- Mass Market Paperback: 528 pages
- Publisher: Harper Voyager; Reprint edition (July 12 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0380820250
- ISBN-13: 978-0380820252
- Product Dimensions: 17.1 x 12.1 x 3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 249 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #363,776 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Religious and ancient magical conflicts threaten the fragile peace of the divided kingdom of Ylesuin in Cherryh's fifth Fortress fantasy (after 2000's Fortress of Dragons), an intense coming-of-age story. Aewyn, the 15-year-old heir to the throne, has been raised apart from his illegitimate brother, Otter (aka Elfwyn), who resides with Gran, a hedge-witch. The boys, potentially future enemies, adore their father, King Cefwyn, who encourages their friendship by asking Otter to live with them after he turns 16. Almost immediately problems occur with the Quinalt, a religious sect that abhors Otter's mixed heritage. Strange encounters in a haunted library and a nightmarish visit from Otter's mother, an angry sorceress who has escaped from a tower prison, point to worse trouble to come. A helpful introduction will guide newcomers through the complex plot. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School–This title marks Cherryh's return to high fantasy. It's been 16 years since the final moments of Fortress of Dragons (HarperCollins, 2000), and Cefwyn now sits on the throne as the just ruler of a tenuously united kingdom. He begins to look toward a future filled with the promise of good things he sees in his two sons: Aewyn, the 15-year-old rightful heir to the throne, and Elfwyn, an illegitimate child of Cefwyn and the dark sorceress Tarien Aswydd. Raised by the good witch Gran, Elfwyn has grown up unaware of his noble lineage. But Cefwyn claims him and takes him to live at the capital, where he becomes fast friends with his half brother. As much as Elfwyn enjoys his new life, the dark side of his parentage constantly pulls on him to release some powerful magic that could destroy everything his father worked so hard to create. Elfwyn's character, teetering so desperately between two very different paths, will draw readers into this dramatic and magical coming-of-age story. Much of the early part of the book relies on political intrigue and constant references to the history of the land; wisely, Cherryh includes a short introduction that provides a quick summary of the backstory. The ending hinges entirely on the strength of Elfwyn's character and his ability to make the right choice between good and evil.–Matthew L. Moffett, Ford's Theatre Society, Washington, DC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Competent continuation of series, Oct 31 2006
By V. Chan - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Fortress of Ice (Hardcover)
A perfectly sound, workmanlike novel, which may not make a great deal of sense to anyone who hasn't read the first four books in the series. Unlike them this one mostly focuses on the adolescent sons of Cefwyn, one of the main characters in the earlier novels, and their difficulties as various past enemies of their father (and his friends) stir again. This is very much an intermediate book in a series. The ambiguous nature of Elfwyn, Cefwyn's [...] son, and his relationship with his legitimate half-brother are set out but not resolved; nor are any of the mysteries left open at the end of "Fortress of Dragons".Cherryh's virtues are in evidence: strong characters who act in rationally-motivated ways, detailed and realistic worldbuilding and description (a C J Cherryh hero is guaranteed to have a thoroughly miserable time with hostile terrain and weather), convincing action and magic. The weakness of this book is the plot, which meanders, and the ending, which is so inconclusive as to give the distinct impression that this is half a book. I hope as a long-time fan that the next one will at least finish it.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Did ANYONE Read the First Four?, Mar 23 2007
By JaylynneTexas - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Fortress of Ice (Hardcover)
My first response upon reading this book was to wonder who really wrote it. This was a good story and as well written as any other of her books. However...there are way too many discrepancies between this book and the previous four. They are incredibly irritating if you have a good memory for writing. Ex. 1: In a bid for power, Orien committed suicide and burned to death in her cell the night Tarien had her baby; the cell was walled up after that, not while she was still alive in it . Ex. 2, TRISTEN names the baby Elfwyn. He brings the baby back from the grey space and tells everyone, "his name is Elfwyn." Ex. 3, nowhere in the previous books is there any claim made that Tristen actually became a Dragon. Finally, the role of magic seems to have changed. It has gone from "wishing ill or good" to outright magic wand waving. I have not read any other such glaring inconsistencies in her other works. If you think I'm too picky about details, all I can say is that these were and are major story elements. Again, I have not found any other such inconsistencies in her other books which I do reread with great regularity. There are few other writers gifted with her writing ability which is probably why I was disappointed in this book.I still like the writing, I still like the story, and I will probably buy the next ones in the series. But I'll also probably wait for the paperbacks.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Long wait but worth it, Nov 27 2006
By Edward Lulie - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Fortress of Ice (Hardcover)
I love the series. Fortress in the Eye of time remains one of my all time favorite books, set the series up nicely.Sadly it skips 16 years from the last book and glosses over the lost decade.
Many loose threads still waving about.
If you want more Tristan then you will still have to wait for this book merely has a cameo or two.
The book somewhat retells the tale by placing Otter (Cefwyn's bastard son) in Tristan's place back in the Court and has difficulties anew with both Priests and Magic.
CJ's work is much like a rich dessert, with layers and layers carefully prepared. Skim it and you'll miss things that you will need to know later.
I'm reading it a second time and enjoying it more than I did the first time.
In fact even if you have already read this series, dust those books off and re-read them again before begining Fortress of Ice; it will make the experience more worthwhile and enjoyable.
Hope the next book doesn't take years to come out, I'm already waiting for it.
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