Rating: 
Summary: When Sc Fic, Dark Fantasy, Horror and idelogy fuse......
Review: First, let me say that it is truly difficult to write a review on this book.
C.S. Friedman has created a world melted with sc. fiction, dark fantasy, horror, ideology on God (that one can make you irritated some times on how priest Damien Kilcannon Vryce can be silly with his prayers and his moral about...(read it, you'll see), but well, that's part of the 3 book).
The pattern between fae and human mind is so complex to explain that i will not try to explain it, so it is why i've put and excerpt of the back of the book. (....fae, a terrifying natural force with the power to prey upon the human mind itself, drawing forth a person's worst nightmare images or most treasured dreams and indiscriminately giving them life) So that much complex is kind of difficult to sort out sometimes and then i didn't knew if the author understood herself, but it makes sens, even if you have a look at all the details (if it is possible with that lot of developped details on how the fae interact with human minds and the complexity of Erna, the planet (so it is why she didn't make a map because it would have took too much time only for that so she says)) in the 3 books and look carefully for contradiction.
It is truly amazing on how the genius of c.s. friedman can make such logical sens out of this melting of many varied genre.She barely created a genre, so to speak
Quests may vary book to book but it is always based upon volcano (the planet is seismically active from many places). Nonetheless, that does not make the series dull because of that.
The sorcery is very different of usual fantasy books, because it is not magic, it is part of the planet as we breath air, and again, it is really hard to explain in few words. The difinition of evil is very different too.As the genre evil against evil to save humankind. Like demons, as an exemple, are very different from classical fantasy (why they exist, how they lives etc.).
That's it.
A must for anyone that is not too rational
This review goes for the trilogy.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, Intriguing, Dark and Mysterious
Review: I think the things I liked most about this introductory book (I've read all 3, the last I finished last summer), is probably the uniqueness. No elves, no dwarves, not even dragons, but... humans! Better yet, humans in a galaxy far, far away !Seriously. I disagree with whoever said CS doesn't use enough description, because I can visualize the world of Erna even today, a year after finishing the series. Erna is so dark, dreary, and scary, a nice change over the happy grass-filled Tolkien lands in other books. Don't get me wrong, I love Tolkien'ish books as well, but I really enjoyed the change, and the interaction between the spiritual world and the living. I think the best things about these books are the characters. You have a supposed villian, who you really can't get enough of.. You hate him so much, but you want him to redeem his soul, which cannot happen. You have the man of the church, who is forced to perform blasphemous acts to "save the world". And you know, that even when things are all said and done, they can't possibly save the world due to the nature of it, but you surely want to know how they overcome their quest. Tarrant is probably one of the best villians (or is he the protagonist?) in a long, long time. Hurrah for CS for making us cheer for the "bad" guy! I applaud Ms Friedman and look forward to more stories in the future!
Rating:
Summary: Human Tolkien
Review: If you enjoy fantasy style literature, there's no better buy. The author's universe is so hugely well described that it reminds me lively of Tolkien. Very hard to put down, the author drank - or so it seems - on Tolkien's inffluence. Don't miss it!
Rating:
Summary: Dark and Beautiful
Review: This book is a departure from most sci-fi/fantasy novels in that the world that the characters live in is one that seems almost overwhelmingly evil. The fact that people seem to live somewhat normal lives in what basically amounts to a nightmare world gives the series a hopeful and poignant edge that makes it truly unique. The uniting of two anti-heroes who are motivated by completely separate forces is my favortie aspect of what is an overwhlemigly excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: Very, very good
Review: This is one of the bets book I have ever read! The prologue was amazing! This book is very unusual... if you love fantasy you would love this one. It would drive you to want more and read the rest if the trilogy. Friedman is so descriptive you would feel like you are in the book! Read it!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: This was an absoulutely wonderful book. It was sooooo great! Ok, reasons you might be asking... First it introduced new concepts. Usually Fantasy can get predictable but this kept me on my toes. (you will understand what I mean by new concepts if you read the book) Second it was an extremely well written book. The author has real talent. Third it had a world with a whole history that was slowly put into the book, not like in some books with it all clumped together. Lastly it gave a different perspective on spirituality and provided deep food for thought. In conclusion if you asked me should I buy this book I would without question say yes.
Rating:
Summary: absolutely gorgeous
Review: this books is one of my favourites ever, it is well written and clever and i regularly get obsessive about the trilogy, this and crown of shadows (the third) in particular. the characters are engaging and the plot is lovely and thick, and if you like your fantasies dark and sometimes a bit disturbing then you'll probably die in ecstasy after reading this. i get a warm shiver every time i see it on my bookshelf. one character in particular, gerald tarrant, is an absolute masterpeice. you're never really sure what is going on inside his head or what his motives are and it makes for very exciting writing. so yes, five stars, if you don't read it you're missing out.
Rating:
Summary: Details
Review: In this novel Black Sun Rising, Friedman displays a story of mysterious and complete characters. What I like about the book is that she goes into full detail on each event and main character describing them down to the last hair on their head. This helps to know the character and how they think. Yes I admit it was long but suck it up. If you can't take reading a long book of (500 pages +) then don't read it. Your loss. Friedman doesn't leave her readers in the dark about her world. She creates a world where dreams come true (literally) and not knowing what will happen next keeps the suspense at a high level. Its a mix of fantasy and science fiction for both types to chew on. All in all if you don't mind a long book then pick this one up and you'll like it. I know I did
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book...
Review: This is a wonderful book in more ways than one. It is very dark, pulling you into a maelstrom of good and evil, and the blurred lines of the two. It has a good mixture of humor and wit, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, and evil to keep you hooked, and a well done plot that keeps you turning the pages. The amazing Tarrant should make every female go nuts, he sure drove me up the wall. The hero of the book is fun to follow, and the characters are well done too. I enjoyed the book very much, and the other 2 were just as good, if not better. I highly reccomend this book, it'll keep you interested and intrigued(sp?).
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: Typical fantasy book has black-and-white/good-and-evil with clear cut separation. Friedman is much more pragmatic, by allowing her evil characters to have human traits and the good characters to have doubts and desires. You can sympathize with the both characters in their journey which can best be described as "What if an incredibly evil wizard were forced to journey with a very religious priest". The sequels to this book aren't as good as this one, and this one is a must read for any fantasy fan.
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