Customer Reviews

Fortress of Dragons

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This series had the potential to be great but after finishing the concluding volume, 'Fortress of Dragons', I feel very frustrated. The concept of Tristen being a reborn Sihhe opened the door to a ton of possibly great storylines but instead Ms Cherryh chose to have him do basically the same thing in every book; that being Cefwyn struggles with mundane political machinations while Tristen fights a big Shadow. The end of the book is horrible. None of the interesting plot lines are even remotely resolved. Does Tristen become High King? Will he have to fight his best friend, Cefwyn, because of that? Will Tristen learn the origins of the Sihhe? What's the significance of Tarien's baby, Elfwyn? Is he the reborn last Sihhe King of the same name? If so will he fight Tristen for the Kingship? Who knows and I can think of a couple hundred more questions like those. The basic concept of the Fortress Series could've allowed it to rival the best that fantasy has to offer but now it's ended without living up to anything even near it's potential. It's just sad.

I've waited a year for this book and was not disappointed. This is a wonderful conclusion to the series. It contains intrigue, adventure, romance, loyal friends. Many questions are answered, and we learn more about Tristram, Cefwyn, Ninevrese, and are introduced to new characters. Ms. Cherryh's strongest points as a writer are her ability to develop characters so well that I feel as though I know them. This, of course, means that I care about what happens to them. Along with her character development, she also keeps you in suspense about their fate. This book, like the previous 3 in the series is no exception. I kept having to resist the urge to turn to the back and read the end. Do resist that urge. Getting there is well worth it with this book.

Having bought and read this entire series as it was published, I'd come to expect Cherryh's attention to trivial minutia and insignificant detail. What I didn't expect was that the conclusion of what has been hyped to be a Grand Fantasy would boil down to such unworthy things.

That this book would have been reduced to perhaps 20 pages if the main characters had ever decided to act with conviction against other characters whom they knew to be enemies and dangerous to entire nations and dynasties has become a cliche; that Cherryh has been reduced to using such artificial conflict to create drama is merely sad. Her characters are always conflicted; in previous books, they were at least conflicted about matters worth being conflicted by.

Cherryh's science fiction has always been superior (vastly superior, in this case) to her dabblings in fantasy; as a fan of this author, I can only recommend interested readers purchase "Cyteen" or "Rimrunners" to truly see how good a writer this woman can be.

"Fortress of Dragons" is a hurried, disappointing end to a series that showed greater promise than was delivered. Too many questions were left unanswered, and the answers that were supplied were more often smoke-and-mirrors hand-waving than substantive, thought-out (and thought-provoking) conclusions.

That these characters are able to go on to provide more stories is not in doubt; that they should is the real worry. Judging from "Fortress of Dragons", it's well past time to say goodbye to Tristen, Ylesuin, and Elwynor forever...and high time to wonder where the sequel to "Cyteen" might be.

I have never written one of these before, so bear with me. I have read hundreds of fantasy novels, and out of all of those, the Fortress series is one of the best series I have ever come across. I read the first two novels when they were in paperback. I was hooked! I then did something I have never done before, I bought the third book in hardback. I could not wait for it to come out in paperback. I finished each of these books in only 2 days. After finishing the third book, I ordered Fortress Of Dragons before it was even published. I loved it when I finally got it. However, there were some problems I did not like about the fourth book. Cefwyn was becoming a floor mat to be walked all over. I wanted to hit him in the head and say "You are the King, if you know someone is plotting against you DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! If you want to be with certain people DO IT! " I loved Tristen like I have always loved him(he is the only "main" character to me). However, I do not feel he was challenged, magically, at all. I wanted to see a huge battle, both physically, and magically, for all to see. I wanted to see him grow both magically and politically. I wanted to see him become High King (after all, the best Kings are the ones who do not feel the are good enough). There was also many, many questions from all the way back to the first book, that have been left unanswered.

What was Mauryl's purpose when Shaping Tristen? Is Mauryl dead? Who and what is Owl? Who and what were the Sihhe? Are they dead or just in the "grey place". Where did they come from? Was Tristen Barrakketh? Why did his past not Unfold to him? Is he going to become High King(I hope so)? How is everyone going to take that? What is going to become of Cefwyn's two sons? Can, and will Tristen fall in love and have children? If so who would she be?

If I knew this was not going to be the last book I would give this book 5 stars. Ms. Cherryh, PLEASE write more books. This series has so many options on where it could go. Think of the POSSIBILITIES! I love reading a series over and over again, but I do not want to come away from it every time feeling like it is not done. THIS SERIES IS NOT FINISHED!

I have this whole series, and fortunately re-read all three not too long ago. I have an elephant's memory, and generally don't have trouble remembering who did what to whom when. In this particular case, though, read the several page plot summary. Really.

Cherryh does love baroque plots. This one, though, verges on roccoco.

