Customer Reviews

Exile's gate

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Anyone who has read the first three books doesn't need a review to tell them to continue. Almost as good as Fires of Azeroth, Exile's Gate does not disappoint, as Wells (book #2) did. The attention is on the relationship of Morgaine and Vanye. Cherryh deserves a lot of credit for moving the relationship along, as, after all, two people who have fought their way through worlds and centuries, must inevitably become more than master and servant. The progress is, however, utterly believable and gentle -- not melodramatic nor rushed. While the prose admits some of the repetitiveness that sometimes haunts Cherryh's writing (and which was gloriously missing from Azeroth) -- as if she is repeating obvious things about the characters to "warm up" as she writes [as I do when I teach]-- the fantasy here is very imaginative, with a number of compelling characters, interesting scenery, and a heavy-duty endgame (unlike the previous installments, where the travelling WAS the adventure). It's been a couple of weeks since I finished it, and I'm still quite intensely heartbroken (I'm even rather embarrassed about it) there are no more to read. Cherryh has demonstrated that she can develop their relationship with just the right pacing -- I wish she would continue.

I've read and re-read the four-book Morgaine series because I'm so fascinated by--and admiring of--Morgaine and Vanye. Morgaine, her very name a curse on worlds she has yet to visit, must close the gates between the worlds by riding through them. She will sacrifice anything, commit any cruelty, kill any number of people if she must, to accomplish this aim. The goal is so compelling that no other consideration, even the welfare of peoples and worlds, let alone her life or that of her liegeman Vanye, counts. Vanye, a lost and disreputable servant in the first book, refuses to give up his "servitude" to Morgaine and her quest, even knowing that he can be sacrificed at any time Morgaine feels the need. He is Kurshin and as such has a stubborn code of honor that requires that he stay by Morgaine's side no matter how her actions may appall him. Morgaine and Vanye together serve a quest too horrible to contemplate: They must close the gates that permit much evil to pass from world to world. Even as their obvious regard for one another grows in this book, to something resembling desperate need, if not love, they stumble on through obstacles and obstinate peoples. Worse, they never know when they will pass through the final gate--and the final gate has no other side, only endless and soulless oblivion. And at the end of this book, after Morgaine has met her greatest challenge yet and revealed how truly murderous she can be at need, we readers are left wondering: have Morgaine and Vanye completed the quest and vanished into eternal tormented oblivion? Or will they ride out of another gate, on a distant planet, in Cherryh's next book? Only C.J. Cherryh knows for sure.

The Morgaine Trilogy (tetralogy now, I suppose), was one of the most innovative, refreshing and immersive works when first published. Aside from the universe itself, with its mysterious (even mythic) Qual, Gates, and isolated worlds, the development of the relationship between Vanye and Morgaine kept me reading each new book in the series.
However, just as some movies or books released with a "director's cut" or "original, unedited" text are actually worse than the edited original published version, so "Exile's Gate" is more of the same, but without significantly new material to make it stand out on its own.
As a longtime fan (since 1979, "Hestia") of Cherry, I tend to buy many of her books just because her name is on the cover, but I must admit I feel that there is one fundamental flaw to her writing, in that she seems to find it difficult to portray strong male characters. Her female leads are all one could hope for, and more (Morgaine, Chanur) I would argue that it is common for writers to portray characters of their own gender better than those of the other sex, but I must say that as a multiple Hugo winner, I expect her to do better at this.
I felt that in Exile's Gate, Cherry develops the relationship between Morgaine and Vanye, and strengthens Vanye's character, at the cost of weakening the character of Morgaine. I believe one reason why so many readers are attracted to her character is that she's a Maid of Steel, who realizes that no matter how great the price she and others must pay, the Gates must be closed, and therefore lets nothing stand in her way of that objective; she's the strong female lead that seems all but absent from so many books written by men. It therefore is disappointing that Morgaine should start to display the weakness that would prevent her from pursuing her mission at all costs--unless she expects Vanye to take over from her (though, I thought that would only occur if she were to die prematurely, not because she surrendered in the face of a never-ending ride). I'm sorry, but the Morgaine _I_ know would fight to the end, no matter the length of the journey. Perhaps this is unrealistic, but I don't believe so--and I don't think it says much for Vanye's character, if he can only increase his character at the cost of the stature of his partner.

In conclusion, I very much enjoy the series, and enjoyed this book as well (being more of the same is not necessarily a bad thing), but I hope Cherry does more to make her characters not only flesh and blood (she certainly has that down pat) but strong in their own way--both women AND men.

I have to say this is one of the best books I have ever read. I read this book before I had ever even heard of the other three books. I was so impressed by how well written it was that I went out and bought the other three the day after I finished it. C.J. Cherryh did a superb job on this book. Very few other stories have drawn me in so completly. Just a great book all around.

