Tomes of Spellcasting--Fortress of Owls, by C.J. Cherryh

Tomes of Spellcasting

Welcome to the land of mystery, where the impossible is possible, and the improbable the reality. Join me as I investigate worlds filled with magic and meet the souls that wield this wondrous powers.

W A R N I N G !

This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.

That said, on to the review!

Title: Fortress of Owls
Author: C.J. Cherryh
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Paperback
Copyright Date: 1999

Tristen has returned to Amefel, to take up the reins of power and rule there in the name of his beloved king. But it is a land beleaguered on all sides and from within by opposing powers and forces. For while his special, unique heritage has earned him the love and loyalty of the people of Amefel--and through them a sort of respect from the people of Elwynor--it has alienated the nobles of the north, who distrust anything that is not implicitly and irrevocably tied to their church, that of the Quinalt faith. And while his ties to the king and his place in the south have gained him allies in the other southern lords, this too places him at odds with the greedy north. And as if that weren't problem enough, there are the power-hungry forces in Elwynor itself who, fallen as some are under the forces which once threatened Amefel and lost, are also striving to conquer a land with a crown not rightfully theirs to claim. And who knows what other problems the winter storms will bring to the beleagured southern land?

Fortress of Owls, as the third book in a four-book set, continues to shed more light on who and what Tristen is. More than that, though, it develops a story overflowing with plots and counterplots, crises and desperate solutions, and always with the promise of greater and more dangerous problems looming in the not-so-distant future. Small wonder, then, that the book is so difficult to put down once you get started.

I like the way Tristen grows into his responsibilities over the course of the novel. At the end of the previous book, he was just settling in at Amefel. Now we get to watch as he settles the problems in the capital, then works to stabilize the rest of the land. Not only that, we see how much more he values the safety of the land than do some of the northern lords. He denies the king's laws and rebuilds walls that were torn down ages ago, takes in and settles enemy refugees, and gathers the southern lords in preparation for a battle that may never take place--well, if the northern lords have their say, anyway. When you think about it, who is the more loyal, the lord who defies the law in the hopes of preventing an all-out war, or the lords who heed and obey the law so closely that all advantages remain with them?

Fortress of Owls is a joy to read, but only if you've read and understood the first two books. It's convoluted and confusing, but if you focus in on the main story, all the rest will fall in line and help you resolve whatever problems you might have with the other story threads, so don't give up, okay?

Rating: Thumbs up! What would you do to keep your friend's kingdom intact?

Buy this book in paperback or visit the Cosmic Tomes Bazaar for other titles.

Looking for something that's no longer here? Check in the Archive to search for it.

Comments? Suggestions? Just click here to send me e-mail. Also, if this review prompted you to read the book, then let me know. I appreciate knowing I made a difference in somebody's life.

You are the

th visitor to this page since August 16, 2001.

Back Home Back to Starfire Reviews

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page