When a character thinks about a situation or circumstance, they don't think just of the surface. The character thinks of iterations and implications and alternatives and ... you get the idea? Read the summary, even if you've read all three previous books.

The book itself is excellent. The prose is nice and clean, the book moves along at a great pace, while not over-running itself. In the past few books she's published, Cherryh has managed to overcome her tendency to lose the reader in the last couple chapters with unclear action. Yeah, the denoument involves a lot of fast moves, sometimes moving contrary to each other, but you're clear on who's doing what.

There is one persistent fault of diction I have noted consistently through the past few books. For some reason, Cherryh or her proof-reader is using "principle" for "principal." Small, but if you notice it once, you keep noticing it.

Good book, good series, but read the plot summary.

A very neat attempt at wrapping all of the threads of this series together. Any time I finish a related group of books & feel cranky cause there aren't going to be any more & I WANT to know more about them - well, that is a success. Twists and turns of the plot delighted me. They also insured that I didn't go through the book at a breakneck pace. You can't. You'll miss something. (I bought this book on 5/3 & finished it on 5/5.) I'll start the second reading on 5/7. Tristan will delight me with his growth and choices. Cefwin's manuvering through the politcs of his court will get me thinking about Beacon Hill. The religious intrigues are not so pronounced but will still be there, as will the politics of the women's court. Something that is often overlooked. The growth of the lesser (never minor) characters will add flavor and bite. There is a depth in here that is very pleasing. If you haven't read this series - START WITH THE FIRST! (Fortress in the Eye of Time) They are all keepers & worthy of re-reading.

I just reread this and have, maybe, a bit more sophistication as a reader now.

I wanted to change my rating to a 5 but couldn't.

There was more than enough information about Barrakketh and the Sihhe; more might have spoiled the air of mystery. There was also plenty of physical action (the book immediately preceding was a bit slow physically, but this one was not).

I still wanted to see Tristen pushed more to the wall, but I have a greater appreciation of the danger to him in the final battle. His identity was at risk, and he held onto it.

I wonder if there really is, as rumored, a sequel on the way. It does seem that, of all the potential royal ranks for claimants to hold, that of "High King" snuck into the picture quietly at the very end of DRAGONS. I would like to see Tristen challenged in different ways in a sequel (we already know he can control lines and wards and the strength of his love and faithfulness. We need to see something new) and perhaps challenged more painfully. He keeps regarding human relationships, particularly romantic ones, with a sort of outsider wistfulness. Could something happen with that? And could there be some rediscovery of the lost four Sihhe that wouldn't be an anticlimax of too much information? I trust Ms. Cherryh to accomplish that, if anyone can. And it does seem, per her website, that there might be a sequel coming.

I don't think the cover art of this series serves it well; it's sort of stodgy and in at least one cover Tristen looks like he's modeled on Andy Garcia or someone. I think it would be better served by something more mystical, Pre-Raphaelite art or Thomas Canty. Not that the publisher cares what I think, but, well.

Now the old text begins...

This book takes its good qualities from Cherryh's excellent use of language -- few set a creepier scene -- and her depth of worldbuilding, which creates a fascinating setting. I very much enjoyed reading it. However, it had flaws. Firstly, there was too little physical action; the balance was tipped too far toward the otherworldly. Secondly, I was disappointed to discover that many of my questions from earlier in the series are never answered; the Sihhe remain a mystery. Most of all, I was sorry to see that Tristen was never really challenged. His enemy toys with him a little, but I wanted to see him tormented, forced into recollection of his life as Barrakketh, ripped apart by the revelation of his real nature, or at the very LEAST physically injured. More melodrama, please! I wish Ms. Cherryh would do to her characters what Barbara Hambly has recently been doing to hers.

(OK, I was a sadistic little beast five years ago. I still think Cherryh pulls the punches just a bit, but a more patient read revealed a better book than I initially gave it credit for.)

This series is verry well written, However the last book leaves you wanting another. The conclution closes up the primary plot rather neatly, but leaves the characters hanging.

I believe this series is comparable to the lord of the rings series, that is, if the hobbit was 700 pages long. This follows the same path, a first book where the lesser enemy is defeated, then a trilogy following it where the full extent of evil is revealed.

A must read for anyone who likes fantisy, but start with the beginning of the series!

I was devoted to the other three books; Fortress in the Eye of Time made me fall in love with Tristen and Fortress of Eagles and Fortress of Owls made me fear for his destiny. By the way--what WAS Tristen's destiny? The final battle was a bit painless and didn't reflect Tristen's growing power; I also did not sense any action of Tristen's that defined him as a Shadow-Lord, no matter what he thinks. Cefwyn and Tristen were face to face for a whole page, and nothing between them was resolved for good. Threads of this story are still stragling behind it and I finished the series furious that I didn't know anything more about Tristen than I had before. So although I loved the series, and the characters, and the story, I was more than frusterated with the "hurried" ending and challenge the author (who is, and has always been, my favorite)to FINISH the story of Tristen, Cefwyn, and Ninevrise.

