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Firebird #3
Crown of Fire
The enemy within
Lady Firebird Angelo Caldwell has been sentenced to death in absentia for treason, sedition, and heresy. The last thing she expects is a summons to return home and be confirmed as an heiress of her royal house.
But merciless foes are destroying entire cities on the Federate worlds. These renegades are trying to wipe out the messianic Caldwell bloodline, and they have almost eradicated the royal Angelos. To help trap an assassin, Firebird agrees to wear the heiress's tiara for one day of perilous pageantry.
Still, Firebird's deadliest enemy--the one that can destroy or bereave her--isn't that renegade assassin. Neither is it the despotic regent who hopes to seize the Angelos' throne, nor even the threat of dying in a desperate military strike at the renegades' world.
Unless she can bring her own pride to heel, everything she cherishes will be lost.
Lady Firebird Angelo Caldwell has been sentenced to death in absentia for treason, sedition, and heresy. The last thing she expects is a summons to return home and be confirmed as an heiress of her royal house.
But merciless foes are destroying entire cities on the Federate worlds. These renegades are trying to wipe out the messianic Caldwell bloodline, and they have almost eradicated the royal Angelos. To help trap an assassin, Firebird agrees to wear the heiress's tiara for one day of perilous pageantry.
Still, Firebird's deadliest enemy--the one that can destroy or bereave her--isn't that renegade assassin. Neither is it the despotic regent who hopes to seize the Angelos' throne, nor even the threat of dying in a desperate military strike at the renegades' world.
Unless she can bring her own pride to heel, everything she cherishes will be lost.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
13 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Tyers
33 books235 followersShe is the first child of Dr. H.C. Moore, an accomplished dentist and jazz musician who had served during WWII as a test pilot, and Barbara Putnam Moore, flutist with several California orchestras.
Kathy attended Montana State University in Bozeman, where she received a degree in microbiology, married, performed widely on her flute, and then became certified as a K-12 classroom teacher. After teaching primary grades for three years, she retired to start a family. Her only son took long naps and enjoyed playing alone, so in 1983 she set her electric typewriter on her kitchen table and started writing a book. Shortly after finishing the first draft, she joined a writers group, where she learned to critique and self-edit. First novel FIREBIRD was published by Bantam Spectra books in 1987, followed by FUSION FIRE, CRYSTAL WITNESS, and SHIVERING WORLD.
In 1993, her Bantam Spectra editor asked if she’d like to be a Star Wars © writer. THE TRUCE AT BAKURA hit the bestseller list, and life got hectic, exciting, and generally crazy for a while.
After one more novel for Bantam Spectra (ONE MIND’S EYE), Kathy took a sabbatical to deal with family issues. Targeting the Christian Booksellers Association market, she attended several writers conferences before concluding that no CBA publisher was interested in science fiction. She made three attempts to write a contemporary women’s novel, then turned back to her secret passion, which was to revive the unfinished FIREBIRD series. A year later, she connected with Steve Laube of Bethany House Publishers. Laube, a science fiction fan, was willing to take a risk on the project. Rewritten to enhance their underlying spiritual themes, FIREBIRD and FUSION FIRE reappeared in 1999 and 2000, followed in 2000 by a third Firebird novel, CROWN OF FIRE. Meanwhile, the call to write Star Wars came again, this time from Del Rey Books. NEW JEDI ORDER: BALANCE POINT was also a 2000 release.
In 2001, Kathy received the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference’s Pacesetter award for her efforts in the growing Christian science fiction genre. However, during the years that followed, worsening family troubles forced another sabbatical. Another SF novel was started but shelved. Bethany House asked for a new edition of SHIVERING WORLD, which Kathy completed while working at a retail greenhouse.
Kathy was widowed in 2004 and returned to school in 2006. Also in 2006, she completed working with classical guitarist Christopher Parkening on his autobiography, GRACE LIKE A RIVER. She has received a Diploma of Christian Studies from Regent College in Vancouver, BC, and she is working on toward a Master’s degree, mentoring several apprentice writers through the Christian Writers Guild, and drafting a new science fiction novel. Her Canadian experience includes worshipping at a marvelous Anglican church with stained-glass windows, kneeling rails, and challenging Scriptural preaching.
In October 2014 Kathy married William Thomas Gillin.
