The Twisted Citadel follows The Serpent Bride as the second book of the DarkGlass Mountain series.
This series is combination of three previously published and decidedly separate worlds (Axis/Wayfarer series, Beyond the Hanging Wall, and Threshold). Only the craziest (or most ambitious) writer would want to mesh so many different worlds, characters, and story arcs… it seemed like a recipe for disaster. And yet, it works.
Douglass writes with such skill, and in such detail, that if I hadn't previously known that she had merged her worlds together, I would have accepted the DarkGlass Mountain series as a stand-alone work. Most readers should be readily able to absorb the new and "old" characters and appreciate them in their own right.
The Twisted Citadel follows Ishbel, Maximilian, Isaiah, and Axis as they prepare for the ultimate confrontation with the mysterious being released from DarkGlass Mountain in the first book. The characters undergo massive growth, all for the better. Ishbel is no longer the uncaring, selfish priestess of the coil. Instead, she embraces her power and heritage, and comes into her own as a woman. Maxel doesn't disappoint either; we learn more about the nuances of his personality- like forethought and leadership, and he is, as always, very likable. Isaiah's growth is forced, but necessary. Axis is as obstinate as always; he is acclimating to life again, and looks to another for comfort. (Poor Azhure… but we all knew it was coming.)
Several cliff-hangers from the first book are resolved - the Weeper and his story are revealed, along with the mysterious LealFast nation, and the result of Ravenna's fixation on Maxel. Politics and war take up a large chunk of the plot, but the character-driven scenes make the complex maneuvering palatable. Characters previously on the backburner come to the forefront here - Ravenna, Isardle, Armat, and others all bring intrigue, betrayal, and depth to the book.
The Twisted Citadel demonstrates McIntosh’s trademark gore, taboo, and boundary pushing. In There’s incest, graphic torture, rape, massacre, and despair. To her credit, Douglass does temper her most graphic writing with lots of catharsis. Only a master could make me like (and feel compassion for!) such a despicable woman as Salome.
The tragedy of Maximillian and Ishbel’s star-crossed love frustrated me in the last book. I thought we had another Faraday on our hands, and I was ready to be furious. However, I enjoyed and heartily approve of the direction this pair took with their relationship at the end of Citadel. I’ll stop there so I don’t ruin the ending for anyone; except to say that such a rebellious and courageous action is proof of an exciting third volume to come.
Overall, I believe Citadel does exactly what it was intended to do. Characters are moving, realigning, growing, adjusting. This is a great follow up and it functions well as a middle novel. It provides hours of not-to-be-put-down entertainment and makes the reader impatient for the next installment. At the end of the day, I think that’s what any author could consider a job well done. I can't wait for the next one to come out! ( )

http://books.moonsoar.com/archives/20... ( )

I enjoyed this book almost as much as the serpent bride. I think this is Sara Douglass' best series yet. I thought the ending was the awesome sauce. Ishbelle rocks my socks. Some of the reviews I have read about this series have been negative but most of the negative reviewers havn't read the Tencendor books. I think if you truly want to understand this series you have to read the books that lead up to them. ( )

The Twisted Citadel is second in Sara Douglass' "Darkglass Mountain" trilogy, a trilogy of books that act as a capstone series. Characters and locations from several of Ms. Douglass' works and series are brought into this tale, second in the story of the rise of a power called Infinity, and the diverse forces arrayed against it.

As I have read neither The Serpent Bride, nor any of the previous books that tie into this volume, I have stepped into this milieu, this series, and this world in medias res. Although I found some technical aspects of the novel somewhat unbelievable (the size of armies in a medieval environment being just one--hundreds of thousands of men make an unwieldy army even in modern times), I felt that the characterization and plot flowed well. Too often, middle volumes in a trilogy tread water, with no change in the basic frame of the conflicts introduced in the first book. Not so here. Even without reading the Serpent Bride, it was clear to me that by the end of the book, the "game board" of the conflict changes, and changes radically. I appreciate a volume and a plot where things that matter occur to the characters.

Less successful is the melodramatic elements present in the series. It might be the fault of not reading the Serpent Bride, or previous books set in this world, but I did not feel that some of the characters actions and motivations to be realistic. While in some cases they were definitely not rational, they suffered the additional fault of not coming off well to me.

In short, though, I would not recommend readers follow in my footsteps and attempt to start Douglass' writing with this book. It's clear she has excellent writing skills, but I suspect that beginning with one of her previous books or series would be a more satisfactory reading experience. However, for those who have followed her work to this point, I think that they will be more than happy with this latest volume from the Australian author. ( )