Fortress of Dragons (2000) is the fourth fantasy novel of the Fortress series, following Fortress of Owls. In the previous volume, the Southron lords and troops converged on Henas'amef at Midwinter. Tristen hosted the Southron lords and sent hot food to their troops encamped in the meadows. As they celebrated, Auld Syes came avisiting to Tristen's Hall.

Later, he sensed someone out in the cold and rode out on Petelly to discover the Aswydd twins huddled in the snow on the way to Henas'amef. Tarien was very pregnant. Tristen put Tarien on his horse and Orien told him their story as they led Petelly towards town. Raiders had burned the nunnery, but the twins had escaped. When their horse ran away, they had continued onwards back to their home.

In Geulemara, the wedding of Luriel and Rusyn was underway, but then someone murdered the Patriarch. The assassin had decorated the corpse with Bryaltic amulets, obviously to divert suspicions to foreigners. In the ensuing riots, Ninevrise's Bryaltine priest was lynched and his shrine was burned.

In this novel, in Amafel, Tristen takes Orien and Tarien Aswydd back to Henas'amef. Once they reach the Zeide, Orien insists that they occupy their former rooms, but Tristen doesn't want these sorceresses to have such access. Besides, he is presently living in these quarters. Instead, he sends them to Cefwyn's old rooms and then asks Cook to attend Tarien, for she has much more experience with pregnancies than himself. He also seeks advice from Master Emuin and, for a change, receives some pertinent comments.

Uwen estimates that Tarien is about seven or eight months into the pregnancy and Cook agrees with that opinion. Orien says that Tarien is carrying Cefwyn's illegitimate son. Tristen also learns that the child is male and a wizard. Sedlyn -- Paisi's Gran -- is assigned the task of attending Tarien as the midwife.

Tristen calls the Southron Lords and all available Amefin nobles into council. He announces the arrival of the Aswydd twins and recounts their tale of the burning of the Anwyfar shrine. The Amefin lords are not too surprised at the involvement of Captain Essan. After much discussion, Tristen orders his gathered forces to cross the river and camp in Elwynor.

Emuin writes a report on these changed circumstances and Tristen adds his own notes to Cefwyn and Ninevrise. The note to Cefwyn is just a letter, but the note to Ninevrise can be read only by someone with the Gift. Indeed, Tristen can update this information as needed.

Crissand is beginning to respond to magic and wizardry. First he is driven to leave the Zeide without his guards and without Tristen's permission -- although not without his knowledge -- and then he loses himself in the snow. After an encounter with Elwynim rebels, Crissand returns to the Zeide only slightly wounded, but quite confused. Later, he hears voices near the old mews and discovers a way through the gray space to Ilefinian.

Tristen informs him of the influence of magical patterns and currents upon those with the Gift and warns him to beware external forces. Not that his advice ever had much influence on Crissand's actions when it came to protecting Tristen. Indeed, Crissand has much the same relationship to Tristen as Tristen does to Cefwyn; they both act in the same protective manner toward their lord and friend.

In Guelessar, after a very short mourning period for the previous Patriarch, the new Patriarch marries Luriel of Murandys to Rusyn of Panys. This time, the free ale is not quite as strong and certainly not as plentiful. The ceremony is completed without flaw and the newly married couple follow the King and Royal Consort out of the Quinaltine. Unfortunately, Lord Ryssand rides into the square just as the newlyweds exit the shrine.

In this story, Cefwyn frustrates Ryssand's attempt to disrupt the war effort by calling for an immediate movement of his barons to the river. Shortly thereafter, he receives the letters from Emuin and Tristen about his forthcoming paternity. Then Ninevrise tells him that she too is pregnant with a boy. Cefwyn retires to the Guelesfort shrine for meditation and fasting and then immediately leads his troops toward the river.

These four volumes conclude this story arc. Tristen learns more about his enemies and so does Cefwyn. Ninevrise learns that she is not carrying the firstborn child of Cefwyn. Various enemies get their just deserts. And Tristen finally resolves his role as the High King, but not in the way that you probably expected.

More is to follow, maybe even another multivolume set. Fortress of Ice, however, takes place almost two decades later.

Although the author never says so, one wonders if the five Sihhe Lords have any relationship to the five unnamed gods of the Quinaltine religion. The Sihhe would have been regarded as godlike in the ancient days of the Guelenfolk. Moreover, the Sihhe and the Guelenfolk both came from the northern lands. We will probably never know the answer, but think of the shock such knowledge would give to the Quinaltine priests!

Highly recommended for Cherryh fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high magic, methodical wizardry and brotherly love.

-Arthur W. Jordin