Black Sun Rising (The Coldfire Trilogy, Book 1)

Well, C.S. Friedman has a brand new fan in this reader! I found The Coldfire Trilogy listed in a Best Fantasy Book list recently, so I decided to give it a try, especially since I had never had the pleasure of reading any of her books up to this point. I am so glad that I took a chance on this author!This book features exceptional writing and deeply complex characters in a seamless blend of fantasy and science fiction. Although this story clearly takes place far into the future on a different planet, it still had that classic, dark fantasy feel and atmosphere that I love. And as if that wasn't enough to make me an instant fan, this book features perhaps one of the most memorable and scarily seductive characters of all time - Gerald Tarrant - "The Hunter", Neocount of Merentha, fallen prophet, evil incarnate, all-powerful sorcerer, eater of souls, vampire. As much as his character was intimidating and terrifying, I felt myself falling helplessly under his spell just like one of his victims. His forced partnership with the main protagonist, Father Damien Vryce, has to be one of my favorite literary pairings since Robin Hobb's Fitz and the Fool. I could be endlessly happy just reading nothing but stories featuring either one of these great fantasy partnerships!At times the book does get a little repetitious, especially when describing how much the two main characters, Gerald and Damien, hate and despise each other, but in the end, it does make their moments of reluctant comradery, respect, vulnerability, and sacrifice for each other that much sweeter, so really I didn't mind the repetition too much.It won't be for everyone, but for those like me who prefer a slower-moving, character-driven story with a lot of depth and complexity, it's a book that many will find very rewarding and well worth your time. This is no lightweight fantasy - this is a book of real substance you can sink your teeth into. Very highly recommend!Update 5/29/15 - Just finished the last of the three books in this epic trilogy. This is one of the most carefully planned, engaging, and beautifully written fantasy stories I've ever had the pleasure to read. Every detail from the beginning of this story to the very end ties in together so perfectly. If you're a person who enjoys a deeply intimate, very well-written, character-driven story that leaves you an emotional wreck most of the time (Robin Hobb fans will love this series, although it is much, much darker), then you must read The Coldfire Trilogy.Book 1 - 5 StarsBook 2 - 5 StarsBook 3 - 5 Stars - Note: Book 3 in Kindle version has some SERIOUS typesetting issues - careless spelling errors, words running together, etc.- which only gets worse as the book progresses. You might want to get the actual books instead of the Kindle versions.

I first read this shortly after it came out. Years later, I remain a fan of this writer. She has several series out, all gems of world-building. Each is meticulously defined. Unusual for an SF/F writer, religion plays an important part in two of the series and is dealt with in respectful and thoughtful manner. Her characters are well-defined with conflicts and growth arcs.One thing the writer adds to the craft is her ability to depict compelling villains. The evil wizard is the hero of his own story, and by the end of the book, you will be fascinated by him. (Lucky for you, there are two more books and a novella featuring the neocount.)

I loved the world Friedman creates here. Erna is a well-developed and fascinating world where a mentally-responsive force called the fae (and its many varieties) creates a more fluid, magical world where magic is wielded both purposely and accidentally. I absolutely love the world and the living environment of it.I love the moral gray areas it takes you through as well. It's complex and challenging and gives a wonderful sense of tension as the story progresses.I loved the first half of the book, as we learn about the world and the fae and the characters and the plot takes us on twists and turns. The second half, however, loses itself in action. There is a journey, and a long one at that. Character development seems to slow to a trickle, and we find out little more about Erna and its history. While the complex relationships carried my attention through the first half, they faded away as the story progressed.The ending is one of the most disappointing endings I've ever read. Imagine preparing a marvelous dinner, and then as it's nearing completion you decide you just don't really care about it, and when it's done you push it off the table, and don't even ask what anyone else thought of it. That's the best I can do without any spoilers. The story has a resolution, but just doesn't care anymore about the motivation guiding the entire thing. The characters continue on to the next book like they're on autopilot.

Trying a little too hard for complexity and a dark anti-hero protagonist, this book nonetheless succeeds admirably in creating a series of interesting characters and throwing them into situations where their natures are in fundamental conflict. While the book has the structure of a traditional fantasy "quest" novel, the result is very much a subversion of those tropes.Later books in the series can seem somewhat repetitive, so perhaps this series would have been better served as single lengthy novel. Still very much worth reading.

The author can't make up her mind about the characters's motivations. They keep changing their minds. The villain kidnaps the fair maiden, then mysteriously returns her to the hero, with only sketchy motivation. Forces that were good are now bad, then good again. Cities that were to the north, are now to the south. It doesn't seem that the author bothered to reread the text after writing the first draft. It's a mess.

Dark, disturbing shares of grey morality are explored in this masterpiece of truly adult -oriented fantasy. Minimally sexually explicit and not much obscenity , it’s the horror elements and the dissection of what it means to be evil that means few teens probably are prepared to read this series.If you prefer more complex anti-heroes who are still, definitely, villains, this is the series for you. All the dark romantic appeal of a now-commonplace vampire romance but without the tropes and predictability. It’s potentially triggering for Survivors, but also may be a form of catharsis in how the most interesting character is handled. Other than GG Kay’s TIGANA, this is by far my top fantasy book (and trilogy), and it’s held up well over time.

Loved the idea of a world colonised from Earth but with its own rules of evolution. The system of magic and history had real potential but a boring quest with limited character development killed the book for me. Disappointed.

Compelling characters if a bit well trod, and the editor needs to learn the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'. The magic model feels unexplained a bit, fae, working, etc.

A very enjoyable read as long as you are prepared to stick with it in the earlier chapters until you become accustomed to the strangeness of the world and the magic.

good read

Excellent