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The Coldfire Trilogy #3
Crown of Shadows
While the people of Erna struggle against the cataclysmic powers of the fae, a force of nature that transforms nightmares into reality, the pain-hungry demon Calesta plots to remake humankind for the sake of his own desires.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1995
121 people are currently reading
4160 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Friedman
49 books1,275 followersCelia S. Friedman is a science fiction and fantasy author. She has also been credited Celia S. Friedman and Celia Friedman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
April 19, 2021
Crown of Shadows; Or: He's Just Not That Into You (Because He's a Vampire and also Heterosexual.)
all the standards established by the prior two novels are in place for the grand finale of this fitfully entertaining trilogy.
at times amazing ideas and a compellingly realized world? check!
fascinating 200 page novel filled with those amazing ideas but force-fed nonsense until it bloats into a 500+ page novel? check!
all the things a goth teenager would love in a genre novel: romantic despair, romantic nihilism, an actual romance that is probably doomed, dark forests, an evil albino, devious godlings, heavy-breathing religiosity, warped obsessions, and a super-sized amount of melancholy? check!
eye-rolling and clichéd lines like "he could get lost in her eyes forever" delivered on an upsettingly regular basis? check!
a tedious pair of lovers who moon about their doomed love and their terrible pasts but don't end up doing a lot besides whining? check!
okay, this pair was new to this novel. but they sure fit right in.
supposedly heterosexual male protagonist who is, uncomfortably, the female author's stand-in... which gives his over-the-top obsession with the novel's Dangerous Undead Vampire Stud a decidedly strange, inexplicably homoerotic vibe? check!
a disturbing and eventually offensive authorial obsession with the Dangerous Undead Vampire Stud, one that romanticizes the character and one that simply must give him some kind of happy ending, despite this also being a character who has tortured and killed perhaps thousands of women and who in the opening pages slaughters an entire family for the stupidest of reasons? check!
perhaps the author's next project can be about that sexy bad boy Ted Bundy and the whiny priest who loves him against all odds. she already has the template ready to go.
all the standards established by the prior two novels are in place for the grand finale of this fitfully entertaining trilogy.
at times amazing ideas and a compellingly realized world? check!
fascinating 200 page novel filled with those amazing ideas but force-fed nonsense until it bloats into a 500+ page novel? check!
all the things a goth teenager would love in a genre novel: romantic despair, romantic nihilism, an actual romance that is probably doomed, dark forests, an evil albino, devious godlings, heavy-breathing religiosity, warped obsessions, and a super-sized amount of melancholy? check!
eye-rolling and clichéd lines like "he could get lost in her eyes forever" delivered on an upsettingly regular basis? check!
a tedious pair of lovers who moon about their doomed love and their terrible pasts but don't end up doing a lot besides whining? check!
okay, this pair was new to this novel. but they sure fit right in.
supposedly heterosexual male protagonist who is, uncomfortably, the female author's stand-in... which gives his over-the-top obsession with the novel's Dangerous Undead Vampire Stud a decidedly strange, inexplicably homoerotic vibe? check!
a disturbing and eventually offensive authorial obsession with the Dangerous Undead Vampire Stud, one that romanticizes the character and one that simply must give him some kind of happy ending, despite this also being a character who has tortured and killed perhaps thousands of women and who in the opening pages slaughters an entire family for the stupidest of reasons? check!
perhaps the author's next project can be about that sexy bad boy Ted Bundy and the whiny priest who loves him against all odds. she already has the template ready to go.
January 9, 2021
My second fantasy trilogy read in English. I don`t want this series to be end, Because I LOVE COLD FIRE TRILOGY SO MUCH! I am fond of characters, setting,magic system etc...Especially Magic system Fae is an unique concept I have ever seen in other fantasy books.
The main characters Demian and Gerald their friendship are truly fascinating. Especially Gerald Tarrant is a antihero(maybe evil itself). In first book black sun rising he feeds on human`s fear. He dismembered his family members to exchange his eternity life. in a coincident chance Damian and Gerald traveled together. They usually argued with each other. At first Damian didn't approve Gerald`s behaviors, Consistently quarreling with Gerald. But in the end Tarrant has change a lot to be more like human. he sacrificed himself to save humanity.
AT first I was n`t interested in Damien. But as they two fellows have traveled throughout the whole trilogy. I like him as much as Gerald.Especially in third book Damien saved him from hell which is Gerald`s hell and accompanied with Gerald to the volcano to complete the quest. When Damian saw Gerald`s death he hardly accept that true. In the new world where demon almost annihilated and humankind has more spaces to prosper. But he doesn`t happy at all.
It is not a book for every one but it is definitely an excellent fantasy series I have seen.You will find out the Cold Fire trilogy is a piece of gem in fantasy genre If you dare to look into dark side of humanity.
The main characters Demian and Gerald their friendship are truly fascinating. Especially Gerald Tarrant is a antihero(maybe evil itself). In first book black sun rising he feeds on human`s fear. He dismembered his family members to exchange his eternity life. in a coincident chance Damian and Gerald traveled together. They usually argued with each other. At first Damian didn't approve Gerald`s behaviors, Consistently quarreling with Gerald. But in the end Tarrant has change a lot to be more like human. he sacrificed himself to save humanity.
AT first I was n`t interested in Damien. But as they two fellows have traveled throughout the whole trilogy. I like him as much as Gerald.Especially in third book Damien saved him from hell which is Gerald`s hell and accompanied with Gerald to the volcano to complete the quest. When Damian saw Gerald`s death he hardly accept that true. In the new world where demon almost annihilated and humankind has more spaces to prosper. But he doesn`t happy at all.
It is not a book for every one but it is definitely an excellent fantasy series I have seen.You will find out the Cold Fire trilogy is a piece of gem in fantasy genre If you dare to look into dark side of humanity.
February 6, 2017
4.5 stars for this book but I'm reducing rating of previus books from 5 to 4 stars.
More detailed impressions to come.
More detailed impressions to come.
July 20, 2024
3.5 Stars
This is a solid finale installment in this sci fantasy series. I felt this one dragged a touch compared to the first two books but I was still glad to experience the series.
This is a solid finale installment in this sci fantasy series. I felt this one dragged a touch compared to the first two books but I was still glad to experience the series.
April 17, 2017
++SPOILERS++
5 stars.
This is the third, last and best book of the series.
There were aspects that I didn't like due to personal perference of content and not writing, but I cannot in good faith, lower the stars because of that.
The writing:
Technically speaking was excellent. The beginning drew me right in and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire 500+ pages. There was good conflict from start to finish which kept the pace steady. I did not skim. I felt connected to all the characters this time (as opposed to the other two) which put me through a series of emotional roller coasters. The world building was, as always, top notch, and thankfully didn't seem overly descriptive, redundant or boring as it had in the previous two. To be honest, the second book could have been eliminated entirely because I felt it was the worst of the three and added little to the series.
I do wish the author did more with Ciani and brought her back into the story. We never get to see what hapened to her after the fae changes or see what happens to the rakah who were so important in the second book. This again strengthens my opinon of the uselessness of book 2.
The characters:
As usual, I loved Damien and Gerald and truly feel a loss at the end of their story, which is neither happy or sad. The ending, quite frankly was out of the ordinary being neither happy or sad for me. Happy because humanity as a whole survives as well as Tarrant, but both are forever changed. I suppose the change both humanity and Gerlad Tarrant go through should be considered for the best, but I personally don't care for it. I wanted Gerald to remain as he was. I wanted him and Damien to be able to go on as friends and found it painful that they could not. As for humanity, I guess I love chaos, because the thought of there no longer being any more sorcerors or adepts who can work the fae was just so depressing to me. Maybe I'm the odd one.
Andrys. This is difficult for me since I am normally a romance reader. If this was a romance novel, I would have quit the book right at the beginning. Andrys was a total unlikeable character. He was a manwhore, a drunk, a drug addict, a rich spoiled arrogant playboy. He was also a coward. Yet I did find myself pitying him a few times, but that didn't last (the pity) because of the constant reminder of all the women he's had. The presence of all his ex lovers at his and Narilka's wedding totally ruined any happiness I could have had for him. I don't even know why Narilka loved him, there was nothing about him excpet his arrogance and good looks that could have attracted anyone to him and that certainly isn't a basis for love. He had no redeeming qualities. Yes he reminded her of the Hunter and yes she pitied him.. but love? That just made her look like a total ass IMHO.
Anyway, even though he was a total douchebag, his character made sense, was logical, and pivotal to the story. I just didn't like him.
Narilka. It was nice to see her character become useful. In the first two books, she was only briefly mentioned, but it was clear she had a purpose. I'm glad to have finally seen it come to light in this book. Her character in and of itself was ok. Not too terribly weak yet not warrior strong either. Andrys clearly did not deserve her.
Damien. I always loved him. I was always hoping Cinai would return and that they would have a HEA. But the author decided to pretty much forget about her. I felt sad that not only did Damien lose the one woman he ever loved (not to death), and his vocation but also his best friend. He sacrificed so much yet gained nothing.
