What do you think?
Rate this book
The Coldfire Trilogy #0
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising
A prequel to the lauded Coldfire trilogy, Friedman's latest novel mixes the best of dark fantasy and chilling sci-fi.
A ship full of colonists arrive on a seemingly hospitable planet, only to discover that it harbors a terrifying secret. Soon the settlers find themselves caught up in a desperate battle for survival against the fae, a natural force with the power to prey upon the human mind itself, bringing a person’s greatest fears and darkest nightmares to life.
As Colony Commander Leon Case and Chief Medic Lise Perez struggle to find a way to control the fae before more people die, other settlers have ideas of their own…and they may prove more of a threat to colony than the fae itself.
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is a tale that blends sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, suspenseful and emotionally intense, as a handful of humans struggle to survive on an alien world that seems determined to kill them. In the end they will have to draw upon both scientific knowledge and mystical traditions to save themselves.
Whether you're just discovering the Coldfire universe through this prequel or returning to it as a classic favorite, Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is the perfect entry point to this unique, genre-blending space fantasy epic.
A ship full of colonists arrive on a seemingly hospitable planet, only to discover that it harbors a terrifying secret. Soon the settlers find themselves caught up in a desperate battle for survival against the fae, a natural force with the power to prey upon the human mind itself, bringing a person’s greatest fears and darkest nightmares to life.
As Colony Commander Leon Case and Chief Medic Lise Perez struggle to find a way to control the fae before more people die, other settlers have ideas of their own…and they may prove more of a threat to colony than the fae itself.
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is a tale that blends sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, suspenseful and emotionally intense, as a handful of humans struggle to survive on an alien world that seems determined to kill them. In the end they will have to draw upon both scientific knowledge and mystical traditions to save themselves.
Whether you're just discovering the Coldfire universe through this prequel or returning to it as a classic favorite, Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is the perfect entry point to this unique, genre-blending space fantasy epic.
330 pages, Hardcover
Published July 18, 2023
About the author
C.S. Friedman
47 books1,175 followersCelia S. Friedman is a science fiction and fantasy author. She has also been credited Celia S. Friedman and Celia Friedman.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 20, 2023
C.S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy is included in the 10 of My Fave SFF Series You May Not Have Heard Of list that I put together and posted on this very blog a few years back. It's such an underrated series in my opinion and contains not only some of the most exceptional worldbuilding you will ever read but also writing that is both evocative and flawless in its execution. C.S. Friedman writes stories that truly take the reader on a journey like no other and it's a shame that she doesn't often get the recognition that myself and many others believe that she deserves. When I heard that she had a new book coming out and that it was a prequel to one of my favorite story arcs of all-time, I jumped at the chance to get an early copy. I have been hoping for a backstory to what took place on that distant planet of Erna for a long long time, and now here it was in my hand. Would it live up to my expectations and do justice to what I feel is an unassailable masterwork of sff/horror? Here are my thoughts...
First let me say that you don't need to read the Coldfire Trilogy to enjoy this book. It's a fantastic story in its own right and I can see how any reader would find it a solid self-contained read. That being said, I do think that this prequel will have much more of an emotional impact if you have the knowledge of those first three books going into this one. If you have read the series already I also recommend going back and quickly reading the prologue to the first book, Black Sun Rising. It really sets things up and enhances the prequel to the point where it makes it a much more haunting tale than it would be otherwise. Just my opinion though.
NIGHTBORN: COLDFIRE RISING is the perfect segue into the larger series and answered all of those nagging questions I had with regard to the origins of the colonization of the enigmatic planet of Erna. This was always a trilogy that begged for a prequel in my opinion and Friedman has written one that is about as perfect as you could ask for. This prequel gives the reader a front row seat as the first settlers of Erna begin to realize that the planet they all thought might be ideal for colonization slowly reveals that it is anything but. As they struggle to understand what is going on there is also a realization that there's no going back because they have all committed 100% to this and the ship can no longer be used to escape.
Friedman could have easily made this a book that is filled with a bunch of info dumps and a litany of backstory and that would have probably satisfied some readers. But that's not what she does at all with this prequel, rather, she weaves a wholly action-packed and intriguing story all its own that is in itself an enjoyable read that if you didn't know it was a prequel, you would never be the wiser. That's how good this story is and it's also what makes C.S. Friedman one of the best sff writers to ever grace the genre. There are no cutting corners or skimming over of things. I was fully enamored with the mystery of Erna's past and the secrets of the all powerful glowing blue force called the fae that permeates the planet and appears every time the three moons disappear and True Night falls.
If you enjoy science-fiction with a good dose of horror and also some fantasy elements sprinkled in, you should pick this book up immediately. But don't stop there, proceed right on to the Coldfire Trilogy and treat yourself to an amazingly written masterpiece that truly stands out from its peers. C.S. Friedman has once again solidified her place in the upper pantheon of sff authors (as if she needed to). I'm so thankful that I got a chance to peel back the curtain on Erna and the first generation of ancestors of those who I am so familiar with from those beloved original books. NIGHTBORN: COLDFIRE RISING is a wonderful gift that will delight C.S. Friedman's already established fans and should introduce a whole new segment of readers to the multi-faceted greatness of her writing.
