What do you think?
Rate this book
The Song of the Tears #3
The Destiny of the Dead
Nish, his battered little troop and his few surviving allies are trapped on the Range of Ruin by the God-Emperor’s mighty army.
Nish’s only choices are a humiliating surrender to his father or a suicidal fight to the death. Yet Nish and Maelys have to fight, and somehow they have to win, for the beautiful world of Santhenar is in peril and no one else can save it.
Stilkeen, an all-powerful shape-shifting being from the Void, has come to recover the stolen chthonic fire that once bound its physical and spirit aspects together. And it wants revenge for the mortal insult that was done to it.
But it may be too late for Santhenar. Chthonic fire has been released from its casket and is now eating away the Antarctic lands, as it once devoured the world of Aachan. Even if, by some miracle, Nish and Maelys can defeat the God-Emperor, there may be no way to stop chthonic fire, or Stilkeen, before the whole world is consumed.
You won’t want to miss this ‘unflaggingly inventive’ fantasy series by million-selling author Ian Irvine.
What reviewers say about the Three Worlds books
“A compelling adventure in a landscape full of wonders.” – Locus
“A page-turner of the highest order … Formidable!” – SFX on Geomancer
“It is the most engrossing book I’ve read in years.” – Van Ikin, Sydney Morning Herald
“Readers of Eddings, Goodkind and Jordan will lap this one up.” – Starlog
“Utterly absorbing.” Stephen Davenport, Independent Weekly
“For sheer excitement, there’s just no one like Irvine.” SFX on The Destiny of the Dead
“As good as anything I have read in the fantasy genre.” – Adelaide Advertiser
Reviews of The Song of the Tears trilogy
‘This precise and beautifully crafted novel blooms from its ascetic opening to a resonant and rewarding climax. Makes what’s currently available on fantasy shelves seem hackneyed and formulaic. Utterly absorbing.” – Stephen Davenport, Independent Weekly
“Hang on with both hands, because this story waits for no one.” Sandy Auden, SFX on The Fate of the Fallen.
“The final payoff is fantastic. The most unflaggingly inventive storyteller we’ve seen in years.” Sydney Morning Herald on The Destiny of the Dead
‘Unbelievably, Irvine has managed to increase the pace of his story in this third and final volume – for sheer excitement, there’s just no one like Irvine around at the moment.’ – SFX on The Destiny of the Dead
Nish’s only choices are a humiliating surrender to his father or a suicidal fight to the death. Yet Nish and Maelys have to fight, and somehow they have to win, for the beautiful world of Santhenar is in peril and no one else can save it.
Stilkeen, an all-powerful shape-shifting being from the Void, has come to recover the stolen chthonic fire that once bound its physical and spirit aspects together. And it wants revenge for the mortal insult that was done to it.
But it may be too late for Santhenar. Chthonic fire has been released from its casket and is now eating away the Antarctic lands, as it once devoured the world of Aachan. Even if, by some miracle, Nish and Maelys can defeat the God-Emperor, there may be no way to stop chthonic fire, or Stilkeen, before the whole world is consumed.
You won’t want to miss this ‘unflaggingly inventive’ fantasy series by million-selling author Ian Irvine.
What reviewers say about the Three Worlds books
“A compelling adventure in a landscape full of wonders.” – Locus
“A page-turner of the highest order … Formidable!” – SFX on Geomancer
“It is the most engrossing book I’ve read in years.” – Van Ikin, Sydney Morning Herald
“Readers of Eddings, Goodkind and Jordan will lap this one up.” – Starlog
“Utterly absorbing.” Stephen Davenport, Independent Weekly
“For sheer excitement, there’s just no one like Irvine.” SFX on The Destiny of the Dead
“As good as anything I have read in the fantasy genre.” – Adelaide Advertiser
Reviews of The Song of the Tears trilogy
‘This precise and beautifully crafted novel blooms from its ascetic opening to a resonant and rewarding climax. Makes what’s currently available on fantasy shelves seem hackneyed and formulaic. Utterly absorbing.” – Stephen Davenport, Independent Weekly
“Hang on with both hands, because this story waits for no one.” Sandy Auden, SFX on The Fate of the Fallen.
