Darkfall is the first novel in the Legendsong Saga series by Australian author Isobelle Carmody. Carmody wrote the first drafts for all three books in the trilogy concurrently whilst living in Prague. It was published by Viking Books in Australia in 1997 and shortlisted for ‘Best Fantasy Novel’ at the 1998 Aurealis Awards and for ‘Australian Long Fiction’ at the 1998 Ditmar Awards. This parallel universe, high fantasy novel is set primarily in the world of Keltor. The book has also been published in braille and in Chinese. Composition Carmody wrote the first draft for Darkfall and its sequels Darksong and Darkbane at the same time. These were written whilst the author was living in Prague, Czech Republic. Carmody took a year to write the first draft of Darkfall and another four years to revise and rewrite the novel. The author has commented that she writes the books as they come to her, without a particular target audience in mind. It was for her publisher to decide which market, children or adult, the books were best suited. Much of the novel's grappling with both the beauty and evil in the world come from her own reflections and experiences. Carmody has also drawn from aspects of classical mythology in the work, including myrmidons, from the warriors of the same name who accompanied Achilles, and sylphs, whom she calls silfi. Synopsis Plot summary The Legendsong Underlining the plot of the book is the Legendsong of Keltor. This legend states that long ago, the Firstmade (Unykorn) of Keltor was captured by the Chaos spirit so that Lanalor could be with his first love, Shenavyre. However Shenavyre had committed suicide when the Unykorn was imprisoned. Lanalor prophesied that an Unraveller would come to rescue the Unykorn and free Keltor from the Chaos spirit, and told the signs by which the Unraveller would be recognised. It is this prophecy that Darkfall protects, and that which the Draaka cult seeks to prove untrue. Main Story Glynn and Ember Flanders, fraternal twin sisters, are holidaying in Greece when Glynn is seemingly swept out to sea and drowned. However Glynn finds herself transported to the world of Keltor and rescued from the sea by an Acanthan windwalker, Solen. Feigning amnesia, she gradually deciphers this new world where some can fly and others see prophetic visions. As she lives with Solen on Acantha and works in the mine, she