Customer Reviews

Forgotten Truth (Truth, Book 3)

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

 

 

Forgotten Truth, the third book in the Truth series, has little to do with the first two books in the series. The plot that dominated those two books was resolved at the end of the second book, and Hidden Truth has the characters pick up with their lives and then throws unrelated challenges at them. It is really more of a sequel than part of a compact series that follows one main plotline throughout.

In Forgotten Truth, Alissa, the main character of the Truth novels, is transported back in time approximately four hundred years to a time when the keep is thriving instead of abandoned. There, she meets Masters she has only heard about and encounters a much younger version of Lodesh, the not-quite-ghost she awakened in the second book.

Though it does not really continue the plot of First Truth and Hidden Truth, Forgotten Truth is still engaging and something that fans of the previous two novels will likely enjoy. Here, the reader gets to see Alissa mature some and become more confident in her abilities as both human and raku. Readers are also introduced to many new characters that they will, in a way already be familiar with from the first two books as Alissa meets the students, Keepers, and Masters of the past.

Cook does an admirable job weaving the plot, focusing mostly on Alissa and what she is learning and doing as she attempts both to find her way back to her time, but also giving time to Strell, Useless, and Lodesh as they try to figure out what happened to Alissa and how to get her back. The jumps from one time to another are never jarring, and they never leave the reader wondering too much, though they do leave some immediate things unresolved to keep interest. It is a difficult balance to maintain, and Cook does it well.

The returning characters in Forgotten Truth have mostly reached the point where they're rather stagnant and there is little development for any of them other than Alissa. They still have the depth that they had achieved in the prior novels, but they do not change much during the course of this one. However, there are several new characters introduced, and they are all also delightfully well-rounded, dynamic characters who are a lot of fun to get to know. It is the characters that Alissa meets in the past that keeps the book from becoming simply another "Lost in the wrong time" book.

Though the general plot has certainly been done before, Cook manages to keep it fresh and interesting through the characters and by tying all the events that Alissa experiences back into the stories and events from the previous two books. It isn't so much what happens that keeps it interesting, but more what the reader gets to see and who the reader gets to meet.

In many ways, Forgotten Truth is better and more exciting than certainly First Truth and to some extent Hidden Truth. Anyone who enjoyed the first two books in the series will like this one and newcomers to the series won't find themselves quite as lost as they would starting with the second book, though they will miss a lot of what is being referred to.

Life is never dull when Alissa, a human Master who can turn into a raku, is around. She is the hope that the Master line will be able to go on and she is studying under the auspices of the Hold's Master Talon-Toeca, otherwise known as Useless. Also living at the hold is the commoner Strell who is forbidden to court Alissa, and Lodesh, a keeper who four centuries ago was the warden of the now abandoned city of Ese' Nowoer. The revived ghost also wants to court Alissa.

One day while Alissa is studying with the Master, she accidentally transports herself back four hundred years into the past when the hold was filled with keepers. Master Redal-Sam tries to make her transition into the past easier for he fears she will not be able to return to her present. Alissa turns the hold into a madhouse as she makes one mistake after another. Eventually, she thinks of it as her second home but she can't forget the love she feels for Strell who is willing to do whatever is necessary to bring her back to her own time.

This is the third "truth" in this enchanting series (see FIRST TRUTH and HIDDEN TRUTH) and it is a delightful blend of romance, action and wizardry. Dawn Cook will appeal to readers of Robin McKinley and Patricia Briggs, authors who write romantic fantasies for adult entertainment as well as for high school students. There are many threads left dangling in this novel so that readers know there is at least one more truth to follow.

Harriet Klausner

While shifting from her raku form to her human form, Alissa is caught up in a mistake, accidentally sending her self in to the past. She soon realizes has been somehow transport nearly four hundred years back when the Hold was filled with students, Masters and Keepers, not to mention when a certain blonde, green-eyed Keeper was around, pining after her affection. Despite the fact that life was in a Hold filled with people was great, Alissa cannot forget about her life back in her own time with her love, Strell. Yet Alissa finds it hard to leave when she is constantly surrounded be friendly people of both the Hold and Ese' Nawoer. If she can't return to her own time, Alissa risks turning feral forever. Filled with romance, suspense and even more magic than before, Forgotten Truth is a fitting sequel to First Truth and Hidden Truth. :o)

I have overall enjoyed these books - but I have to say it's like "SF/fantasy - lite" - the story is pleasant and interesting enough to keep me moving ahead (or skimming, as the case may be). But the romance/relationship part of the story is painfully slow. I mean there's more action happening at the local high school. It's hard to beieve that the adults in the book, no matter how modest their culture - lack passion or...uh...at least temptation.
The first 3 books could be - I think- easily edited into one book thus far. I'm barely hanging in there but I will probably buy next book.

How disappointed I was to finish this book and realize I would have to wait for the next. I picked up the first in the series after reading the reviews and recommendations through amazon.com and have no regrets.

In this third installment, Alissa, our main character, is still struggling with flying lessons as a ruku and is practicing her skills as a master. Unfortunately, during one practice of tripping the lines, she is transported back hundreds of years in time. Back to when the castle was teaming with people. She meets new friends and interesting new characters, but also one old friend.

She tries despirately to get back especially when she realizes she is loosing control to Beast and soon realizes if she does not figure a way home, she could become Beast permentely.

What I like the most of Cook's book is her witty characters. I laughed aloud several times from their antics. Especially in the end. Just remember this: "meat" and "I only need one night," and think of me. I'm smiling again just thinking about it.

This book was a very detailed, well written book. However, I bought it on impulse at a bargain bookstore before I even knew there were books preceeding it, so for a while I was kind of lost. I understood the main plot, because they go over it slowly. I am looking foward to reading the first two and any others in the series. I liked the ending, even though it was abrupt, because I know there will be anothre one after that.
This is a really good book, Dawn Cook's characters seem real, and you just want to keep reading. However, make sure you read the first two first, you won't be totally lost, but it'll take a while to understand the plot.

All the characters we love with a twist in the story I was not expecting. It was very gripping, touching and facinating at the same time. I read this one much faster than the previous books in the series because I had to know what would happen. I loved it."

I love this series.... I had to order a replacement book but the cover doesn't match!! I know it is petty, but if you collect series you typically want the cover that matches the rest. instead of the proud girl with straight blonde hair with a raku in the back ground... i got a pouty woman with curly hair wear a ball gown (A BALL GOWN!!!!!!!!! ugh!!!) oh come on at least hold true to the series... this is going in the garage sale box as soon as i find a cover that matches the rest! its a good series... but if you already have some of them, you'll be disappointed in the art work on the new covers

Loved this one! It answered so many questions and had such great parts with the characters! Her books just hooked me in and held me till I finished them. These are great teen reads. Loved it.

I like these books - a good read. Not something I would read a second time,but very fun the first time. They are really quite safe too.