Tarrant. Perfect yet sad. He is clearly the best character of them all. I mourned his "death" and even though he lives, it still saddens me that he is no longer the kick ass adept he once was. I hated the change he had to make in himself, which forced him away from all those he cared about.
Overall I loved this book and was glad I continued.
Safety: Blood, gore, violence, cursing. Sex details not shown. Debatable HEA.
5 stars.
This is the third, last and best book of the series.
There were aspects that I didn't like due to personal perference of content and not writing, but I cannot in good faith, lower the stars because of that.
The writing:
Technically speaking was excellent. The beginning drew me right in and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire 500+ pages. There was good conflict from start to finish which kept the pace steady. I did not skim. I felt connected to all the characters this time (as opposed to the other two) which put me through a series of emotional roller coasters. The world building was, as always, top notch, and thankfully didn't seem overly descriptive, redundant or boring as it had in the previous two. To be honest, the second book could have been eliminated entirely because I felt it was the worst of the three and added little to the series.
I do wish the author did more with Ciani and brought her back into the story. We never get to see what hapened to her after the fae changes or see what happens to the rakah who were so important in the second book. This again strengthens my opinon of the uselessness of book 2.
The characters:
As usual, I loved Damien and Gerald and truly feel a loss at the end of their story, which is neither happy or sad. The ending, quite frankly was out of the ordinary being neither happy or sad for me. Happy because humanity as a whole survives as well as Tarrant, but both are forever changed. I suppose the change both humanity and Gerlad Tarrant go through should be considered for the best, but I personally don't care for it. I wanted Gerald to remain as he was. I wanted him and Damien to be able to go on as friends and found it painful that they could not. As for humanity, I guess I love chaos, because the thought of there no longer being any more sorcerors or adepts who can work the fae was just so depressing to me. Maybe I'm the odd one.
Andrys. This is difficult for me since I am normally a romance reader. If this was a romance novel, I would have quit the book right at the beginning. Andrys was a total unlikeable character. He was a manwhore, a drunk, a drug addict, a rich spoiled arrogant playboy. He was also a coward. Yet I did find myself pitying him a few times, but that didn't last (the pity) because of the constant reminder of all the women he's had. The presence of all his ex lovers at his and Narilka's wedding totally ruined any happiness I could have had for him. I don't even know why Narilka loved him, there was nothing about him excpet his arrogance and good looks that could have attracted anyone to him and that certainly isn't a basis for love. He had no redeeming qualities. Yes he reminded her of the Hunter and yes she pitied him.. but love? That just made her look like a total ass IMHO.
Anyway, even though he was a total douchebag, his character made sense, was logical, and pivotal to the story. I just didn't like him.
Narilka. It was nice to see her character become useful. In the first two books, she was only briefly mentioned, but it was clear she had a purpose. I'm glad to have finally seen it come to light in this book. Her character in and of itself was ok. Not too terribly weak yet not warrior strong either. Andrys clearly did not deserve her.
Damien. I always loved him. I was always hoping Cinai would return and that they would have a HEA. But the author decided to pretty much forget about her. I felt sad that not only did Damien lose the one woman he ever loved (not to death), and his vocation but also his best friend. He sacrificed so much yet gained nothing.
Tarrant. Perfect yet sad. He is clearly the best character of them all. I mourned his "death" and even though he lives, it still saddens me that he is no longer the kick ass adept he once was. I hated the change he had to make in himself, which forced him away from all those he cared about.
Overall I loved this book and was glad I continued.
Safety: Blood, gore, violence, cursing. Sex details not shown. Debatable HEA.
May 15, 2009
*****Spoiler Alert****The first book was good, the next not bad, and the last was horrible and filled with information that had no business being there. Not to mention the timeline at the end of the book was off.
My first issue with the book was the romance between Andrys and Narilka. The book could have done without it. This author sucks at making the romance between characters natural and believable. She did a bad job with Damian and Ciani and worse with Andrys and Narilka. The romance between the last two read more like a really bad, and super cheesy romance novel. This book was fine without the over the top romance.
Second issue is, why did we need Andrys? I assumed the role Andrys played would be reserved for Toshida, a character from the previous chapter. Author does poorly tying all three books together. In book 2, the author hints that Tarrant left a surviving heir but that’s not enough to explain Andrys.
I also don't understand who the Patriarch comes to realize that all his visions where calesta's doing but yet he still clings to the vision of Andrys as the only means to enter and destroy the forest? He should have rejected this vision also.
I think Damian was secretly in love with the elder Tarrant. He lost his focus and hinself. No matter the sacrifice Gerald made and how much I liked him, the man was evil and did not deserve a second chance. For Damian to mourn the way he did was unthinkable! And always with the flowery, mushy talk.
Next, bringing Tarrant's wife back in ghost form. Why? I'm all about shock and the unexpected but not when it does not fit or when it leaves you at a lost for words b/c it's so ridiculous.
What made me livid was when Tarrant should have died after binding Calesta but did not and the fact that Damian helped so he did not die. How can you let Hesseth and Jenseny die in the second book and keep Tarrant alive? These two were more deserving of a second chance. When I thought that Tarrant finally died by Andrys' hand, I thought how fitting, but then to find out he did not die. Sort of defeats the purpose of having Andrys in this book. No matter how you look at it, Tarrant was EVIL. He did one good deed in his nine centuries and all of a sudden, clean plate. Does not cut it. I really liked his character, but the author did not made a good enough case for giving him a second chance at life.
Last, someone please explain to me the purpose of the last three sections. Andrys getting married… Who cares? Riven Forest and the Hunt Shoppe and the last scene in that same chapter? why, why, why? And all this is happening in a matter of weeks?
This book was so frustrating.
My first issue with the book was the romance between Andrys and Narilka. The book could have done without it. This author sucks at making the romance between characters natural and believable. She did a bad job with Damian and Ciani and worse with Andrys and Narilka. The romance between the last two read more like a really bad, and super cheesy romance novel. This book was fine without the over the top romance.
Second issue is, why did we need Andrys? I assumed the role Andrys played would be reserved for Toshida, a character from the previous chapter. Author does poorly tying all three books together. In book 2, the author hints that Tarrant left a surviving heir but that’s not enough to explain Andrys.
I also don't understand who the Patriarch comes to realize that all his visions where calesta's doing but yet he still clings to the vision of Andrys as the only means to enter and destroy the forest? He should have rejected this vision also.
I think Damian was secretly in love with the elder Tarrant. He lost his focus and hinself. No matter the sacrifice Gerald made and how much I liked him, the man was evil and did not deserve a second chance. For Damian to mourn the way he did was unthinkable! And always with the flowery, mushy talk.
Next, bringing Tarrant's wife back in ghost form. Why? I'm all about shock and the unexpected but not when it does not fit or when it leaves you at a lost for words b/c it's so ridiculous.
What made me livid was when Tarrant should have died after binding Calesta but did not and the fact that Damian helped so he did not die. How can you let Hesseth and Jenseny die in the second book and keep Tarrant alive? These two were more deserving of a second chance. When I thought that Tarrant finally died by Andrys' hand, I thought how fitting, but then to find out he did not die. Sort of defeats the purpose of having Andrys in this book. No matter how you look at it, Tarrant was EVIL. He did one good deed in his nine centuries and all of a sudden, clean plate. Does not cut it. I really liked his character, but the author did not made a good enough case for giving him a second chance at life.
Last, someone please explain to me the purpose of the last three sections. Andrys getting married… Who cares? Riven Forest and the Hunt Shoppe and the last scene in that same chapter? why, why, why? And all this is happening in a matter of weeks?
This book was so frustrating.
September 6, 2022
A year after the events in the East, the two survivors arrive back to where they began not knowing the condition of the war that they only know is happening. Crown of Shadows completes C.S. Friedman’s Coldfire trilogy as a priest slowly losing his place in the order and an antihero sorcerer face off against the machinations of a demon of stunning origins.
This book is a mixture of characters dealing with their hearts in conflict and dealing with events that put the world in danger, though both are connected to one another. Damien Vryce and Gerald Tarrant while attempting to figure out how to defeat the demon Calesta, they must deal with the consequences of their working together. For Vryce it turns out that while his faith is intact, he can no longer be a priest while Tarrant sees the ending with his contract with the Unnamed that makes a deal with Tarrant’s servant who then turns the Forest to his own purposes. The climax sees the series mixture of science fiction and fantasy seeing each genre having it place in the text as the nature of demons is explained in a surprising way and the defeat of Calesta results in the fundamental changing of the fantasy aspect of this world forever. This final installment was stronger than its predecessor as the traveling was kept to a minimum number of pages and more pages were dedicated to character development not only of Vryce and Gerald but the other three important characters setting up a satisfying climax to the series.
Crown of Shadows is an very good and satisfying conclusion to C.S. Friedman’s unique fantasy-science fiction that saw interesting and intriguing characters placed on a very fascinating world.
