Customer Reviews

The Infinity Gate: DarkGlass Mountain: Book Three

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Some things about this book were really enjoyable, honestly. The excitement, the unexpected plot twists, the edge-of-your-seat action that gripped me and kept me flipping pages up until the very end. The emotion, the power, the strength of the multi-faceted characters, along with the well-crafted words that painted a mystical and beautiful picture...The Infinity Gate has so many good things going for it, but, unfortunately, these things were overshadowed by other items that left me with some mixed feelings about the overall epicness of this book.

The main thing? The heavy leaning on utilizing characters from The Axis Trilogy and the Wayfarer Redemption, and bringing far too many characters, plot points and world mechanics from these books into The Infinity Gate. Unfortunately, this has plagued the entire DarkGlass Mountain trilogy. Rather than simply mentioning the connections between this and previous novels, Douglass relies far too much on previous novels to propel the plot forward here. Old characters, especially Axis, and old plots, such as the rivalry between Axis and Borneheld, are given far too much attention here, I really would have preferred something new and more original...it's as if Douglass is so in love with Axis and Tencendor that she just can't let it go and really, it's time to move on to something new and fresh.

I wouldn't say The Infinity Gate and the DarkGlass Mountain trilogy is a complete bust, heck, it made me a fan of Sara Douglass again after being discouraged by Hades' Daughter, but she's capable of so much more. Maybe she needs to take a break from Axis and co. and do something a little different...

This book "series" does not compare well to the early series featuring Atlas in Tencendor, etc. The first book of the Infinity series started out fine, but in the subsequent books the plot and characters began degenerating into outlandish (although fantasy is outlandish by definition!!!) twists and turns, too many magical transformations, etc. It almost seemed that Ms Douglas would move her story forward, get stuck in a plot or character quandry and then, on the spur of the moment, dream up yet another kind of way to bend or break the "rules" (which didn't seem to really exhist) or invent a new capability or transformation to move the story and character(s)forward. By the end of the book it felt like there wasn't much cohesiveness to this world or its inhabitants, not much deabth and I had lost interest pretty much in what was happening....I finished the book just because...... Not looking forward to reading any more about affairs in the world of Infinity.

A bit hard to get into the flow of this book-- been a while since I have read Book 2, the first few chapters are helping as to who is who and all--- but. I think I will have to go back and read books 1&2....

this book is a very good third part to the darkglass mountain series. I didn't want to put any of them down once i started to read them. I would highly recommend reading the wayfarer redemption series (6 books), beyond the hanging wall (1 book) and threshold (1 book) FIRST since there is a backstory from all of these books that play into parts of this storyline. it is not required to understand the series it just provides more depth to the story. all of the books i have mentioned are really well written and very entertaining.

It was an amazing conclusion to a great series. The story line is very compelling and very much worth your time.

With Tencendor gone, trapped inside the Tower of Elcho Falling is its Lord Maximilian, fallen god heroic Axis SunSoar, and Serpent Coil Priestess Isabelle Brunelle and their comrades. Though have raised the magic of the tower, they are in deep trouble. Their adversaries are coming from every location tightening the grip on those besieged inside the magic tower. Those who come arrive with one intent: kill all caught inside.

From the tundra to the north arrive the traitorous winged Lealfast and from the south come the ferocious Skraelings. However, the most dangerous and lethal enemy is the One, who absorbs Infinity magic from the DarkGlass Pyramid. Those trapped have no hope of surviving for themselves or their world as betrayal by a key ally leaves them seemingly defenseless. Yet Axis raises his Strike Force using the Star Dance magic to fight back while a glimmer might be Ravenna the Marsh witch who no one trusts.

The third DarkGlass Mountain fantasy (see The Twisted Citadel and The Serpent Bride) is a great action-packed finish to a top rate trilogy as revelations and twists will keep the audience fully occupied with what comes next. The action never slows down while the cast is top rate. Readers will fully relish Sara Douglas' strong epic as darkness appears poised to win.

Harriet Klausner