“The final payoff is fantastic. The most unflaggingly inventive storyteller we’ve seen in years.” Sydney Morning Herald on The Destiny of the Dead
‘Unbelievably, Irvine has managed to increase the pace of his story in this third and final volume – for sheer excitement, there’s just no one like Irvine around at the moment.’ – SFX on The Destiny of the Dead
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
23 people are currently reading
531 people want to read
About the author
Ian Irvine
74 books659 followersI'm an Australian author of 34 novels, mainly fantasy. They include the bestselling Three Worlds epic fantasy sequence, which has sold over a million print copies. It comprises The View from the Mirror quartet, The Well of Echoes quartet and The Song of the Tears trilogy. I’ve just finished The Gates of Good and Evil quartet, the long-awaited sequel to The View from the Mirror. Book 3, The Perilous Tower, was published recently and the final book, The Sapphire Portal, will be published on November 1, 2020.
Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ianirvine.au...
Signup to my email newsletter for free books and special offers, preview chapters, news and other great stuff. https://www.ian-irvine.com/join-my-ne...
LATEST BOOK
WHY I WRITE
Funny thing is, I never wanted to be a writer. From an early age my ambition was to be a scientist. I’m an expert in pollution and I’ve spent my professional life studying it in far-flung places like Mauritius, Sumatra, Mongolia, South Korea, the Philippines, Papua-New Guinea and Western Samoa, as well as all over Australia. Often scuba diving to the bottom of foul, smelly harbours and hammering tubes deep into the polluted mud to collect samples for chemical analysis. Now that’s living!
I was a small, quiet kid who devoured books from the moment I learned to read. When I was naughty, Mum wouldn’t let me read anything for a week – talk about a cruel and unusual punishment.
I discovered fantasy in the early 70’s, with The Lord of the Rings and the Earthsea trilogy, and was immediately hooked. But there wasn’t much fantasy in those days; within a couple of years I’d read everything available. I wanted more and bigger tales, on vaster canvases, but they didn’t exist. That’s why I had to become a writer – to write the kind of stories I wanted to read.
WHAT I WRITE
I’ve never wanted to write about superheroes or huge, reckless warriors who know no fear. I write epic fantasy about underdogs and ordinary people who, in pursuit of their goals, are put to the limit of human endurance. My characters aren’t fantasy stereotypes, they’re real people with believable motivations and unfortunate flaws. I’m well known for strong female characters who have as many adventures as the men, and frequently get them out of trouble (I have five sisters). My characters are often small or clumsy or inexperienced or handicapped in some way, yet they make up for it with cleverness, ingenuity or sheer, low cunning. My antagonists are real, complex people who do bad things for strong and deeply-held reasons – never ‘just because they’re evil’.
Though my characters suffer every kind of torment imaginable, at their lowest point they discover the truest form of courage – they keep fighting because the fate of the people they care for, and the world they love, depends on them never giving up.
SOME RECENT REVIEWS
"Irvine is a veteran storyteller who excels in sustaining complex plots with well-rounded characters. Here, he delivers a compelling tale of vengeance, loyalty, and the search for a place in the world." Starred review, Library Journal (US)
"That Grand Master of the vast epic is with us again! The first gripping volume of what promises to be a vintage Irvine treat. More please!" Crisetta MacLeod, Aurealis Express
"Incredibly exciting. The end will have you eagerly anticipating the next book." Good Reading (Aus)
"He knows how to spin an epic yarn and tell it with real gusto ... ambitious in scope and tirelessly action-stuffed." SFX
Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ianirvine.au...
Signup to my email newsletter for free books and special offers, preview chapters, news and other great stuff. https://www.ian-irvine.com/join-my-ne...
