The Song of the Tears is a trilogy, forming the third cycle of Ian Irvine's The Three Worlds Cycle series.
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The Song of the Tears consists of three books:
The Song of the Tears is set ten years after the final scene of Chimaera. The self-proclaimed "God-Emperor" Jal-Nish Hlar, holds almost absolute power over the world of Santhenar, though after the escape of his son Nish, with the aid of Maelys, the Defiance begins to rise. The people of oppressed Santhenar secretly await Nish's honouring the promise he made ten years ago, before he was imprisoned: assumption of the role of the Deliverer, the only man with a chance to overthrow the God-Emperor.
Clan Nifferlin are Maelys's clan. They dwelt at their manor for over 30 generations, working their land and vineyards. They are described as being "neither rich nor clever", however their clan manor was razed when Maelys was 17, two years after it had been confiscated by the God-Emperor, because they possess an hereditary Talent for the Secret Art. Maelys's youngest sister Fyllis has a strong Talent and uses it to aid Nish's escape from Mazurhize, Jal-Nish's most terrible prison, while Maelys's own talent is hidden with a taphloid.
Colm A young man who becomes a close friend of Maelys, but is bitter towards Nish, who he met during the war. He travels under the alias of Thommel for some time. Colm is a skilled woodsman and mostly good-natured, when talk does not revolve around the Deliverer. It is clear that he feels romantically towards Maelys though as of yet, nothing has come of it.
Jal-Nish As the God-Emperor, Jal-Nish has taken control of all the known world of Santhenar. He needs but three things to gain immortality and is close to gaining all three: perfect knowledge of the Profane Tears which he named Gatherer and Reaper, complete mastery of himself and a clear understanding of the Secret Art.
Maelys A young woman of Clan Nefferlin, she is forced into a scheme to spirit Nish out of his prison of Mazurhize. She is a shy, bookish dreamer, who would much rather read about the great deeds performed by heroes and heroines of the past than live through similar adventures herself. She has a strong hidden talent and becomes an ally of Nish's.
Cryl-Nish Hlar After ten years of imprisonment, Nish finds his will bending. His mind is continuously haunted by the loss of his beloved Irisis and he fears that his fate is to become a corrupt man, barren of compassion as his father is. Nish's ten years of servitude have lessened him in his own eyes, while the people of Santhenar have named him the Deliverer, who prophecy say will cast down his corrupt father.
Phrune Vivimord's acolyte and his closest confidant. Vivimord requires a certain kind of body glove, for his affliction, that Phrune acquires from the perfect skin of young people. He takes pleasure in skinning his prey alive and quickly becomes the enemy of Maelys, whose skin he so desires.
Timfy Brother to Jil, helps lead Maelys out of the Mistmurk. He has a shock of brown tangled hair and appears to be about 7.
Sergeant Tink A sergeant serving in the God-Emperors Imperial Militia.
Tulitine A very wise old woman, who Nish senses is a mover, a person capable of greatly influencing future events to do with him. She proves this by swaying many people to the side of the Defiance and more precisely to Nish himself. Tulitine aids with healing duties within the Defiance's camp and becomes a confidant of Maelys.
Seneschal Vomix A high-ranking server of the God Emperor, Vomix is mostly at blame for the downfall of Clan Nifferlin due to a grudge against Maelys.
Vivimord Formerly the God-Emperor's most powerful sorcerer and closest friend, Vivimord becomes the founder of the Defiance. It was he who nursed the God-Emperor back to health after the disaster that was the Battle of Gumby Marth. When retrieving the Profane Tears, from the site of the battle, Vivimord acquired a grave injury that caused his skin to crack and weep all over. He is known mostly as Monkshart.
Xervish Flydd The former scrutator has been trapped atop the plateau of Thuntunnimoe, a place he thought to hide from the God-Emperor, for the past nine years, grievously injuring his ankle on an attempt to trek back down the mountain, in search of his missing allies, years before. Aged and weak, Flydd will have to break a solemn oath to give Santhenar a chance at survival.
Zham A giant young man who becomes the sworn protector of Nish, who saves his life during a struggle between the Defiance and the God-Emperor's Imperial Militia. Zham is a skilled woodsman, having lived a simple life in a small village. He is fiercely loyal to the Deliverer and soon becomes his close friend. His real name is Zhambellmyne.
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