The Black Fortress

The Gryphon Chronicles #6

by E.G. Foley

NY Times Bestselling Author E.G. Foley brews up a magical potion for fantasy readers of all ages!

Take a dash of Harry Potter and a splash of Oliver Twist, add a pinch of steampunk and a sprinkle of Victorian fairy lore, and what do you get? The Gryphon Chronicles! A rollicking fantasy adventure series that's as much fun for grownups as it is for kids.

Behind the iron gates of The Black Fortress, evil gathers its forces, preparing to strike...

Three months ago, the horrible news that the Dark Druids captured his beloved pet Gryphon sent thirteen-year-old Jake Everton reeling - especially since he knows he's the one the warlock brotherhood really wants. It's a trap, and poor Red is just the bait. Well aware of the threat, the Elders have forbidden the daring boy hero from taking any action to rescue his faithful companion. Instead, Jake and his friends must cool their heels at the Order's palace headquarters, where they'll be "safe."

But treachery stalks the hallowed corridors of Merlin Hall. Palace intrigues abound as a traitor makes a secret pact with the enemy. And when a terrifying prophecy emerges with Jake at the center of it all, the full-scale magical war between good and evil that the Order has long dreaded only needs one spark to explode...

The Gryphon Chronicles
1) THE LOST HEIR
2) JAKE & THE GIANT
3) THE DARK PORTAL
3.5) THE GINGERBREAD WARS
4) RISE OF ALLIES
5) SECRETS OF THE DEEP
6) THE BLACK FORTRESS
7) THE DRAGON LORD
8) THE SORCERER'S ARMY

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade

550 pages, Hardcover

Published February 6, 2023

About the author

E.G. FOLEY is the pen name of a husband-and-wife writing duo. He's the "E" (Eric), a former chiropractor turned middle-school teacher - now full-time author. Eric first got the creative writing bug at the age of seven and hasn't stopped scribbling down stories since. She's the "G" (Gael), a New York Times, USA Today, & Publisher's Weekly bestselling author. Writing for adults as Gaelen Foley, Gael's award-winning novels from Big 5 publishers have hit all the major bestseller lists, been translated into 20+ languages, and sold millions of copies worldwide. Together, they are the authors of the pulse-pounding middle grade fantasy series, The Gryphon Chronicles, about a twelve-year-old orphan living on the streets of Victorian London, who discovers he is the long-lost heir of an aristocratic family with magical powers. Come and join the adventure today!

Reviews

[Kristin Gregozeski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Jake and his friends just gets better and better. My kids (ages 6 and 11) and I read/listened to the rest of this series this summer and loved every second of it.

We were lucky to receive an ARC copy of the Black Fortress and once we downloaded it we could not put our kindles down.
I loved this book for so many reasons and really did not want it to end. In the book; Jake, Archie, Isabelle, Dani, Maddox all grow as people and learn a lot about themselves. The character development was excellent.
As if being a teenager isn’t enough, these kids, have action packed adventures through out the book that had me laughing and yelling along with the book.

If you are looking for a fun adventure filled with magic, laughter, danger and so much more, read this book and this series now!

I received a ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book. Getting this advanced copy did not influence my opinion on the book. I would have given it 5 stars and added it to one of my favorite books ever anyway!

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

(New)5.4 stars in my insane rating system. This is not as high order of a book as I remember, but it is the best installment in this series by far. The first part was a bit slow, but the stakes are raised and, for the first time, something bad may come.

(Old)TOO SHORT. 630 PAGES AND TOO SHORT. This is my third favorite book ever, probably. AND THE DRAGON LORD ISN’T EVEN WITH A COVER.

[Wendy Wilkerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This series is one that entertains adults and kids alike. It was hard to put down. I keep discovering my daughter reading it after she's supposed to be asleep. My son has been reading first thing every morning.

[Corey Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ties many of the previous adventures together. I really enjoyed it.

[Adam Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to The Gryphon Chronicles earlier this year and I haven't put the books down since.