LATEST BOOK
WHY I WRITE
Funny thing is, I never wanted to be a writer. From an early age my ambition was to be a scientist. I’m an expert in pollution and I’ve spent my professional life studying it in far-flung places like Mauritius, Sumatra, Mongolia, South Korea, the Philippines, Papua-New Guinea and Western Samoa, as well as all over Australia. Often scuba diving to the bottom of foul, smelly harbours and hammering tubes deep into the polluted mud to collect samples for chemical analysis. Now that’s living!
I was a small, quiet kid who devoured books from the moment I learned to read. When I was naughty, Mum wouldn’t let me read anything for a week – talk about a cruel and unusual punishment.
I discovered fantasy in the early 70’s, with The Lord of the Rings and the Earthsea trilogy, and was immediately hooked. But there wasn’t much fantasy in those days; within a couple of years I’d read everything available. I wanted more and bigger tales, on vaster canvases, but they didn’t exist. That’s why I had to become a writer – to write the kind of stories I wanted to read.
WHAT I WRITE
I’ve never wanted to write about superheroes or huge, reckless warriors who know no fear. I write epic fantasy about underdogs and ordinary people who, in pursuit of their goals, are put to the limit of human endurance. My characters aren’t fantasy stereotypes, they’re real people with believable motivations and unfortunate flaws. I’m well known for strong female characters who have as many adventures as the men, and frequently get them out of trouble (I have five sisters). My characters are often small or clumsy or inexperienced or handicapped in some way, yet they make up for it with cleverness, ingenuity or sheer, low cunning. My antagonists are real, complex people who do bad things for strong and deeply-held reasons – never ‘just because they’re evil’.
Though my characters suffer every kind of torment imaginable, at their lowest point they discover the truest form of courage – they keep fighting because the fate of the people they care for, and the world they love, depends on them never giving up.
SOME RECENT REVIEWS
"Irvine is a veteran storyteller who excels in sustaining complex plots with well-rounded characters. Here, he delivers a compelling tale of vengeance, loyalty, and the search for a place in the world." Starred review, Library Journal (US)
"That Grand Master of the vast epic is with us again! The first gripping volume of what promises to be a vintage Irvine treat. More please!" Crisetta MacLeod, Aurealis Express
"Incredibly exciting. The end will have you eagerly anticipating the next book." Good Reading (Aus)
"He knows how to spin an epic yarn and tell it with real gusto ... ambitious in scope and tirelessly action-stuffed." SFX
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 16, 2010
The epic finale to the Song of Tears trilogy is definitely the best book of the series yet. The battles are hair-raising and dramatic, and a hunger for a conclusion is aroused in the reader. The particular charm of this series, I think, is the much more satisfying conclusion given by this series than its predecessor. You can put this book down contented and reminiscent!
June 25, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, but it is definitely NOT the last book of the santhenar series. I could see another trilogy being possible based just off of the ending of this book.
There are a couple of places where the story bogs down with battle scenes that are a bit too long, but that's my only complaint. The character interactions were well written and engaging, and a lot of questions are finally answered!
There are a couple of places where the story bogs down with battle scenes that are a bit too long, but that's my only complaint. The character interactions were well written and engaging, and a lot of questions are finally answered!
March 5, 2009
A very satisfying ending to the series, that more than makes up for the last couple. An excellent read, very much in the style of the old books.
March 22, 2009
A great ending to the series, epic battles, love and war. Lots of loose ends tidied are finally dawn together, I am glad there is going to be another series.
July 10, 2009
Ian Irvine would have to be one of the best fantasy authors i have read. His worlds and characters that he brings to life have awesome depth and scope. Look forward to his forthcoming books.
April 23, 2012
I've read this whole series and Ian Irvine has always managed to enthral me, I can't wait till he begins writing the last book for this series in 2013.
October 3, 2018
Starting with a lot of story on battle, the group splits up and you follow them separately throughout the book. I liked to see some characters from the older series return and in general liked the plot. Sometimes it felt a little bit chaotic as you're following different storylines and just as one group was doing something interesting the viewpoint switched to a different group, while instead I was eager to follow the first group. ^^ The ending felt a bit rushed as there were so many villains to take care of and I was a bit sad to have to say goodbye to some mayor players so quickly. Also I find it weird that it's now soooo easy to make portals, while in the first book series it was extremely difficult. But maybe I've missed something as to why… Anyway I still love this series of books and will read them again, if only to gain better understanding of the whole plot starting with view from the mirror through to this series.
