Rating: 
Summary: I Did Burn Everything I've Ever Written
Review: Just kidding. But I second Ms. Veihl's sentiments. I read the entire trilogy and really liked the first two of the series. But the third was the best of the bunch. Again a plethora of twists and turns. The last couple of chapters evoked an emotional response such as few books ever had. I cursed Holly Lisle for what she had done to the characters. I cheered Holly Lisle for the ending. Again set in the very original world of Matrin, sort of a combination of Rennesaince Italy and the Godfather, the background is a rich tapestry of loyalty and deceit. Without giving anything away, the book ends on an upbeat note where the courage of the heroes (Falcons, the secret order of wizards who stand against the evil designs of the Dragons) earns victory for the people of Matrin who would hate them if they knew their secret. Kait, Ry, Ian, Hasmal and Dughall and wonderful characters, larger than life yet very real and human. The themes for which Holly Lisle is justly famous run throughout the book; love conquers all, sacrifice is never wasted. The book carries a moral message without beating it to death, and is a fun and enjoyable read as well.
Rating:
Summary: Moving and Powerful
Review: The finest fantasy authors transcend the relatively stifling confines of their genre by writing epic novels that speak to the heart and soul as well as the mind. Lisle does this as well as any of the Big Names in the field (Jordan, Goodkind, McCaffrey, Lackey), and she does it with poise and elegance unmatched by any writer in any genre. As a whole, THE SECRET TEXTS stands as one of the most satisfying fantasy stories ever told. Layers of intrigue, passion, betrayal, and suspense float atop an undercurrent of redemption that runs through the entire series, culminating with the events at the end of COURAGE OF FALCONS. Don't cheat yourself by reading this one before either of the other two; THE SECRET TEXTS is a single tale and should be consumed as such, one book after another. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Marvelous ending!
Review: This book continued where the last left off. Danya and Luercas have convinced the Scarred that they are the long prophesied messiahs that would lead them to victory over the humans. The Scarred did not care that their new leader, Luercas, was evil or that Danya was out for personal revenge. They became an unstoppable army and declared war on all humans! Kait and Ry were skinshifters. They, along with Ian, Dughall, and the Falcons, struggled against the immortal, soul-devouring necromancers known as the Dragons. Afterward, they must face the Scarred armies. ***** This one is the best of the three! The author carries the reader along with the characters through hopeless situations. I flew through the pages swiftly to see what would happen next. Marvelous ending! *****
Rating: 
Summary: A secret gem
Review: This is a gem of a series. A family is wiped out, and the last survivor searches for an artifact that may bring them back--but its real purpose is a prison for dead sorcerers who derive magic from the souls of others. There is the standard plot of a prophecy of a savior, and that is turned around in a rather refreshing way. The characters are memorable and I really developed an attachment to Kait.
If you are a fan of this type of genre (as I am), you'll enjoy this series. I give it only four out of five stars for a couple of reasons. Although enjoyable, it seems as if the whole thing could have been much shorter. I'm not opposed to trilogies, but when a story is stretched out over three books just to make a trilogy then it can get a little slow in places (this could have been two books). Another thing was the main character's love interest. First she gets it on with the captain of a ship, and it seemed to work really well. However, she keeps having dreams about a stranger who is chasing her. He seems like a villain at first. They meet, and she resists him. Finally, she gives in to her (and his) desires and they stay together. Suddenly, this "villain" turns out to be cool. Frankly, the poor girl's whipped, by a punk prince. By the last book, however, all of this falls into place and their romance seems normal.
Jump on this one. It's well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Simply, the best
Review: This is Holly Lisle's best book ever. The thrilling conclusion to the Secret Texts series is impossible to put down, and that's the least of it. The suspense is never-ending, and the romance, hatred and danger moves the story along quickly. When I got to the end I kept wishing there was more. Kait, Ry, Ian, Crispin and all of the other characters pick up right where Vengeance of Dragons left off, and I was immediately drawn into the story again. The end ties off very neatly, with no extra ends hanging in the back of your mind, leaving you thinking, is there supposed to be more! And it's a stunning conclusion that one would never expect. I've waited two years for this book, and I was anything but disappointed with the outcome. Thank you, Holly Lisle, for such an awsome conclusion to the best series ever!
Rating:
Summary: Why I'm Tempted To Burn Everything I've Ever Written
Review: When I got to the last page of "Courage of Falcons", I realized a couple of things: Holly Lisle's Secret Texts novels are individual brilliant, as a trilogy are the epitome of quality, artistry, and power in print, and will remain in my mind as the most fascinating and astonishing fantasy novels I've ever read. The world of Matrin is in serious trouble, now occupied by the soul-stealing Dragons. The time has come for shape-shifting Falcons Kait Galweigh and Ry Sabir to clean house. They've had to make sacrifices along the way since discovering each other in "Diplomacy of Wolves", but nothing has prepared them for the last of the many tests they face -- and this one may cost them more than their lives. They're not the only ones struggling to make the right choice. One of the most fascinating characters in this series has been Crispin Sabir, who as revealed in "Vengeance of Dragons" has been hiding an incredible secret. What happens with him and Ulwe, the Scarred-sheltered child who can pick up psychic clues by "reading the roads" will change how you think about villains forever. Like the Galweigh House, the world of Matrin is a mysterious mansion, one I see filled with tapestries, each telling one particular story, woven so subtly together that the small threads of dynamite (like the soul-devourers that hunt between worlds) become so deftly entwined in the story that you never see the blast coming. There's a line from the novel -- "Nothing is ever lost. Love survives" -- that describes what Holly Lisle does so well with her work. Even knowing this, I wasn't prepared for the final showdown. I won't give away any spoilers, but the ultimate solution will blow you away. Holly Lisle can write fantasy like no one else in the business. She's the reason I'm often tempted to burn everything I've ever written. I highly recommend this novel, along with "Diplomacy of Wolves" and "Vengeance of Dragons", to anyone who enjoys a great read.
Rating:
Summary: Why I'm Tempted To Burn Everything I've Ever Written
Review: When I got to the last page of "Courage of Falcons", I realized a couple of things: Holly Lisle's Secret Texts novels are individual brilliant, as a trilogy are the epitome of quality, artistry, and power in print, and will remain in my mind as the most fascinating and astonishing fantasy novels I've ever read. The world of Matrin is in serious trouble, now occupied by the soul-stealing Dragons. The time has come for shape-shifting Falcons Kait Galweigh and Ry Sabir to clean house. They've had to make sacrifices along the way since discovering each other in "Diplomacy of Wolves", but nothing has prepared them for the last of the many tests they face -- and this one may cost them more than their lives. They're not the only ones struggling to make the right choice. One of the most fascinating characters in this series has been Crispin Sabir, who as revealed in "Vengeance of Dragons" has been hiding an incredible secret. What happens with him and Ulwe, the Scarred-sheltered child who can pick up psychic clues by "reading the roads" will change how you think about villains forever. Like the Galweigh House, the world of Matrin is a mysterious mansion, one I see filled with tapestries, each telling one particular story, woven so subtly together that the small threads of dynamite (like the soul-devourers that hunt between worlds) become so deftly entwined in the story that you never see the blast coming. There's a line from the novel -- "Nothing is ever lost. Love survives" -- that describes what Holly Lisle does so well with her work. Even knowing this, I wasn't prepared for the final showdown. I won't give away any spoilers, but the ultimate solution will blow you away. Holly Lisle can write fantasy like no one else in the business. She's the reason I'm often tempted to burn everything I've ever written. I highly recommend this novel, along with "Diplomacy of Wolves" and "Vengeance of Dragons", to anyone who enjoys a great read.
| 
