The Death of Chaos (Saga of Recluce, Book 5) (Saga of Recluce, 5)

This book is very interesting and a rewarding read. Having read the first 6 books of the series this has to be one of the best ones. The "inconsistencies" stated in some of the other reviews really aren't there at all. Lerris as well as Justen were GREY wizards (and you could make a case for Gunnar being one too). So there powers balance out since they use both chaos and order. As to Lerris' relatives, since Lerris pretty much destroyed all the order and chaos in the world they could not hold there ancient bodies together without order. All in all this is one of the best books I've ever read and is well worth the price.

The first book by Modesitt that I read was 'The Towers of the Sunset', and it took me months to finish it, when normally it would have taken me a few days. I thought it was so-so. I read another in the series after it, and thouroughly enjoyed it. When I came back to 'The Towers', I loved it. I only say this, because it seems a lot of the books in the series were like that. I missed the deeper picture. 'The Death of Chaos' is one of the best books I have had the pleasure to read. I found it to be thoughful, and insightful, and consistent. One of the points in the other reviews is the lack of consistency in that Lerris, the main character, is an order focus at a time of too much order. In Modesitt's world, magic is divided into Chaos and Order. These different aspects are always balanced. If there is too much Order, Chaos will start popping up in the form of White Chaos wizard foci. The fact is that he was a 'grey' wizard, with great power of the balance. He didn't tilt the scales either way, leaving the rules set by Modesitt intact. Another aspect of Modesitt that was hard to get used to was the style of his writing. He leaves much to the imagination, which once I got used to I found again to be highly rewarding. With his wit, and turn of phrase, Modesitt seems to show that almost every line in the book was written with care, to bring you to careening to the climatic ending. All in all one of the best books I have ever read.

This book is great, it was such a quick read because I just didn't want to put it down. I would recommend it to everyone because, Modesitts world, is so vividly real. A few have the skills to master the power of Chaos, and a few have the skills to master the power of Order. Lerris is an Order Master, probably the most powerful to have lived yet, in the world of Recluce. He is happy to just be considered a Woodcrafter, but when a situation arises he goes into action using his Order abilities, which he likes to be very modest about. This book has definitely lived up to my expectations, since the first book ends with a statement that made me really want to read this book. I really liked the way Modesitt described the gruesome, Medieval-like battle scenes and Lerris' heroics. It was interesting reading about Lerris' newfound magical powers. Overall this was a great book. If you are interested in fantasy books this is for you.

This book is one of the most exciting that I have ever read. Practically from the beginning to the end of this novel something significant is occuring. Even when Modesitt writes casual conversations, they are relative to the story as a whole. This, I think, is the authors greatest attribute; the ability to make the profound seem innocuous. Lerris, the erstwhile hero in this culminatory book,seems a ' simple carpenter' and is content with this, but when faced with adversity, is able to rise to a situation. The battleground of Order and Chaos serves as the basis for greater themes - such as the application of volition and the hegemony of societies. This book should be read since it is the final edition of the Recluce Series and, still greater, for the prodigious skill and ability of Modesitt as a writer.

This is, imho, the best of the series to this point. The wait for the return of lerris was more than worth it. The book has a more human than human quality that I find almost unbearable in its poignancy. I could wish there was less tech and more magic, but that is almost a sideline to the real struggle in the book as lerris comes to manhood. I am not ashamed to say I cried several times while reading the book, and at the oddest parts. I cannot recommend it highly enough, the characters, the magic, the imagery are outstanding and original. I rank recluce with black company, sword of truth, wheel of time and curse of the mistrwraith.