July 9, 2018
Finally reach the end, after the View from the Mirror, Well of Echoes and Song of the Tears series. And a bit of a mixed bag. The start was a bit sluggish, with the battles going on quite long, the middle part seemed to fall in the trap of the Fate of the Fallen, with unexpected hurdle after unexpected hurdle thrown at them, but then there is a strong finish in the final third, as all the threads are finally tied off, and many characters old and new get to have a final mark in the story. Unusually complete finish, compared to finishes of the previous two, so there may not be anymore other than the interlude ones he has done since, though there is some space for more. So first parts probably 3 stars, with final third a strong 5 star, and sad to say goodbye to the characters / world.
June 23, 2018
Fab finale - thanks for a really enjoyable trilogy!
September 1, 2018
Essence of the story was a quite well paced adventure, but people coming back from dead and author interventions as a hand of god diminished the listening experience.
September 14, 2019
Always tense, always pacey, relentlessly morose. The end was a little clumsy.
March 4, 2015
This last volume of the Song of the Tears series was probably my least favourite out of the trilogy. The first and second book had a sense of adventure and travel to them, followed by very real danger (and by this I mean danger that I knew the characters of this book feared and I also could sense this danger and was afraid for the characters) and this all made a rather pleasant read. However, in this third book, the running and hiding is replaced by running and searching and running and fighting, and quite frankly, it is just not as appealing for whatever reason. Especially the fight scenes (specifically the battle at the Blisterbone Pass) was a most boring read and it took me an overly long time to get myself to read through it.
Further to this, the twist in the very ending chapters of the book was a scene most reminiscent of the one in found in the end of the Lord of the Rings story, and found also in the end of the Odyssey; it is clearly a well-liked and repeated motif, but in my honest opinion, in this case, it does not quite work mainly because of the over-powering strength of the deus ex machina and the nihillism of it. It is rather difficult to comment on this without spoiling the story. The 'deus ex machina character', although having had a rather prominent role in the shaping of the various main characters of the story, did not captivate my heart in the story where presented; as in my opinion, bouncing from exact opposite poles to the other (although cleverly reversing them multiple times), in the end the role it played actively in the story was so short that I did not have enough time to form a good relationship with the character.
Nish in this one book goes through many mental stages and again, in my opinion, I found this to be the foundation of an interesting plot, but very annoying to have to read through (due to Nish's over-stupidity).
Yggur was probably my favourite character (along with Tulitine, funnily enough) and probably because of this, I think that there wasn't as much on the two in the book as I would have liked there to be.
On the end notes of the book, with the announcement of Llan the Liar and Karan Kin-Slayer's story going to be published, I would have liked to show my interest in the Numinator and the progress she was going to make with making the perfect human. I'm guessing that she may be included in the story with the duo anyway (even with her future-self, considering spoilers).
I am interested in reading the rest of the series on Santhenar because of the captivating plot that the story has.
Further to this, the twist in the very ending chapters of the book was a scene most reminiscent of the one in found in the end of the Lord of the Rings story, and found also in the end of the Odyssey; it is clearly a well-liked and repeated motif, but in my honest opinion, in this case, it does not quite work mainly because of the over-powering strength of the deus ex machina and the nihillism of it. It is rather difficult to comment on this without spoiling the story. The 'deus ex machina character', although having had a rather prominent role in the shaping of the various main characters of the story, did not captivate my heart in the story where presented; as in my opinion, bouncing from exact opposite poles to the other (although cleverly reversing them multiple times), in the end the role it played actively in the story was so short that I did not have enough time to form a good relationship with the character.
Nish in this one book goes through many mental stages and again, in my opinion, I found this to be the foundation of an interesting plot, but very annoying to have to read through (due to Nish's over-stupidity).
Yggur was probably my favourite character (along with Tulitine, funnily enough) and probably because of this, I think that there wasn't as much on the two in the book as I would have liked there to be.
