Shadowfane

The Cycle of Fire #3

by Janny Wurts, Geoff Taylor (Illustrator)

Ivainson Jaric, heir to the Firelord's legacy, is caught in a life and death struggle to win his inherited powers. Taen Dreamweaver battles her evil brother, corrupted by demons to slaughter his own kind. If either one of the falls, the Stormwarden will never win free of his icy imprisonment to help their cause.

As Scait, Demonlord of Shadowfane, uses his captured human talent for his conquest, his machinations raise an even greater threat, one that could hurl all the world to its destruction , and end mankind's chance of reclaiming freedom among the stars...

And so the Cycle of Fire races toward its powerful conclusion!

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Science Fiction, Audiobook

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Janny Wurts is the author of War of Light and Shadow series, and To Ride Hell's Chasm. Her eighteen published titles include a trilogy in audio, a short story collection, as well as the internationally best selling Empire trilogy, co authored with Raymond E. Feist, with works translated into fifteen languages worldwide. Her latest title in the Wars of Light and Shadow series, Destiny's Conflict, culminates more than thirty years of carefully evolved ideas. The cover images on the books, both in the US and abroad, are her own paintings, depicting her vision of characters and setting.

Through her combined talents as a writer/illustrator, Janny has immersed herself in a lifelong ambition: to create a seamless interface between words and pictures that will lead reader and viewer into the imagination. Her lavish use of language invites the mind into a crafted realm of experience, with characters and events woven into a complex tapestry, and drawn with an intensity to inspire active fuel for thought. Her research includes a range of direct experience, lending her fantasy a gritty realism, and her scenes involving magic crafted with intricate continuity. A self-taught painter, she draws directly from the imagination, creating scenes in a representational style that blurs the edges between dream and reality. She makes few preliminary sketches, but envisions her characters and the scenes that contain them, then executes the final directly from the initial pencil drawing.

The seed idea for the Wars of Light and Shadow series occurred, when, in the course of researching tactic and weapons, she viewed a documentary film on the Battle of Culloden Moor. This was the first time she had encountered that historical context of that brutal event, with the embroidery of romance stripped from it. The experience gave rise to an awakening, which became anger, that so often, our education, literature and entertainment slant history in a manner that equates winners and losers with moral right and wrong, and the prevalent attitude, that killing wars can be seen as justifiable solutions when only one side of the picture is presented.

Her series takes the stance that there are two sides to every question, and follows two characters who are half brothers. One a bard trained as a master of magecraft, and the other a born ruler with a charismatic passion for justice, have become cursed to lifelong enmity. As one sibling raises a devoted mass following, the other tries desperately to stave off defeat through solitary discipline and cleverness. The conflict sweeps across an imaginary world, dividing land and people through an intricate play of politics and the inborn prejudices of polarized factions already set at odds. Readers are led on a journey that embraces both viewpoints. The story explores the ironies of morality which often confound our own human condition - that what appears right and just, by one side, becomes reprehensible when seen from the opposite angle. What is apparently good for the many, too often causes devastating suffering to the nonconformist minority. Through the interactions between the characters themselves, the reader is left to their own discretion to interpret the moral impact of events.

Says Janny of her work, "I chose to frame this story against a backdrop of fantasy because I could handle even the most sensitive issues with the gloves off - explore the myriad angles of our troubled times with the least risk of offending anyone's personal sensibilities. The result, I can hope, is an expanding journey of the spirit that explores the grand depths, and rises to the challenge of mapping the ethereal potential of an evolving planetary consciousness... explore free thought and compassionate understanding."

Beyond writing, Janny's award winning paintings have been showcased in exhibitions of imaginative artwork, among them a commemorative exhibition for NASA's 25th Anniversary; the Art of the Cosmos at Hayden Planet

Reviews

[Mayim de Vries · Rating 1 out of 5]

“If life were just, I should have died before you found me.”

Can there be something more awful and denigrating for the book than a bad review?

I didn’t think it possible until I discovered that I actually forgot to write a review on Janny Wurts’ Shadowfane that I read the librarian knows how many books ago.