Exile's Gate is the first CJ Cherryh (I now read greedily I can get my hands on) book I ever got...I was annoyed when I found out I had to read the three other books that came before it, it looked so interesting. I'm glad I did now because all four of them have turned out to be some of my favorite books of all time. Definitely do not read Exile's Gate without having read the other three, but definitely you should read all four!

Morgaine and Vanye(the main characters) travel from world gate to world gate, across stars and ages, to seal the gates as they pass. It's the rather thankless task Morgaine(with her awesome sword) has set for herself and Vanye, her stubborn and eternally loyal liegeman, feels he has no choice but to follow her and try to protect her from all dangers, even herself. After three worlds and three gates, they come to the world where the only way off is the infamous Exile's Gate. In the midst of human wars and qhalur(aliens that will be explained in the books) intrigues, Vanye tries to figure out a way for him and his lady to get past this mysterious Skarrin that even Morgaine seems to fear.

I've read and re-read this book until I can almost repeat it. I still smile at my favorite parts. That bespeaks the author's amazing skill with words and characters. I still catch my breath at the battle scenes, can still hear arrows flying as Vanye looses them from his bow...It's an incredible experience, though no light reading. I'd make sure everyone read the Morgaine books if I could. And, on that note, I'd definitely recommend them to a potential buyer! Please!

I just found this book recently and couldn't put it down until I read it at least a couple of times (while I was waiting to get the Morgaine Cycle). I really appreciate the sublime paradoxes of Morgaine and Vanye, and how they balance each other out. I find that I still have a lot of questions that I would love to have answered (I'm hoping for at least one more book in the series): Now that Vanye has acheived his "immortal" status, will that change the way he regards Morgaine? Their relationship has ripened over the series, but they really haven't talked about it!!! And then I wonder what would happen if they met someone from Morgaine's maternal family (which I understand to be from the future). What if they went to a world with a more modern paradigm (they have been dealing with swords and bows 'n' arrows) , or perhaps one where a starship has landed? Wouldn't THAT rattle Vanye's sensibilities?! Would it also rattle Morgaine, or would she be familiar with their ways? I love this whole series, and I hope it hasn't ended yet!

In this fourth of the Morgaine Saga, Morgaine is starting to come down from her high horse and treat Vanye like an equal. Well, kinda. Sorta. Sometimes. When she feels like it. Other times, not so much. Either way, she is freaking him out.

She and Vanye have rescued a young man from certain death. (Guess whose idea this was.) This man has the same beliefs and superstitions Vanye used to have, which makes Vanye homesick. He also regards Vanye as a witch, the way Vanye used to regard Morgaine. The catch is, Vanye isn't 100% sure the kid is wrong. So this too is freaking him out. (And it's only Chapter Two.)

Cherryh really puts Vanye through the wringer in this one. When I first read this book on my lunch break, many years ago, I actually nearly fainted at my desk at one point. I had to stop reading and breathe for a bit. And really, I'm not the fainting type.

If you have read the earlier books, nothing will hold you back from this last one. If you haven't, then go read GATE OF IVREL, the first and the best of the series. This is only the second best, as a story, because it cannot stand alone the way the first one can. Also, the parts that aren't told from Vanye's POV are FAR less compelling than those that are.

But Vanye himself is as human and compelling as ever, and the way he deals with the continual culture shocks, identity crises, threats of eternal damnation, and hideously no-win moral dilemmas continues to enthrall as the character matures, hardens, and despairs, yet against all odds is still found to be clinging by his fingertips to his faith and decency. Morgaine, likewise, is not chopped liver. Boy, does she know how to turn the tables.

I give this four-and-a-half stars on it's own merits, and five as a sequel. If you liked the earlier ones, it won't disappoint.

Not only is this a great cj cherryh book, but my favorite book ever. The previous Morgaine books were great, but only led up to this one in readibility and absorbsion. I only wish she would continue the cycle...

I'm honestly not sure how much time passed between the writing of "Fires of Azimoth" and "Exile's Gate", but while it was enough for a few things to change, nothing was lost. The story returns with all the scope of the first three kicked up a notch. We get a bit of added perspective on top of the already brilliant characterization, we get to see where things suggested in the earlier books progress, and we finish with an ending slightly frustrating but totally appropriate to the series. Full marks! A great book!

This is one of the books I keep going back to -- and it never disappoints. I think the reason is that love and honor are concepts that can inform our daily lives as well as those of fictional characters. Also -- it's just a great story! Ms Cherryh -- PLEASE WRITE ANOTHER! -- maybe Vanye and Morgaine arrive on Earth..........