This book is a mixture of characters dealing with their hearts in conflict and dealing with events that put the world in danger, though both are connected to one another. Damien Vryce and Gerald Tarrant while attempting to figure out how to defeat the demon Calesta, they must deal with the consequences of their working together. For Vryce it turns out that while his faith is intact, he can no longer be a priest while Tarrant sees the ending with his contract with the Unnamed that makes a deal with Tarrant’s servant who then turns the Forest to his own purposes. The climax sees the series mixture of science fiction and fantasy seeing each genre having it place in the text as the nature of demons is explained in a surprising way and the defeat of Calesta results in the fundamental changing of the fantasy aspect of this world forever. This final installment was stronger than its predecessor as the traveling was kept to a minimum number of pages and more pages were dedicated to character development not only of Vryce and Gerald but the other three important characters setting up a satisfying climax to the series.
Crown of Shadows is an very good and satisfying conclusion to C.S. Friedman’s unique fantasy-science fiction that saw interesting and intriguing characters placed on a very fascinating world.
August 26, 2008
4.5 to 5.0 stars. Very satisfying conclusion to the Coldfire Trilogy after the excellent Black Sun Rising and When True Night Falls. I am a big fan of C. S. Friedman and this trilogy is a big reason why.
September 2, 2024
Friedman sticks the landing with the conclusion of her Coldfire science-fantasy trilogy - as far as the main story goes anyway.
The developing relationship between Damien vryce: a priest and Gerald Tarrant: a Dracula (sort of) comes full circle. The pair go from enemies in book one to grudgingly respectful allies to actual friends by the end; though it’s complicated by their diametrically opposed values.
Friedman also explains the origin of the demons and the fey, pulling all the elements together into a neat bundle.
The aspect I was less sure of was the “doomed lovers” romantic sub-plot with getald tarrant’s decendant and this chick he meets in a store. It just got a bit hokey at times. And I thought it was strange that the rakh (the planet’s native species) didn’t really show up in this book.
Overall, great trilogy, I liked the first book the most; the vibe and characters it had were great. I always like the - getting a team together and going on a quest parts of a story. Unfortunately those characters don’t continue in the rest of the books. Also, the threat presented by Tarrant was a great element - they need him but they can’t trust him. Book two is so fucking dark and depressing, I had a hard time reading it.
I really like how the “magic” work in these books and she explains it all well. The religion was really well constructed and interesting too.
I’ll definitely read more of her stuff.
The developing relationship between Damien vryce: a priest and Gerald Tarrant: a Dracula (sort of) comes full circle. The pair go from enemies in book one to grudgingly respectful allies to actual friends by the end; though it’s complicated by their diametrically opposed values.
Friedman also explains the origin of the demons and the fey, pulling all the elements together into a neat bundle.
The aspect I was less sure of was the “doomed lovers” romantic sub-plot with getald tarrant’s decendant and this chick he meets in a store. It just got a bit hokey at times. And I thought it was strange that the rakh (the planet’s native species) didn’t really show up in this book.
Overall, great trilogy, I liked the first book the most; the vibe and characters it had were great. I always like the - getting a team together and going on a quest parts of a story. Unfortunately those characters don’t continue in the rest of the books. Also, the threat presented by Tarrant was a great element - they need him but they can’t trust him. Book two is so fucking dark and depressing, I had a hard time reading it.
I really like how the “magic” work in these books and she explains it all well. The religion was really well constructed and interesting too.
I’ll definitely read more of her stuff.
July 13, 2013
Crown of Shadows
Book 3 of The Coldfire Trilogy
By C.S. Friedman
A Retroview by Eric Allen
I still can't believe that I had never heard of this trilogy until recently. It has been around for twenty years and I only just discovered it. Although, I do have to admit, that my younger self would probably not have been wise enough to pick up on a lot of the themes and subtlety involved, and may have come away bored by them.
Crown of Shadows picks up several months after the previous book. Damien and Terrant have returned home to find that the demon Calesta has already been at work for some time in their homelands, working the people up toward an eventual apocalypse that could forever destroy human civilization. Damien, without the backing of the church, and Terrant, without the backing of his dark masters, are two men alone against a demon with absolute power over illusion, and is as close to immortal as is possible to be. And to make matters worse, Terrant's dark masters have withdrawn their contract with him, giving him thirty days to find a new patron or he will die. They have one month to save the world, or darkness and destruction will befall everything that they know and love.
Meanwhile, the Patriarch of the church has seen the social upheaval and believes that the Hunter and the Forest are to blame for it, despite having been given evidence to the contrary by Damien. He sets out on a crusade to destroy the center of Terrant's power by amassing a holy army and using Terrant's only living descendant to move past the Forest's defenses.
The Good? Again, the worldbuilding is spectacular. Erna is very well put together, the magic is very well thought out, and the people and places are interesting. Friedman has done a spectacular job of creating a very vivid and realistic world.
The characters are very well developed and interesting, and Friedman is one of the few writers I have ever read that completely nails how members of the opposite gender think, speak, and act.
I have read several reviews about this book, and the biggest problem that people seem to have is that they think the ending is anti-climactic. It is true that the end isn't a huge all-out war like some people might be led to believe by the buildup, and I can see how others might find that disappointing. I, however, thought it was a great ending to the trilogy. It wasn't a huge, epic climax, but it was the APPROPRIATE climax, and that, to me, is more important. Characters remained true to themselves, and used what they had in order to triumph. That, to me, is far more important than having a huge, epic action scene to finish things off, and it is, unfortunately, something that a lot of people in this day and age have come to expect, whether it fits the story or not.
The character development, in Terrant especially, is very well done. He has always had two sides to him, the hunter, and the prophet. He comes to a point where he really must choose one or the other. Will he find a new dark master to serve, or will he seek redemption and death? Will he choose to save his own life, or will he choose to save the things that he has created? With him, you never really know what he will choose, and that's most of the fun with him. You never really know if he's a good guy or a bad guy, and now, he finally has to choose and put himself firmly on one side or the other.
The Bad? Friedman had a little trouble staying focused. There are a few scenes that, while relevant to the plot, were placed awkwardly, breaking up the flow of the narrative. I think this book could have done with, perhaps, another draft or two to smooth things out in that regard. She flips between the two separate storylines at awkward moments, giving a bit of literary whiplash, and does a little to break up the tension she is building.
This is not so much something that I find wrong with the book, but I do know that there are many people who dislike the idea of religion playing a large part in the lives of characters, and in the story. Faith, religion, sacrifice and redemption are all themes that are very heavy in this series. I highly enjoyed it, being that I am a religious person and even spent a year of my life working as a full time preacher. I, however, do understand that this is not for everyone. If you do not care for such things, this series is not for you. If writers tried to write books to please everyone, you'd get a horrific mess like The Phantom Menace, that pleases no one. I found the religious elements of this series to be rather intriguing and well meshed into the story and characters, but I can see how other people who are not very patient with religion might have a hard time getting through it all.
In conclusion, despite a few patches of questionable choices in pacing, this book is highly entertaining, and extremely well written. The world is extremely detailed and extraordinarily vivid. The magic system is pretty believable and well thought out. The characters are well written, well developed, and highly entertaining as well. It's an excellent ending to an excellent trilogy, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Epic Fantasy.
Check out my other reviews.
Book 3 of The Coldfire Trilogy
By C.S. Friedman
A Retroview by Eric Allen
I still can't believe that I had never heard of this trilogy until recently. It has been around for twenty years and I only just discovered it. Although, I do have to admit, that my younger self would probably not have been wise enough to pick up on a lot of the themes and subtlety involved, and may have come away bored by them.
Crown of Shadows picks up several months after the previous book. Damien and Terrant have returned home to find that the demon Calesta has already been at work for some time in their homelands, working the people up toward an eventual apocalypse that could forever destroy human civilization. Damien, without the backing of the church, and Terrant, without the backing of his dark masters, are two men alone against a demon with absolute power over illusion, and is as close to immortal as is possible to be. And to make matters worse, Terrant's dark masters have withdrawn their contract with him, giving him thirty days to find a new patron or he will die. They have one month to save the world, or darkness and destruction will befall everything that they know and love.
Meanwhile, the Patriarch of the church has seen the social upheaval and believes that the Hunter and the Forest are to blame for it, despite having been given evidence to the contrary by Damien. He sets out on a crusade to destroy the center of Terrant's power by amassing a holy army and using Terrant's only living descendant to move past the Forest's defenses.
The Good? Again, the worldbuilding is spectacular. Erna is very well put together, the magic is very well thought out, and the people and places are interesting. Friedman has done a spectacular job of creating a very vivid and realistic world.
The characters are very well developed and interesting, and Friedman is one of the few writers I have ever read that completely nails how members of the opposite gender think, speak, and act.
