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Fortress #2
Fortress of Eagles
The wizard saved his greatest spell for last. Tristen is the name of that Shaping, and Tristen knows nothing else for Neither who he was, nor what he is, nor least of all why the wizard created him. And now the wizard is dead. And young Cefwyn is King. Cefwyn has a A united Ylesuin, and a peace his land has never known. It is a dream that persists in spite of a court bent on ruling the King... self-serving barons who abhor wizards and foreigners. Hide your powers, the King asks Tristen. Cefwyn needs his only friend, this young man of mysterious origins who is more brother than vassal. He relies on Tristen, trusts him, protects him... and plans for a war that will bring his dreams to pass... or bring down ruin upon them all. And so a sword gathers dust in a corner of Tristen's room. One side says Truth. The other side says Illusion. The servants refuse to touch it... and Tristen ignores it with all his might. The eagerly awaited sequel to her acclaimed Fortress in the Eye of Time, C.J. Cherryh's newest high fantasy triumph continues the soaring tale of two friends, sovereign and sorcerer, in an age of wizardry. Fortress of Eagles is a legend in the making, an epic saga of destiny and ancient magic, an intimate tale of love and loyalty in a magical world spanning centuries.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
103 people are currently reading
857 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Cherryh
292 books3,561 followersCurrently resident in Spokane, Washington, C.J. Cherryh has won four Hugos and is one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed authors in the science fiction and fantasy field. She is the author of more than forty novels. Her hobbies include travel, photography, reef culture, Mariners baseball, and, a late passion, figure skating: she intends to compete in the adult USFSA track. She began with the modest ambition to learn to skate backwards and now is working on jumps. She sketches, occasionally, cooks fairly well, and hates house work; she loves the outdoors, animals wild and tame, is a hobbyist geologist, adores dinosaurs, and has academic specialties in Roman constitutional law and bronze age Greek ethnography. She has written science fiction since she was ten, spent ten years of her life teaching Latin and Ancient History on the high school level, before retiring to full time writing, and now does not have enough hours in the day to pursue all her interests. Her studies include planetary geology, weather systems, and natural and man-made catastrophes, civilizations, and cosmology…in fact, there's very little that doesn't interest her. A loom is gathering dust and needs rethreading, a wooden ship model awaits construction, and the cats demand their own time much more urgently. She works constantly, researches mostly on the internet, and has books stacked up and waiting to be written.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
January 4, 2019
This book would make little sense to someone who hadn't read the first in this series, Fortress in the Eye of Time. While it starts a new storyline, there are so many callbacks, small and large, that I can't imagine someone coming in cold could enjoy it.
The big baddie in the first book was dealt with fairly definitively by its end. The impression I got with this volume, more strongly than with some other series, is that Fortress had had its contract renewed and a new conflict, a war with a greater scope that would take much longer to resolve, was needed in order to keep things "epic."
I had issues with the first volume's pacing, and those issues came back in force in this book, and in near-identical ways. To put it kindly, sometimes things are interesting, and at others... well... they aren't. I understood in the first book that you need lots of labor and effort to move soldiers and support even a short distance--did we need to go over that again in this book, and at great length, and more than once? Do we really need the names of every sergeant and banner-bearer and horse?
I took a break halfway through Fortress of Eagles because the narrative had slowed down, lessening my interest, and that held true until page 300 or so. Then there was a big battle, and a mystery of sorts that needed clearing up.
Unfortunately, ten pages from the end I wasn't enjoying a rousing denouement, but reading a passage three and four times over, trying to sort out who was who among half a dozen tertiary characters all at cross-purposes with each other, failing, and, in the end, not caring all that much how they fell on the scale of loyalty or betrayal. At least the last three pages gave me individual scenes from both Tristen's and Cefwyn's points of view that gave me a good closure with the book.
I do care about Tristen, and Cefwyn, and to a lesser degree, Ninévrisë (who I'd like to know better, but she's all but a side character thus far). The griping above undermines how much I like them.
And I'm sorry for that, because I do like them, so much! Tristen especially is fascinating to me. His beautifully delineated quiet moments; the unflinching loyalty between him and Cefwyn; his innate talents and the larger issues of his connection to the wizardly world and/or his being .
And then there's Cefwyn, with his own conflicts with his past and heritage, and how his all-but-fated connection to Tristen helps and harms him as a king...
...All of these may take me to the third volume and beyond. (1/4/19: they didn't.)
The leads are the only real appeal of this series. I'd like to give this book a better rating merely on my affection for them, but I can't.