Kathy attended Montana State University in Bozeman, where she received a degree in microbiology, married, performed widely on her flute, and then became certified as a K-12 classroom teacher. After teaching primary grades for three years, she retired to start a family. Her only son took long naps and enjoyed playing alone, so in 1983 she set her electric typewriter on her kitchen table and started writing a book. Shortly after finishing the first draft, she joined a writers group, where she learned to critique and self-edit. First novel FIREBIRD was published by Bantam Spectra books in 1987, followed by FUSION FIRE, CRYSTAL WITNESS, and SHIVERING WORLD.
In 1993, her Bantam Spectra editor asked if she’d like to be a Star Wars © writer. THE TRUCE AT BAKURA hit the bestseller list, and life got hectic, exciting, and generally crazy for a while.
After one more novel for Bantam Spectra (ONE MIND’S EYE), Kathy took a sabbatical to deal with family issues. Targeting the Christian Booksellers Association market, she attended several writers conferences before concluding that no CBA publisher was interested in science fiction. She made three attempts to write a contemporary women’s novel, then turned back to her secret passion, which was to revive the unfinished FIREBIRD series. A year later, she connected with Steve Laube of Bethany House Publishers. Laube, a science fiction fan, was willing to take a risk on the project. Rewritten to enhance their underlying spiritual themes, FIREBIRD and FUSION FIRE reappeared in 1999 and 2000, followed in 2000 by a third Firebird novel, CROWN OF FIRE. Meanwhile, the call to write Star Wars came again, this time from Del Rey Books. NEW JEDI ORDER: BALANCE POINT was also a 2000 release.
In 2001, Kathy received the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference’s Pacesetter award for her efforts in the growing Christian science fiction genre. However, during the years that followed, worsening family troubles forced another sabbatical. Another SF novel was started but shelved. Bethany House asked for a new edition of SHIVERING WORLD, which Kathy completed while working at a retail greenhouse.
Kathy was widowed in 2004 and returned to school in 2006. Also in 2006, she completed working with classical guitarist Christopher Parkening on his autobiography, GRACE LIKE A RIVER. She has received a Diploma of Christian Studies from Regent College in Vancouver, BC, and she is working on toward a Master’s degree, mentoring several apprentice writers through the Christian Writers Guild, and drafting a new science fiction novel. Her Canadian experience includes worshipping at a marvelous Anglican church with stained-glass windows, kneeling rails, and challenging Scriptural preaching.
In October 2014 Kathy married William Thomas Gillin.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 22, 2020
This definitely wasn't the best of the trilogy...but, it was still good for what it was. Now, I can finally say I've read an entire Christian space opera.
April 21, 2024
Wow, that was quite the epic finale to the original Firebird trilogy! (I didn't realize that the original trilogy and latter two books were written at separate times until I saw mention of it in the comments and did some Googling.) I really can't say much about this book because it would spoil a lot of things about the previous two, but suffice it to say that I've enjoyed Firebird's story and all of its epic intensity, and I especially appreciated a certain redemption arc for one particular character. I'm super curious to continue to the final two books and see where things go as they wrap up the series and the messianic prophecy.
5 stars!
Content Advisory:
This is adult Christian scifi. While it is clean, it deals with more mature topics and intense situations that make it most suited for ages 16+.
Language:
No real life swears, and I barely remember any made up ones other than what has already been featured in the series.
Sexual/Romance:
Firebird and Brenan continue to have a healthy marriage but there are no details about anything beyond kissing. The multiple kisses they share are barely described, if they get described at all. Once, it's vaguely implied that they spend some special alone time together, but Firebird literally closes the door and the chapter ends there. The next chapter begins the next day.
Violence:
This book had less frequent violence than the second book. Violence and intense situations still occur, but the descriptions (or lack thereof) are handled in the same way here as they were in the first two books. Sometimes, there are brief mentions of blood, but nothing truly graphic or gross ever happens, though, again, awful violence is threatened at times. One of the more intense moments is when a character gets shot in the shoulder (some blood mentioned) and seems okay at first until they learn that there is now a bomb in their chest that will explode in a matter of minutes. Because of someone's Jedi-like powers, however, they survive without the explosion occurring.
There are also some space battles with explosions and implied deaths when ships crash or get shot down.
