The Amber Citadel

Jewelfire #1

by Freda Warrington

Set in the future, humans are forced to share the world with shape-changers from Bhahdradomen, and the mysterious Aelyr. When the shape-changers start a war, two sisters and two brothers from a quiet village find themselves about to be dragged into the conflict.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction

599 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1999

About the author

Freda Warrington is an award-winning British author, known for her epic fantasy, vampire and supernatural novels.

“The Blood Wine books are addictive, thrilling reads that are impossible to put down and they definitely deserve more attention” – Worldhopping.net

Her earliest novels, the Blackbird series, were written and published in the 1980s. In the intervening years she has seen numerous novels of epic fantasy, supernatural and contemporary fantasy, vampires, dark romance, horror and alternative history published.

Her novel ELFLAND won the Romantic Times BEST FANTASY NOVEL Award in 2009, while her 1997 Dracula sequel DRACULA THE UNDEAD won the Dracula Society's BEST GOTHIC NOVEL Award.

Four of her novels (Dark Cathedral, Pagan Moon, Dracula the Undead, and The Amber Citadel) have been nominated or shortlisted for the British Fantasy Society's Best Novel award. The American Library Association placed MIDSUMMER NIGHT in its Top Ten for 2010.

Recently Titan Book reissued her popular romantic-gothic Blood Wine vampire series set in the 1920s - A Taste of Blood Wine, A Dance in Blood Velvet and The Dark Blood of Poppies - along with a brand new novel, The Dark Arts of Blood. In 2017, Telos Publishing will publish her first short story collection, NIGHTS OF BLOOD WINE, featuring fifteen lush dark tales - ten set in her Blood Wine world, and five others of gothic weirdness.

In 2003, Simon & Schuster published The Court of the Midnight King, an alternative history/ fantasy retelling of the story of King Richard III. To celebrate all the events surrounding the discovery of Richard III's remains in Leicester, The Court of the Midnight King is now available on Kindle and in paperback format. Most of her backlist titles, including the Blackbird series, Dracula the Undead, Dark Cathedral and Pagan Moon, can already be found on Kindle or will be available in the next few months.

Warrington has also seen numerous short stories published in anthologies and magazines. For further information, visit her website Freda Warrington

Born in Leicester, Warrington grew up in the Charnwood Forest area of Leicestershire. After completing high school, she trained at Loughborough College of Art and Design and worked in medical illustration and graphic design for some years. She eventually moved to full-time writing, and also still enjoys design, photography, art, jewellery-making and other crafts, travelling and conventions.

Series:
* Jewelfire
* Dark Cathedral
* Aetherial Tales
* Blackbird

Reviews

[Branwen Sedai *of the Brown Ajah* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew that I had found a treasure when I discovered Freda Warrington's writing. When I read her Aetherials trilogy I fell completely head over heels in love with her lyrical writing. When I finished with that series I immediately ordered the Jewelfire trilogy, of which this is the first book.

I was not disappointed in any way, shape, or form. This book...is so amazing I barely know where to start. Everything that Freda Warrington does is just simply incredible. Whether its her lush and descriptive settings, her beautifully complicated characters, or just the fabulous storytelling, I dare you to read this book and not be as spellbound as I was. I felt like I was in a dream while reading this, because it was, in my opinion, everything a great fantasy story should be.

If you love the fantasy genre, particularly epic fantasy full of magic, journeys, battles, love, loss, death, life, then I assure you that you will love this book! This is a series that is not to be missed.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say The Amber Citadel is not as good as the other books I've read by Freda Warrington. The writing is still fantastic and her descriptions are just as lush as ever but it's all a bit overwhelming with a lot of backstory and history to remember and lots of different characters.

I found the plot a bit messy and hard to keep track of and the characters not very likeable. But it is very inventive and she manages to stay away from a lot of the standard fantasy clichés.

The characters bicker a lot. Tan doesn't speak, she shouts and gets angry at everything anyone says to her and I found her very childish and hard to like. Rufryd was the same and I really could have done without their relationship drama.

The ending was dark and full of surprises, it did not go the way I expected at all! The story had all started to come together and the characters were growing up a bit. I think there is a lot of potential for the next book to really take off. Hopefully, there will be less of the bickering!

I didn't get on with the characters but I'm hooked by the ending and I want to see where the story goes. I will definitely be reading the next book, I just hope there will be less relationship angst and more story.