This is worse than bad especially if you remember that this is the last book in the Circle of Fire trilogy. If the finale is so forgettable, it does not speak well either of the whole plot or your ability to build the momentum and tension. It might be that there is nothing to break through and no emotions to dissipate.

To be honest all I remember about the Shadowfane is that a blond protagonist is pitched against the dark-haired antagonist (yes! the symbolism is not lost on me) in a final battle between good and evil. Demons are involved but before you think that it means all hell breaks loose you’d be mistaken because it only means zombies. Especially that “demons” is merely a codeword for psionically endowed aliens. OK, evil aliens who plan to destroy the humans.

There is also super-advanced technology completely forgotten by the humankind, but per Clarke’s First Law, this will perform functions of magic so the whole sci-fi and fantasy mashup was rather perfunctory and in the end disappointing. This rendered the Shadowfane with some Ice and Fire vibes (especially that we have siblings at odds) mostly because there is also a lot of sailing, riding and brooding.

For some reason, this short book draaaaagged on forever. Or longer. I don’t even remember how things end! And it does not bother me a bit.

I still admire and appreciate Janny Wurts writing. I think her imagination and narrative style is exceptional. But this trilogy is precisely what the Inheritance series is to the Broken Earth in Ms Jemisin’s writing. An early attempt, not really successful and only hinting at the writer’s true talent and capabilities.

I cannot say I recommend unless you happen to be stranded on a lonely island and have grown bored with counting the seagulls.

Also in the series:

1. Stormwarden ★★★★☆
2. Keeper of the Keys ★★★☆☆ (warning, I am being generous here)

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delivers in spades and it’s a brilliant and strong conclusion to the Cycle of Fire.
Warmly recommended to fantasy readers of all ages.

Listen well. Learn patience, for the Dream-weaver and her captain go free only to dance to a grander plan. Be content, Dark-dreamer. You shall have what you desire, and sooner than you presently think.”

[Kat Hooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

Shadowfane, the concluding volume of Janny Wurts’ Cycle of Fire trilogy is an action-packed and exciting finale. As humankind is being destroyed by demons (who we now know are aliens) Jaric has realized that he has no choice but to brave the Cycle of Fire. If he succeeds, this trial will gain him the powers of a Firelord, but he risks the destructive madness that afflicted his father.

The action never lets up and, along the way, there are plenty of wins and losses and lots of heart-breaking suffering for all of our heroes — especially Jaric, Taen, Taen’s mother, Corley, and the Kielmark. There are also emotional displays of courage, grace, hope, faith, forgiveness, and love — themes which I appreciate in fantasy literature and miss in the writings of a few recently popular authors. The ending of Shadowfane is satisfying, but intriguingly not closed.

While reading The Cycle of Fire, I found myself once again greatly admiring Ms. Wurts’ imagination. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say that I loved the science fiction elements and how Veriset Nav, motivated — almost consciously — to complete its program, developed its own mythos to hide itself from humans and aliens.

I read the audio version produced by Audible UK. David Thorpe’s enthusiasm is infectious. If you read The Cycle of Fire this way, I suggest using Ms. Wurts’ website as a resource — she has posted a helpful map and a glossary (http://www.paravia.com).

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it first came out and when I came across it again had to dive right in. It's just as good as I remember.

Shadowfane (The Cycle of Fire #3) is an intriguing and epic journey and is a fantastic read. I am addicted to this authors work.
Jannys’ work invites readers to unravel its intricacies layer by layer as you venture into a world that you will not want to put down and want to remain amongst the pages. She masterfully weaves together a tapestry of suspenseful storytelling. The narrative unfolds through edge-of-your-seat plots and enigmas that ensnare readers from the very first page.
This story seamlessly blends fantasy, high fantasy, supernatural and paranormal elements. This series is gripping and exciting. It is a tangled web that leaves you breathless and craving more. It is filled with loss and hope, magic and danger, suspense and tension, magic and action.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demons or aliens, star ships with the technology to create sorcerers, plenty of psychological drama reins in the last installment of The Cycle of Fire.