There are many, many terrible threats made by the antagonists against our heroes. For example, an antagonist states that he wanted to hide explosives in Firebirds tiara in the hopes of literally blowing her head off in front of a crowd of people, but this doesn't happen. One antagonist also threatens to destroy an unborn child. (See the "Other" section for further details.) There are also still instances of the antagonists mind controlling people to try to make them kill others.
There are still a few instances where it's mentioned that the culture of Firebird's home planet has a tradition of "honorable suicide" in certain circumstances. The series makes it clear that taking one's own life is wrong and these traditions needs to change. There are no depictions of suicide here. However, there are a couple mentions of the antagonists planning suicide and attempting to mind control someone into suicide.
Drug/Alcohol
Firebird has a trauma flashback to times in her childhood where she was punished by being injected with a certain drug that made sounds too loud, lights too bright, etc. The antagonists also mind control her once into hallucinating that there are needles in the cockpit of her ship. She has a phobia of needles, so this is upsetting for her.
Spiritual/Magical:
As with the previous books, this series is Christian fiction and there are many Christian faith themes. Again, the Sentinel powers (similar to Jedi powers in appearance, but the source is genetic engineering that has allowed certain humans to use telekinesis and mind reading/control, not "the Force.") get used. There is one group that has moral rules about how they use their telekinetic powers and one that has no rules. The latter group uses their powers for mind control and harming others, often while enjoying the harm that they do. They also use it to try to see and manipulate the future (they see multiple future possibilities, not one future set in stone, and use this information to try to force the outcome that they want) and this is an act that the moral group forbids. At one point, an individual who is trying to see the future gets the impression that a Power much greater than him (God) has control over all of the threads and he can't truly make any changes that this Power doesn't allow.
Other:
This book features a character who does genetic experimentation. Some may find it disturbing that the book starts with her being very cold toward the embryos that she fertilizes in test tubes. If they won't turn out exactly the way her manipulative father (the leader of the antagonist group) wants, she destroys them, seeing them as nothing more than a cluster of cells. She also makes mention of how sometimes the "fetuses" get destroyed later in their growth (not depicted) if that's when their imperfections become apparent, but that makes her uncomfortable because they look more human at that point.
The culture that this woman lives in barely even acknowledges anyone under adult age as human, calling all children and infants "sub-adults" and it's clear that the woman herself was not exactly treating with tender loving care in her growing-up years.
SPOILERS:
This woman's father stole some of Brenan's genetic material in the previous book and has his daughter fertilize a test-tube embryo with it, then basically forces her (through threats, not physically) to impregnate herself with it (not described) as part of a long-term plan to hurt Brenan, his people and the messianic prophecy connected to Brenan's people. (The plan, obviously, doesn't work because the messianic prophecy can't be stopped.) There are multiple scenes that visit the thoughts of this woman as she struggles with her feelings about this pregnancy. Slowly, she goes from resentful to feeling the baby move and the hormonal changes in her body, which cause her to bond with the child and acknowledge it as a baby instead of just a science experiment or a tool in her father's plans. Her father makes threats that if the plan fails, he will kill the unborn baby. and possibly force her to suicide as well. She finally decides that she can't go through with the plan and defects to Brenan and Firebird's side out of a desire to allow herself and the baby inside her to live. Brenan and Firebird choose to protect her and her unborn child. They even acknowledge the baby as their own sons' half-sister. The woman's father follows through with his threats and tries to mind control her from a distance into suicide (mentioned, but not described, and she resists) until Firebird and Brenan get her out of physical range of the mind control.
5 stars!
Content Advisory:
This is adult Christian scifi. While it is clean, it deals with more mature topics and intense situations that make it most suited for ages 16+.
Language:
No real life swears, and I barely remember any made up ones other than what has already been featured in the series.
Sexual/Romance:
Firebird and Brenan continue to have a healthy marriage but there are no details about anything beyond kissing. The multiple kisses they share are barely described, if they get described at all. Once, it's vaguely implied that they spend some special alone time together, but Firebird literally closes the door and the chapter ends there. The next chapter begins the next day.
