From Publishers Weekly
This closing volume of Friedman's Coldfire trilogy (When True Night Falls; Black Sun Rising) ably concludes one of the better fantasy series in recent memory. Even readers unfamiliar with the earlier volumes will quickly be enmeshed in the struggles of the Reverend Damien Vryce and The Hunter, Gerald Tarrant, to maintain the order of the planet Erna against the forces of the demon Calesta. The battle is made more complicated in this volume by the development of an allegiance between Calesta and Andrys Tarrant, a descendant of Gerald's who vows vengeance on his ancestor. Andrys is a bit too inept to ever seem threatening, however, and a bit too lacking in joie de vivre to come off as a classic Pretender/Fool. But the sections without Andrys, especially those focusing on The Hunter, are interesting enough, and as the final battles?involving The Church, The Hunter, the forces of Calesta and various people and factions whose alignments vary throughout the novel?are held around The Hunter's keep, readers will be enthralled. While Friedman introduces a science fictional raising-of-the-stakes gambit here that isn't entirely satisfying, her general mastery of her material should delight her fans. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Despite opposition by his Patriarch, warrior priest Damien Vryce again seeks the assistance of the immortal sorcerer Gerald Tarrant. While racing against time to prevent the enslavement of their world, the two men find themselves trapped between justice and retribution. Betrayal and loyalty assume ironic forms in this conclusion to Friedman's complex and compelling "Cold Fire Trilogy." The richly detailed setting and strong supporting characters give substance to a tale that explores the consequences of embracing evil in hopes of achieving its redemption. A priority purchase for fantasy collections.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Readers who have followed Friedman through Black Sun Rising and When True Night Falls will not be disappointed by this stout romance that concludes another fantasy trilogy. Here are Friedman's usual virtues: plenty of action, brisk pacing, and characters and settings painted with broad strokes and vivid colors. The battle between humans and demonic beings on the planet Erna has reached its climax. One of the demonic Iezu is seeking total power over all living things, especially humans, and only the combined efforts of Damien Vryce and Gerald Tarrant can defeat it. The warrior-priest and the zombie sorcerer are unlikely allies, but Friedman makes their adventures an absorbing story. Roland Green

ANNOTATION

The stunning conclusion of the Coldfire trilogy. Warrior-priest Damien Vryce must once again unite with his unlikely ally, undead sorcerer Gerald Tarrant, to defeat a genocidal demon who may prove to be invulnerable. If they lose this epic struggle which will take them from the depths of Hell to the birthplace of demons and beyond, they will sacrifice not only their lives, but the very soul of all mankind.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the first two volumes of her Coldfire trilogy, C. S. Friedman introduced readers to the beautiful but treacherous world of Erna, where humanity has fought a desperate struggle for survival against the fae - a force of nature which responds to the human psyche, indiscriminately bringing to life a person's most treasured dreams or hideous nightmares. For more than a millennium now Erna's humans have maintained an uneasy stalemate with the fae, with adepts and sorcerers working for their own profit while the demonic creatures who feed upon such efforts rapidly gain in power and ambition. Now one of these demons, a Iezu called Calesta, has declared war on all of mankind. Only Damien Vryce, warrior-priest of the One God, and his unlikely ally, the undead sorcerer Gerald Tarrant stand between Calesta and his triumph. Nothing short of the demon's absolute destruction will save mankind from his unholy influence. But no one on Erna is certain just what the Iezu really are, and no one has ever succeeded in killing one.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

This closing volume of Friedman's Coldfire trilogy (When True Night Falls; Black Sun Rising) ably concludes one of the better fantasy series in recent memory. Even readers unfamiliar with the earlier volumes will quickly be enmeshed in the struggles of the Reverend Damien Vryce and The Hunter, Gerald Tarrant, to maintain the order of the planet Erna against the forces of the demon Calesta. The battle is made more complicated in this volume by the development of an allegiance between Calesta and Andrys Tarrant, a descendant of Gerald's who vows vengeance on his ancestor. Andrys is a bit too inept to ever seem threatening, however, and a bit too lacking in joie de vivre to come off as a classic Pretender/Fool. But the sections without Andrys, especially those focusing on The Hunter, are interesting enough, and as the final battles-involving The Church, The Hunter, the forces of Calesta and various people and factions whose alignments vary throughout the novel-are held around The Hunter's keep, readers will be enthralled. While Friedman introduces a science fictional raising-of-the-stakes gambit here that isn't entirely satisfying, her general mastery of her material should delight her fans. (Oct.)

Library Journal

Despite opposition by his Patriarch, warrior priest Damien Vryce again seeks the assistance of the immortal sorcerer Gerald Tarrant. While racing against time to prevent the enslavement of their world, the two men find themselves trapped between justice and retribution. Betrayal and loyalty assume ironic forms in this conclusion to Friedman's complex and compelling "Cold Fire Trilogy." The richly detailed setting and strong supporting characters give substance to a tale that explores the consequences of embracing evil in hopes of achieving its redemption. A priority purchase for fantasy collections.

BookList - Roland Green