[RRM]⇒ [PDF] Fortress of Dragons Fortress Series C J Cherryh 9780061020445 Books

Fortress of Dragons Fortress Series C J Cherryh 9780061020445 Books

Download As PDF : Fortress of Dragons Fortress Series C J Cherryh 9780061020445 Books

Fortress of Dragons Fortress Series C J Cherryh 9780061020445 Books

Tristen and Cefwyn seem surrounded by traitors as each struggles to hold their part of the kingdom. Separated by hundreds of miles but bound by a link that ties them as brothers they fight against enemies domestic and foreign. Magics and armies will clash before the ending is reached. Four long books in the making Fortress of Dragons reaches a final conclusion and one that satisfies deeply. One reviewer said that Cherryh's plot advancement was glacial. I would agree with leisurely or thoughtful but suggest relaxing as my preferred descriptor. The buildup carries the plot, when something happens the reader knows why and all the details that lead up to it. To my relief battles are merely the culmination of a long series of encounters between the various protagonists and are almost perfunctory rather that slash fests reveling in gore. The Fortress series highlights a skilled writer coming into her own style.


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Fortress of Dragons Fortress Series C J Cherryh 9780061020445 Books Reviews

I have a most enjoyable one week plus reading the Fortress series. Fortress in the Eye of Time, the first book, was simply exquisite. Fortress of Eagle and Fortress of Owl were slow paced but the great characterization more than made up for it. I just love Tristen, who is one of the most lovable and appealing heroes I have come across in fantasies. Tristen's innocence, his joy in every revelation in nature and the world he is summoned to, his discovery of men and his growing love for his friends is beautifully written. I just have to know what happen to him next. Initially Fortress of Dragons seems a worthy addition to the series until I come to the last one hundred pages. I am just frustrated and disappointed. How could Fortress of Dragons be the final book of the series ? There are too many questions with unsatisfactory answers. What exactly is Tristen's purpose ? Who exactly is Tristen ? Lord of Shadows? The prophesized High King? An ancient magical being reincarnated? How could the writer gives such a vague ending to this wonderfully appealing character ? Also, what about Cefwyn's two sons ? Do they have roles to play in Tristen's life ? The last two pages of the book, so called spotlights, detailing a letter exchange between the two dear friends, Tristen and Cefwyn, just makes me scream for a sequel. I fervently hope Cherryh will continue with the series and do justice to Tristen and his friends. Cherryh, please don't destroy the series with such a vague ending.
As I said in my reviews of the first two books in the series (Fortress in the Eye of Time and Fortress of Eagles), the series started out very slow with long boring, drawn out process of Tristen's development. The plot plodded, the main character was often confused, ignorant and makes many mistakes, and enduring a book and a half of this, makes for very frustrating, slow going. It took me years to read the first book, with many stops and starts and walking away and coming back. I finally forced myself, litterally forced myself to read the forst book and a half.

Then, half way through book two, things got good. Really good! Our main character Tristen found himself so to speak, though he didn't see or understand himself in full, he was functioning, making decisions, leading and ruling and taking men into battle. He was pitting wits against advesaries, mortal and not, trying to decipher signs and memories and knowledge. There was policital intrigue, social manuvering, betrayals and suspicions and alliences. The story was engrossing, action packed, and blossoming. I litterally couldn't put it down! I stayed up way to late many nights. I was so glad I'd pushed through the begining, because now, I thought, now finally the series is as good as I know Cherryh can write.

But then, there is this book. It is once again a return to some very slow going. I can't say it was as slow or boring at the first one. It was more on par with the second for me, some action, but not enough. The end especially was slow. The very end got interesting again, but a big part of the middle and end was an endless stream of marching, and confusion, and uncertainty with a lot of internal dialogue - should I do this, or this, or go here, or there, if I do then this happens, if I don't that happens, what is my master doing, what is my wife doing, what is my friend doing, who is my allies/enemies . . . on and on.

And the writing in the second half just decreased in quality. I have always loved C.j. Cherry, her characters are memorable and unigue and real, her story lines tight and her writing minimalistic but still vibrant and descriptive. The last part of this book, however, just falls flat. We are told things rather than shown, description is sparse and I often got confused when anything magical or unearthly was going on because the descriptions were non-existant. And, we go from too much internal dialogue to nearly none, and I had no idea what characters were thinking/feeling or why they did some things. Without more description/internal dialogue, somethings just came out of nowhere or out of left field. I felt the characters were doing/saying things that weren't in character and had no basis in plot, reason, experience or logic. I felt like Cherry ran out of patience and just wanted to be done with it. I have never gotten such an impression from any of Cheryh's works.

I wasn't utterly useless and I can't say I'm sorry I read it. I can say that in my opinion, it definately wasn't up to Cherryh's great talant level, nor was it a completely satisfying read.
My advice to anyone contemplating reading the Fortress series is this just read Fortress in the Eye of Time as a stand-alone story. It was a great book. Having struggled through the rest of them finally, I have to say that books 2-4 (Eagles, Owls, Dragons) were largely a waste of time. The pacing is unbearably slow, very little happens at all, characters are introduced who will never be fully developed, and the climax of the war in Fortress of Dragons (three books in the making) is nowhere near as exhilarating as the ending of Fortress in the Eye of Time.

It hurts me to say these things. I love C.J. Cherryh as an author, and have never disliked her work before. But ugh, when I think of the nights I struggled to stay awake reading this dreck, I can only wish I had those hours of my life back.

I am going to read Fortress of Ice out of sheer stubbornness, because I have come this far and hope she redeems herself somewhat in the final book. But I hold out little hope, faithful readers.
Tristen and Cefwyn seem surrounded by traitors as each struggles to hold their part of the kingdom. Separated by hundreds of miles but bound by a link that ties them as brothers they fight against enemies domestic and foreign. Magics and armies will clash before the ending is reached. Four long books in the making Fortress of Dragons reaches a final conclusion and one that satisfies deeply. One reviewer said that Cherryh's plot advancement was glacial. I would agree with leisurely or thoughtful but suggest relaxing as my preferred descriptor. The buildup carries the plot, when something happens the reader knows why and all the details that lead up to it. To my relief battles are merely the culmination of a long series of encounters between the various protagonists and are almost perfunctory rather that slash fests reveling in gore. The Fortress series highlights a skilled writer coming into her own style.