The Infinity Gate: DarkGlass Mountain: Book Three [Hardcover]

Sara Douglass (Author)

Book Description

Series: Darkglass Mountain | Publication Date: June 1, 2010

Sara Douglass has won leagues of fans worldwide for her epic tales of sorcery, forbidden love, and heart-pounding action. She revealed her biggest story yet with the DarkGlass Mountain saga, and now, at last, the dramatic finale to the epic trilogy!

Tencendor is no more. The land is gone. But a few SunSoars still remain, and a new foe walks the world.

Ishbel Brunelle, priestess of the Serpent Coil, and Maximilian, the Lord of Elcho Falling, have raised the magic of Elcho Falling, and found new allies against the darkness in the mysterious Lealfast. And more crucially still, Axis SunSoar, former god and current hero, has rediscovered the magical Star Dance and revived his legendary Strike Force to push back the evil hordes commanded by the DarkGlass Mountain.

But their enemy grows stronger through blood and betrayal, the Lealfast have their own agenda, and when unexpected treachery threatens, Axis SunSoar must face a darkness greater than any he has ever known.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Completing Douglass' DarkGlass Mountain Trilogy (after 2009's The Twisted Citadel), this sweeping saga focuses on the monumental battles that Icarii leader Axis SunSoar wages to defend the city of Elcho Falling against the Lealfast, winged minions of an evil god called The One. Meanwhile, Maxel and Ishbel, lord and lady of Elcho Falling, begin a lonely quest to demolish DarkGlass Mountain and destroy The One. Nothing in this minutely detailed narrative turns out quite as it originally seems. Intrigue, magic, and betrayals abound throughout multiple storylines staffed by a mind-numbingly large cast of characters. Like most Tolkienesque world-builders, Douglass revels in making her actors do, but neglects to allow them to convincingly be. Though often uneven, this final installment of familiar good-versus-evil warfare allows plenty of vicarious thrills along its tortuous way.
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Review

“Detailed, elegant prose.” (The Cairns Post (Australia) )

“The twists, revelations and foreshadowings keep you turning pages.” (SFX (UK) on The Axis Trilogy )

“The dark, sensuous first in a new fantasy series.” (Publishers Weekly )

“Absorbing. Those who like their battles bloody and realistic will get their desire, but here also are moments of great tenderness.” (Starburst on The Axis Trilogy )

“Epic storytelling on a par with Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan.” (Library Journal on The Wayfarer Redemption )

“The author of the Axis and Wayfarer redemption trilogies embarks on a new series set in the same universe, filled with beauty and horror, magic and madness. Vividly defined characters and well-honed storytelling make this a solid addition. (Library Journal )

“Storytelling at its best, with fast-paced action, gritty realism, powerful characters, magic and romance.” (Romantic Times BOOKclub on The Wayfarer Redemption )

“The ultimate for fans of Sara Douglass.” (The Advocate )

“Teaming with cosmic plots, strange races, magic, and high adventure, The Serpent Bride is epic fantasy that borrows from the conventions of tragedy and romance.” (The Age (Australia) )

“The ultimate for fans of Sara Douglass. . . . Douglass definitely has a gift for storytelling, and The Serpent Bride is eminently readable, with dramatic twists and turns all over the place.” (Associated Press )

“Addictively readable ... a very big, very entertaining book.” (The Age on The Troy Game )

“Douglass continually surprises.” (Publishers Weekly )

“Douglass consistently demonstrates a consistently high standard of storytelling in the epic fantasy tradition.” (School Library Journal on Enchanter )

“Prolific doesn’t even begin to describe fantasy author Sara Douglass. . . . [The Serpent Bride is] teaming with cosmic plots, strange races, magic and high adventure.” (The Age (Melbourne, Australia) )

“The Serpent Bride, Book One, is a much longed for and a wholly triumphant return to the bestselling Axis trilogy.” (The Sunday Tasmanian (Australia) )

“Douglass definitely has a gift for storytelling, and The Serpent Bride is eminently readable, with dramatic twists and turns all over the place.” (The Advocate )

“Sara Douglass has the breadth of vision necessary to create sweeping epics and the storyteller’s gift that makes readers love her. ” (Locus )

“Sara Douglass has the breadth of vision necessary to create sweeping epics and the storyteller’s gift that makes readers love her.” (Locus on The Wayfarer Redemption )

