Rating: 
Summary: Ties up most of the strings, but produces a few more....
Review: The "Fortress" series is one of the most well written fantasy narratives that I have encountered. C.J. Cherryh has brought her world-building skills that she honed in the "Alliance-Union" universe to the world of Men and monsters. Of the books I believe the 1st (Fortress in the Eye of Time) was the most engrossing because it had the most depth and character-building. "Fortress of Dragons" is a good conclusion insofar as a significant portion of the 'mystery' surrounding the Siihe, Hasufin Heltain, etc. is illuminated. The plotlines that invovle Cefwyn and his Elwinym bride and their geopolitical machinations come to a head. Tristen, one of the most unrealistic and yet somehow plausibley appealing characters in high fantasy I have encountered continues his growth, though it is more a period of maturation and execution than further vertical development. Though the plot slows to a crawl on occasion there is enough action to satisfy those who get bored with the occasionally stilted characterization (politics, rather than character or plot are the emphasis of this book) of pieces that are constricted by their exalted position in the society that they live in. I agree that the ending left many new questions open, and is surely an opening for a final book that ends the "Fortress" series, but perhaps opening the vistas to another world of Cherryh's exploration.
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Summary: Warning: this book can be dangerous to your social life
Review: The best written fantasy series in ages. A dark hero, credible villains, magic with mysteries, and politics with purpose all seem to fit naturally in a weel-paced, exciting story.
Rating: 
Summary: Incredible!!
Review: The perfect way to end this amazing series (if it is indeed the end, it could not be). You finally see parts of the main characters that have long been hinted at as character concepts finally come into fruition. The plot picks up steam from the very beginning and all the loose ends begin to fit together perfectly as if being braided. An absolutely amazing work of fiction that is reminiscent of the first book, Fortress in the Eye of Time. Even if you didn't like the second two books, this one makes it all worth it!
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic finale
Review: This book is the final book in the series, after Fortress in the Eye of Time, Fortress of Eagles and Fortress of Owls. In this book, all of the plots and treasons from the previous books come to fruition. Enemies exist all around, and Tristen must help Cefwyn, lest all be lost. Action, magic, and dark deeds abound.Like 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 exciting, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the final conclusion. The ending was somewhat abrupt, but the lose ends means that there may yet be more stories to follow!
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable but imperfect
Review: This book takes its good qualities from Cherryh's excellent use of language -- few set a creepier scene -- and her depth of worldbuilding, which creates a fascinating setting. I very much enjoyed reading it. However, it had flaws. Firstly, there was too little physical action; the balance was tipped too far toward the otherworldly. Secondly, I was disappointed to discover that many of my questions from earlier in the series are never answered; the Sihhe remain a mystery. Most of all, I was sorry to see that Tristen was never really challenged. His enemy toys with him a little, but I wanted to see him tormented, forced into recollection of his life as Barrakketh, ripped apart by the revelation of his real nature, or at the very LEAST physically injured. More melodrama, please! I wish Ms. Cherryh would do to her characters what Barbara Hambly has recently been doing to hers.
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Summary: Great Series ends too soon
Review: This concludes the Fortress in The Eye of Time series (fortress of owls, fortress of eagles) but leaves you wanting more. I love the series. If you have ever played the epic Dungeons and Dragons you'll know that the begining adventures are the best, just scraping along to get that next meal or new armor; but as characters gain in rank they tend to get a bit boring as they get more and more powerful.
In this series the hero Tristan never loses that sense of newness. C.J. weaves a grand plot and makes the world and its betrayals and politics very believable and compelling. The series is one of the most re-readable; written with a fine touch for character developement. If they can do the Lord of the Rings series this is one that they should look at, it has all the fine hallmarks of an epic tale: heroism, love, magic, ghosts, religous turmoil and swordplay.
The series ends but could easily be revisted for serveral more volumes, (PLEASE CJ???).
CJ is a great writer and this is her best series. I strongly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: The vague conclusion to a vague series...
Review: This is obviously a series where Cherryh has lost her motivation to complete. There are a number of plots aluded to, but never completed in the series, and judging by Cherryh's web site she has no intention of completing. All in all, unless political debating, vague magical moments, and unfinished endings are your cup of tea, this is not a series for you.
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Summary: Could've been a great series, but....
Review: This series had the potential to be great but after finishing the concluding volume, 'Fortress of Dragons', I feel very frustrated. The concept of Tristen being a reborn Sihhe opened the door to a ton of possibly great storylines but instead Ms Cherryh chose to have him do basically the same thing in every book; that being Cefwyn struggles with mundane political machinations while Tristen fights a big Shadow. The end of the book is horrible. None of the interesting plot lines are even remotely resolved. Does Tristen become High King? Will he have to fight his best friend, Cefwyn, because of that? Will Tristen learn the origins of the Sihhe? What's the significance of Tarien's baby, Elfwyn? Is he the reborn last Sihhe King of the same name? If so will he fight Tristen for the Kingship? Who knows and I can think of a couple hundred more questions like those. The basic concept of the Fortress Series could've allowed it to rival the best that fantasy has to offer but now it's ended without living up to anything even near it's potential. It's just sad.
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Summary: Fortress series
Review: This series is verry well written, However the last book leaves you wanting another. The conclution closes up the primary plot rather neatly, but leaves the characters hanging. I believe this series is comparable to the lord of the rings series, that is, if the hobbit was 700 pages long. This follows the same path, a first book where the lesser enemy is defeated, then a trilogy following it where the full extent of evil is revealed. A must read for anyone who likes fantisy, but start with the beginning of the series!
Rating:
Summary: Fortress series
Review: This series is verry well written, However the last book leaves you wanting another. The conclution closes up the primary plot rather neatly, but leaves the characters hanging. I believe this series is comparable to the lord of the rings series, that is, if the hobbit was 700 pages long. This follows the same path, a first book where the lesser enemy is defeated, then a trilogy following it where the full extent of evil is revealed. A must read for anyone who likes fantisy, but start with the beginning of the series!
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