On the end notes of the book, with the announcement of Llan the Liar and Karan Kin-Slayer's story going to be published, I would have liked to show my interest in the Numinator and the progress she was going to make with making the perfect human. I'm guessing that she may be included in the story with the duo anyway (even with her future-self, considering spoilers).
I am interested in reading the rest of the series on Santhenar because of the captivating plot that the story has.
April 3, 2009
Now, I liked The Fate of the Fallen, dumb as some of the creations were but throughout this new trilogy I always found the events to be a little forced. I'm not going to rant about the stupidity of Stilkeen or the tired device of White Fire. And while I liked the book, it wasnt satisfying.
Ryll's happy ending is ruined, Irisis is briefly resurrected only to explain that she and Nish can never be together, even in the afterlife, a sacrifice that lacks the emotion we saw at the end of Chamaera. Tiaan, the heroine of the war is brought back for no reason other than, well, I dont really know. She did nothing. It was infuriating. I loved these three characters, I'd much rather that they hadnt reappeared rather than play these brief, and in the case of the Tiaan and Irisis, uncharacteristic parts that should've been more meaningful.
Cryl-Nish's character, so well developed over the course of seven books is sort of waved away in the last two pages. Irisis? He's totally over her, after seeing her for the first time in almost eleven years. A woman he idolised in life and obsessed over in death. And now he waives their relationship aside, immediately following her heartfelt declaration of love?
Bull. Shit.
Nish is not that big a man. No one is.
Lastly there was the set up for the Fate of the Children trilogy. Now I've known about this final addition to the three worlds series for some time now but have always assumed it to take place immediately following the events of The view from the mirror. Seems kind of pointless, right? We already know what happened, right? Apparently not. Karan, Llian and their children have jumped forward in time; to five years after the events of this book. I guess this means we wont hear from the heroes of the Well of Echoes or the Song of Tears anymore, except in passing; a shame, but at least we'll continue to deal with the delightfully insane Numinator, still bent on creating that most fabled of creatures; A quartine.
Ryll's happy ending is ruined, Irisis is briefly resurrected only to explain that she and Nish can never be together, even in the afterlife, a sacrifice that lacks the emotion we saw at the end of Chamaera. Tiaan, the heroine of the war is brought back for no reason other than, well, I dont really know. She did nothing. It was infuriating. I loved these three characters, I'd much rather that they hadnt reappeared rather than play these brief, and in the case of the Tiaan and Irisis, uncharacteristic parts that should've been more meaningful.
Cryl-Nish's character, so well developed over the course of seven books is sort of waved away in the last two pages. Irisis? He's totally over her, after seeing her for the first time in almost eleven years. A woman he idolised in life and obsessed over in death. And now he waives their relationship aside, immediately following her heartfelt declaration of love?
Bull. Shit.
Nish is not that big a man. No one is.
Lastly there was the set up for the Fate of the Children trilogy. Now I've known about this final addition to the three worlds series for some time now but have always assumed it to take place immediately following the events of The view from the mirror. Seems kind of pointless, right? We already know what happened, right? Apparently not. Karan, Llian and their children have jumped forward in time; to five years after the events of this book. I guess this means we wont hear from the heroes of the Well of Echoes or the Song of Tears anymore, except in passing; a shame, but at least we'll continue to deal with the delightfully insane Numinator, still bent on creating that most fabled of creatures; A quartine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2013
A brilliant conclusion to an epic journey. The complex, interwoven threads of the story, some linking right back into the history of the world, come together in a clever tapestry. One sees Irvine's vision as some of the seeds planed in the early books sprout.
Irvine is a master of the trilogy format; Each trilogy in the Three Worlds series has its own strong, rich identity, and each book within each trilogy has a slightly different feel to it. Although you are reading a continuing story, you feel like each chapter has a distinct flavour.
A great read, and a great conclusion to this third trilogy instalment in the series. And, of course, there's a tantalising promise of more to come, which will bring the series full circle.
