Cycle of Fire Trilogy

Rating:
Summary: Bad plot, worse writing
Review: I don't understand the other reviewers. This book was painfully bad. The plot is slow, the characterization is abysmal (they're poorly motivated and at the same time ridiculously, nonsensically complex), and finally the writing was so bad I had to put the book DOWN--something I rarely do. It sounds like it was written by an adolescent depressive: baggy sentences, fuzzy ideas, and poor, inappropriate metaphors. If you thrive on the sharp writing of (early) Robert Jordan or Tolkein, or even MZ Bradley, STEER CLEAR OF THIS WASTE OF TIME.

Rating:
Summary: stormwarden/ keeper of the keys/ shadowfane
Review: I thought the book very good at first with strong characters and plots but by the second book I just had to put it down. For all you peopole who like me like high fantasy with Elves,Dwarves etc this book will be a total letdown. All right its got demons, but the Veare turns out to be a computer that came from a crashed spaceship thousands of years ago, now call me old fashiond but that in my opinion is not fantasy and I considered the books a waste of money due to the fact that towards the end it became more sci-fi than fantasy. I would recommend that anyone who wants a pure fantasy book not buy this

Rating:
Summary: The greatst book ever
Review: Janny Wurts, form the first word sweeps you up and toltaly shocks you in this unique and wonderful book. This book always has you on your toes. In my opinon its terrible that some people don't know that this book exsists.

Rating:
Summary: Fantasy with wonderful twists
Review: Looking for something in the Fantasy genre but tired of the same old story? Then look no further. Here is a story that starts out feeling comfortable but quickly turns out to be something more than expected. Wonderful twists of events and discoveries of underlying pinnings await around turns in the plotline making you realize that you've discovered something above average. Janny Wurts takes us on a trip... a coming of age of three children. Three children who get caught up in a clash between humans and demons. As the children grow into their future roles they choose sides and embark on a path similar to one that has been followed before. And so the Cycle of Fire repeats.

Rating:
Summary: World where one can hide.
Review: Mrs Wurts has successfully created a world where one can merge in ,forgetting the day to day worries of life.If your into Mind Play and Instrospection then this book is a must read,the image it leaves is very comforting. AK

Rating:
Summary: Ok but not Great
Review: Ms. Wurts translates an eloquent tapestry of emotions and images into words of such charged description that the weaving of the story unfolds in your own mind. Her excellent use of simile and metaphore, with her uncanny ability to enthral the reader, allows the mind to form pictures of every character and situation. While she is not Tolkien or C.S. Lewis her style and compelling story will enchant you. The mix of grand Fantasy with an explained and understandable use of science, a new realm of "Sci-Fantasy" has been achieved. The original fantasy books, back in the day, all had to start with a scientific, sci-fi, explanation; time-warp, experiment gone wrong, alien worlds... This epic tale advances that genre into a more subtle and better meshed world of marvelous adventure. There is no science vs scorcery, or any such blatant or cliche misdirection of fantasy. Janny Wurts triumphs brilliantly with this three-in-one saga of virtue vs emptiness, valour against vileness, and the power of love. This would make a fabulous movie trilogy or t.v. series.

Rating:
Summary: Fans of Fantasy and Drama Rejoice!
Review: Ms. Wurts translates an eloquent tapestry of emotions and images into words of such charged description that the weaving of the story unfolds in your own mind. Her excellent use of simile and metaphore, with her uncanny ability to enthral the reader, allows the mind to form pictures of every character and situation. While she is not Tolkien or C.S. Lewis her style and compelling story will enchant you. The mix of grand Fantasy with an explained and understandable use of science, a new realm of "Sci-Fantasy" has been achieved. The original fantasy books, back in the day, all had to start with a scientific, sci-fi, explanation; time-warp, experiment gone wrong, alien worlds... This epic tale advances that genre into a more subtle and better meshed world of marvelous adventure. There is no science vs scorcery, or any such blatant or cliche misdirection of fantasy. Janny Wurts triumphs brilliantly with this three-in-one saga of virtue vs emptiness, valour against vileness, and the power of love. This would make a fabulous movie trilogy or t.v. series.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Fantasy/Sci Fi Epic
Review: The Cycle of Fire held me captivated with its blend of Fantasy and Science Fiction elements. This series also combines many diverse plot elements extreamly well. This is an inspired coming of age, love, revenge, and redemption novel.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Introduction to Janny Wurts
Review: The Cycle of Fire series was fantastic. I enjoyed the characterisation, their developments, their triumphs and defeats. If you have a problem with a blend of SF and fantasy, then you're missing out on a great series. Ms Wurts has the ability to draw you deeply into the storyline with evocative and descriptive writing. The tortured soul is something that JW does very well, and it makes for a great plot. Some resolutions are a bit too pat, but on the whole, this is an enjoyable series.

Rating:
Summary: Starts well, but ...
Review: The first book in this trilogy is good - perhaps very good. But it's all downhill from there, sadly. The prose gets more and more involuted; the dialogue migrates from 'wooden' through 'strained' all the way to 'frankly preposterous'; and the descriptions (especially of the 'magic') strain analogies well past breaking point. The final few chapters are a strain to read :-(

Conclusion - if you enjoyed Daughter of the Empire et al, read them again and leave this one alone.