I have read several reviews about this book, and the biggest problem that people seem to have is that they think the ending is anti-climactic. It is true that the end isn't a huge all-out war like some people might be led to believe by the buildup, and I can see how others might find that disappointing. I, however, thought it was a great ending to the trilogy. It wasn't a huge, epic climax, but it was the APPROPRIATE climax, and that, to me, is more important. Characters remained true to themselves, and used what they had in order to triumph. That, to me, is far more important than having a huge, epic action scene to finish things off, and it is, unfortunately, something that a lot of people in this day and age have come to expect, whether it fits the story or not.
The character development, in Terrant especially, is very well done. He has always had two sides to him, the hunter, and the prophet. He comes to a point where he really must choose one or the other. Will he find a new dark master to serve, or will he seek redemption and death? Will he choose to save his own life, or will he choose to save the things that he has created? With him, you never really know what he will choose, and that's most of the fun with him. You never really know if he's a good guy or a bad guy, and now, he finally has to choose and put himself firmly on one side or the other.
The Bad? Friedman had a little trouble staying focused. There are a few scenes that, while relevant to the plot, were placed awkwardly, breaking up the flow of the narrative. I think this book could have done with, perhaps, another draft or two to smooth things out in that regard. She flips between the two separate storylines at awkward moments, giving a bit of literary whiplash, and does a little to break up the tension she is building.
This is not so much something that I find wrong with the book, but I do know that there are many people who dislike the idea of religion playing a large part in the lives of characters, and in the story. Faith, religion, sacrifice and redemption are all themes that are very heavy in this series. I highly enjoyed it, being that I am a religious person and even spent a year of my life working as a full time preacher. I, however, do understand that this is not for everyone. If you do not care for such things, this series is not for you. If writers tried to write books to please everyone, you'd get a horrific mess like The Phantom Menace, that pleases no one. I found the religious elements of this series to be rather intriguing and well meshed into the story and characters, but I can see how other people who are not very patient with religion might have a hard time getting through it all.
In conclusion, despite a few patches of questionable choices in pacing, this book is highly entertaining, and extremely well written. The world is extremely detailed and extraordinarily vivid. The magic system is pretty believable and well thought out. The characters are well written, well developed, and highly entertaining as well. It's an excellent ending to an excellent trilogy, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Epic Fantasy.
Check out my other reviews.
December 9, 2019
A good ending to a very dark fantasy trilogy. Damien Vryce must come to terms with his role in the Church--running around with its demonic founder, Gerald Tarrant, has damaged his reputation and made the Holy Father very, very angry. Apparently saving humankind on the planet Erna does not give him special dispensation to associate with the Hunter. What did amaze me was that after his visit to Hell to rescue his demonic pal, Vryce continues to bellyache about conditions all along the way as they sought to confront the demon Calesta.
Counterpoint to Vryce is the Hunter’s last remaining human descendant, Andrys Tarrant, who is in Calesta’s thrawl and is well on the way to addling himself through drugs and alcohol. The Holy Father recruits him too and becomes similarly disenchanted with this substance dependent pretty boy.
I am a fan of the ambiguous ending, which made me very happy with Friedman’s conclusion to this book. The ending also explained to me the image that Michael Whelan painted for the cover. Who is this pretty boy in black leather pants, wielding a cold-fire sword, swishing his duster suggestively? You’ll find out in those final pages!
Book number 339 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project.
Counterpoint to Vryce is the Hunter’s last remaining human descendant, Andrys Tarrant, who is in Calesta’s thrawl and is well on the way to addling himself through drugs and alcohol. The Holy Father recruits him too and becomes similarly disenchanted with this substance dependent pretty boy.
I am a fan of the ambiguous ending, which made me very happy with Friedman’s conclusion to this book. The ending also explained to me the image that Michael Whelan painted for the cover. Who is this pretty boy in black leather pants, wielding a cold-fire sword, swishing his duster suggestively? You’ll find out in those final pages!
Book number 339 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project.
April 14, 2011
The final book in this trilogy is a kind of mixed bag. The bits of Tarrant's history that are revealed, the Church lore, everything about Vryce and Tarrant's interactions, the revelations about the fae, the resolution of the plot - it was all great pay-off and I loved it. But it was interspersed with bits about one of Tarrant's descendants and about the Church's Patriarch that bored me to tears and that I now skip every time I re-read it. The key there is "every time I re-read it," which is many, many many times. Because as I said, I loved it.
That said, the very ending - while it makes an inescapable kind of sense given the events of the series and definitely works as a well-written conclusion - was kind of emotionally unsatisfying, in that it separates Vryce and Tarrant permanently just as they've come to truly trust and understand each other. My love for this book, and therefore the entire series, kind of depends on my ability to pretend that doesn't happen. Luckily, my denial-fu is strong.
That said, the very ending - while it makes an inescapable kind of sense given the events of the series and definitely works as a well-written conclusion - was kind of emotionally unsatisfying, in that it separates Vryce and Tarrant permanently just as they've come to truly trust and understand each other. My love for this book, and therefore the entire series, kind of depends on my ability to pretend that doesn't happen. Luckily, my denial-fu is strong.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2022
Absolutely genius story development with the POV structure elevates this series to new heights. It simultaneously pushed forth an attempt at a redemption arc while constantly reminding us of just a small fraction of the endless pain this person has inflicted on the world. Could any amount of atonement and good intentions be enough? In my eyes, whether you say yes or no, any answer can suffice. And to pull off something like that is truly difficult.
I was a little skeptical of where this was going around halfway through the book, but I was a fool to ever have doubts. Once I understood what Friedman was going for, everything started to fit together like a puzzle in the most satisfying of ways possible. I can call this series a masterpiece with no hesitation at all. Very likely my favorite trilogy of all time at the time of writing this. It's a shame I can only read this for the first time once.
I was a little skeptical of where this was going around halfway through the book, but I was a fool to ever have doubts. Once I understood what Friedman was going for, everything started to fit together like a puzzle in the most satisfying of ways possible. I can call this series a masterpiece with no hesitation at all. Very likely my favorite trilogy of all time at the time of writing this. It's a shame I can only read this for the first time once.
March 20, 2015
3.5 stars
Crown of Shadows brings C.S. Friedman’s COLDFIRE trilogy to a close. (This review may contain spoilers for the previous books, which you really must read before beginning Crown of Shadows.)
In the previous book, When True Night Falls, the unlikely allies Reverend Damien Vryce and undead vampire Gerald Tarrant battled their way across hostile foreign countries to combat the evil force that was threatening humanity. Just when they thought they were finished, they were essentially told: “But wait! There’s more!” Now they’re on their way back home where they will — they hope — finally really combat the actual final real ultimate source of evil ... which turns out to be Calesta the demon.
Damien and Gerald ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Crown of Shadows brings C.S. Friedman’s COLDFIRE trilogy to a close. (This review may contain spoilers for the previous books, which you really must read before beginning Crown of Shadows.)
In the previous book, When True Night Falls, the unlikely allies Reverend Damien Vryce and undead vampire Gerald Tarrant battled their way across hostile foreign countries to combat the evil force that was threatening humanity. Just when they thought they were finished, they were essentially told: “But wait! There’s more!” Now they’re on their way back home where they will — they hope — finally really combat the actual final real ultimate source of evil ... which turns out to be Calesta the demon.
Damien and Gerald ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
September 1, 2013
The story of Damien Vryce, the knight/priest of the One God, and Gerald Tarrant, the founder of Vryce's church who sold his soul for immortality, comes to a satisfying ending. These companions, who have become friends (due to their working together in common interests in the previous books) despite the fact that they should be mortal enemies, along with the help of Karril work to stop Calesta from dooming humankind on Erna. While this is all happening, the Patriarch leads Tarrant's only surviving heir (many generations have passed) on an attack on Tarrant's base of power, The Forest.
One thing I really like about the book is how Tarrant, and Vryce, two very different individuals on the surface, strengthen their friendship and work together for the good of humankind. It's good seeing Tarrant making choices that could lead him to a second chance (to save his soul). Finally, C.S. Friedman did a great job wrapping up everything so that 1. it made sense and 2. I found myself missing the characters, like they are old friends that I am saying goodbye to.
One thing I really like about the book is how Tarrant, and Vryce, two very different individuals on the surface, strengthen their friendship and work together for the good of humankind. It's good seeing Tarrant making choices that could lead him to a second chance (to save his soul). Finally, C.S. Friedman did a great job wrapping up everything so that 1. it made sense and 2. I found myself missing the characters, like they are old friends that I am saying goodbye to.
March 30, 2010
Finally, I'm on the last book of this C.S. Friedman series, although now I'll be sad to leave this world and all of its compelling characters. Gerald Tarrent is one of the best and one of the more complex villains I've yet to encounter, even more so than the Shrike (from Dan Simmon's brilliant hyperion series). The Shrike was ultimately servile to a mysterious evil force and not necessarily autonomous, unlike Tarrent who is completely in charge of his awful destiny. The choices he makes are so horrific yet so understandable that you can't help but root for him. I used to think Friedman's books were dark, but now I just think they are very realistic. Her books are definitely not intended for the tween market, perhaps not anyone under 40 as well.
September 15, 2018
This is it, the final book. I read them all. I will admit, of all of them, this was the first book I wanted to give up on.
I have no idea what the hell was happening in this book half the time. I don't think I ever will.
Apparently the huge reveal is that the fae and mankind from many years ago created (mankind unknowingly created, mind you) a sentient being that can create it's own kind called Iszu which are half human half fae. Some Iszu have appeared throughout mankind and conversed with the characters in the book. Others have decided to go off the deep-end and become monsters... hence, the crazy that has happened in the books from day one.
Gerald Tarrant is one interesting character. At times, he reminds me of a psychotic Victor Frankenstien (more or less the Hammer Horror version) and spends his time in this book trying to watch his strange experiments and observations of mankind and the fae go wack. Other times he is spending the book in 'Hell' because he apparently did one good-deed and the gods who turned him into a vampire decided to punish him for it. Guess who has to go into Hell and drag him out of hell? Damien. Yep. He's bitching and griping about it.
Damien and Gerald's friendship has developed over the book. How some readers have taken it, it's some strange love and hate (though stronger on the 'love' when it comes to Damien). I can't tell if he wanted to fuck Gerard or just be super close friends with him.
The ending was a little weird because Gerard apparently (after loosing his powers while Damien takes him back to the living) made some sorcery deal that allowed him a new, mortal body of a younger man and if he was to tell anyone or speak his old name to any-one, it would make the new contract void and he would die or... as he put it, return to the original state of his body. (His head gets cut off in the of the book by his descendant. Yes, that is another plot point that was sorta touched on in book two, but came out of nowhere in this one.)
All in all, for a three star trilogy, I give this final installment two stars. It's not as good as the previous two, but then again, they were never really that good of books to begin with.
I have no idea what the hell was happening in this book half the time. I don't think I ever will.
Apparently the huge reveal is that the fae and mankind from many years ago created (mankind unknowingly created, mind you) a sentient being that can create it's own kind called Iszu which are half human half fae. Some Iszu have appeared throughout mankind and conversed with the characters in the book. Others have decided to go off the deep-end and become monsters... hence, the crazy that has happened in the books from day one.
Gerald Tarrant is one interesting character. At times, he reminds me of a psychotic Victor Frankenstien (more or less the Hammer Horror version) and spends his time in this book trying to watch his strange experiments and observations of mankind and the fae go wack. Other times he is spending the book in 'Hell' because he apparently did one good-deed and the gods who turned him into a vampire decided to punish him for it. Guess who has to go into Hell and drag him out of hell? Damien. Yep. He's bitching and griping about it.
Damien and Gerald's friendship has developed over the book. How some readers have taken it, it's some strange love and hate (though stronger on the 'love' when it comes to Damien). I can't tell if he wanted to fuck Gerard or just be super close friends with him.
The ending was a little weird because Gerard apparently (after loosing his powers while Damien takes him back to the living) made some sorcery deal that allowed him a new, mortal body of a younger man and if he was to tell anyone or speak his old name to any-one, it would make the new contract void and he would die or... as he put it, return to the original state of his body. (His head gets cut off in the of the book by his descendant. Yes, that is another plot point that was sorta touched on in book two, but came out of nowhere in this one.)
All in all, for a three star trilogy, I give this final installment two stars. It's not as good as the previous two, but then again, they were never really that good of books to begin with.
April 11, 2012
Quick! Gut reaction: Well, I like the cover art.
Short Summation
This is third in a trilogy. My reviews for the first two are around here somewhere.
We have to stop the Iezu, Calesta. That’s kinda like a demon. The Church is heavily involved, working separately from our main characters, Gerald and Damien. Also, we get to meet Gerald’s descendant, Andrys.
Rah.
Why this book?
I read the first two. I was hoping for more entertaining exchanges between Damien and Gerald. I wanted to see Damien help Gerald save his own soul.
How’d it go?
Okay, Friedman did this in the second book as well, but I forgave it enough not to mention it in my review. This time, I’m ruffled beyond forgetting. At the beginning of the second and the third books, Damien writes a letter to his Patriarch that goes over everything that happened in the book before. It’s the laziest “catch new readers up” ploy I’ve seen in a long, long time. She tries to break this one up by having Damien go through a few drafts, letting some things slip he doesn’t actually want to tell his Patriarch.
It wasn’t clever. It drew it out. It sucked. Maybe it wouldn’t have been so horrible if more time had passed since I’d read the previous book, but I hated this ploy in the second book, too, and it had been a while since I’d read the first one at that point.
Still, I was going to move on and enjoy the book anyway, the way I tried to do with the second book. That didn’t work this time. Because I hated this book.
Now, that’s not completely fair. I see in this book a thread of a story I could like very much. That’s probably why I have such ire for it, instead of simple indifference.
It’s horribly told, badly written, and comes from points-of-view I just don’t care about. Like the Patriarch. I never got to the point where I cared about the Patriarch or his thoughts. Sorry. He was in the first book, and he was mentioned in the second, but most of his sections were just more of the same: He has dreams that are true. And he has one continuous dream about this battle in the Hunter’s Forrest.
Other than that, I was happy to see Andrys, but man was he a big whiney brat. His past was not an excuse.
And then we get to see the chick from the first book, the one Calesta used to mess with Gerald at the end, thus goading Gerald to go with Damien across the ocean for the second book. I think it's cool, who she ended up with, I just hope Friedman didn’t expect me to believe they had a true love going on there. But I do think it was the truest kind of love those two are capable of. So it entertained me. It just wasn’t that fun to read about. I like that it exists, though.
Friedman went back to a problem I thought she got over in the second book. I’m talking about her love of pronouns. You knew, when you start a new section, that you were going to be in someone’s limited POV, but you had no freaking idea whose---for paragraphs and paragraphs sometimes. Sometimes, there wasn’t even a pronoun; just scenery with no one in it. It was weird. It was bad.
There were also some POV problems with Gerald and Damien. I would like to stand up and say this was because of their channel, the link they have. I think, maybe, that is what was supposed to be going on, but it wasn’t done well at all. I had to struggle to convince myself that was the explanation. Because I didn't trust the witer, mainly.
There were a lot of things I wanted to skip because I just didn’t care, but I read them because I thought there might be something in them that would magically explain something else I had a problem with in some other POV. So I read them. And you know what? They still sucked. And there was nothing in them I needed.
All the throwing up and almost throwing up got to me, too. I’ve never seen so much of that in one book. Everybody reacts to everything by either throwing up or wanting to throw up. Geez.
Now, when Gerald's wife "showed up," it made me wish she’d been in more of the trilogy than just the prologue of Book One. Because she didn’t make me roll my eyes, though that was a possibility. I actually thought it was cool.
I couldn’t make myself believe that Damien would really go through all he does to convince Karril to help him get Gerald out of...one set of big trouble he gets into. There’s the flimsy excuse he’s got to have Gerald to defeat the novel's plot, but it’s thin, people. It’s very thin. I think maybe Friedman was trying to hint that Damien and Gerald had become close enough friends that Damien’d go through hell to save him.
I’m sorry. I’ve read What Dreams May Come. I have a preconceived idea of how deep a love has to be in order for someone to be able to save someone else from hell. And Damien wasn’t nearly there. Not nearly. I felt like this part of Friedman’s book was a slap in Matheson's face. Pissed me off, it did.
I didn’t have the heart to go into the technical problems this time, but just know that they were a little better than the second book. A little. I dunno, though, really. The choppy POV switches and sloppy POV portrayals distracted me from the smaller, technical problems. Sadly enough.
In the end, I’m just sad. Because I really think it could have been good. There were just too many things that were forced and a method of storytelling that didn’t get the “good” parts across well at all.
Very disappointing.
But I still love the cover.
Short Summation
This is third in a trilogy. My reviews for the first two are around here somewhere.
We have to stop the Iezu, Calesta. That’s kinda like a demon. The Church is heavily involved, working separately from our main characters, Gerald and Damien. Also, we get to meet Gerald’s descendant, Andrys.
Rah.
Why this book?
I read the first two. I was hoping for more entertaining exchanges between Damien and Gerald. I wanted to see Damien help Gerald save his own soul.
How’d it go?
Okay, Friedman did this in the second book as well, but I forgave it enough not to mention it in my review. This time, I’m ruffled beyond forgetting. At the beginning of the second and the third books, Damien writes a letter to his Patriarch that goes over everything that happened in the book before. It’s the laziest “catch new readers up” ploy I’ve seen in a long, long time. She tries to break this one up by having Damien go through a few drafts, letting some things slip he doesn’t actually want to tell his Patriarch.
It wasn’t clever. It drew it out. It sucked. Maybe it wouldn’t have been so horrible if more time had passed since I’d read the previous book, but I hated this ploy in the second book, too, and it had been a while since I’d read the first one at that point.
Still, I was going to move on and enjoy the book anyway, the way I tried to do with the second book. That didn’t work this time. Because I hated this book.
Now, that’s not completely fair. I see in this book a thread of a story I could like very much. That’s probably why I have such ire for it, instead of simple indifference.
It’s horribly told, badly written, and comes from points-of-view I just don’t care about. Like the Patriarch. I never got to the point where I cared about the Patriarch or his thoughts. Sorry. He was in the first book, and he was mentioned in the second, but most of his sections were just more of the same: He has dreams that are true. And he has one continuous dream about this battle in the Hunter’s Forrest.
Other than that, I was happy to see Andrys, but man was he a big whiney brat. His past was not an excuse.
And then we get to see the chick from the first book, the one Calesta used to mess with Gerald at the end, thus goading Gerald to go with Damien across the ocean for the second book. I think it's cool, who she ended up with, I just hope Friedman didn’t expect me to believe they had a true love going on there. But I do think it was the truest kind of love those two are capable of. So it entertained me. It just wasn’t that fun to read about. I like that it exists, though.
Friedman went back to a problem I thought she got over in the second book. I’m talking about her love of pronouns. You knew, when you start a new section, that you were going to be in someone’s limited POV, but you had no freaking idea whose---for paragraphs and paragraphs sometimes. Sometimes, there wasn’t even a pronoun; just scenery with no one in it. It was weird. It was bad.
There were also some POV problems with Gerald and Damien. I would like to stand up and say this was because of their channel, the link they have. I think, maybe, that is what was supposed to be going on, but it wasn’t done well at all. I had to struggle to convince myself that was the explanation. Because I didn't trust the witer, mainly.
There were a lot of things I wanted to skip because I just didn’t care, but I read them because I thought there might be something in them that would magically explain something else I had a problem with in some other POV. So I read them. And you know what? They still sucked. And there was nothing in them I needed.
All the throwing up and almost throwing up got to me, too. I’ve never seen so much of that in one book. Everybody reacts to everything by either throwing up or wanting to throw up. Geez.
Now, when Gerald's wife "showed up," it made me wish she’d been in more of the trilogy than just the prologue of Book One. Because she didn’t make me roll my eyes, though that was a possibility. I actually thought it was cool.
I couldn’t make myself believe that Damien would really go through all he does to convince Karril to help him get Gerald out of...one set of big trouble he gets into. There’s the flimsy excuse he’s got to have Gerald to defeat the novel's plot, but it’s thin, people. It’s very thin. I think maybe Friedman was trying to hint that Damien and Gerald had become close enough friends that Damien’d go through hell to save him.
I’m sorry. I’ve read What Dreams May Come. I have a preconceived idea of how deep a love has to be in order for someone to be able to save someone else from hell. And Damien wasn’t nearly there. Not nearly. I felt like this part of Friedman’s book was a slap in Matheson's face. Pissed me off, it did.
I didn’t have the heart to go into the technical problems this time, but just know that they were a little better than the second book. A little. I dunno, though, really. The choppy POV switches and sloppy POV portrayals distracted me from the smaller, technical problems. Sadly enough.
In the end, I’m just sad. Because I really think it could have been good. There were just too many things that were forced and a method of storytelling that didn’t get the “good” parts across well at all.
Very disappointing.
But I still love the cover.
June 25, 2020
And I'm done my reread of the third book of the Coldfire trilogy! Find my reviews of the first two books here: Black Sun Rising | When True Night Falls
Crown of Shadows is not a perfect book -- there are more POVs than I'd like, and while I understand the purpose that Andrys and Narilka's story serves both as foils and as something that drives the plot, it tends to switch back to them right when things are REALLY GOOD with the Tarrant/Vryce story, usually for bits of less intensity or that go over the same emotional beats as have previously been addressed. So while I understand what Friedman is doing with these parts, it makes the pacing a bit uneven for me.
But other than that? Yeah, it does away with many of the problems that I couldn't help but notice in my other reviews (namely: women who aren't allowed to succeed and thrive), and the things Friedman does with its themes are fantastic. If you have a story that's very much about trying to redeem a sadist, you have to tackle the issue of altruism and it does that beautifully while staying true to the characters and playing with some of my favorite tropes in the world. Soulbonding/mindsharing? Yes please. Characters who risk their lives for each other? Who drive each other? Who are a parallel to the big m/f romance in the book? Who have Feelings that they can almost but not quite identify, which cannot speak their name? Listen, as said in my other reviews, I know it's not intended as a 'ship', but as a queer reader, even if the queer-coding is accidental I'm still gonna see it and ship it and that's just how it is.
And listen, this is a spoiler, I'm hiding it because it's a spoiler, but about the ending:
GOD THAT ENTIRE LAST BIT IN FACT, fuck that is the shit. I am here for that.
Anyway it's a good book and like, go in knowing these were written in the early 90s, with early 90s Fantasy traits in them, good and bad, fun tropes and problematic ones both, and yeah, you're probably reading my reviews because I'm a queer reader of queer books and this book isn't intended as that (it's in fact largely also got that 90s-and-earlier fantasy trait of totally forgetting that queer characters just, should like, exist in the world? Though this book does mention a few guys being attracted to this one guy in passing, which actually startled me on reread because it's so default-hetero as a society), but:
They're compelling reads with incredible worldbuilding and does a great job pulling together the themes it wants to address, has fantastic characters who I just adore, and also, yeah, are super shippable, it hands you this ship all pre-made and everything. So go in aware that it's very different from my usual recs, but check it out!
Crown of Shadows is not a perfect book -- there are more POVs than I'd like, and while I understand the purpose that Andrys and Narilka's story serves both as foils and as something that drives the plot, it tends to switch back to them right when things are REALLY GOOD with the Tarrant/Vryce story, usually for bits of less intensity or that go over the same emotional beats as have previously been addressed. So while I understand what Friedman is doing with these parts, it makes the pacing a bit uneven for me.
But other than that? Yeah, it does away with many of the problems that I couldn't help but notice in my other reviews (namely: women who aren't allowed to succeed and thrive), and the things Friedman does with its themes are fantastic. If you have a story that's very much about trying to redeem a sadist, you have to tackle the issue of altruism and it does that beautifully while staying true to the characters and playing with some of my favorite tropes in the world. Soulbonding/mindsharing? Yes please. Characters who risk their lives for each other? Who drive each other? Who are a parallel to the big m/f romance in the book? Who have Feelings that they can almost but not quite identify, which cannot speak their name? Listen, as said in my other reviews, I know it's not intended as a 'ship', but as a queer reader, even if the queer-coding is accidental I'm still gonna see it and ship it and that's just how it is.
And listen, this is a spoiler, I'm hiding it because it's a spoiler, but about the ending:
GOD THAT ENTIRE LAST BIT IN FACT, fuck that is the shit. I am here for that.
Anyway it's a good book and like, go in knowing these were written in the early 90s, with early 90s Fantasy traits in them, good and bad, fun tropes and problematic ones both, and yeah, you're probably reading my reviews because I'm a queer reader of queer books and this book isn't intended as that (it's in fact largely also got that 90s-and-earlier fantasy trait of totally forgetting that queer characters just, should like, exist in the world? Though this book does mention a few guys being attracted to this one guy in passing, which actually startled me on reread because it's so default-hetero as a society), but:
They're compelling reads with incredible worldbuilding and does a great job pulling together the themes it wants to address, has fantastic characters who I just adore, and also, yeah, are super shippable, it hands you this ship all pre-made and everything. So go in aware that it's very different from my usual recs, but check it out!
May 8, 2015
It's been a really long time since I last finished a fantasy book. I managed to read all 500+ pages of this book in a matter of weeks. I haven't read a trilogy with books this long since the Night Angel books I read in college. Gotta say that I was pleasantly surprised with Crown of Shadows.
Like its predecessors, Crown of Shadows is primarily an adventure book with the two main characters, Damien and Tarrant, both trying to vanquish an evil enemy. This time, the enemy is Calesta, the demon who revels in others' pain and has been a character since book one. I have to say that Calesta was a somewhat more prominent than the villains of the last two installments, but still seemed very shrouded in mystery. I wasn't quite sure what his aims were. The back of the book says he wants to remake mankind to serve him or something along those lines. We don't really get a full grasp of his power throughout the book. The most he really does is make a bunch of religious groups destroy temples and whatnot. For a master of illusions, he doesn't seem to do much. Seeing as he does actually alter the characters' senses at a few points in the story, you'd expect him to do much worse.
Most of Calesta's plotting only really involves Andrys Tarrant, a descendant of Gerald Tarrant, the Hunter himself. I have to say that this was among the more interesting parts of the book as Andrys's plot is intertwined with Damien and Gerald's plot. The riveting opening scene of the book has Andrys going nearly insane remembering the vivid flashbacks of the Hunter killing his family. Calesta uses that to his advantage and tries to ersuade Andrys to kill the Hunter.
An opening scene of bloodshed certainly does set the tone for the book. It is a pretty dark novel, perhaps even moreso than the previous two books. It's full of haunting imagery, such as when Damien goes through Hell in order to save Tarrant. One scene involves Damien gazing upon the dead bodies of Tarrant's victims.
