Rating: 
Summary: Beginning of a Wonderful Trilogy
Review: Black Sun Rising had everything and more that I could ask from it. A solid plot, a conflict amongst the characters...The character of Gerald Tarrant is delightfully dark, and became my favorite character almost instantly.
Rating: 
Summary: Much more right than wrong--
Review: Generally, I really enjoyed this novel. The plot moves smartly, and -- as in many virtual world novels -- one journeys through many landscapes and settings with the characters.I enjoyed the blend of "sword and sorcery" with science fiction. The evil smells like real evil, and evil is so powerful that sympathetic characters like Damien and Ciani are almost overwhelmed with it. In fact, it is almost unbelievable luck that they survive-- or is it a kind of divine providence-- a deeper justice working behind the daily events? Perhaps the most electrifying aspect of the novel is the "devil's bargain" where Damien is going against insuperable odds, and finally decides he must have the assistance of the world's most powerful sorcerer-- the "cursed" Gerald Tarrant. Gerald is an epitome of evil-- and has sealed a hell's bargain for the gift of immortality. He is honor-bound to assist Ciani and Damien on their quest, and yet his evil is so manifest it begins to corrupt Damien on the journey. Damien himself realizes he has made his own "devil's bargain." He has enlisted the help of the evil wizard at the jeopardy of his own soul. What's worse, Damien is a warrior priest, and his fidelity to his religion is the very basis of his self-image and even his magical powers. The evil is evil-- very very-- and you will find yourself drawn through this novel. You will burn the midnight oil until late, and be bleary-eyed at work. But it is a great read!
Rating:
Summary: Good enough to reread
Review: I picked this series up because I enjoyed "In Conquest Born" so much, even though I was a little leery of the fantasy rather than s-f plot. However, once I started reading it I didn't want to put it down, and I found myself scouring local bookstores for volume 2. The book (and the trilogy) has a very interesting premise, engaging characters and an enjoyable plot. It was skillful the way Ms. Friedman introduces the reader to a truly evil character at the beginning, and then persuades you to be sympathetic to him. I recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: just incredible
Review: What is there to say? This book has elements of classic fantasy as much as parts of science fiction, and I think, just a touch of fairy tale. I think all kinds of reader should be able to enjoy this one. It contains only few main characters and not many minor ones. Don't mistake that for simple, though. The people are very well developed, and they are deeper than most written characters are. All of them have their strenghs and weaknesses, and they are put before a background story that is easy to imagine reality. Best done, in my opinion, is probably Gerald Tarrant, the Hunter. He is the founder of the Church, but sold his humanity to live forever. He feets on human fear. Please note that he is NOT the evil one in this book, at least if you put common measure on it. On the other hand, common measures would undervalue this book by far. It is seldom that a book is from first to last page as good as this. And I really read a lot. I should know. Read this book, please. If you don't like it, blame it on me. (I can say this without fear, because you will like it)
Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: The world or Erna is an excellent idea. Unfortunately, the characters created in it could be better developed. This book does little to develop the most interesting character, The Hunter. The "romantic" relationship between Damian and Ciani is never believable past their first encounter. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book overall. I've read reviews of the remaining books and it looks like the characers get a little better. I'll let you know...
Rating:
Summary: Excellently Atypical:
Review: This book (this entire series) was a beautiful example of what you can do when you go beyond the boundaries of typical fantasy novels. The characters were believable and three-dimensional, illustrating a truth of the world: that the capacity for good and evil exists in everyone, even those we label "absolute evil." The plot, while not mind-boggling complex in the first novel, expands in the future books of the series until the main struggle of the novel is not just against one creature of ultimate "evil," but against the nature of their world itself. C. S. Friedman's writing style was just right: enough description to give you a good mental image, but not enough to drown your imagination. I strongly recommend this book and the rest of the series to those who are tired of the cliche: a courageous and kindly hero in shining armor who rides to battle against an over-generalized, shadowy evil.
Rating:
Summary: Black Sun is spellbinding from the first page
Review: Black Sun Rising takes you on a rollercoaster ride set up in the prologue of the novel. In the prologue of the novel, you meet a man who has just sacrificed his family without explanation. This leads you into the life of the Hunter, considered the most lethal object on the planet. During the novel, he proceeds to go on a journey with a man of religion. The irony is that the religion is started by the hunter. The religious man despises the Hunter, yet they form a bond that can't be broken. This book is a page-turner that is very exciting.
Rating:
Summary: Original, action driven fantasy/sci-fi
Review: Highly recommended novel that leaves you wanting more. I particularly liked the surprising ways it combines sci-fi elements with fantasy and horror elements. Can't wait to read the next two in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Mediocrity at its finest.
Review: I am a huge fan of fantasy novels. My favorite author is David Gemmell. He hasn't had a new book out recently so I picked up a copy of this book. I was dissapointed in what I read. Ms. Friedman's storytelling skills are below par for a quality fantasy/horror story. She never excercises a good use of climax. She doesn't build up suspense at the right times in the story. Her character are the most flat generic people ever to be published in a book. The villains in the story have no motivation and seem to have no past either. However her creativity almost makes up for this. But I found myself questioning the hero's motives all through out the book. She did a very good attempt at creating a wonderful world, she just didn't know how to utilize it.
Rating: 
Summary: booooring
Review: I will first admit that while I like the fantasy novels I've read, I'm not well versed in the fantasy genre as a whole or its conventions. I bought this book because it kept coming up in my Instant Recommendations for Guy Gavriel Kay books, and he's my absolute favorite. I swear I wanted to like this book. I tried to like this book. I read as far as I could -- about 3/4 of the way through -- before I finally gave up and cast it aside. I never give up on books, but I'm a characterization junkie and these cardboard cutout Action/Adventure stock characters had absolutely nothing going for them. Their motivations were sketchy at best, and these walking cliches never grew into anything other than what they were on page 1. I respect Friedman for trying to create a world that was unique, but I believe her ambition outstripped her reach on this one.
| 
