The White Song

Chronicles of the Black Gate, Book 5

By: Phil Tucker

Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine

Length: 13 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

The hour of reckoning is at hand. The skies darken with the forces of the enemy while the hopes of the armies of the light dwindle to but a candle flame. Morals, compunctions, oaths - all must be set aside, every sacrifice made, every advantage and ally sought if there is to be any chance for survival.

Unpredictable, fast paced, and packed with unforgettable characters, The White Song is the final installment in a gripping new epic fantasy series. Grab your copy today!

©2017 Phil Tucker (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Holy Epicness!

What a way to close such an epic series!

As always, Noah Michael Levine gives us a brilliant performance with a great selection of character voices and masterful control of tempo and vocal inflections. He's just a few strange pronunciations away from a 5-star performance.

It isn't often I come across a book that can have me clapping and cheering. Even less so a book that can carry me from the depths of tearful sorrow to that applause and running the gamut of everything in between.

Yet this book has managed it.

We suffer great losses, we experience amazing triumphs, and always the threat of catastrophic failure looms.

Through everything, Tharok remains my favorite character. For me, he's the most interesting one with the best arc and the most complexity. And I love, love, love the power that has awakened in him.

Asho is probably a close second. Despite everything he's been through, in spite of all the horrors he's endured, he maintains a grip on that cast iron will of his and refuses to let his convictions diminish.

I'm so happy to see that Audsley redeems himself (at least in my eyes) and does some truly awesome, epic things here at the end of all things.

What more can I say without spoilers?

Sacrifices are made, beliefs are challenged and in some cases compromised. Some of the unlikliest of alliances come together and the world will never be the same.

As with previous entries, I'm frustrated by all the little things at the prose level that make the book just unwieldy enough that I can't give it a 5-star rating. The story is almost good enough for the poor grammar to not drop it into 4-star territory, but not quite.

Now, the ending itself.

It's hard to imagine a more epic way to end such an epic series!

As always, Phil Tucker gives us an escalating array of climaxes and a series of epic battles that bring us so close to disaster so many times as we make our way to the final battle at the very end.

I do find myself wishing there was just a bit more to the wrapup after the final climax to really give a better idea of where things stand and where the world is going, but apart from that I have no complaints whatsoever.

I've said this many times, but I feel it bears repeating. If you're looking for something like A Song of Ice and Fire but that's actually complete, this is your series!

If you like your epic fantasy more on the Grimdark side with magic that is terrifying and a world that feels dark and real, you don't want to pass these books up.

Flawed humanity

I would rate the scope of this series on par with game of thrones and wheel of time. Hopefully without a spoiler i would like to say at first I wanted to rail at the end of the book because humans still acted like flawed humans and not near enough credit was given or lives changed as they deserved but again, I think I like the ironic dare I say poetry of reality triumphing over fantasy. Now that line is really deep! You know, reality embedded in a fantasy novel. And you will have to have read the books to get the poetry reference. Lol. Narration was spot on, I don't think anyone else would have done the book justice. The narrator made each character come alive. I almost gave the book 5 stars, yes it did have minor flaws but I don't think I have yet to rate a book 5 stars.

Excellent Epic

Close to as good as Wheel Of Time, A Game Of Throans and Stormlight Archive.

loved it

Loved the story and how it played out.
Also rly liked the depth of the characters

Was waiting for the UFOs to enter

The first couple of books to this series was interesting. characters some what interesting but with a young adult influence. The seties reminded me of that older "gate" series that had a world of water,etc.
Then came this last horrible book to end this series. Almost expected aliens in ufos to enter the battle. What a complete waste of time. Wont devote any more time reading works of this author who has no respect for his readers.

Great story wonderful characters

Great story and characters. The whole series drew you into this world and the characters were wonderful

Good

It was very entertaining it keeps you occupied in the story I listened during my commute

Awww Shibbitz

I'm So DISAPPOINTED the story ended. Everyday at work I'm by myself for hours on end. I get by listening to audiobooks. I've spent a small fortune on amassing my library. I can say without a shadow of a doubt.....

This Was The BEST Book of the best series I've listened to. Between the authors mastery of word craft and the narrator's steller performance I finished this book after starting it only yesterday.

I have only one complaint. The pronunciation of "ebon." Ee-bon vs. Eb-un.

Phil Ticker excellent series

This series ranks up next to some of the best l have read An interesting story with many twist & turns. Definitely worth the time it takes to read all the books. Really enjoyed!

Awesome

Just an awesome book. You must read them in sequence so you can really understand and bond with the characters.

Excellent adventure

This is the final book in this saga . I 'm going to miss the world and characters so brilliantly created by Phil Tucker . Each book slowly expanded and grew with twists and turns that led to a final exciting conclusion . The narration by Noah Michael Levine is first class . Numerous characters clearly identifiable . Nothing in this story is straightforward or predictable .Nothing is simply good or bad .How the main characters change and develop throughout the story line
is realistic and believable . Brilliant ! Recommend !!

Amazing series

I absolutely loved this series. I won’t include any spoilers but the twists and turns the deceits and revealed truths make this one of the best series I’ve ever listened to. Could not recommend it enough.