Tomes of Spellcasting--Fortress of Dragons, 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 Dragons
Author: C.J. Cherryh
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Paperback
Copyright Date: 2000

As Lord of Amefel Tristen has many responsibilities, but his special gifts bring him more responsibilities, for he is one of the few lords able to sense the magical, sorcerous danger that threatens the land he has grown to love. Perhaps most dangerous of his gifts is his love for King Cefwyn, which prompts him to defy tradition and rally the south in preparation for an inevitable war. And perhaps most dangerous of the burdens he shoulders for himself is the protection of the exiled Aswydd sisters, for by allowing them to reside in his keep, he opens a pathway for the darkness that has grown and amassed itself in the west. And perhaps most dangerous of his responsibilities is the custody and guardianship of Cefwyn's son, for by protecting this firstborn but illegitimate son of his beloved king, Tristen may end up destroying the land he has been fighting to protect. Can his awakening to his full powers help him, or will they only hasten an undesirable ending?

Fortress of Dragons completes the four-book set and concludes the story begun in Fortress in the Eye of Time. All the questions are answered, and all the loose ends wrapped up, including--to Tristen's relief, no doubt--whether or not the magic that brought him into being will allow him to live beyond his first birthday.

Tristen has shaped up into a well-intentioned, sometimes impulsive but increasingly more thoughtful ruler. I think it's sad that he has to justify to others all the actions he takes to ensure his king's safety and survival, when anyone with a smidgen of sense knows that the things he does are only right and just. Despite his growing involvement in politics and mundanity, I enjoyed every instance in which Tristen stepped out of the role he's shaping for himself to do battle in the arcane way against the forces threatening his land. And the way he slips back into his day-to-day role is just as impressive. And when he saves the baby...well, you'll just have to read it for yourself.

Fortress of Dragons, like its predecessors, is a tale of epic proportions, despite that it takes place in only about a single season. Which means, then, that this book is filled with powerful, interesting, compelling writing that you won't want to miss reading. Enough said. Get the book and get to it!

Rating: Thumbs up! In saving his king's son, could he be dooming his king to a lifetime of strife?

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This page posted on October 1, 2001.

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