The big baddie in the first book was dealt with fairly definitively by its end. The impression I got with this volume, more strongly than with some other series, is that Fortress had had its contract renewed and a new conflict, a war with a greater scope that would take much longer to resolve, was needed in order to keep things "epic."
I had issues with the first volume's pacing, and those issues came back in force in this book, and in near-identical ways. To put it kindly, sometimes things are interesting, and at others... well... they aren't. I understood in the first book that you need lots of labor and effort to move soldiers and support even a short distance--did we need to go over that again in this book, and at great length, and more than once? Do we really need the names of every sergeant and banner-bearer and horse?
I took a break halfway through Fortress of Eagles because the narrative had slowed down, lessening my interest, and that held true until page 300 or so. Then there was a big battle, and a mystery of sorts that needed clearing up.
Unfortunately, ten pages from the end I wasn't enjoying a rousing denouement, but reading a passage three and four times over, trying to sort out who was who among half a dozen tertiary characters all at cross-purposes with each other, failing, and, in the end, not caring all that much how they fell on the scale of loyalty or betrayal. At least the last three pages gave me individual scenes from both Tristen's and Cefwyn's points of view that gave me a good closure with the book.
I do care about Tristen, and Cefwyn, and to a lesser degree, Ninévrisë (who I'd like to know better, but she's all but a side character thus far). The griping above undermines how much I like them.
And I'm sorry for that, because I do like them, so much! Tristen especially is fascinating to me. His beautifully delineated quiet moments; the unflinching loyalty between him and Cefwyn; his innate talents and the larger issues of his connection to the wizardly world and/or his being .
And then there's Cefwyn, with his own conflicts with his past and heritage, and how his all-but-fated connection to Tristen helps and harms him as a king...
...All of these may take me to the third volume and beyond. (1/4/19: they didn't.)
The leads are the only real appeal of this series. I'd like to give this book a better rating merely on my affection for them, but I can't.
January 31, 2019
You might want to read the hardcopy, which I had previously read and warranted the four stars. The kindle version with its myriad of errors is two stars. At best!!
August 13, 2011
Narrower in breadth and perspective, Fortress if Eagles focuses on Cefwyn's consolidation of power, his appointment of Tristen to be Lord of Amefel, and the court intrigue that surrounds the two of them. Warring religions, hatred of wizards and sorcery, duplicitous nobles - all make for an interesting read with a smidge less awesomeness. We must get to know Tristen as he changes with the acquisition of knowledge and loss of innocence. Much shorter than Eye of Time, one wonders if the publisher forced breaking up the story into smaller segments. Nevertheless, the story continues, very intriguing indeed, and it's now onward to Fortress of Owls and wonder if Tristen's old friend Owl will return.
September 5, 2011
More coherent plot that the first book in this series. I find Cherryh's prose to be a bit hard to follow when I first start one of her books, but once I get into it, the prose flows right along. Tristen continues to be a puzzle to himself and to the reader, and Cefwyn needs to decide whether to be himself or his father or grandfather. Just when he seems to have come to a decision, events push him to react differently.
The little things in the book were so effective--Tristen's return to the garden near the end of the book, for example, or the recurring role of pigeons.
Looking forward to the next book.
The little things in the book were so effective--Tristen's return to the garden near the end of the book, for example, or the recurring role of pigeons.
Looking forward to the next book.
October 23, 2016
A good follow on to the first book - deliberate, measured pace with brief heart racing action and tension. I still struggled with the names and political plots, never certain I have thoroughly comprehended everything (though, quite helpfully, the prologue of the next book explains it all in a much simplified way).
July 9, 2009
I am not getting into this book. I'll give it about 25 more pages, but I think I am gonna quit.
That is it, I quit. Don't bother with this one.
That is it, I quit. Don't bother with this one.
September 10, 2016
Second read Aug 26, 2008
May 31, 2020
This review may contain spoilers for the preceding book.
In many ways, Fortress in the Eye of Time didn't need a sequel. Tristen's purpose was (ostensibly) fulfilled, the conflict finished. Although the ending left openings for more stories, it didn't beg for continuation. Still, the future of the kingdoms Ylesuin and Elwynor was not so neatly decided, and it is to them that Cherryh turned her pen.
Cefwyn may be king, but he's inherited a tangle of baronies and alliances ill-disposed to his Southern inclinations, much less his potentially wizardous confidants. His upcoming marriage to Ninévrisë is a scandal to both his subjects and the religious authorities of the Quinalt, each of which jockey to undermine the alliance and enforce their own will and norms on Cefwyn's rule.
