Customer Reviews

The Son of Summer Stars (The Firebringer Trilogy, Bk. 3)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This, the last book in Meredith Ann Pierce's Firebringer Trilogy, is as spellbinding as the title suggests. The final part of Aljan's quest to reclaim the Hallow Hill for his people is awe-inspiring, with a stunning conclusion & many twists and turns as Aljan learns & attempts to come to terms with his partner Tek's origins and as the thread as of the unicorns intriguing history are intricately drawn together. The book, like its other 2 prequels is filled with legend, fantasy, magic & adventure and unforgettable characters such as Calydor, the star-strewn unicorn seer. The books of the trilogy are hard to find (it took me 3 years) and are well the effort & deserve much more recognition that they currently receive ... I am convinced that a film of this excellent trilogy is long overdue

In the last book in the "Firebringer" trilogy, (following "Birth of the Firebringer" and "Dark Moon"), we finally come to the event that the two previous books have been steadily building toward: the retaking of the unicorns' ancestral home from the treacherous wyverns. As the prophesied `Firebringer', Prince Alijan is looked to as the means of regaining their Hallow Hills and Jan is certainly up to the challenge. Having finally made peace with the marauding gryphons, and finding happiness in his beloved Tek and their twin children, Jan has readied his tribe to march out to their homelands and do battle.

But there is one matter of business not yet dealt with - that of Korr, the mad once-king of the unicorns. Knowing his father to hold a terrible secret, Jan vows its discovery and leaves the herd under the power of Tek whilst he chases his father across plains and deserts. It is here the story splits into two in order to follow two separate narratives (much as it did in "Dark Moon"), that of Jan's journey, and that of Tek's actions against the wyverns. Some readers may be surprised at the course the story takes, for in many ways Tek becomes the central figure of the action whilst Jan simply watches from afar, but this I believe pays credit to Meredith Ann Pierce's innovative take on the typical fantasy genre.

To have a fantasy novel without human characters is unusual enough, but even more so is Pierce's treatment of Jan's role as the "hero" of the books. His destined role as Firebringer is not one of violence or conquering, but of enlightenment, understanding and peace - and in fact his close relationship with the goddess Alma puts an almost religious spin on what is expected of him. Throughout the trilogy, his greatest achievements have nothing to do with battles or warfare, but with learning and accepting others, forging friendships with enemies (in particular the gryphon Illishar), exploring new worlds and destroying barriers and superstition that stood between his tribe and other cultures. Jan's experiences widen even further here, as he integrates himself among the plain-dwelling unicorns and then amidst the magnificent dragons across the desert.

And of course there is the matter of Korr's secret. Although Korr himself sadly becomes a rather one-dimensional villain by this stage, the knowledge he carries certainly packs a punch. Perceptive readers will have undoubtedly unravelled Jan's mysterious past before the denouncement is made, (as well as the second twist that is still to come), but it effectively shakes up several relationships within the herd and brings new perspective to many of the actions and thoughts of individuals in the previous books. (Although Pierce makes an odd move in introducing another unicorn couple that seem to have the same dilemma as Jan and Tek - although to this couple, the situation is not a dilemma at all. However, since the problem is resolved in an entirely different way for Tek and Jan, one has to wonder why Pierce includes this other couple at all).

As usual, Pierce's strength is in her visual style and world-making techniques. We are treated to a beautiful retelling of the creation of the sun and moon by the goddess Alma, as well as the culture and lifestyles of the plain dwelling unicorns. But Pierce outdoes herself in the creation of the Smoking Mountains and the lives of the dragons that dwell there - it is imaginative writing at its very best. As for characterisation, Jan and Tek are as strong as ever, as is the mystical Jah-Lila, who also acts as the narrator of the story. Sadly Dagg and Ryvenna are relegated to the background and an interesting bond that grows between Jan's little sister Lell and the proud Illishar is established, but not taken anywhere. However Jan's mother Ses - who has been a mere cipher in previous books - is now given a poignant and memorable story of her own.

The "Firebringer" trilogy is not Pierce's best (that honour belongs to the "Darkangel" trilogy) but it stands as a beautifully written fantasy series that transcends the standard expectations of the genre. Especially relevant is Pierce's treatment of the unicorns themselves; in a world of cutsey portrayals, tacky figurines and various shades of the colour pink, Pierce gives the unicorns back some of their past dignity - as noble, fierce and even dangerous creatures, *not* as "My Little Pony" version.