Violence:
This book had less frequent violence than the second book. Violence and intense situations still occur, but the descriptions (or lack thereof) are handled in the same way here as they were in the first two books. Sometimes, there are brief mentions of blood, but nothing truly graphic or gross ever happens, though, again, awful violence is threatened at times. One of the more intense moments is when a character gets shot in the shoulder (some blood mentioned) and seems okay at first until they learn that there is now a bomb in their chest that will explode in a matter of minutes. Because of someone's Jedi-like powers, however, they survive without the explosion occurring.
There are also some space battles with explosions and implied deaths when ships crash or get shot down.
There are many, many terrible threats made by the antagonists against our heroes. For example, an antagonist states that he wanted to hide explosives in Firebirds tiara in the hopes of literally blowing her head off in front of a crowd of people, but this doesn't happen. One antagonist also threatens to destroy an unborn child. (See the "Other" section for further details.) There are also still instances of the antagonists mind controlling people to try to make them kill others.
There are still a few instances where it's mentioned that the culture of Firebird's home planet has a tradition of "honorable suicide" in certain circumstances. The series makes it clear that taking one's own life is wrong and these traditions needs to change. There are no depictions of suicide here. However, there are a couple mentions of the antagonists planning suicide and attempting to mind control someone into suicide.
Drug/Alcohol
Firebird has a trauma flashback to times in her childhood where she was punished by being injected with a certain drug that made sounds too loud, lights too bright, etc. The antagonists also mind control her once into hallucinating that there are needles in the cockpit of her ship. She has a phobia of needles, so this is upsetting for her.
Spiritual/Magical:
As with the previous books, this series is Christian fiction and there are many Christian faith themes. Again, the Sentinel powers (similar to Jedi powers in appearance, but the source is genetic engineering that has allowed certain humans to use telekinesis and mind reading/control, not "the Force.") get used. There is one group that has moral rules about how they use their telekinetic powers and one that has no rules. The latter group uses their powers for mind control and harming others, often while enjoying the harm that they do. They also use it to try to see and manipulate the future (they see multiple future possibilities, not one future set in stone, and use this information to try to force the outcome that they want) and this is an act that the moral group forbids. At one point, an individual who is trying to see the future gets the impression that a Power much greater than him (God) has control over all of the threads and he can't truly make any changes that this Power doesn't allow.
Other:
This book features a character who does genetic experimentation. Some may find it disturbing that the book starts with her being very cold toward the embryos that she fertilizes in test tubes. If they won't turn out exactly the way her manipulative father (the leader of the antagonist group) wants, she destroys them, seeing them as nothing more than a cluster of cells. She also makes mention of how sometimes the "fetuses" get destroyed later in their growth (not depicted) if that's when their imperfections become apparent, but that makes her uncomfortable because they look more human at that point.
The culture that this woman lives in barely even acknowledges anyone under adult age as human, calling all children and infants "sub-adults" and it's clear that the woman herself was not exactly treating with tender loving care in her growing-up years.
SPOILERS:
This woman's father stole some of Brenan's genetic material in the previous book and has his daughter fertilize a test-tube embryo with it, then basically forces her (through threats, not physically) to impregnate herself with it (not described) as part of a long-term plan to hurt Brenan, his people and the messianic prophecy connected to Brenan's people. (The plan, obviously, doesn't work because the messianic prophecy can't be stopped.) There are multiple scenes that visit the thoughts of this woman as she struggles with her feelings about this pregnancy. Slowly, she goes from resentful to feeling the baby move and the hormonal changes in her body, which cause her to bond with the child and acknowledge it as a baby instead of just a science experiment or a tool in her father's plans. Her father makes threats that if the plan fails, he will kill the unborn baby. and possibly force her to suicide as well. She finally decides that she can't go through with the plan and defects to Brenan and Firebird's side out of a desire to allow herself and the baby inside her to live. Brenan and Firebird choose to protect her and her unborn child. They even acknowledge the baby as their own sons' half-sister. The woman's father follows through with his threats and tries to mind control her from a distance into suicide (mentioned, but not described, and she resists) until Firebird and Brenan get her out of physical range of the mind control.
January 27, 2013
In this conclusion to the Firebird trilogy Lady Firebird, the protagonist, returns to her home world of Netaia to be confirmed as a heiress to the throne and to lure a Shuhr (enemy) agent into the open. However, pride tempts Firebird as she ponders how much good she could do as queen. This book wraps up most of the elements begun in the earlier books but left enough for me to want the trilogy to become a series.
