Fortress of Eagles

This is a more interior book than the first volume but the series does continue to visit territories not often covered in Fantasy. Tristen is a tortured hero, and Cherryh's take on him is intelligent. What does a creature not sure of its prior existence, or even the reason for that existence, think about? The usual fantasy book tries not to visit the interface between magic and religion, often left safely vague, but CJC brings it out. I'm up for the next three volumes at this point.

More coherent plot that the first book in this series. I find Cherryh's prose to be a bit hard to follow when I first start one of her books, but once I get into it, the prose flows right along. Tristen continues to be a puzzle to himself and to the reader, and Cefwyn needs to decide whether to be himself or his father or grandfather. Just when he seems to have come to a decision, events push him to react differently.

The little things in the book were so effective--Tristen's return to the garden near the end of the book, for example, or the recurring role of pigeons.

Looking forward to the next book.

Continuing the adventures and life of the magically summoned Tristen. It was thought that perhaps Mauryl's shaping was only aimed at Hausfel but as Tristen is still here after his great battle, maybe Mauryl had other aims in mind.

Still armed with his sword of Truth and Illusion and the Edge to divide the two, Tristen learns a new word - Appearances. How important they are in the society of man and religion, even if somewhat ephemeral in nature. Fortress of Eagles covers a two week period after the Eye of Time, when the court with King Cefwyn has reconvened in the capital Guelmarra, but before the official wedding to his "foreign" bride the intelligent, beautiful and slightly sorcererous Nervaise. The dogmatic and conservative barons are show more not impressed and try every tactic to prevent this change in royal policy. Then lightening strikes the holy Quinaltine roof, and they have the lever they require. Tristen is sent on his own, to take charge of the province of Amefel. Can he cope, when he has never seen the falling of autumn leaves or snow in Winter?

Another good read from Cherryh, maybe not her best, but still gripping fantasy with questions about being human.

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After re-read feels very mid-series picking up after the great battle, but stopping before the details of the wedding. Split in narrative between Tristain and Cefwyn, the latter section when Tristen is re-learning to assert his new authority in Amefel is the better. show less

In a work of 450 some-odd pages the author immerses us for a fortnight in the intrigue, action, love, wizardry, and betrayal of the kingdom of Ylesuin. Excellent continuation of Fortress in the Eye of Time.

Tristan follows King Cefwyn back to the capital in Guelemara and gets mixed up in the political intrigues of the lords there who want to control Cefwyn and sabotage his marriage plans. Eventually Tristan has to be sent back to Amefel to become Lord there in order to stabilize things for things for Cefwyn. A disappointing book, which is almost all conversations and introspection about politics. It is well over 200 pages into the book before any kind of action takes place. The whole setting of Ylesuin does not really seem to offer anything new. Cherryh is a good enough writer that the book is not terrible, but after reading the first two books, there is not enough of interest to inspire me to read the rest of the books in the series.

Excellent series with well drawn characters the book sticks to rather than some of the meanwhile-back-at-the-ranch bouncing around some recently popular series undertake. Reading electronic edition free from library,.

It had periods of moving the action forward, but a whole lot of verbage that didn't seem to accomplish anything. I liked the first book, I hope the third is better.