[Brent · Rating 2 out of 5]

A well thought out world sticking to a tried and tested formula but with enough variation to have the potential to make it enjoyable. However this book really falls flat from there, uninspired predictable characters fill its pages that can only be described as 2 dimensional generally failing to make any emotional connection with the reader although in constant emotional turmoil themselves making the same mistakes over and over again. Despite containing a vast array of characters spanning from peasants to royalty and four different races all the characters speak (despite the occasional obscenity) like they have attended an English private school
Pages and pages are spent detailing the landscape and scenery particularly the coloring which I found interesting at first until it started to impact on the storyline itself to the point where detailed descriptions of the areas and feelings between characters over-shadow major events in the story. I personally found this novel very hard to finish.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed, Imaginative, compelling and sometimes very dark ... what an achievement.
This was the first fantasy novel I have ever read and I loved it. I was surprised by the depth of character development and the emphasis based on the relationships between the characters. Such an imagination .... this was a great introduction to the genre and I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

[Mrs. Watermelon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic writing, memorable characters and an unusual enemy. There's an abundance of unnecessary sex scenes, but don't let that distract you. This book is amazing and needs more recognition.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

I'm finally going through my physical library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.

I'm only adding one book per author and I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)

First time read the author's work?: Yes

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Bekah Keesler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the world and the big bads and the idea of the Xauroma. The writing is good, but the main characters are kids, acting much younger and irresponsible than they actually should be/are, and I found that irritating for much of the story. The end of this one is also a cliffhanger but interesting enough that I'll likely continue

[Deepesh Shrestha · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read..

[Shaitarn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up.

It was okay, but I've no desire to read the rest of the trilogy. Full review may follow.

[Ben Regier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of COURSE my favorite character died right after he discovered he was bisexual. God!

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dislike high fantasy and the spot I have open in my heart for quest fantasy is equally small, so I should note that even though I hated the genre and many of the tropes employed here, Warrington still put in a few turns and twists I didn't expect.
While this isn't by far the author's best effort, and the storyline stays much too close to reader expectations to have much original value, the spark of individual style is visible in the treatment of the characters.
As a part of author development, it's like testing out the waters you really want to swim in while at the same time keeping one foot on known ground, which makes this an uneven, unbalanced work.
The characters seem to be a work in progress, and trying to understand them was sometimes harder than it should have been. The fact that many mysterious creatures appeared and disappeared made it even harder to focus on the main cast, whose woes and tragedies were frankly not very touching, since they always chenged their minds without explanation or preamble. Some of the choices were simply incomprehensible, and many twists felt off in the context of their happening.
All in all, the Amber Citadel sadly wasn't a very good book either in the high fantasy genre, experimental fiction or as women's fantasy. Trying to be too many things at once and incooperating badly fitting elements, the novel fell short.

[Sud · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read in that I wasn't bored and the story was interesting enough to keep me occupied. The writing is lush and beautiful where the author takes time to describe the vivid details of the world she has created. There are many interesting stuffs to take note of. All the nine realms described as having their own colours, the taming of the energies that flowed in molten form at the start of the world. The four races that have similarities with the typical races of fantasy but apart from the humans, they are different. The character of Yssmir developed too fast. What was the source of all her wisdom when she was nothing but a frightened peasant girl at the start? Also in the book there are too many nightmares that almost all the characters have. Not much magic apart from some Aleyr magic and the Seers who can have visions.

[JoReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what a fantasy book should be like, probably my favourite book I've read this year... (but being the only high fantasy, it's probably bias as that is my favourite genre). This book is action packed, and had me on the edge of my seat many times. Although I loved reading it, it was hard to pick up at times as the chapters were so long and I had to make sure I had plenty of free time. The only character I didn't enjoy reading about was the King but those chapters were vital to the story and when a another character was introduced, had me fretting for them. Some of the decisions Tanthe made had me so angry at her. I'm looking forward to starting the next book and seeing where this story goes.

[Salimbol · Rating 3 out of 5]

[2 and 1/2 stars]
Workmanlike fantasy at best, with fairly standard world-building and characterisation, and mostly unconvincing romances. Kudos for the equitable distribution of social roles among men and women, but overall, I generally expect better from Warrington (though part of me does want to see where the story goes from here…).