For those who find Janny Wurts 'too difficult' will find this trilogy fairly easy going, but with some sophisticated psychological twists. This element in Wurts' writing is what draws me to her books. As in her later work, layers are uncovered gradually to reveal depth and the unexpected.

Dreamweaver, Firelord, and Stormwarden fight heroically to save mankind from the destruction desired by alien races (or demons) in revenge for being taken from their home planets.

I do think a fourth book would be lovely. There is plenty of meat here for more.

A great listen!

[Gina · Rating 1 out of 5]

“Taen traced her fingers along the line of Jaric’s collarbone. Gone to the Vaere as a CHILD OF TEN, she had never known a man. Aside from the premature development that resulted from her mastery, in years and experience she was still VERY NEAR TO A CHILD; but contact with elders on Imrill Kand had influenced the sensitivity that later gave rise to her Dreamwwaver’s powers. In some things the girl possessed an understanding far beyond her age. Taen snagged laces of braided gold and deftly began to untie them. ‘Did I hear you say I was cold? That’s a lie.”

And then the “very near to a child” heroine has sex with the 17/18 year old hero. Was it necessary to the plot for Taen to be 10? Nope. Would the story changed at all if she was older? Nope, again.

Besides THAT whole mess, the worldbuilding for this series was a mess. It felt like I could never guess where the plot was going or get any real sense of the world because Wurts gave you only exactly what you needed to understand the scene you were in. Also I resent how difficult it supposedly was two master two sathid bonds only for Jaric to master like two DOZEN bonds??? Two bonds already killed most people who tried. Three bonds was never successful, the Vaere killed all those who tried. There are no stakes because the rules don’t apply.

Wurts is known for her other series, not this one. Probably for good reason. I still want to check out her other works, but this was a big, fat miss for me.

[K.D. Marchesi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The finale to The Cycle of Fire did not disappoint. Following on from the Keeper of the Keys, Jaric has resigned to his fate. In order to free the Stormwarden, he must undergo the cycle of fire and hope that his sanity says with him through the process.

While I didn’t enjoy book three as much as the other two; (the sci-Fi elements took a bit of brain work for me and I felt like the build up from books one and two regarding the cycle itself didn’t really pay off when we came to that element), I have to admit, the author has evoked fairly strong emotions as I read though this third installment.

Wurts actually had me feeling physically claustrophobic at one point. Isn’t that nuts!

I once again loved the descriptive prose, the subtle but vast world building and the thematics explored. Every time I finish a Wurts book, I can’t wait to see what else she has in store!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very impressed with how this series conclusion wrapped up. The second installment left me feeling as if this was going to be a 2 star read. The final book redeems. Powerfully emotional and reflective on the merits of hope and forgiveness.

[Barry Mulvany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good end to the series.

Again there's not too much of a time difference between this book and the previous, though the first quarter covers a decent bit of time. Jaric is now on the Isle of the Vaere and Taen is back on Imrill Kand, and things are looking slightly more hopeful for humanity. However Shadowfane have their own plans which will completely change things.

Luckily most of the problems I had with the second book have been resolved here. The plot moves fast and we finally have confirmation on most things that have been hinted at before. Jaric is out of his sulk and is more interesting for it, though Taen is still a bit passive. We also have more POV's from the demons which gives a better balance to proceedings.

There are some really standout moments in this book. What happens at Morbrith is truly shocking and was quite unexpected. The whole climax was brilliant and I would love another book or series continuing this story that would be pure Space Fantasy, there are far too few of these that really are an even mix of both genres. The power creep in these books is pretty astounding but it came rather naturally and doesn't feel forced which is good.

There is a lot of inward monologues and overly dramatic soul searching in these books that means they probably won't be to everyone's taste. However there is a great story here in a traditional farmboy type narrative with enough unique points to it to make it interesting. If you are looking for something familiar but different that's also well written I would recommend giving these a go, even with the drag in book two.