Irvine is a master of the trilogy format; Each trilogy in the Three Worlds series has its own strong, rich identity, and each book within each trilogy has a slightly different feel to it. Although you are reading a continuing story, you feel like each chapter has a distinct flavour.
A great read, and a great conclusion to this third trilogy instalment in the series. And, of course, there's a tantalising promise of more to come, which will bring the series full circle.
June 24, 2012
I totally loved this book and the whole 11 book series!If you dont pick up this fantasy series by Aussie author Ian Irvine you are completely bonkers. The series starts with 4 books, then another 4 and the final 3(with one more in the pipeline).
I always say if upon waking your first thought is of the book you are currently reading then its a winner.
His character development was well done and the plot was unbelievable in its complexity. I dont know how he can remember all the twists and turns!
I feel a bit at a loss now its over as I have been reading the series on and off for a couple of years now.
Well worth the time invested in its reading.
I always say if upon waking your first thought is of the book you are currently reading then its a winner.
His character development was well done and the plot was unbelievable in its complexity. I dont know how he can remember all the twists and turns!
I feel a bit at a loss now its over as I have been reading the series on and off for a couple of years now.
Well worth the time invested in its reading.
February 6, 2016
The sequel to this trilogy was certainly action packed. It had been a while since I'd read the first two books in the series when I finally got around to picking up the third, so some of the overall story details were a little fuzzy, but Irvine did a good job in revisiting aspects from the earlier books, so I always knew what was happening. Nish, Maelys and the gang engage in the battle of a lifetime, making a final stand against the God-Emperor and the seemingly immortal being Stillkeen, and I can honestly say that it did not disappoint.
A longer and more detailed review will soon be available on my blog @ www.awesomebooksforlife.wordpress.com. Check it out!
A longer and more detailed review will soon be available on my blog @ www.awesomebooksforlife.wordpress.com. Check it out!
November 26, 2014
This was a great book, a very impressing ending to an amazing series. It is well written, has interresting charecters and a suspenseful plot.
I was a however a little confused by about 30 pages near the end, that didn't seem to have anything to do with the story.
And I do believe that reading this series would be more satisfying if one had read the earlier Three Worlds series by Ian Irvine.
I was a however a little confused by about 30 pages near the end, that didn't seem to have anything to do with the story.
And I do believe that reading this series would be more satisfying if one had read the earlier Three Worlds series by Ian Irvine.
March 31, 2015
It resolved! At last! This volume gave the closure I was hoping for at the end of the previous four and actually it did it well. I was satisfied. The narrative suffered from the things I've whined about enough in earlier reviews of this series but on the whole this was one of my favourites. Thank you, Mr Irvine for not ending on another cliffhanger!
February 14, 2009
A well developed series of books about the world of Santhenar and the different beings who interact with it. This book ties this trilogy up rather well while opening the way for the next trilogy.
The books can be somewhat difficult to find. I had to order most of them from the UK.
The books can be somewhat difficult to find. I had to order most of them from the UK.
March 18, 2011
Thought this last book in the series was really good pulling all the threads of the different charactors story together to a very satisfactory ending. Found out at the end of the book that there to be more about the three worlds and look forward to reading them
February 19, 2009
I Was completely obsessed with this book, read it within two days and can't wait for the new series about Llian to come out!
August 8, 2013
Much better second time around.
May 24, 2009
Brilliant, what more can i say!
November 8, 2009
But wait...there's more!A huge series and it's not over yet!
July 8, 2012
Great read
Read
September 5, 2012Library doesn't have it yet, if anyone cares to lend it to me I would be all smiles.
February 14, 2014
an improvement on the first two books, but some weird conclusions.
January 13, 2016
Great
A fitting finale to an epic tale. The three worlds books make exceptional reading. Mr Irvine is up there with Terry Goodkind and Arthur c Clarke.
A fitting finale to an epic tale. The three worlds books make exceptional reading. Mr Irvine is up there with Terry Goodkind and Arthur c Clarke.
April 21, 2010
Finally, picked up the pace and there was much excitement. Top form for Irvine.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews