Rating: 
Summary: I will not be buying anymore books in this series
Review: The first book in this series was the most intriguing. Each book thereafter has decreased in quality. I barely made it through Fortress of Owls. I found it mostly boring and tedious. I had moments of being absorbed by action but I inevitibly felt disappointed with the weak endings of intriguing action scenes. I have read the other reviews of this series and I was amazed at how many people praised her writing style in this series. I frequently found her language to be vague and difficult to understand. Apparently she has some very enjoyable books of the SciFi genre which I have not read. It has taken quite a bit of effort to keep some of the characters, namely the Lords of the realm, straight. Their names are hard to remember and there are many of them who are not seen very often. Many of the scenes of magic were hard to understand, like when Tristen goes to the place in the palace where the old wards are messed up on Mid-Winters Eve and he ends up back in his old room where his younger self might walk in any moment. I had difficulty 'seeing' what she was describing and understanding its meaning. Many of her characters are only one faceted: Murandy, Rysand, Orien, Tasien. All evil. I also got tired of unrealistic changes in Tristen's perception of safety. In one paragraph the gray space is safe or neutral. In the next breath it is rippling with evil. It seemed like a ploy to create tension but it was used too often without plausible purpose for the change. It takes a lot for me not to finish a series after I have already put my money and time into 3 books. But after reading the reviews for Fortress of Dragons I throw in the towel on this series. I know I sound quite cynical but I think the desire to get people to buy more books played more into the length of this saga than actual material. This series could have been fully explored in 3 books. If you like sagas then I would recommend Robert Jordan or Robin Hobb for starters.
Rating:
Summary: Needed a little excitement
Review: There is such a thing as going into a little too much detail and this book crossed that line. One of the other readers managed to write a critical review and make it sound like a praise. I, however, do not posses that talent. I don't usually mind political intrigue or things of that nature but they need to be balanced with some actually interesting events.(There is only so much introspection I can stand before becoming bored out of my mind.) The character development was, of course, interseting (up to a point) but frankly I don't think Cherryh should have bothered writing this book. Mixed it in with the next one maybe but as it stands I am glad I didn't buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Superior Fantasy
Review: This book has everything a devoted reader of fantasy could desire. The characterisation of the main protagonists and world-building are masterful, the plot is intricate and spellbinding, and Cherryh's writing is bedazzling. For some readers this novel might contain too little physical action (there are hardly, if any, sword-fights, battles etc.), but the intrigues and thrilling, involving story-line should more than compensate for that. (For those who like flashing swords etc., I strongly recommend novels by David Gemmell and Michael Moorcock, two excellent writers of heroic fantasy). All in all, this book should keep a host of fantasy-readers busy for a few pleasant days, and beyond.
Rating: 
Summary: A Continuing Saga
Review: This book is definitely one in a series. The whole book is a building of tension and hints at an uncertain climax (which may come in the next book (?)). While there is not much "action" per se, the book gives great insight into Tristen's rapidly-developing character, kingdom politics, and the state of the world in general. Overall I do recommend this book, but at times it is slow and tedious. However, it is a must read and sets the stage for intrigue to come.
Rating:
Summary: A Continuing Saga
Review: This book is definitely one in a series. The whole book is a building of tension and hints at an uncertain climax (which may come in the next book (?)). While there is not much "action" per se, the book gives great insight into Tristen's rapidly-developing character, kingdom politics, and the state of the world in general. Overall I do recommend this book, but at times it is slow and tedious. However, it is a must read and sets the stage for intrigue to come.
Rating:
Summary: At the midpoint in a series of books
Review: This book is generally well written. It mainly concerns court intrigue, disputes over a throne, and church-state relationships. One can see shades of England at the time of King Stephen - nobles against having a woman inherit the throne, civil war in the countryside, and foreign support for the woman who marries a foreign husband. The author seems to have a fetish for inventing difficult names for the characters (they seem similar to names in Saxon England). The main problem with the book is it drags out a plot without coming to any particular conclusion for most of the characters as they maneuver for position. There is a good prologue that covers action that has gone before (in previous books) but, after reading the book, you feel that everything is stuck in place and nothing much has been accomplished. It is analogous to reading an account of the early days of World War II, where England and France sat on one side of the Rhine, Germany sat on the other side, and everyone seemed to wait for something to happen.
Rating: 
Summary: Good things!
Review: While not fantastic on it's own, this book is an incredible way to lead readers into the final book in the series Fortress of Dragons. The plot thickens a great deal in this book and the secondary characters become multi-dimensional, but the primary characters play more into the plot than develop like they do in the last novel. It picks up the pace a good bit from the second novel so the readers are ready to jump into the series conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: Good things!
Review: While not fantastic on it's own, this book is an incredible way to lead readers into the final book in the series Fortress of Dragons. The plot thickens a great deal in this book and the secondary characters become multi-dimensional, but the primary characters play more into the plot than develop like they do in the last novel. It picks up the pace a good bit from the second novel so the readers are ready to jump into the series conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: The series becomes more serious.
Review: With this book, C. H. Cherryh continues the story she began with A Fortress in the Eye of Time, and Fortress of Eagles. In this book, Tristen, Lord of Amefel, searches to understand all of the many, inexplicable things that occurred at Amefel before and during his arrival to take up the reins. Cefwyn rules from Guelemara, and struggles to out maneuver his nobles. As the book, goes on, the story gets darker, and takes on a more urgent tone. There are conspiracies and enemies everywhere, but who is friend and who is enemy? It's not always easy to know. Unlike the previous book in this series, this book contains a prologue to remind the reader of the story so far, and lexicon describing all of the people and places in the story. The story is much more exciting than the previous book, and has me impatient to be on to the next one! This is a great book.
Rating:
Summary: The series becomes more serious.
Review: With this book, C. H. Cherryh continues the story she began with A Fortress in the Eye of Time, and Fortress of Eagles. In this book, Tristen, Lord of Amefel, searches to understand all of the many, inexplicable things that occurred at Amefel before and during his arrival to take up the reins. Cefwyn rules from Guelemara, and struggles to out maneuver his nobles. As the book, goes on, the story gets darker, and takes on a more urgent tone. There are conspiracies and enemies everywhere, but who is friend and who is enemy? It's not always easy to know. Unlike the previous book in this series, this book contains a prologue to remind the reader of the story so far, and lexicon describing all of the people and places in the story. The story is much more exciting than the previous book, and has me impatient to be on to the next one! This is a great book.
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