Fortress of Eagles

Fortress in the Eye of Time: 2

ISBN: 0-06-105261-2 Order from: Amazon.com

Highly competent continuation of a sword and sorcery series, well-focused but more of a transition piece than a stand-alone novel.

Reviewed by David on November 22, 1998

Genre: Fantasy (Intrigue)

Synopsis: In this sequel to Fortress in the Eye of Time, Tristen, a young man created by the late wizard Mauryl, continues his best to cope with his unfolding memories and powers, while trying to be a friend to the young king Cefwyn. Meanwhile, Cefwyn, who came to the throne when his autocratic father fell to treachery, has his hands full with the intrigues of the Northern barons, the hidden agendas of the priests, and the resentment and fear caused by Tristen's enigmatic origin and talents. Cefwyn's dream of marrying the princess of Elwynor, a hostile neighboring land, and bringing piece to the splintered land is threatened by the rebellion in Elwynor, accusations of sorcery and the power struggles at the court.

Full Review: In Fortress in the Eye of Time, the exiled young prince Cefwyn and suspected Sihhë Tristen become friends when treachery and magic combine in the assault on the kingdom of Ylesuin. In this novel, Cefwyn is now king, and instead of deadly battles he struggles with deadly plots. Forced to compromise to gain support of the fickle and suspicious aristocrats and Sihhë-hating priesthood, the friendship between the two young men is strained by the political necessities. Tristen, the bewildered hero of this novel, tries to learn the mystery of his existence, as well as that of the humans around him. However, the study of magic, love, friendship and faith is rarely straightforward, especially for a man (though not a Man) who is thrust into a position of power. Finally, becoming a leader in his own right, he has to cope with fighting, betrayal, corruption and loyalty, all without the advice of his wizardly mentor or his king. Not without painful losses, Tristen rises to the occasion.

This is a novel set in the interesting and solid-seeming world of Ylesuin, with its own history and laws. The characters are fairly interesting, and sticking mostly to Tristen, the narrative keeps a tight focus. For most of the first half of the novel, the pace seems rather slow, and the court struggles appear somewhat petty and unexciting. When Tristen leaves the court, the struggles become more immediate and excitement is reintroduced to the plot. In some cases, the emotional struggles of Tristen seem artificially exaggerated, as if to add angst and to reduce effectiveness of the hero until a final breakthrough—a technique prone to abuse.

This novel is a pleasant continuation in the series, and sets up for a larger struggle in the soon-to-be-published sequel, Fortress of Owls. On its own, however, this book lacks both excitement and scope.

Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 6; Style: 6; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;

ISBN: 0-06-105261-2 Order from: Amazon.com