Meanwhile Tristan, distrusted for his origins, approaches his first winter of life with trepidation. Despite all the growing-up he did in ...Eye of Time, he's still very young, and it shows. I enjoy it, though. It's not really a backsliding in maturity, so much as continued growth. If I'd been brought full-formed into the world and gone through everything Tristen has in the space of 8 months or so, I wouldn't hold up nearly as well.
This is an interlude book, laying groundwork for the plots to come, but unlike many 'middle books' it carries forward on its own momentum. There's little magic here, saving Tristen's own nature, but no shortage of intrigue, as Tristen and Cefwyn each grow into the men they must become. Plots, power, battle and weddings... and none of it at all tedious! There's humor, of a dry and sometimes dark sort, woven in among the secrets and lies of court life. Cefwyn's wit has a razor's edge, though it turns readily to terrible Marhannan temper. And be-scandled outrage has a way of looking ridiculous on many characters. xD
The laughter tapers, though, as the pages turn, and the stakes grow ever-higher. What starts amusing turns to dangerous, and war is on the horizon.
All told, this is a fitting continuation, and I look forward to reading more of the Fortress books.
In many ways, Fortress in the Eye of Time didn't need a sequel. Tristen's purpose was (ostensibly) fulfilled, the conflict finished. Although the ending left openings for more stories, it didn't beg for continuation. Still, the future of the kingdoms Ylesuin and Elwynor was not so neatly decided, and it is to them that Cherryh turned her pen.
He had watched Cefwyn, in utmost weariness and at any hour, gather himself up and attend what duty wanted attending, and now he knew Cefwyn had given him what neither Mauryl nor Emuin could give him: the model of a lord of men.
Cefwyn may be king, but he's inherited a tangle of baronies and alliances ill-disposed to his Southern inclinations, much less his potentially wizardous confidants. His upcoming marriage to Ninévrisë is a scandal to both his subjects and the religious authorities of the Quinalt, each of which jockey to undermine the alliance and enforce their own will and norms on Cefwyn's rule.
Meanwhile Tristan, distrusted for his origins, approaches his first winter of life with trepidation. Despite all the growing-up he did in ...Eye of Time, he's still very young, and it shows. I enjoy it, though. It's not really a backsliding in maturity, so much as continued growth. If I'd been brought full-formed into the world and gone through everything Tristen has in the space of 8 months or so, I wouldn't hold up nearly as well.
This is an interlude book, laying groundwork for the plots to come, but unlike many 'middle books' it carries forward on its own momentum. There's little magic here, saving Tristen's own nature, but no shortage of intrigue, as Tristen and Cefwyn each grow into the men they must become. Plots, power, battle and weddings... and none of it at all tedious! There's humor, of a dry and sometimes dark sort, woven in among the secrets and lies of court life. Cefwyn's wit has a razor's edge, though it turns readily to terrible Marhannan temper. And be-scandled outrage has a way of looking ridiculous on many characters. xD
The laughter tapers, though, as the pages turn, and the stakes grow ever-higher. What starts amusing turns to dangerous, and war is on the horizon.
All told, this is a fitting continuation, and I look forward to reading more of the Fortress books.
May 16, 2022
This series is great for atmosphere, but not so much for pacing. There was very little plot in this book, though I enjoyed the feel of it as I slowly made my way through it. The first book is definitely much better overall!
April 3, 2021
Still a very good series,although not quite the 5 stars of the earlier book in the series Fortress in the Eye of Time. For some reason the author decided to try to repeat the formula of the first book and revert to having Tristen lost in deep innocent thought on everything from pigeons to the nature of gods for the first half of the book. ( edit. This is the only 3 star in the series, but you need to read it in order to understand what is going on in the next book..it gets better)
While this was a welcome slow intro to the world Cherryh was building in first book, it didn't make a whole lot of sense to repeat this in the second. Luckily Cherryh breaks it up a bit with some political intrigue and machinations of the church to assert its authority..but even then I am just not enamored with the character of Cefwyn the King. Like many of Cherryh's characters, he wallows in family drama and introspection.
The second half of the book picks up separating Cefwyn from Tristen...and we see the Tristen I was expecting after the climax in the first book. More Royal intrigue but dealt with by Tristen with a combination of magic and compassion and intelligence more in line with a creature who is capable of absorbing knowledge at a frenetic pace and has been studying and observing a king at work.
We also get more glimpses into the nature of what Tristen might actually be..
and what the nature of ' the gray place' is in this book. I like that continuing mystery.
