Song of the Tears

The Song of the Tears is a trilogy, forming the third cycle of Ian Irvine's The Three Worlds Cycle series. It was first published in Australia in 2006 by Penguin Books, the audiobooks are read by the British actor, Jack Hawkins.

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, whom 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 nothing has come of it yet.

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.

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