“Fans of feminist fantasy will welcome the first in a new series from Australian author Douglass.” (Publishers Weekly )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060882190
• ISBN-13: 978-0060882198
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #517,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sara Douglass was born in Penola, South Australia, and spent her early working life as a nurse. Rapidly growing tired of starched veils, mitred corners and irascible anaesthetists, she worked her way through three degrees at the University of Adelaide, culminating in a PhD in early modern English history. Sara Douglass currently teaches medieval history of La Trobe University, Bendigo and escapes academia through her writing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A little disappointing, July 9, 2010

By 

K. Reese "CurlyKidCrew" (Kentuckiana) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Infinity Gate: DarkGlass Mountain: Book Three (Hardcover)

I was really looking forward to this book and the conclusion of this trilogy, but have to say I was a bit disappointed. The trilogy started off strongly with The Serpent Bride and had me greatly invested in the characters and what would happen. I was a bit disappointed with the second installment and hoping this final book would bring a satisfying conclusion. It just didn't do that. It was interesting and an easy read, but left something to be desired. I was highly disappointed in the main protagonist - Maximillian - basically doing nothing the whole book. I think what I loved about The Serpent Bride is that it was a character driven story and this last book was plot driven and I think that caused a lot of what happened to not fit or make sense with the characters. I also agree with the other reviewers who mentioned that the magic being used was not cohesive and easily changed to fit the plot, which added to the lack of continuity in the story.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sara - lets write a book with less magic and more plot..., July 5, 2010

By 

Kevin Brown "Rex" (NYC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Infinity Gate: DarkGlass Mountain: Book Three (Hardcover)

Let me start by saying that I think Sara Douglass is an excellent writer. The Axis trilogy was an interesting and enjoyable read. However, what was mildly annoying in her first works has become outlandish in this series. Sara's use of "magic" as a plot device is fundamentally flawed. Her all powerful magicians seem capable of doing nearly anything when it suits her needs, but are practically helpless when it doesn't. Now as a writer this is her choice, however, as a reader it feels like a cop out. Further, her magic system is not well structured or clearly understood by the reader. There don't seem to be any rules or limitations on the magic that can be relied upon to act consistently (or even consistently inconsistent) and thus lend credibility to her world building. Even the most developed form of magic in her books, the "star dance", doesn't make sense or act in a consistent manner. For example, why does it seem as if Axis, supposed Star God, is less capable of using and understanding the star dance than say Wolfstar, Star Dancer, or even the Lealfast? She also seems to rely on unexplained magic and magical transformation to suddenly solve problems - one minute a character is dead, the next minute they have been resurrected by an absurd act of magic that makes no sense whatsoever within the system she has tenuously established. Another failed plot device that she relies too heavily upon is complete transformation of characters. Somehow the most evil characters in the book end up suddenly transforming into good guys within a short uneventful period. It is fine for characters to change and transform, but having every character go through multiple magical transformations as a way to move an impossible plot forward becomes both predictable and boring.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars My least favorite conclusion to a Douglass series, September 28, 2010

By 

jules (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Infinity Gate: DarkGlass Mountain: Book Three (Hardcover)

Let me start out by saying I love Sara Douglass's books, so much so, that years ago, I bought the Axis trilogy and Wayfarer Redemption books from Australia once I found they were available there before the US. (The only series I cannot make myself read is the Crucible series, and I plan to try that one again soon.)

But..... this book just didn't really hold my interest as much as her conclusions normally do. MINOR SPOILERS: There's a hanging thread at the end, so we know another linked series is coming. That's not it either; it's just not that engaging. They keep beating the One, and it keeps coming back again and again. So you know it will happen yet again after the end. Also, they keep talking about Axis being this great battle commander; mostly, he's just a little whiny. (not the right word, but don't know how else to describe. I remember once reading that Douglass did not like her own character Faraday from the Axis/Wayfarer books, and I have to think that she has grown to dislike Axis as well.) You only see any evidence of Axis's command abilities towards the end.

This isn't the most eloquent review I've written, but I don't know how else to convey my utter sense of "this was just adequate". The prior two books were infinitely (no irony intended) better than this. So much so that I am bitterly disappointed in this conclusion. Knowing a conclusion was out there, I would have had to read it no matter what, but my expectations should have been much lowered.