The spiritual elements of this trilogy have been criticized because the first book in the series was originally written as a secular novel. I find it hard to understand why someone would criticize Kathy Tyers for writing about her faith. Christian art, in all forms, is meant to either to glorify God or present ideas about the faith. In all three books of this series, this is done rather subtly. You could remove every mention of faith and religion and all of the stories would still work. But, within the stories faith, the lack of it, or the search for it, adds another facet to various characters motivation and complexity.
None of the books in this trilogy, Firebird Fusion Fire and Crown of Fire are hard science fiction. They are stories of war, faith and romance in a science fiction setting and within that context, they are all superior stories told by a talented writer. I recommend them all.
The spiritual elements of this trilogy have been criticized because the first book in the series was originally written as a secular novel. I find it hard to understand why someone would criticize Kathy Tyers for writing about her faith. Christian art, in all forms, is meant to either to glorify God or present ideas about the faith. In all three books of this series, this is done rather subtly. You could remove every mention of faith and religion and all of the stories would still work. But, within the stories faith, the lack of it, or the search for it, adds another facet to various characters motivation and complexity.
None of the books in this trilogy, Firebird Fusion Fire and Crown of Fire are hard science fiction. They are stories of war, faith and romance in a science fiction setting and within that context, they are all superior stories told by a talented writer. I recommend them all.
September 12, 2016
Crown of Fire by: Kathy Tyers brings the Firebird trilogy to an exciting conclusion. There are space battles and political intrigue, but more importantly this book features more of the internal soul searching, central to the first two books.
Two years after her home world sent her away with orders to die, Firebird returns as the new heir to the throne. But being back brings up all those old ways of thinking. First is pride at having survived to rub this honor in her enemies faces, but under all that pride is a deeply rooted guilt. Her new God does not want her feeling this pride and smugness. Her old gods still demand her sacrifice.
Once again be prepared to think deeply about your own beliefs while reading this. I know I did.
Two years after her home world sent her away with orders to die, Firebird returns as the new heir to the throne. But being back brings up all those old ways of thinking. First is pride at having survived to rub this honor in her enemies faces, but under all that pride is a deeply rooted guilt. Her new God does not want her feeling this pride and smugness. Her old gods still demand her sacrifice.
Once again be prepared to think deeply about your own beliefs while reading this. I know I did.
July 17, 2025
I liked this a lot better than #2 this time around. I will keep this book on my list of favourites with the caveat that maybe I'll skip the second next time. I loved seeing them beat the assassinations and all the other political machinations while being true to themselves and not violating their own faith. Can't wait to finally get to book #4 after almost 20 years of liking this as a trilogy. The narrator of the audiobook was good, but there were a few words that left me wondering if I was pronouncing them the Canadian way and she said them the American way? Or was she just wrong? Sometimes I let that take me outside of the story.
August 20, 2017
This book provided a satisfactory and fitting conclusion to a solid trilogy. I'd recommend the series to fans of Christian science fiction who enjoy space battles and futuristic technology.
Like Christian sci-fi and fantasy? Check out thebookhoundchristianspecific.blogspot.com for full-length reviews, author interviews, and more!
Like Christian sci-fi and fantasy? Check out thebookhoundchristianspecific.blogspot.com for full-length reviews, author interviews, and more!
October 14, 2021
Firebird Caldwell has been called back to her home planet to be sworn in as heiress to the crown. But could this really be a plot to have her assassinated? Even if it isn’t, the sworn enemies of her husband’s people could use it as an opportunity to end the Caldwell line and so protect themselves from the fulfillment of ancient prophecy: one of the Caldwell family line will destroy the planet of the Shuhr. Even with the risk, Firebird agrees to be confirmed, in hopes of drawing out the Shuhr and a chance at mitigating the threat they pose. But is there an alternate motive for her actions? Surely pride does not yet have a hold on her?
