Rating: 
Summary: One of the best series in science fantasy!
Review: Cherryh creates new worlds for each of the novels contained in this collection, and each is extremely well crafted and detailed. The guts of the story, however, are the complexities of the relationship between Morgaine and Vanye. Both are fated to follow a specific path, controlled by forces over which they have no control. And both struggle constantly with their humanity, given the inhuman demands their tasks place on them. Their gradual recognition of each other is very well done, and the action supports the character development, not the other way around. Make sure to also read "Exile's Gate," the fourth novel in the series. Ms. Cherryh, another in the series please! (And why not bring Morgaine and Vanye to 21st century Earth?)
Rating: 
Summary: great atmosphere, characters, technology and plot
Review: Cherryh is one of the great masters at creating bizarre worlds with their own customs, histories, and struggles. This stuff is rather lightweight, but a wonderful read nonetheless. Her range is incredible, as are her writing styles.
Rating:
Summary: great atmosphere, characters, technology and plot
Review: Cherryh is one of the great masters at creating bizarre worlds with their own customs, histories, and struggles. This stuff is rather lightweight, but a wonderful read nonetheless. Her range is incredible, as are her writing styles.
Rating:
Summary: Good premise, often repetitive; 3rd book outstanding
Review: Cherryh's "The Dreaming Tree" duology captured my heart as an adult like nothing since some of Orson Scott Card's work when I was in college. It's a rare fantasy book that sticks close to the harsh realities of ancient Celtic life, mixed with Elven folklore and narrative surprises (namely, that as the point of view moves to the elf, time rushes by so that human characters have suddenly died and theirs war long over and we're moving on to their descendents' lives), expertly done. I took up Morgaine next, based on reviews. The first two books were disappointing. They center on the single-minded quest of Morgaine and her vassal/sidekick, who are always on the run. For four hundred pages, I've read about twelve that have content other than: campfires, hard-ground, steely-stares, muddy clothes, insufficient food, lack of sleep, waking before dawn, avoiding ambushes, tired horses, untrustworthy keeps, and the sores caused by wearing armor and marching. Those twelve pages were quite inventive, though crucial revelations by characters are sometimes so cryptic I have no idea what just happened, and I'm a careful reader. The second book, in particular, seemed to mire down the reader unnecessarily. For example, the first few (depressing and boring) chapters develop a character who all but disappears soon thereafter. These chapters could have been dropped. In sum, the first two books were characterized by: good premise, hints of imagination, but ultimately repetitive, teasing fare. Out of curiosity I started on the third, "The Fires of Azeroth," and was swept up into a book altogether on another level: plausible and masterful character transformation, subtle emotional tensions, edge-of-your-seat action, towns and elves and indesribable unique forest creatures (instead of just trails and keeps)... in short, what may be the most fun and engaging short fantasy novel I've ever read. While Cherryh tends to write action and confrontation sequences cryptically, here they at least make sense, and when they at least make sense, I'm open to this approach over the all-too-common "dictation" of action, or deferring of action, that characterizes most fantasy novels. "Fires" is a 5 star gem. I'd pick this up, read the second installment briskly, and enjoy it from then on. The 4th book, "Exiles Gate," is a very good book: 4 stars for lapsing into the occasional repetitive stuff [I imagine Cherryh does not reread the previous day's work when resuming? or she needs to warm up each day?] but a glorious development of the characters. I am heartbroken that there are no more books.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Sure I can Finish It
Review: I got through the first book of this trilogy. I think it's good that it was packaged together, because if you just take the first book on its own, you're not likely to read the other two.It's not that Cherryh can't write. It's that the characters are very flat and the story too quickly paced to get to know them. Roh, Erij, even the villains are all glossed over so quickly you can hardly keep track of who is who or think to care. You eventually warm up to Vanye, the warrior who ends up indebted as a vassal to Morgaine. But Morgaine herself is stony and remote, inpenetrable. I found that I could not care at all about her, or her mission. And the fact that Vanye was so loyal to her and obviously in love with her made him seem weak to me. There's a sexual energy in this book that is below the surface but omnipresent, and it's a strange uncomfortable relationship between man and woman that perhaps put me off in ways that wouldn't put off other readers. I'm not even to book two yet and I expect Vanye to start crying out to Morgaine, "Whip me again, Mistress!" at any minute. If you like a lot of action in your fantasy without time to breathe, I think you'll like this book. If you're looking for deeply drawn characters with motives and politics that you can understand, I don't think you'll enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Not Sure I can Finish It
Review: I got through the first book of this trilogy. I think it's good that it was packaged together, because if you just take the first book on its own, you're not likely to read the other two. It's not that Cherryh can't write. It's that the characters are very flat and the story too quickly paced to get to know them. Roh, Erij, even the villains are all glossed over so quickly you can hardly keep track of who is who or think to care. You eventually warm up to Vanye, the warrior who ends up indebted as a vassal to Morgaine. But Morgaine herself is stony and remote, inpenetrable. I found that I could not care at all about her, or her mission. And the fact that Vanye was so loyal to her and obviously in love with her made him seem weak to me. There's a sexual energy in this book that is below the surface but omnipresent, and it's a strange uncomfortable relationship between man and woman that perhaps put me off in ways that wouldn't put off other readers. I'm not even to book two yet and I expect Vanye to start crying out to Morgaine, "Whip me again, Mistress!" at any minute. If you like a lot of action in your fantasy without time to breathe, I think you'll like this book. If you're looking for deeply drawn characters with motives and politics that you can understand, I don't think you'll enjoy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it
Review: I had to put this down after only 10 pages or so. I found Cherryh's writing style to be difficult to follow, with many unpronounceable names and rambling paragraphs. I know this is one of the "classics" of fantasy, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it
Review: I had to put this down after only 10 pages or so. I found Cherryh's writing style to be difficult to follow, with many unpronounceable names and rambling paragraphs. I know this is one of the "classics" of fantasy, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Rating:
Summary: Its About Time!
Review: I havent read this reissue.. But the original Trilogy is one I have read over and over again ! It is beyond good. Im a long time Science Fiction & Fantasy reader.. Since I was very young, and Im now almost 50.. This is a masterpiece of fusion. Holds you enthralled and wanting more....
Rating:
Summary: One of faves of Cherryh
Review: I was lucky enough to get the three books together, since I read them back to back. Intriguing interaction of the characters, fascinating backgrounds, great action & plots.
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