The Black Fortress gave me everything I wanted and more, from the way the story developed to the way the characters grew and built upon their already complex personalities. It keeps up with the pace that the previous book set and keeps you engaged constantly - the only reason I didn't finish it one day was because I couldn't force my eyes open any longer! One of the book's best features is the relationships between characters and how they can impact those characters and those around them. If you're looking for a series of books that is the perfect balance of the regular and magical world, that promotes emotional growth and diversity, then I highly recommend The Gryphon Chronicles!

I voluntarily read an Advanced Review Copy of this book and the views expressed are my honest opinions.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid addition to the series. Be aware that it is not the end quite yet. Looking forward to the next one.
Yet again, this book is filled with the exciting adventures of Jake and company. The character development is complex and engrossing. Some of the relationships morphed in ways I was not expecting. This series has more depth than many middle grade stories.
I did receive a complimentary ARC; all opinions are, as ever, my own and freely given.

[Aleena Grosjean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! The characters are so believable and you get to see their growth from the first book to now and it is really awesome. I love how the authors give you a glimpse into the minds of the villains, as well. So many questions are answered in this installment and the battle between good and evil is epic. Can't wait for the final installment and cannot recommend enough!

[Jemima Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt confusing because the main characters are between age 11 and 13, with a couple of less important characters more like 16, and yet the themes and content were suitable for older than 13 year old teenagers. It was quite a step up in violence and themes such as complex redemption, difficult love affairs etc which, while handled very well felt really jarring each time the relative ages of the children were mentioned. I don’t understand the authors’ choices not to allow Jake and his friends to have grown up between books, making them 15 or 16 now, a far more suitable age to be exploring such content. My only other problem was the length of the book. Nearly 24 hours on audible…I would never have got through reading it in hard copy format…the book felt like at least 2 if not 3 stories all bundled into one ‘bumper’ issue.

Fortunately the pacing and problems with the authenticity of the characters, that I experienced in the last book in the series, has been corrected in this story, but given it is aimed at middle grade readers, the length and some of the content is highly unsuitable for this group of readers. As a teacher, I speak with authority when I say that I doubt many of today’s youth would persist through such a lengthy tome without loosing heart someway through it.

Certainly my 14 year old had similar criticisms to my own, in particular with the length of the story. He also found the swapping back and forth of different character plots disconcerting as he struggled to hold the very different pacing and mood each plot projected, while swapping between each other. This disturbed me less as I am more familiar with this type of episodic writing.

This series started with lovely reads for the middle grade age group and now seems so self indulgent in its writing of the last two instalments, as if they have forgotten who their audience and fan base are, or have become confused about their consumers’ needs. When you write for children, it is essential to stay connected and walk in their shoes…if you write for a 13 year old, make your 13 year old character believable and relatable. I have given 3 stars as I did enjoy the character development and complexity of plot as an adult reader, but as I say, I do not believe this book was intentionally written for an adult audience. Hence it is inherently problematic.

[Pam Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew!

This was the most chillingly action packed book so far in this series. I was very tense during some of the plot. That said, it is still magically extraordinary, and I do recommend it to readers who understand that it is fiction and only entertainment. I have some very young friends who love this series, so I am very careful to ask if they want to skip some scary parts. Most say no... Lol.
Enjoy!

[ikallam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok out of all the other books this book is a gem. But there are some parts I wish would be cut out but i really did enjoy reading this book. I am annoyed that they tried to turn Jake into a "gentleman" Honestly I would be worried for his health if he started acting like that not "proud". 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

But among other things this book has a lack of actully PROGRESSING. The amount of chapters spent on one time or place is infuriating.