Crown of Fire is the third book in the Firebird series. It contains many similarities in style and flow to the previous installments, and is engaging enough to keep a reader focused on the story. There are some elements that seem lacking, in that certain storylines are explored and characters introduced that have no real resolution by the end of the series, or the resolution that is there seems unsatisfactory. Granted, this is only book three of five, but it also seems that the next two books take place some time after the conclusion of this one. [MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD] One such character is that of Terza, new to this book, and impregnated with a gene sample from Brennan Caldwell. This storyline is not only somewhat strange, it also doesn’t really seem resolved. Terza, while defecting from the Shuhr, still has some deeply planted mind bugs that could cause her to snap and destroy the Starbred. The author does say that her mind has been healed by the end, but it’s hardly in passing, as though she forgot about Terza’s character until the last second and realized she needed to tie that end up. Another character introduced who receives no real resolution is Esme, the daughter of Muirnin Rogonin, current regent of Netaia. She interacts some with Prince Tel, Firebird’s cousin, who is loyal to the Angelo family and not Rogonin, and yet there is no mention of her in the last chapters, despite the seeming importance lent to her earlier in the book. Also, the entire Netaian storyline is left up in the air, though perhaps this will be tended to in future installments.
Overall the book is a good read, with a few moral lessons thrown in, particularly on the dangers of pride. Firebird suffers greatly for her prideful desire to save her people by herself; it is a vice she has struggled with throughout the series, and little wonder, considering that to her people, pride is seen as one of the great powers, a virtue to be practiced and adored, not a sin to be reviled. This is something that is rather mirrored in our own society. Pride is often touted as something to be, well, proud of. Take pride in yourself. Be proud of your accomplishments. But like Firebird finds out, pride is so often a danger to ourselves and those around us. Pride causes us to look inward, at ourselves, rather than at those around us. Pride can cause us to look down on those around us, and if we’re always looking down, how can we see Who is above us? (not my own idea, possibly from C.S. Lewis).
There is a vastness to the story, a sense of a grand overarching theme running through the book. There isn’t a whole lot of detail in regards to the galaxy in which the story takes place, and yet somehow that adds to the mystery. It seems as though there’s a much richer world present in the book than the reader is privy to, which is a good thing; it makes it feel more real.
All in all, Crown of Fire is a good tying-up of one of the main storylines running through the series. It flows well for the most part, and holds the reader’s interest. Even better, it includes some good moral lessons, done in a way that flows organically from the story and doesn’t come across as preachy.
Crown of Fire is the third book in the Firebird series. It contains many similarities in style and flow to the previous installments, and is engaging enough to keep a reader focused on the story. There are some elements that seem lacking, in that certain storylines are explored and characters introduced that have no real resolution by the end of the series, or the resolution that is there seems unsatisfactory. Granted, this is only book three of five, but it also seems that the next two books take place some time after the conclusion of this one. [MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD] One such character is that of Terza, new to this book, and impregnated with a gene sample from Brennan Caldwell. This storyline is not only somewhat strange, it also doesn’t really seem resolved. Terza, while defecting from the Shuhr, still has some deeply planted mind bugs that could cause her to snap and destroy the Starbred. The author does say that her mind has been healed by the end, but it’s hardly in passing, as though she forgot about Terza’s character until the last second and realized she needed to tie that end up. Another character introduced who receives no real resolution is Esme, the daughter of Muirnin Rogonin, current regent of Netaia. She interacts some with Prince Tel, Firebird’s cousin, who is loyal to the Angelo family and not Rogonin, and yet there is no mention of her in the last chapters, despite the seeming importance lent to her earlier in the book. Also, the entire Netaian storyline is left up in the air, though perhaps this will be tended to in future installments.
Overall the book is a good read, with a few moral lessons thrown in, particularly on the dangers of pride. Firebird suffers greatly for her prideful desire to save her people by herself; it is a vice she has struggled with throughout the series, and little wonder, considering that to her people, pride is seen as one of the great powers, a virtue to be practiced and adored, not a sin to be reviled. This is something that is rather mirrored in our own society. Pride is often touted as something to be, well, proud of. Take pride in yourself. Be proud of your accomplishments. But like Firebird finds out, pride is so often a danger to ourselves and those around us. Pride causes us to look inward, at ourselves, rather than at those around us. Pride can cause us to look down on those around us, and if we’re always looking down, how can we see Who is above us? (not my own idea, possibly from C.S. Lewis).
There is a vastness to the story, a sense of a grand overarching theme running through the book. There isn’t a whole lot of detail in regards to the galaxy in which the story takes place, and yet somehow that adds to the mystery. It seems as though there’s a much richer world present in the book than the reader is privy to, which is a good thing; it makes it feel more real.