Yes, there are some riveting and extremely dark scenes in the novel, but it didn't quite have that epic conclusion that a final book in a trilogy should have. The last battle with the bad guy felt really abrupt and was over way too soon. The book goes on for almost one hundred pages afterwards and, while those pages are still entertaining to read, it didn't quite have that epic feel that it should have. The book ends on a somewhat happy and ominous note. It was a good conclusion, but not quite the epic finale that books like this usually have.
Like its predecessors, Crown of Shadows is primarily an adventure book with the two main characters, Damien and Tarrant, both trying to vanquish an evil enemy. This time, the enemy is Calesta, the demon who revels in others' pain and has been a character since book one. I have to say that Calesta was a somewhat more prominent than the villains of the last two installments, but still seemed very shrouded in mystery. I wasn't quite sure what his aims were. The back of the book says he wants to remake mankind to serve him or something along those lines. We don't really get a full grasp of his power throughout the book. The most he really does is make a bunch of religious groups destroy temples and whatnot. For a master of illusions, he doesn't seem to do much. Seeing as he does actually alter the characters' senses at a few points in the story, you'd expect him to do much worse.
Most of Calesta's plotting only really involves Andrys Tarrant, a descendant of Gerald Tarrant, the Hunter himself. I have to say that this was among the more interesting parts of the book as Andrys's plot is intertwined with Damien and Gerald's plot. The riveting opening scene of the book has Andrys going nearly insane remembering the vivid flashbacks of the Hunter killing his family. Calesta uses that to his advantage and tries to ersuade Andrys to kill the Hunter.
An opening scene of bloodshed certainly does set the tone for the book. It is a pretty dark novel, perhaps even moreso than the previous two books. It's full of haunting imagery, such as when Damien goes through Hell in order to save Tarrant. One scene involves Damien gazing upon the dead bodies of Tarrant's victims.
Yes, there are some riveting and extremely dark scenes in the novel, but it didn't quite have that epic conclusion that a final book in a trilogy should have. The last battle with the bad guy felt really abrupt and was over way too soon. The book goes on for almost one hundred pages afterwards and, while those pages are still entertaining to read, it didn't quite have that epic feel that it should have. The book ends on a somewhat happy and ominous note. It was a good conclusion, but not quite the epic finale that books like this usually have.
July 2, 2020
An interesting fantasy that intersects with a tinge of sci-fi. A tale of religious fanaticism and it's effect on the fae, the foundational and alien energy of Erna. However this was balanced by the ever ruthless primal perspective of the prophet, turned dark hunter, and immortal so long as he is able to feed off of fear and blood. The trilogy tells various tales in pursuit of preventing the ever increasing potential for global chaos wreaked by an Iazu, Calister, providing us with interesting characters as temporary companions. Friedman is certainly not averse to laying bare the dire consequences of a vicious reality as well as following through with the sacrifices that must sometimes be made to achieve an end to tyranny.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 26, 2024I am adding my physical copy to Goodreads. I read this so long ago that I don't feel as if I could give a proper rating.
August 29, 2025
There is SO much heteronormative, gender-essentialist bull in this series and it drives me up the entire wall and back down again, and I feel uncomfy with some of the vibes it has wrt a monotheistic religion conquering a new world.
And YET. Here I am, rereading the last four pages three times because I want to feel the end of this story as intensely as possible, to say a proper goodbye to Damien and Gerald Tarrant, because I love them so much. I love their character arcs, I love the bittersweetness of the way Damien has changed and stayed the same and I love his deep, abiding, grouchy love for the worst of the worst as well as the best of the best; the way that he does what he thinks is the right thing under his God, no matter how it breaks the rules, which ends up both redeeming Gerald and earning himself exile from his vocation, is some of my favorite queer religious subtext I've EVER read. I love edgelord par excellence Gerald and his fussiness and sarcasm and the depth of his fear, driven to its only logical conclusions here. And much to my surprise, I love the Iezu.
I've had a really dry year, reading fiction, and a dry year trying to write it, too. This series - and this book in particular - reminds me why I keep at it.
And YET. Here I am, rereading the last four pages three times because I want to feel the end of this story as intensely as possible, to say a proper goodbye to Damien and Gerald Tarrant, because I love them so much. I love their character arcs, I love the bittersweetness of the way Damien has changed and stayed the same and I love his deep, abiding, grouchy love for the worst of the worst as well as the best of the best; the way that he does what he thinks is the right thing under his God, no matter how it breaks the rules, which ends up both redeeming Gerald and earning himself exile from his vocation, is some of my favorite queer religious subtext I've EVER read. I love edgelord par excellence Gerald and his fussiness and sarcasm and the depth of his fear, driven to its only logical conclusions here. And much to my surprise, I love the Iezu.
I've had a really dry year, reading fiction, and a dry year trying to write it, too. This series - and this book in particular - reminds me why I keep at it.
April 11, 2025
Priesteris Deimians Vraiss līdz šim savu dzīvi pavadījis vairāk vai mazāk pieturoties pie melni-baltas pārliecības par to, kas iedalāms labajos un kas sliktajos spēkos, bet Coldfire triloģija mazpamazām liks tam mainīt domas. Interesantā kārtā un šķietami pat pretrunīgi vismaz pirmās grāmatas ietvaros pretstata ļaundaris skaitās tēls, kurš licis pamatus uz planētas valdošajai Baznīcai, sauktai par Church of Human Unification, – pirms aptuveni desmit gadsimties dzīvojošais Morentas grāfs Gerald Tarrant. Tarants, kura pastrādātais pirms oficiālās nāves iegājis planētas Ernas vēsturē ar bēdīgi slavenu atzīmi, bet tas nav liedzis vēsturiski kļūt par Pravieti, pat ja šībrīža viņa versija, devēta par Hunter drīzāk tiek teju stādīts vienlīdzīgā rindā ar dēmoniem.
https://poseidons99.com/2025/04/11/c-...
https://poseidons99.com/2025/04/11/c-...
September 7, 2018
I could not put this book down. All the work established in the second of the series culminated here (though book 2 can definitely stand on its own), and thoroughly engaged me. There were less world building reveals here, as befits a wrap-up, but plenty of pay-offs on things we've come to understand and appreciate. I will add that the reveals shown were very interesting in their overall impact, and served to show a side of the characters not fully exposed in previous entries.
All in all, a fantastic close to an intriguing series!
All in all, a fantastic close to an intriguing series!
November 4, 2017
Clearly the best of the trilogy. Pretty much no filler, and engaging from beginning to end.
July 22, 2017
Yawwwwwwnnnn.
I enjoyed the first book in the series, thought it had lots of potential. The second also kept my attention, though I was getting tired of the endless journeying that serves as plot in these novels.
Unfortunately, the third failed to ignite. I've been slogging through it for weeks without finishing it, and ultimately I've lost interest. The bromance sort of fun, but it's not enough to keep this one afloat.
I enjoyed the first book in the series, thought it had lots of potential. The second also kept my attention, though I was getting tired of the endless journeying that serves as plot in these novels.
Unfortunately, the third failed to ignite. I've been slogging through it for weeks without finishing it, and ultimately I've lost interest. The bromance sort of fun, but it's not enough to keep this one afloat.
March 8, 2015
I have really tried hard to like this series, probably too hard. But I just can't get there. It's ok, but not great. Not for me anyway. There was definitely potential, anything with demons and things that go bump in the night are right up my alley, but this series just lacked so much despite the constant duplication of themes, plots and characterisations.
Another review I read really nailed one issue perfectly (sorry I can't remember who it was to give credit where due), the author really doesn't know how to weave romance into a storyline. In the first book there was the most ridiculous puppy love at first sight between two adults Ciani and Damian that had no depth and would have been better included in one of the Twilight novels.
This book had the romance between Andrys and Narilka. Aside from it being so cheesy and predictable, the whole storyline involving them really should not have been included at all. But I'll come back to that.
Again one of my main issues with this series is the theory of "less is more". So much of the journey could be cut down to be more action packed, punchier so to speak. Instead we are lead on these long winded, rambling, good vs evil, Damian internalising theoretical angst ridden journeys to save the devil incarnate Gerald Tarrant together with his sometime sidekick demon Karrill.
I really feel that the ending should have been ............
and major spoiler warning........
....when Tarrant bound himself to Calesta and theoretically threw them both into the volcano. The bullshit of Damian praying for Tarrant to have his evil doings of the last 900 years or so being balanced out by his good over the last 2 years and hence having God bring him back to life as as human, is complete and utter light weight literary crap.
I also grew really tired of being preached at. Throughout the series the same religious themes are basically rammed down our throats over and over and over and over again. Ok I get it. I get the good versus evil. I get the one true God. Please can we move forward? Can we please stop the preaching? Hardly a chapter goes by where a sermon is not included. But, I am able to move on even if the author isn't.
Finally, there is a secondary storyline introduced which really isn't needed and is just a distraction. The whole Patriach / Andrys / Narilka journey into the Hunterless forest to kill the albino demon (can't even remember his name he was so insignificant). And the final chapters with the hunt shop?? I mean WTF???? No idea what that was about and truthfully, I could not care less.
