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Darkwitch Rising
(The Troy Game #3)
by
Darkwitch Rising is the third title in Sara Douglass's compelling Troy Game series, a riveting historical fantasy series of love and revenge set against the very fabric of time itself.
Britian. An ancient land. Most think they know its history. But few suspect and fewer still know the truth.
For back in the mists of time came Brutus, last of the Trojan kings, who was armed w ...more
Britian. An ancient land. Most think they know its history. But few suspect and fewer still know the truth.
For back in the mists of time came Brutus, last of the Trojan kings, who was armed w ...more
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Paperback, 768 pages
Published
December 27th 2005
by Tor Fantasy
(first published 2005)
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Start your review of Darkwitch Rising (The Troy Game, #3)

I didn't want to give the book one star, because I couldn't put it down. I didn't want to give it three stars, because that would imply I was okay with it. So I gave it two. Basically I have one major issue with this book, and his name is Asterion.
It feels like the author decided when she was writing this book, and not the others, "Oh you know what would be fun? What if I made the villain of the entire series the love interest instead. Seriously. I mean, I know Cornelia/Caela/Noah/Eaving has a h ...more
It feels like the author decided when she was writing this book, and not the others, "Oh you know what would be fun? What if I made the villain of the entire series the love interest instead. Seriously. I mean, I know Cornelia/Caela/Noah/Eaving has a h ...more

I read this entire third book of The Troy Game series thinking that the series was a trilogy, and that this would conclude the story. I didn't figure out that I was missing a book until literally the last page (and then I cried, because I didn't have that one in the house and ready to read).
Half way through this book, and in most of these characters' third reborn lives, nearly everything shifted. Almost everything I though was the "obvious" way that threads would resolve was reformed into someth ...more
Half way through this book, and in most of these characters' third reborn lives, nearly everything shifted. Almost everything I though was the "obvious" way that threads would resolve was reformed into someth ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Once again, I feel a bit disappointed about The Troy Game, volume 3. I had been very enthusiastic by the previous one, but then I endured most of this one, until one or two twists I hadn’t expected – hence the 3*.
What I disliked the most was the use and abuse of convenient explanations all along. Of course, our heroes deal with malevolence and sickness everywhere, but even in their “doom”, I found them pretty well treated.
For instance, nothing ever happens to Noah. (view spoiler) ...more
What I disliked the most was the use and abuse of convenient explanations all along. Of course, our heroes deal with malevolence and sickness everywhere, but even in their “doom”, I found them pretty well treated.
For instance, nothing ever happens to Noah. (view spoiler) ...more

3.5 stars
Did you ever watch soap operas? You know how the storylines start out fun but after a while (in this case, by book three, this one) you wonder "are we really still on these plots?" Yup. That was my experience. I was getting ready to abandon the whole thing, when at about halfway through - the twist! Amping up the action and ensuring I stuck around. For another book.
The back half got seriously good. Lots of twists and turns, bringing everything to a boiling point. Now I absolutely must ...more
Did you ever watch soap operas? You know how the storylines start out fun but after a while (in this case, by book three, this one) you wonder "are we really still on these plots?" Yup. That was my experience. I was getting ready to abandon the whole thing, when at about halfway through - the twist! Amping up the action and ensuring I stuck around. For another book.
The back half got seriously good. Lots of twists and turns, bringing everything to a boiling point. Now I absolutely must ...more

I really am enjoying this whole Troy Game series. Darkwitch Rising has some really unexpected twists and turns to the story. It is set in the time of King Charles II of England (mid-1600s). The Troy Game has grown out of control. Cornelia is born as Noah, a simple preacher's daughter. Genvissa is born as Jane Orr, sister to Weyland Orr. This is particularly tortuous to her, but I'm not saying why because I don't want to spoil the story. It' s hard to say much without spoiling anything. So, I'm j
...more

Definitely my favorite of the Troy series. Cornelia's character definitely improves during her third life, adding so much dimension to her character that she is solidified as my favorite. Everyone seems to be learning important lessons, and developing nicely. A good identity twist gives us a nice shock, though certainly not the biggest shock of this book. Still, I love the direction in which this is going!
...more

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.

This was probably my favorite of the Troy Game books as the characters seem to come to a realization of how the past impacts upon both the present and future. Weaving actual historical events, places and characters seamlessly into the story and imbuing it with an eerie otherworldliness, Douglass creates another page-turner.

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 oft ...more
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 oft ...more

A wonderful third installment of Sara Douglass' "Troy Games" series. It's a historical fantasy that is slowly bringing the mythology of the labyrinth and the minotaur. The ancient characters are continually reborn and must live new lives in pursuit of aa mastery over the labyrinth, while the minotaur works to destroy everything, or does he? A twist of fate finds the Mistress of the Labyrinth working and falling in love with the minotaur and attempting the destroy the game, which has been born in
...more

This series is amazing but you do have to read them in order to understand what is happening in the book. Noah, Cael, Cornelia, Eaving is an extremely strong woman as are her sisters. Her feelings toward the Minotaur change in this book and Minotaur's change is for the better. Reincarnation, mystery and how all the characters come together again makes this an interesting read. I highly recommend this series to those who love to really get into the story lines.
...more

The series is definitely improving. I'm glad I read beyond that first book where there were no characters and only caricatures. The reincarnated are continuiously evolving and becoming more complex.
...more

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 s
...more

Aug 03, 2011
Madeline
added it
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 sti ...more
Even though this novel fell a bit short of its predecessors, I sti ...more

Definitely the best book in this series, I'm not giving this 5 stars simply because (view spoiler)
Everybody stops being terrible in this one. Sure, Brutus still suffers from stupid jealousy and Genvissa/Jane and Cornelia/Noah will never be bosom buddies, but now they all fight for ...more
Everybody stops being terrible in this one. Sure, Brutus still suffers from stupid jealousy and Genvissa/Jane and Cornelia/Noah will never be bosom buddies, but now they all fight for ...more

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 achie
...more

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.
...more

This book was about reconciliation which is fine, but I guess not as exciting as fighting. However, I enjoyed the very end of the book and I did enjoy seeing how the characters grew. But overall, not much conflict, I felt. Wish I had the patience to go back and read through the 1939 sections of the previous books with the lens of what I now know.

I didn't think I would like this series as it was a truly alternate history sci-fi (each book is based on a particular time in British history), but I ended up loving it. I can't go into much more detail without giving away spoilers.
...more

Another really good series. I enjoy the premise of the same personalities coming back in different time periods to do it again because they can't get it right.
...more

It was a push to finish. I wouldn't rec it, not really sure I'm even going to finish the series at this point.
...more

This series just gets better and better!
I can't wait to read the next book but at the same time I can as it's the last of Sara's books that I have left to read :( ...more
I can't wait to read the next book but at the same time I can as it's the last of Sara's books that I have left to read :( ...more

Time has moved on but the characters are reborn. They take place during the 1600's.
...more

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.
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Douglass was born in Penola, South Australia. She attended Annesley College, in Wayville, a suburb of Adelaide. She studied for her BA while working as a Registered Nurse, and later completed her PhD in early modern English History. She became a lecturer in medieval history at La Trobe University, Bendigo. While there she completed her first novel, BattleAxe, which launched her as a popular fantas
...more
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The Troy Game
(4 books)
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