Please see this and other reviews at https://barrysbloodybooks.home.blog/

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this trilogy from start to finish. Wurts' gift with language is a joy to read and the nuance she brings to characters and their motivations is breathtaking - as is the depth of the mystic arts she fills her fantasy's with.

With the sweep of a handful of words she paints visions in the mind and touches human emotion that tugs at the heart long after you have put down the book.

If ever there was a trilogy that deserved a sequel - or at least 'one more book!' - then it is this one. While wholly satisfying in and of itself there is s till more than enough story to follow for me.

[Harris Bolus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and pretty well written, but not as thoughtful as I expected from Janny based on her later work. The antagonists are written as pure evil NPCs, there are certain choices that serve as major plot points but don’t seem to make any sense, and victory in the end is a bit too easy. And there’s a lot of wasted time throughout the series, spent in travel or recovery, where it feels almost like the rest of the world is taking a break and just waiting to come back on stage.

There is a lot to like about this book and this series though. It’s a fun fantasy series with high stakes, lots of magic, and an interesting world. You can see exploration of ideas and writing techniques that Janny ends up using masterfully in WoLaS.

[Tommy Verhaegen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een logisch vervolg op beide vorige delen. Maar toch minder bevredigend. Er blijven te veel witte vlekken over, wanhoop is overheersend terwijl je een toenemende spanning verwacht. Er gebeurt veel dat niet echt duidelijk wordt gemaakt, enkel een vage beschrijving van feiten en gevolgen. Als lezer voel je voortdurend een behoefte aan meer details en verduidelijking. Eigenlijk komt het er samenvattend op neer dat het geheel ontmenselijkt wordt.
Wat niet wegneemt dat je geboeid blijft lezen tot het einde. Geen stand-alone, je hebt echt wel de kennis van de 2 vorige delen nodig.
Al bij al een hele goeie reeks met een originele invalshoek.

[Teri B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am glad I made it to the end of this trilogy.

It definitely was written in a time when timing and pacing were completely different, and the mixture between action and introspection is something I have not come across before.

There, too, is the mix between science fiction and fantasy that finally comes together.

What I most like is the subversions of what I would assume were standard tropes in the 1980ies, that the author has worked into her story line.

In the end it is the female with her seemingly weak power of dream weaving that gets them out of the world threatening situation.

[Bec D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the concluding book to “the cycle of fire” trilogy. I hadn’t read fantasy in quite a while and it was a nice change to read a plot-driven book. Janny Wurts is such a great fantasy writer and so under-rated. I recommend her books for teenagers and young adults. Great vintage fantasy classics of 80s and 90s.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the series, but felt the third book kind of went off the rails halfway through.

[Michael Vawser]

2P

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF 100 pages from the end.
I got bored, the trilogy could have been compacted into a single novel. Too little story spread too thin.

[Mark L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember when I first read the series of which this book is the culmination. I think that a lot of readers of fantasy will empathise with Jaric, as I did. His sense of displacement never really leave him, even when he completes his training with the Vaere.

What really interested me was the room left to continue the story of the Firelords heir. The wild Sathids he has tamed and incorporated into his DNA leave limitless potential for Wurts to take the idea out to the stars. When the Wars of Light and Shadow are complete I look forward to reading more of Jaric et al.

[Wayne Kearney · Rating 1 out of 5]

It might be a good story, but I couldn't get past the first two chapters. Her writing style is hard to describe, but it isn't easy to read. It's like trying to read Walter Scott. It might be a good story, but the writing gets in the way. I gave up on it. I might try one of her later books someday, but I wouldn't recommend this.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

#3 smoother, very intense actionand enaction

[Noelle Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biggest problem with this book was that the ending read as if she ran out of paper and had to wrap it all up in twenty pages. Overall, a pretty good, uplifting read.

[Elentarri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original concept, beautiful writing.

[Edwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Komt nog

[Krystin G]

Endings are hard - I get it. Always sucks when authors make (previously compelling) characters do dumb stuff to lengthen the plot and add a few chapters.