[Robyn Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this next novel in the series! Many things I didn’t expect and enjoying how the characters are continuing to develop. My only complaint was that I’ve listened to them all on audio so far and the different narrator was a jarring change. He did fine, but I preferred the previous narrator.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I think the characters of Jake and his friends are becoming more developed. Their personalities are shining through. each has their own trials and tribulations, but they always seem to pull together as a team.
I think the book is very interesting. I think the adventures are fun and are a good read. I look forward to the next book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this and few weeks ago and haven't been on here to list it.
This was a good continuation of the story. I still don't like how Jake and Dani are becoming slightly romantic? It's too much for what is a child's story basically. It feels a bit off, but the rest is entertaining. I'm very invested in knowing how this series turns out.

[Kathy Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining

This book builds on the adventure quite seamlessly. The development of the characters is engrossing. Each individual has grown and developed as the story progressed. On to the next book now.

[Miss Cecile · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting action-packed climax.

The action is nonstop in this one. It drops you straight into action and keeps going nonstop. The story keeps raising its stakes. I wish it would have explored some of the battles more, but overall I really looked foward to reading further on.

[Parker Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one became my new favorite book in The Gryphon Chronicles series. It’s the most action packed book in the series so far and the characters became more developed. Each character was going through their own tribulations to improve themselves. It made me more excited to read The Dragon Lord.

[Natalie Lannatewitz · Rating 2 out of 5]

We loved all the other books from this series, but not only did the different narrator make it hard to get into, it was also a bit morbid for me.

[Kyler Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

just wonderful

Loved all the books so far can’t wait to read more!!
Thanks for your magnificent words and stories. Thank you

[Geraldine Lavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Very good style of writing, a little reminiscent of Harry Potter but enjoyable!!!
I certainly would recommend these stories to all ages from 12 to 80!!!

[Peggy Keleher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Black Fortress

Excellent book! Loads of action and great storylines, Jake and his friends keep saving the day all while advancing their skills.

[Tony Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!!

Once again, the Foleys do not disappoint. There's action from the start all the way until the end. A bit of drama is mixed in but is central to the story.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome!!!!!!!

[Judith von Kirchbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have been fans of this series since we first discovered Jake and the gang a couple of years ago in “The gingerbread wars” when looking for a nice holiday audible listen for a longish drive to a Christmas party. Our family has spent many hours reading these books out loud, listening to the audio books (which are absolutely FABULOUS, the narrator is the best), then debating points in the stories (especially with our older kids). My children are now between 11 and 17 but we all still impatiently awaited this next installment.

And the wait was worth it. “The Black Fortress" is wonderful, but you habe to read the other installments in the series first, since the storyline is better appreciated in order. Even though we did start with “the gingerbread wars” and than went back for the first books in the series.
The series is aimed towards a middle school audience but our high schoolers still read it or listen to it, the story is really well constructed and even highly enjoyable for adults, it is definitely not too predictable. There are layers upon layers of detail now. The characters have been amazingly fleshed out and given complex motivations and reactions, making them even more real. The personalities practically jump off the page. With “The black fortress” the action and storyline are still accessible to the younger readers (our youngest is 11 now), but there is more to absorb and ponder for the adult reader. There is even a whiff of romance (which my younger kids thought was too sappy).

The authors have stated that there was too much to Jake's story to put into one book, which is why this "final" installment was split into two. So now we are tapping our fingers for "The Dragon Lord" to come out. We feel like we got to know Jack and his family and friends and definitely want to know how the story continues.

We voluntarily read an Advanced Review Copy of this book and the views expressed are our (mine compilated with that of my 4 kids) honest opinions.

[John F. Wells Jr.]

Man I want to climb into the book and help if I could.

So I really enjoy this series because I can read it to my Grandkids and enjoy it myself. The Gingerbread Wars is great for the kids during the holidays. I hope all works out for Jake, Red, Dani and the rest of the crew during there time of need. Stories like this get me so wound up to help the good guy's and do just awful things to the bad guys. This is a great series of books so remember if you have kids who like adventure stories this would be the one.

[William Dickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting

Such a fun book. The whole series is wonderful. The finale should be exciting and action packed. I hope it doesn't take too long.