Magic is too often ' explained' with rules and dice rolls to fantasy readers, as if it were merely an alternate science with clear rules anyone can figure out given study. Mystery is an essential ingredient in Magic. As some stage magicians have been quoted as saying " If you know the trick, it isn't magic anymore"
While this was a welcome slow intro to the world Cherryh was building in first book, it didn't make a whole lot of sense to repeat this in the second. Luckily Cherryh breaks it up a bit with some political intrigue and machinations of the church to assert its authority..but even then I am just not enamored with the character of Cefwyn the King. Like many of Cherryh's characters, he wallows in family drama and introspection.
The second half of the book picks up separating Cefwyn from Tristen...and we see the Tristen I was expecting after the climax in the first book. More Royal intrigue but dealt with by Tristen with a combination of magic and compassion and intelligence more in line with a creature who is capable of absorbing knowledge at a frenetic pace and has been studying and observing a king at work.
We also get more glimpses into the nature of what Tristen might actually be..
and what the nature of ' the gray place' is in this book. I like that continuing mystery.
Magic is too often ' explained' with rules and dice rolls to fantasy readers, as if it were merely an alternate science with clear rules anyone can figure out given study. Mystery is an essential ingredient in Magic. As some stage magicians have been quoted as saying " If you know the trick, it isn't magic anymore"
October 30, 2020
A great continuation of a great series! I have never read a story that flowed with such eloquent prose, and certainly not a fantasy! Glad this series ran for five volumes, with every one of them a gem.
As Tristen comes into his own, intrigues at the court of King Cefwyn grow darker and more convoluted, and Ms. Cherryh manages them all with particular skill. Against all voices, Cefwyn refuses to mistrust or set aside his great and mysterious friend, no matter the opinion of his court, his barons, or the Quinaltine Church. But when a lightening bolt strikes a hole through the Church roof, all eyes and opinions turn against Tristen and his fables Sihhë blood. Cefwyn must decide between the marriage to his bride and the friend he holds closer than a brother. But Cefwyn has a plan up his sleeve to throw salt into the eyes of his fiercest enemies, an unlooked for strategy that will set them all back on their heels to give him the upper hand.
As Tristen comes into his own, intrigues at the court of King Cefwyn grow darker and more convoluted, and Ms. Cherryh manages them all with particular skill. Against all voices, Cefwyn refuses to mistrust or set aside his great and mysterious friend, no matter the opinion of his court, his barons, or the Quinaltine Church. But when a lightening bolt strikes a hole through the Church roof, all eyes and opinions turn against Tristen and his fables Sihhë blood. Cefwyn must decide between the marriage to his bride and the friend he holds closer than a brother. But Cefwyn has a plan up his sleeve to throw salt into the eyes of his fiercest enemies, an unlooked for strategy that will set them all back on their heels to give him the upper hand.
June 10, 2014
A very engaging book and the beginning of a very good series. Ms. Cherryh is a Latin teacher, and her erudition shows in her use of language and imagery. The setting is faux - Medieval, like Lord of the Rings or A Song of Ice and Fire, but clearly different from both of those series. She obviously owes a debt to Tolkien for creating her genre, but unlike Tolkien she isn't trying to emulate epic poems. She keeps her focus on three principal characters which makes this a much easier plot to follow than George RR Martin's ramble, and, so far, she doesn't introduce characters solely for the purpose of killing them off. This series isn't as well known as it should be. I recommend strongly.
January 29, 2016
Excellent book and an old favorite, but what happened to the editing?
Mispellings, warped sentences, missing text. I OWN this book in hardcover, and I don't remember all these mistakes. When you OCR these older books, someone should take the time to read it. It's jarring to be in an excellent story written by a master wordsmith and see errors like that of the worst self-published drivel, or worse, the latest Anita Blake book. EDITORS, dear writers. You still need them.
Mispellings, warped sentences, missing text. I OWN this book in hardcover, and I don't remember all these mistakes. When you OCR these older books, someone should take the time to read it. It's jarring to be in an excellent story written by a master wordsmith and see errors like that of the worst self-published drivel, or worse, the latest Anita Blake book. EDITORS, dear writers. You still need them.
June 29, 2012
It had periods of moving the action forward, but a whole lot of verbage that didn't seem to accomplish anything. I liked the first book, I hope the third is better.
October 14, 2021
I have roughly the same things to say about volumes 2-4 of the Fortress series: I enjoyed spending more time with Tristen and his crew, and watching him go from strength to strength, and Cherryh's slow-burn-big-payoff storytelling style. But Igrew increasingly frustrated with Cefwyn, who seems to perpetually create his own problems by not following the cold-blooded advice of his right-hand, Idrys, to be less merciful and just kill the guy(s) causing the problems. The reason given is always that Cefwyn wants to be more merciful than his predecessors, and to give in to utilitarian killing would be to cease to be himself, but that stops being a relatable trait after you continue to see the consequences of his light-handed approach spiral out over four books and cause all of the major conflicts. It distanced me from the story because I kept thinking, "none of this would have happened if you'd just .... ." And the magic system continues to be too loosey-goosey, lacking an internal logic that makes it clear what is dramatic about magical events, what the costs or consequences of its use or abuse are.
