Customer Reviews

The Cycle of Fire: Stormwarden / Keeper of the Keys / Shadowfane

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When I originally read this series, I found I couldn't put the books down. A couple of days, and much lack of sleep, later, I had found a new favourite fantasy author. The plot keeps moving, there are enough twists so that you keep guessing, while also providing enough foreshadowing so that you don't feel left out of the story. I have since reread the series a number of times, and I still enjoy it just as much as the first time. A lot of people consider it sacrilege to mix the sci-fi and fantasy genres, this is possibly because it is generally done in a pretty tacky way, but I felt that this series had exactly the right mix, none of this sword versus lasergun stuff, just a subtle merging of technology into a world that has forgotten it's previous glory. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who likes stories that don't follow the traditional way of doing things. If you like your fantasy completely Tolkienesque, and your Sci-Fi to be hard SF, then you probably won't like this book, but if you enjoy Sci-Fantasy, then this is the book for you.

This book was wonderfuly vivid. it is a high action fantasy book.
a (Just cant put down)of witch there are all too few. she just pints a picture in your mind. as soon as you think you know whats going to happen she turns it 180 degrees. but it is just as good on the other side.

The Cycle of Fire series was fantastic. I enjoyed the characterisation, their developments, their triumphs and defeats. If you have a problem with a blend of SF and fantasy, then you're missing out on a great series. Ms Wurts has the ability to draw you deeply into the storyline with evocative and descriptive writing. The tortured soul is something that JW does very well, and it makes for a great plot. Some resolutions are a bit too pat, but on the whole, this is an enjoyable series.

Looking for something in the Fantasy genre but tired of the same old story? Then look no further. Here is a story that starts out feeling comfortable but quickly turns out to be something more than expected. Wonderful twists of events and discoveries of underlying pinnings await around turns in the plotline making you realize that you've discovered something above average. Janny Wurts takes us on a trip... a coming of age of three children. Three children who get caught up in a clash between humans and demons. As the children grow into their future roles they choose sides and embark on a path similar to one that has been followed before. And so the Cycle of Fire repeats.

This book captures you in its intriguing story line. There is much sorcery and is very imaginative. I won't get into the story line but I will mention a couple of things. The ending did not satisfy me I wanted more of a resolution in the ending and did not get it. The ending was written in such a way that there could have been another series after the Cycle of Fire Trilogy. The characters work hard with every ounce of their being and overcome incredibly difficult obstacles but once again I did not feel the release or the easing of their work or feel that the characters really gained anything from it except for saving their world. I alone wanted to feel the reward of the extreme hard work of the characters after reading such a long book, I did not feel that I experienced it.The book being so long I wonder if it was really worth reading with the kind of ending it had. If you don't mind the type of ending or resolution that this book has then read it, if not then the book will be a waste of time.

Ms. Wurts translates an eloquent tapestry of emotions and images into words of such charged description that the weaving of the story unfolds in your own mind. Her excellent use of simile and metaphore, with her uncanny ability to enthral the reader, allows the mind to form pictures of every character and situation. While she is not Tolkien or C.S. Lewis her style and compelling story will enchant you. The mix of grand Fantasy with an explained and understandable use of science, a new realm of "Sci-Fantasy" has been achieved. The original fantasy books, back in the day, all had to start with a scientific, sci-fi, explanation; time-warp, experiment gone wrong, alien worlds... This epic tale advances that genre into a more subtle and better meshed world of marvelous adventure. There is no science vs scorcery, or any such blatant or cliche misdirection of fantasy. Janny Wurts triumphs brilliantly with this three-in-one saga of virtue vs emptiness, valour against vileness, and the power of love. This would make a fabulous movie trilogy or t.v. series.

The Cycle of Fire held me captivated with its blend of Fantasy and Science Fiction elements. This series also combines many diverse plot elements extreamly well. This is an inspired coming of age, love, revenge, and redemption novel.

I recently discovered Ms. Wurts in a fantasy anthology and am always interested in new authors in this category. While this is not a new book it was new to me. It has good and bad sorcerors and features a lot of sailing journeys by the main characters as they travel among the various countries in this imaginary world. One of the "good guys" is actually a pirate! (You have to read it to appreciate this.) There are an assortment of supernatural creatures of varying physical aspects, intelligence and psychic abilities. There is the usual journey along which our hero achieves great deeds while learning life lessons from a variety of mentors. This book combines three shorter novels of the trilogy, Cycle of Fire, and could have done with a better quality of production as my used copy, sold as "very good condition," showed considerable wear. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and recommend it to other fans of the "swords and sorcery" type of fantasy.

Book was in very good condition (as described), arrived ahead of schedule, and there were no problems whatsoever.

Great Job!!!

This book, "The Cycle of Fire", is an omnibus edition including Janny Wurts' trilogy of the following three books:

Stormwarden (The Cycle of Fire, Book 1)
Keeper of the Keys (Cycle of Fire, No 2)
Shadowfane (Cycle of Fire/Janny Wurts, Bk 3)

This story was pretty well-written, and one could even say that there is definitely potential for writting a prequel book or two and a sequel book or two as well.

I enjoyed the story, and I hope that you will too.