Shadowfane

Book 3 of the Cycle of Fire

De: Janny Wurts

Narrado por: David Thorpe

For the first time in audio, the Cycle of Fire Trilogy, a stout and epic tale mixing Sci Fi and Fantasy by acclaimed author Janny Wurts.

Book 3 Shadowfane:The concluding novel in the "Cycle of Fire" fantasy trilogy. Jaric inherits his father's powers, and as he struggles to successfully assume them, mankind's enemies are growing strong.

Janny Wurts is the author of several fantasy series, and the internationally best selling Empire trilogy written in collaboration with Raymond E. Feist. She paints all her own covers depicting her vision of characters and setting. She is also an expert horsewoman, sailor, musician and archer.

©1988 Janny Wurts (P)2010 Audible Ltd

Reseñas de la Crítica

"An action-packed and exciting finale. There are plenty of wins and losses and lots of heart-breaking suffering for all of our heroes. There are also emotional displays of courage, grace, hope, faith, forgiveness, and love." (FantasyLiterature.com)

Worth Listening to Despite the Narrator

If you could sum up Shadowfane in three words, what would they be?

Adventure, magic & demons

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jarrick Fire Lord - he endures the cycle of fire to become a fire lord, and frees the Stormwarden. But he's not done - he goes to Shadowfane to stop the demons from destroying the land he loves. He survives a many saphid (excuse the spelling) bonding and comes out whole, vanquishes the mor-giarge (again excuse the spelling since this is an audiobook) and is reunited with those he loves.

Would you be willing to try another one of David Thorpe’s performances?

Not unless I have to. His voice is boring, and did not do justice to the characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, but it did keep my attention. I could, however, only take so much of David Thorpe at one time.

Any additional comments?

I like to listen to fantasy novels to reduce the stress in my life. This series wasn't fantastic, but it was enjoyable and served its purpose, despite the bad narration.

Not suitable for audio

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.

Themes which I appreciate in fantasy literature

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.

plenty of psychological drama

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!