So I'm sorry to C.S. Friedman, I know that all writers pour their souls into the books they write, but this just didn't do it for me. I'm sure there are many, many more people that did love it.
Another review I read really nailed one issue perfectly (sorry I can't remember who it was to give credit where due), the author really doesn't know how to weave romance into a storyline. In the first book there was the most ridiculous puppy love at first sight between two adults Ciani and Damian that had no depth and would have been better included in one of the Twilight novels.
This book had the romance between Andrys and Narilka. Aside from it being so cheesy and predictable, the whole storyline involving them really should not have been included at all. But I'll come back to that.
Again one of my main issues with this series is the theory of "less is more". So much of the journey could be cut down to be more action packed, punchier so to speak. Instead we are lead on these long winded, rambling, good vs evil, Damian internalising theoretical angst ridden journeys to save the devil incarnate Gerald Tarrant together with his sometime sidekick demon Karrill.
I really feel that the ending should have been ............
and major spoiler warning........
....when Tarrant bound himself to Calesta and theoretically threw them both into the volcano. The bullshit of Damian praying for Tarrant to have his evil doings of the last 900 years or so being balanced out by his good over the last 2 years and hence having God bring him back to life as as human, is complete and utter light weight literary crap.
I also grew really tired of being preached at. Throughout the series the same religious themes are basically rammed down our throats over and over and over and over again. Ok I get it. I get the good versus evil. I get the one true God. Please can we move forward? Can we please stop the preaching? Hardly a chapter goes by where a sermon is not included. But, I am able to move on even if the author isn't.
Finally, there is a secondary storyline introduced which really isn't needed and is just a distraction. The whole Patriach / Andrys / Narilka journey into the Hunterless forest to kill the albino demon (can't even remember his name he was so insignificant). And the final chapters with the hunt shop?? I mean WTF???? No idea what that was about and truthfully, I could not care less.
So I'm sorry to C.S. Friedman, I know that all writers pour their souls into the books they write, but this just didn't do it for me. I'm sure there are many, many more people that did love it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2024
Around a year has passed since the events of the previous book because returning from the continent that no one returns from was much more difficult than getting there. The size of the planet is unclear, but six months to get there and ten to get back must involve considerable distances. It's good thing their travel time is skipped over between books because otherwise the majority of the time from the beginning of the first book to the end of the third book would be them at sea.
The enemy this time is what they consider to be an extremely powerful demon that they have no idea how they're going to beat. He's the guy behind the big bad of the second book who was the boss of the antagonists of the first book. Is there someone above this demon? It's as likely as you'd think. There's also a literally Unnamed manifestation of the all evil ever committed by humanity, which normally would seem like it'd be a big deal, but it never really is. Anti-climatic reveals and downplaying that which seems to be powerful happens a lot in this series. I thought it was just how it was written, but maybe it's meant to be subverting expectations. If that was the intent, then well, I don't know that it's advisable to do it continuously for all three books.
For the third time it's all about journeying. This time though the first half is a spiritual journey and the second half is a physical journey for spiritual reasons. That's not all though since there are several POVs this time. There's Damien and Tarrant who want to destroy what they see as the ultimate evil, the demon. Narilka and Andrys want to destroy the ultimate evil, Tarrant. Patriarch, who forever remains unnamed, wants to destroy the ultimate evil, the fae. There are a few other one-off POVs as well.
The primary theme is that through penance one can be absolved, if not redeemed. It leans heavily into the question of whether a few great deeds can mitigate a lifetime of evil. I'm not really much for heroic self-sacrifice as I think living is preferable, but as with some other ideals, I believe its arguments are presented here well enough. I'm skeptical of whether the character development was credible enough for what happens, but I'll allow it. I'm conflicted about the late story reveals and the epilogue, which were mildly to the detriment of my enjoyment.
I don't know what Friedman was going for with this series overall. I do know that I enjoyed most of it aside from the plot though. This is the end of the trilogy, but not the end of the works in this setting. There's still a work of short fiction and a novel left. The novel was published 28 years after this one, so I'm interested to see how much has changed in how Friedman writes in this setting.
Rating: 3.5/5
The enemy this time is what they consider to be an extremely powerful demon that they have no idea how they're going to beat. He's the guy behind the big bad of the second book who was the boss of the antagonists of the first book. Is there someone above this demon? It's as likely as you'd think. There's also a literally Unnamed manifestation of the all evil ever committed by humanity, which normally would seem like it'd be a big deal, but it never really is. Anti-climatic reveals and downplaying that which seems to be powerful happens a lot in this series. I thought it was just how it was written, but maybe it's meant to be subverting expectations. If that was the intent, then well, I don't know that it's advisable to do it continuously for all three books.
For the third time it's all about journeying. This time though the first half is a spiritual journey and the second half is a physical journey for spiritual reasons. That's not all though since there are several POVs this time. There's Damien and Tarrant who want to destroy what they see as the ultimate evil, the demon. Narilka and Andrys want to destroy the ultimate evil, Tarrant. Patriarch, who forever remains unnamed, wants to destroy the ultimate evil, the fae. There are a few other one-off POVs as well.
The primary theme is that through penance one can be absolved, if not redeemed. It leans heavily into the question of whether a few great deeds can mitigate a lifetime of evil. I'm not really much for heroic self-sacrifice as I think living is preferable, but as with some other ideals, I believe its arguments are presented here well enough. I'm skeptical of whether the character development was credible enough for what happens, but I'll allow it. I'm conflicted about the late story reveals and the epilogue, which were mildly to the detriment of my enjoyment.
I don't know what Friedman was going for with this series overall. I do know that I enjoyed most of it aside from the plot though. This is the end of the trilogy, but not the end of the works in this setting. There's still a work of short fiction and a novel left. The novel was published 28 years after this one, so I'm interested to see how much has changed in how Friedman writes in this setting.
Rating: 3.5/5
January 1, 2012
(This review is for the whole Coldfire trilogy, including Black Sun Rising and When True Night Falls).
When I started this trilogy I was in the mood for some science fiction, as someone had recommended this to be. Well, while it turns out these books have some SF background they are mostly sword & sorcery fantasy but quite good enough to keep me reading through all three books in no time.
The world building here is intriguing: Being descendants of an Earth colony, the protagonists have quite advanced knowledge but due to historic events and their truly alien environment live in a mostly renaissance-era society. The fae, a powerful force native to their planet react to human thought and so give rise to effects like magic - and nightmares. The quest-like story of these three books centers around a few main characters who (while being distracted by all kinds of character development etc.) discover a threat to human life as they know it and attempt to avert this fate. This isn't immediately obvious - the first novel, Black Sun Rising, only covers the fight against a minor opponent - but the stage is set for the larger events to come.
Over the course of the trilogy, there are several groups of well-developed characters, all centering around Gerald Tarrant and Damien Vryce. These two change a lot in the books, challenging their beliefs (such as faith, purpose in life and morality) and making decisions that last. While their companions, as well as some of their opponents, tend to be well developed the same cannot be said of all tertiary characters who on occasion seem flat and easily discardable.
Eventually, some confrontations are reached, the climax is complete and the ending is appropriately bitter-sweet. There are several surprises, keeping the otherwise straight-forward plot interesting. All in all a good read. I was especially happy about the sword & sorcery plot with characters who could talk about genetics, evolution and geology and who could reason with a scientific background.
One note on the quality of the Kindle editions: they suck and get progressively worse through the books.
When I started this trilogy I was in the mood for some science fiction, as someone had recommended this to be. Well, while it turns out these books have some SF background they are mostly sword & sorcery fantasy but quite good enough to keep me reading through all three books in no time.
The world building here is intriguing: Being descendants of an Earth colony, the protagonists have quite advanced knowledge but due to historic events and their truly alien environment live in a mostly renaissance-era society. The fae, a powerful force native to their planet react to human thought and so give rise to effects like magic - and nightmares. The quest-like story of these three books centers around a few main characters who (while being distracted by all kinds of character development etc.) discover a threat to human life as they know it and attempt to avert this fate. This isn't immediately obvious - the first novel, Black Sun Rising, only covers the fight against a minor opponent - but the stage is set for the larger events to come.
Over the course of the trilogy, there are several groups of well-developed characters, all centering around Gerald Tarrant and Damien Vryce. These two change a lot in the books, challenging their beliefs (such as faith, purpose in life and morality) and making decisions that last. While their companions, as well as some of their opponents, tend to be well developed the same cannot be said of all tertiary characters who on occasion seem flat and easily discardable.
Eventually, some confrontations are reached, the climax is complete and the ending is appropriately bitter-sweet. There are several surprises, keeping the otherwise straight-forward plot interesting. All in all a good read. I was especially happy about the sword & sorcery plot with characters who could talk about genetics, evolution and geology and who could reason with a scientific background.
One note on the quality of the Kindle editions: they suck and get progressively worse through the books.
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