All in all, Crown of Fire is a good tying-up of one of the main storylines running through the series. It flows well for the most part, and holds the reader’s interest. Even better, it includes some good moral lessons, done in a way that flows organically from the story and doesn’t come across as preachy.
May 10, 2024
Conclusion of a trilogy - but there are still two more books! (4 stars)
"Crown of Fire" is the third and final book of a delightful series of Christian science fiction novels by Kathy Tyers. In 2004 Christian publisher Bethany House published it together with the first two books of the series, as a single volume entitled the Firebird Trilogy. However Kathy Tyers did go on to publish two more concluding books in the series 2011 ("Wind and Shadow") and 2012 ("Daystar"). Nonetheless, "Crown of Fire" still rounds off the first two stories nicely.
In this novel, Firebird heads back to her home world of Netaia, where she is again welcomed as a royal heir. As the threat of the Shuhr and their home world Three Zed continues, Firebird and her husband Brennan plan to trap a Shuhr agent, in order to gain the information they need to make a devastating strike on the Shuhr planet. But while trying to save her people, Firebird faces a new enemy: pride.
The edition of the book that I have includes a very helpful Author's Note at the end, explaining how "Crown of Fire" has a dual theme of pride and atonement. While her desire to serve the One is noble, Firebird is tempted to be remembered for the wrong reasons, and to rely on herself. In this way Kathy Tyers offers some clear lessons for the need for our own proud hearts to be broken.
The theme of atonement is also evident in how Firebird is saved by a sacrificial death. While not intended as an allegory, Tyers explains that the apparent death and resurrection that this involves is geared to function as a parable for Firebird's enlightenment. As the author points out: "At this point in Firebird's story, she understands mercy, her flawed nature, and the necessity of dying to pride and herself. In her universe, true atonement lies in the future ... but she grasps the concept only when Brennen acts it out. His action saves her from being destroyed simply for who she is. Similarly, Christ submitted to death in our place, rescuing us from the inevitable consequences of who we are: His flawed but beloved children, created in the divine image, but tainted by our propensity to sin."
Once again Kathy Tyers offers an exciting read, and a thoughtful spiritual story, which is both engaging and upbuilding. While at times it seems to be a little weighed down by sci-fi mumbo jumbo, and with references to technological jargon and concepts that we are meant to imagine without having much of an idea how they function, overall it is a well-constructed and convincing universe, and the action carries the story well.
While not quite as good as the second in the series, this book will satisfy by far the majority of readers who have come to love Firebird and the world around her. The next book deals with Firebird's twin boys (Book 4), and in the final book the Messiah finally arrives (Book 5). But even without the two later books that were added to this series, Book 3 does round off the main story nicely.
"Crown of Fire" is the third and final book of a delightful series of Christian science fiction novels by Kathy Tyers. In 2004 Christian publisher Bethany House published it together with the first two books of the series, as a single volume entitled the Firebird Trilogy. However Kathy Tyers did go on to publish two more concluding books in the series 2011 ("Wind and Shadow") and 2012 ("Daystar"). Nonetheless, "Crown of Fire" still rounds off the first two stories nicely.
In this novel, Firebird heads back to her home world of Netaia, where she is again welcomed as a royal heir. As the threat of the Shuhr and their home world Three Zed continues, Firebird and her husband Brennan plan to trap a Shuhr agent, in order to gain the information they need to make a devastating strike on the Shuhr planet. But while trying to save her people, Firebird faces a new enemy: pride.
The edition of the book that I have includes a very helpful Author's Note at the end, explaining how "Crown of Fire" has a dual theme of pride and atonement. While her desire to serve the One is noble, Firebird is tempted to be remembered for the wrong reasons, and to rely on herself. In this way Kathy Tyers offers some clear lessons for the need for our own proud hearts to be broken.
The theme of atonement is also evident in how Firebird is saved by a sacrificial death. While not intended as an allegory, Tyers explains that the apparent death and resurrection that this involves is geared to function as a parable for Firebird's enlightenment. As the author points out: "At this point in Firebird's story, she understands mercy, her flawed nature, and the necessity of dying to pride and herself. In her universe, true atonement lies in the future ... but she grasps the concept only when Brennen acts it out. His action saves her from being destroyed simply for who she is. Similarly, Christ submitted to death in our place, rescuing us from the inevitable consequences of who we are: His flawed but beloved children, created in the divine image, but tainted by our propensity to sin."