These books are the most incredible, fabulous, wonderful unicorn books ever written. Pierce's unicorns are fighters, not dull wimpy little maiden-chasing white unicorns of lore, but strong warriors that come in all colors and sizes.

The plot is ingenious, and the dark secret Korr holds will hold you till the end. With lush description and astounding plot twists, this excellent conclusion to the Firebringer series is so beautifully written it nearly made me cry. Jan is the ultamite hero.

This series is without a doubt the best portrayl of unicorns ever written. If you feel at ALL for unicorns, this book is ESSENTIAL. Forget about all the other so called "unicorn" books you've read or heard about, these are what you are looking for. This is the real thing. This blows all other author's interpretions of unicorns far away in its uniqueness and wonderful, unforgettable characters and places. Fantastic. Beyond description.

I have searched libraries for this book, and when I finally got my hands on it, I couldn't put it down. I read it straight through, no stops. I enjoyed it very much, the events leading to the final battle were spellbinding! I fell in love with the whole trilogy all over again. The plot was excellent, the writing was wonderful, and this book will capture any imagination.

Once I picked up the first book in this series, I couldn't put it down. I was a matter of days before I got the third one. This is a fabulous sequel to "The Birth of the Firebringer" and "Dark Moon". The story of how Jan finally drove the secret out of his father, Korr, and how he discovers his and Tek's true identity is shocking. It left me thinking for months. This is truly the best book I have ever read, and a worthy sequel to the previous books.

I thought this was a wonderful sequel to the Firebringer Trilogy! It had some wonderful plot twists tha weren't expected and it kept up with all the other characters and introduced new ones. I consider the Firebringer Trilogy my very books (among others) and if you are a unicorn lover you will love this book too. I almost wish there were another book to this exciting trilogy!

The Son of the Summer Stars is the third, and most shocking of the entire series, and like this one Weird Al song----everything you know is wrong... The truth tho the beautiful mare Tek's past, the secret to Korr's madness, and the conclusion to the 400 year long war with the wyverns is all in this book. I only wish that someone would re-print the trilogy, so that Today's children, so enamoured with "Harry Potter" (bleehhh...) could get a chance to know the fire that is the legend of the firebringer... P.S. There is a firebringer fan club, the IFAS, that you can join, and we would love some new members.....

The trilogy ends on the best book, wherein the unicorns finally take the war to the wyverns in an all-out battle to reclaim their ancestral lands, and Jan at last confronts his father and the secret of his birth, and Tek's parentage finally come to light. The excitement stays at a high level, even though Pierce makes the odd move of having Jan observe most of the action through a seeing pool shown to him by a dragon. Tek rises now to become the co-hero of the series, and she actually does more in the story than Jan does. Two problems do bother the book and keep it from being an absolute masterpiece. First, the two "surprise" revelations aren't surprising at all. Pierce draws out the suspense without realizing that most readers have figured it out many chapters ago with all her heavy-handed foreshadowing. Second, Pierce relies too much on descriptive phrases rather than proper names to identify characters: 'pied mare' instead of Tek, 'amber filly' instead of Lell. This reached occasionally aggravating levels. Meredith, it is okay to use the name more than once in the same paragraph!

Nonetheless, this is a wonderful, great fantasy for all-ages, and a terrific finale to an excellent series.

This book brings us back to the magic and adventure present in the first novel, but missed in the second. Aljan is back in his proper settings and rallying his people to retake the Hallow Hills. Unfortunately, mad Korr has fled the vale and is wreaking havoc on Jan's newly wrought alliances. Jan tracks the mad king down to learn his terrible secret. However, we the readers learn that the terrible secret isn't so terrible and you sit there thinking 'uh, hello Jan. Figure it out already!' That is the reason I've given this book four stars rather than five. Jan's just a little slow figuring things out even though we've been given plenty of clues. But this is a wonderful conclusion and I'm glad that after the second book Pierce managed to recapture the feeling of the first.

WOW! You HAVE to read this series. This is by far the bestsequel a person can write. This book will hold you in suspence as Jandiscovers the heart wrenching secrete Koor has been hiding, his journey to the dragon world to find his answers and the battel to reclaim the the "land of the unicorns" which had been stolen by the wrivryns. This is a MUST. If you have ever thought about unicorns but just aren't sure.. READ THIS SERIES! It will have you spellbound. This is one series you can read over and over and never get tired of. A superb work.