June 24, 2021
Not sure what happened to the writing between the first and second books in this series, but something clearly did. I seriously couldn't get through this. And it wasn't because it started slow-- the first book in the series started slow, and still managed to be fascinating; this was just repetitive boredom. Characters ramble on in conversations, repeating themselves again, and again, and *AGAIN* ten times over when once or twice would plenty suffice, and something about the writing just feels different (and of lesser quality) overall-- much simpler-- almost as if it were a different person writing it (not implying that's the case, that's just how it felt). Also, there were suddenly a lot of spelling and editing issues that hadn't been there before.
Looking at reviews for the rest of the novels, it doesn't look like I'm missing much by just stopping the story after book #1, so this is unfortunately yet another entry in my recent saga of excellent-first-book-unreasonably-subpar-sequel series drops. 🤷♀️
Looking at reviews for the rest of the novels, it doesn't look like I'm missing much by just stopping the story after book #1, so this is unfortunately yet another entry in my recent saga of excellent-first-book-unreasonably-subpar-sequel series drops. 🤷♀️
October 11, 2025
This book started weaker than the last one, but I still ended up really loving it. The book was carried by its characters, who drove events constantly forward. They were believable, consistent, and likable. I loved Tristen's journey through this book, and I will look forward to continuing the series. The magic is soft, but done in a way that never makes it seem like anything but a matter of fact part of the world. The world as a whole is extremely intricate, with intriguing political plots that span multiple books and multi-faceted plots that ended up sweeping me away for the final 80 pages or so. A great second entry in the series.
March 12, 2021
The story of the second book of the Fortress series really hits its stride a lot better than the first. The first book is slow to start and can be a little plodding. There was far less of that in this book and the characters felt more fleshed out and the plot is better paced. I really enjoyed this book. I feel like it had less of the passive voice than the first one, which is a marked improvement. There was more humor and presence and less summarizing. I would genuinely recommend this book to fans of dark fantasy and it has political intrigue for DAYS.
December 26, 2018
This series just gets better! Tristen is growing into his power and discovering a new talent for leading. In the capital, Cefwyn is surrounded by enemies and is trying to bide time, waiting for his wedding to secure Ninevraise's stewardship. But they have other plans and try to undermine him at every step. Machinations by the clergy, subterfuge, collusion. Both Tristen & Cefwyn struggle to find the truth and prevent disaster.
February 3, 2023
This book really had me lost for a bit, it got very slow and hard to parse through about mid way in the book. I swear randomly it got exciting and interesting again and I couldn’t put it down. But when it felt a slog to read I couldn’t even pretend to want to read it.
However, I did enjoy it and enjoyed the political intrigue and Tristen becoming MORE than a naive Other.
However, I did enjoy it and enjoyed the political intrigue and Tristen becoming MORE than a naive Other.
April 5, 2018
A well written book with a clear story in mind and characters that make you want to keep reading. The writing style is reminiscent of Shakespeare's dialogue and wordy phrases. A lot of lead up to small action, but still an enjoyable book!
May 26, 2020
C.J. Is amazing this story will get you hooked
Tristen is finally coming into his own and learning the ways of the world. He now has his own home to manage and to rule... this book does drag at some points but well worth the read.
Tristen is finally coming into his own and learning the ways of the world. He now has his own home to manage and to rule... this book does drag at some points but well worth the read.
March 10, 2024
Reads a bit like a middle book in a trilogy, though altogether there are 5 books in this series. Pieces are being set in place, enemies and allies sorted—mostly. I’m sure there are still more unknown.
July 16, 2018
I'm totally hooked on the world Cherryh has conjured. This series needs to be a movie or on HBO or something. Watch out, GRRM, CJ's coming for ya.
April 13, 2019
Good stuff, especially if you like the slow pace of Cherryh books. I liked this one more than the first one in the series. But I keep waiting for the main character to start doing some magic.
September 10, 2021
A really great follow-up (albeit with misleading cover art) to the first book!
November 12, 2021
Still the repetition of narratives is boring. Nevertheless I found this book more engaging than the previous one. I continue with the third installmente.
January 30, 2022
Much better than the first in the series, the plot had more movement.
did-not-finish-or-start
October 27, 2023DNS 10/27/23
June 15, 2024
Not as good as the first book. Too much politics. But the book is original fantasy, which is hard to find.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews