Fortress of Ice: Tristan Series, Book 5
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Product Description
Two surprising allies have emerged to aid the embattled ruler in a struggle he "must" win: Cefwyn's two young sons. Aewyn Marhanen is the prince destined to rule. Aewyn's half-brother, Elfwyn Aswydd--the bastard son of the king and the sorceress Tarien Aswydd--has spent years unaware of his parentage, yet now it is his time to emerge and claim the gifted birthright he's been denied for so long.
But a dark, sinister magic has crept close to the young man and seized hold of the kingdom. Nothing is as it seems, as the bonds of family strain against the powerful forces that would see them undone--and the battle is joined to unmask and destroy the malevolence that threatens to unhinge the king's peaceful and fragile reign.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Reading the first book in this series ('Fortress in the Eye of Time') I was initially put off by the comparatively relaxed pace and extended discussions of characters' thoughts and motivations. Once I got used to this, though, and got to know the characters, I found myself enjoying the series more and more and now see it as one of the most impressive things Cherryh has written. Of her other fantasy books, it reminds me most of her 'Rusalka' trilogy, though the world is much more fully developed (and there is a lot more politics).
The latest book in the series opens some time after 'Fortress of Dragons' and most of the plot centres on Cefwyn's two sons, Aewyn and Otter/Elfwyn, his illegitimate child by his now imprisoned enemy and political rival Tarien Aswydd. There is a sustained building of tension to a rather abrupt finish, clearly leaving the underlying problem unresolved for future books. This is my only slight disappointment with the book which was otherwise excellent.
The latest book in the series opens some time after 'Fortress of Dragons' and most of the plot centres on Cefwyn's two sons, Aewyn and Otter/Elfwyn, his illegitimate child by his now imprisoned enemy and political rival Tarien Aswydd. There is a sustained building of tension to a rather abrupt finish, clearly leaving the underlying problem unresolved for future books. This is my only slight disappointment with the book which was otherwise excellent.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Competent continuation of series
31 Oct 2006
Format: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.
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
Did ANYONE Read the First Four?
23 Mar 2007
Format: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.
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
Long wait but worth it
27 Nov 2006
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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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