. This time around, the events surrounding Cornelia-reborn, Brutus-reborn, and their "entourage" take place around the court of Charles II of England. Reading the first two books in the series (starting with Hades' Daughter) is a must, as the story, spanning over 1,000 years, is quite complicated. Despite my mild disappointment, I will still read the final book to achieve completion.
As do the others, this book suffers from cheesy cover art.
As do the others, this book suffers from cheesy cover art.
annabellee's review against another edition
4.0
Extremely confusing... if you haven't read the first two books in a while (which was my case). Complicated and intricate plot makes this book grab - and hold - one's attention. Not something to read on the fly; you have to be at the top of you're reading game to read this entire series, let alone this book.
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