Shadowfane: Book 3 of the Cycle of Fire

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

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

While reading The Cycle of Fire, I found myself once again greatly admiring Ms. Wurts??? imagination. I don???t want to give anything away, so I???ll just say that I loved the science fiction elements and how Veriset Nav, motivated ??? almost consciously ??? to complete its program, developed its own mythos to hide itself from humans and aliens.

David Thorpe???s enthusiasm is infectious. If you read The Cycle of Fire this way, I suggest using Ms. Wurts??? website as a resource ??? she has posted a helpful map and a glossary.

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

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

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

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

A great listen!

This applies for the entire series. The books are complicated and I believe not suitable for audio book format. Difficult to keep track of what's going on and who is doing it. I have enjoyed Janny Wurtz in the past and enjoy her stories but only in the written word in future.