This was a reasonable continuation to the series, though it doesn't introduce much in the way of new and exciting things after the first book. While I expected a bit more, I certainly wasn't disappointed and am intrigued as to what will happen in the final book... ( )

Following the events in the Rahklands, the three survivors of the previous book head to the mysterious East to find the power behind their defeated opponent only to discover things are more complicated than they could have imagined. When True Night Falls is the middle installment of C.S. Friedman’s Coldfire trilogy as a priest, a native rakh, and an antihero sorcerer find a continent on the verge of a secret war.

After harrowing journey to the East, Damien Vryce, Gerald Tarrant, and Hesseth find the descendants of a few of colonizing expeditions along with the Church that Vryce serves though it’s structure with female leadership that Vryce isn’t bothered with. However, Tarrant and Hesseth ruin Vryce brief bout with happiness when they figure out the truth of the very unchurch like things this eastern version of the Church does as well as the fact that the women in charge are undercover Rakh manipulating humanity. These undercover Rakh are the tip of an invasion that’s second phase is taking on the guises of political leaders, including the father of Jenseny who can use the Rakh magical system thus showing that Erna is beginning to ‘evolve’ humans instead of being evolved by humans. Eventually the four meet up and journey to the south of the eastern continent where the Undying Prince reigns over a realm of humans and Rakh. Yet it turns out that there is a bigger game being played out that is only discovered after the climax of the book and the horrific fallout is witnessed. While the last hundred pages of the book, the climax, were excellent writing but the almost 500 pages to get there got to be a bit tiring with another travelogue though Friedman tried to liven things up by showing the all the undercover Rakh action. Though it’s hard to really write a good child character, but Jenseny came out well on paper and especially given how she figures into the book’s endgame.

When True Night Falls is an interesting middle installment of a trilogy, though by the end it reveals the larger game going on it does suffer from ‘middle book syndrome’ a tad. C.S. Friedman’s blend of science fiction and fantasy continues to be engaging and the ending of the book makes the reader want to see how the trilogy concludes. ( )

Even better than the first book. A very dark book with some of the most graphic scenes I've ever read. There are a couple of heartbreaking moments in it. A must read. ( )

The world of Erna seems so interesting, and I wanted to like this series just for the setting! But I grew very tired of the way the female characters were always sidelined in favor of Damien and Tarrant and their very important relationship. I kept holding out hope that the women in this series would get to be more than supporting characters, but it doesn't happen. ( )

Op de middeleeuwse wereld Erna is na twaalf eeuwen strijd tussen de mens en de faege, een verschrikkelijke kracht die de hele wereld omspant en die zich manifesteert in de dromen en de nachtmerries van de mens, een wankele balans ontstaan. Vier mensen, reisgezellen tegen wil en dank, onder wie de priester-krijger Damien Vryce en de tovenaar Gerald Tarrant, vermoeden een heftig offensief van de faege en proberen daar iets aan te doen.

Nu, na de avonturen in Rakhland, is duidelijk dat een nog grotere boze macht dan de faege, een onbenoembare entiteit met de kracht van een godheid, zich ophoudt op het oostelijk continent, aan de overzijde van Novatlantis. Eerder vertrokken daarheen vijf reisgezelschappen waarvan nooit meer iets werd vernomen.

Op zoek naar de oorsprong van het nieuwe onbekende kwaad wagen Damien Vryce en Gerald Tarrant de oversteek in gezelschap van de Rakhvrouw Hesseth, die beresterk is en, letterlijk, klauwen heeft.

Het drietal, dat door het noodlot tot elkaar is veroordeeld, weet het oostelijk continent te bereiken en komt aan in een land waar de Kerk van de Ene God, de religie die Vryce aanhangt, oppermachtig is. Daar ontdekken ze waarom geen van de eerder vertrokken reisgezelschappen ooit terugkeerde... ( )