Darkmage by M.L. Spencer is the second book in The Rhenwars Saga. Set 1000 years after Darkstorm, the Well of Tears is opened, yet again, and Darien Lauchlin is determined to close the Well of Tears, and keep it closed.

I enjoy Spencer's writing and world building. The characters are tormented, and emotions run high in this dark fantasy story. Spencer's writing takes us to the edge of darkness and keeps us there, hoping to find the light. Looking forward to reading more from this author. ( )

Aiden and Darien Lauchlin are brothers, sons the Prime Warden, the highest of the mages. When Aiden unseals the Well of Tears and releases the Eight, it's up to Darien to fight the armies of the Enemy and seal the Well once more.
This is the second time I read this, mostly because I read it before the prequel Darkstorm which sets up the Eight and the Well of Tears. Once I read the prequel, I reread this one to continue the series and keep everything in order. It's well worth rereading.
This book takes place one thousand years after the first. Darien is a tortured soul, for a while the last of the Mages. He gathers a band of recruits to help him, but most of the responsibility rests on his shoulders.
This is a good fantasy series. Darien is an anti-hero in the mode of Thomas Covenant. He must make impossible choices, mostly to his own detriment in order to save his world. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the Rhenwars Saga. ( )

Darkmage is a dark fantasy, richly written, and filled with fascinating characters. The action starts almost immediately and takes the reader on a journey through a detailed and nuanced world.
Darien Lauchlin is an acolyte, called back to Aerysius, the city of the mages after a stint on the frontier guarding against the enemy in the Dark Lands. It is his time to rise up to the level of mage, an occurrence marked treason from within and the destruction of Aerysius as the Well of Tears is opened and chaos reigns supreme.
Darien has incredible powers but is bound by his oath as a mage not to unleash his magic despite the temptation to do so. Accompanied by the priestess of Death, Naia, and his new acolyte, Kyel Archer, Darien sets out to save his world without losing himself at the same time.
The detailed world-building is amazing. It is very easy for the reader to picture each scene in the various lands they travel through. The characters are diverse and always engaging. There is great poignancy in the romance between Naia and Darien, as well as his lost love, Merien, who was sacrificed to open the Well of Tears. The pressures on Darien are immense, but his responses are believable as well as his befuddled acolyte, Kyel.
I can't wait to read Darkstorm and the other coming books in the Rhenwars Saga. If you like dark fantasy, this is a book you want to read. ( )