Once again Kathy Tyers offers an exciting read, and a thoughtful spiritual story, which is both engaging and upbuilding. While at times it seems to be a little weighed down by sci-fi mumbo jumbo, and with references to technological jargon and concepts that we are meant to imagine without having much of an idea how they function, overall it is a well-constructed and convincing universe, and the action carries the story well.
While not quite as good as the second in the series, this book will satisfy by far the majority of readers who have come to love Firebird and the world around her. The next book deals with Firebird's twin boys (Book 4), and in the final book the Messiah finally arrives (Book 5). But even without the two later books that were added to this series, Book 3 does round off the main story nicely.
November 17, 2021
It's interesting to go back and revisit a series you once loved. I remember reading this trilogy as a kid and thinking it was the greatest thing ever.
Now? Meh.
Basic ideas were there, and an attempt to present a strong, female lead. But then a lot of it dissolved into an emotionally forced romance and a constant berating of the lead's tendency to be proud.
I still read them all and will probably give the later added sequels a chance so I guess it's a good enough distraction.
Now? Meh.
Basic ideas were there, and an attempt to present a strong, female lead. But then a lot of it dissolved into an emotionally forced romance and a constant berating of the lead's tendency to be proud.
I still read them all and will probably give the later added sequels a chance so I guess it's a good enough distraction.
February 18, 2021
This one was a bit better than the previous book, still with some tendency to get sidetracked but it clipped along better. The main thrust of the story, the conflict between the Shuhr and Firebird, was resolved pretty well and I enjoyed the general story.
October 30, 2021
Wanted to love it, but sadly didn’t. The overly religious tones took away from the beauty of science fiction at times as the allegory was a little confusing. Loved how the story started in book one, but felt like the author lost the plot along the way.
February 16, 2025
Magnificent!! An emotional rollercoaster, but wow, what a finish!
Note: I'd definitely read it rather than listening, though. I found the narration annoyingly distracting, and it significantly changes the tone of the book and the main characters' personalities.
Note: I'd definitely read it rather than listening, though. I found the narration annoyingly distracting, and it significantly changes the tone of the book and the main characters' personalities.
July 21, 2017
Great read!
I thoroughly enjoyed the series. Lots of action, great plots and different aspects of the Christian walk I was led to consider. Great job to the author!
I thoroughly enjoyed the series. Lots of action, great plots and different aspects of the Christian walk I was led to consider. Great job to the author!
October 1, 2020
Not as good as the first two, but I still enjoyed it.
November 4, 2022
I absolutely loved it. Cannot wait to read the next book. Highly recommended.
December 17, 2022
I loves how this book ended the story to a satisfying conclusion.
March 23, 2023
I enjoyed this one. Everything wrapped up nicely with just the right amount of edge of your seat angst for a bit.
February 4, 2020
I am still enthralled with this Firebird series.
October 20, 2024
A fantastic conclusion to the OG Firebird trilogy. Kathy has created a fantastic world with memorable characters, complex plot that will have you think deeply about your faith and purpose.
June 17, 2022
Again, this third book in the Firebird series of Christian Sci-fi/fantasy novels is well-written and highly engaging. In this one, Firebird is asked to return to her native planet to be recognized as a royal heir since so many of her family members have died. While still struggling with her "turning" problem, she also battles pride.
December 26, 2016
Crown of Fire was a very satisfying end to a fantastic Sci-Fi trilogy. I found the pace of the book slightly slower than the first two books, but it still kept me reading. I also appreciated the deeper themes in this book, particularly the theme of pride which Tyers skilfully and subtly wove through the struggle of the main character, Firebird.
February 6, 2023
This is my absolute favorite series and the third book is just as good as the first two. Kathy Tyers has built an exquisite world that I can’t get enough of, even 20 years after my first read! Firebird and Brennen will have you on the edge of your seat as their story comes to its conclusion.
July 12, 2012
7/10. Perhaps the weakest of the three, but still entertaining and thought-provoking.
April 8, 2017
Perfect ending to the Firebird Trilogy (did I mention that it's the best Sci-Fi trilogy ever?).
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