In the far future, humans have colonized the unstable planet Erna, at the edge of the galaxy. Not only do frequent earthquakes upset their new home,
but a strange natural force known as the fae can create living demons of a person's fear, taking what they think and making it real. Over time, as memories
of Earth faded, people learned that this force could be controlled, and magicians arose to manipulate the fae. Some worked it for good, while others
dwelled on the darker aspects. Between them, they manage to make Erna habitable for the displaced humans.
Neocount Gerald Tarrant, who almost single-handedly pulled humanity back from the brink of chaos with his Revivalist movement and mass-manipulation of the
fae, has become the Hunter, an immortal creature whose lifeblood is the dark fae itself. The priest Damien Vryce, one of the few of his calling who feels
the fae is not to be feared, finds himself working with the Hunter when a greater threat looms, one which has the fae-spawned nightmare demons rallying
together and which even calls in one of the native Rakh, who have long ago withdrawn to a protected realm to avoid annihilation by the humans.
Review
This was a neat idea, with good characters and plenty of action. Fairly swift-moving, it still is easy to get into. There were also some nice twists
played on about the fae, and how humans essentially created this world from their own dreams and nightmares. (I am, however, getting a bit tired of authors
who want to write fantasies, but feel obligated to wrap it in a far-future-sci-fi package.)
Erna's eastern continent is shrouded in ancient mystery, across a treacherous ocean which few vessels dare to cross. It is here that Damien and the
Hunter, with Hesseth the native Rakh, must go to further investigate the tide of dark fae that is threatening the entire planet. What they find is a land
of seeming prosperity, where the fae's irregularities have apparently been tamed and humans live in a demon-free paradise. This perfection masks a
terrible secret on which the eastern civilization was founded, for the fae here has not been eradicated. It has merely been turned to other, darker
things.
Review
Another good tale in the Coldfire trilogy, with more on the unlikely partnership of Father Damien and the Hunter. The secrets they find on the far
continent further play with the intriguing concept of the fae, and how humanity attempts to harness it for their own ends despite its inherently
uncontrollable nature. Some nice ideas, here, and the Hunter and Damien continue to make an intriguing pair; while technically part of the team,
Hesseth tends to be less emphasized. (I want to believe it wasn't because she was female...)
Most demons on Erna are merely constructs of the fae, no more alive than a figure in a dream. There are some, which call themselves Iezu, that seem
of a different origin. Like all demons, they feed on specific human emotions, but unlike others they appear to be sentient creatures, persisting for
centuries. Many act as demigods, rewarding human followers with fae manipulations that, in turn, feed them with the needed emotional response. One of
these Iezu, the demon Calesta, has more ambitious plans. He wants to remake humanity through fae manipulation, as humans themselves altered native
animals to their liking. Calesta wishes the species to become nothing more than tools to feed his hunger for pain and suffering. He is already close to
victory. Damien and Tarrant must race to unravel the mystery of the Iezu's origins and find a vulnerability in their seemingly indestructible enemy
before it is too late.
Review
I was disappointed in this volume. The ending wasn't as conclusive or satisfying as I had hoped it would be, and I didn't like the way it permanently
altered humanity's relationship with the fae and the natives of Erna. I also felt the wrap-up was a trifle off-kilter. It was okay, but not up to the
previous two books.
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