First let me say that you don't need to read the Coldfire Trilogy to enjoy this book. It's a fantastic story in its own right and I can see how any reader would find it a solid self-contained read. That being said, I do think that this prequel will have much more of an emotional impact if you have the knowledge of those first three books going into this one. If you have read the series already I also recommend going back and quickly reading the prologue to the first book, Black Sun Rising. It really sets things up and enhances the prequel to the point where it makes it a much more haunting tale than it would be otherwise. Just my opinion though.
NIGHTBORN: COLDFIRE RISING is the perfect segue into the larger series and answered all of those nagging questions I had with regard to the origins of the colonization of the enigmatic planet of Erna. This was always a trilogy that begged for a prequel in my opinion and Friedman has written one that is about as perfect as you could ask for. This prequel gives the reader a front row seat as the first settlers of Erna begin to realize that the planet they all thought might be ideal for colonization slowly reveals that it is anything but. As they struggle to understand what is going on there is also a realization that there's no going back because they have all committed 100% to this and the ship can no longer be used to escape.
Friedman could have easily made this a book that is filled with a bunch of info dumps and a litany of backstory and that would have probably satisfied some readers. But that's not what she does at all with this prequel, rather, she weaves a wholly action-packed and intriguing story all its own that is in itself an enjoyable read that if you didn't know it was a prequel, you would never be the wiser. That's how good this story is and it's also what makes C.S. Friedman one of the best sff writers to ever grace the genre. There are no cutting corners or skimming over of things. I was fully enamored with the mystery of Erna's past and the secrets of the all powerful glowing blue force called the fae that permeates the planet and appears every time the three moons disappear and True Night falls.
If you enjoy science-fiction with a good dose of horror and also some fantasy elements sprinkled in, you should pick this book up immediately. But don't stop there, proceed right on to the Coldfire Trilogy and treat yourself to an amazingly written masterpiece that truly stands out from its peers. C.S. Friedman has once again solidified her place in the upper pantheon of sff authors (as if she needed to). I'm so thankful that I got a chance to peel back the curtain on Erna and the first generation of ancestors of those who I am so familiar with from those beloved original books. NIGHTBORN: COLDFIRE RISING is a wonderful gift that will delight C.S. Friedman's already established fans and should introduce a whole new segment of readers to the multi-faceted greatness of her writing.
March 27, 2023
It’s rarely rainbows and butterflies when a science fiction book tackles the colonization of a mysterious distant planet, but I did not expect things to go as wildly off the rails as they do in Nightborn: Coldfire Rising. With swift pacing and an intriguing mystery at its core, I was transfixed by this story and its unique setting.
C.S. Friedman’s lithe prose wastes no words pushing the action forward moment to moment. By explaining the seemingly supernatural entity/antagonist in scientific terms, Friedman grounds this story in a terrifying and plausible light.
Having not read the original Coldfire books, I can’t speak to how well this prequel sets up that trilogy, but it left me wanting to jump right into those books, so I’d say it's a very effective appetizer for what’s to come.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf and follow @specshelf on Twitter.
C.S. Friedman’s lithe prose wastes no words pushing the action forward moment to moment. By explaining the seemingly supernatural entity/antagonist in scientific terms, Friedman grounds this story in a terrifying and plausible light.
Having not read the original Coldfire books, I can’t speak to how well this prequel sets up that trilogy, but it left me wanting to jump right into those books, so I’d say it's a very effective appetizer for what’s to come.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf and follow @specshelf on Twitter.
April 21, 2023
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is CS Friedman’s return to a world that gave a masterclass to a generation of SF writers, once again providing rich characters, intricate worldbuilding, and a nail-biting sense of dread. Any time readers ask me to recommend great SF writers, CS Friedman tops the list.
April 29, 2023
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising by C. S. Friedman - Review by S.E.
As posted on Black Gate 4/2/2023: BEAUTY AND NIGHTMARE ON AN ALIEN WORLD: NIGHTBORN: COLDFIRE RISING BY C. S. FRIEDMAN
https://www.blackgate.com/2023/04/02/...
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising by C. S. Friedman. (DAW Books, July, 18th, 2023, 304pages).
Cover art by Jeszika Le Vye.
Every wonder if your feelings had shape and were visible?
What if you could see your nightmares manifest as they turn on you?
C. S. Friedman has published 14 novels, including the highly acclaimed Coldfire Trilogy and the groundbreaking science fiction novel This Alien Shore (New York Times Notable Book of the Year -1998). Her Nightborn: Coldfire Rising novel will be published this July, 2023 by DAW Books; this post reviews an advanced review copy (preorder from the publisher).
The stunning cover art by Jeszika Le Vye evokes and extends the signature covers of the Coldfire Trilogy crafted by Michael Whelan; the trilogy was released during 1991-1995 followed by a 2012 prequel novella, Dominion. Note that a revised version of Dominion, starring the Hunter himself, is in Nightborn.
And stay tuned — Black Gate has an interview in the works with C. S. Friedman (a perfect fit for our series on Beauty in Weird Fiction).
Coldfire Series
• #0 Nightborn: Coldfire Rising 2023 (DAW, also contains Dominion)
• #0.5 Dominion 2012 novella (Tridac Publishing)
• #1 Black Sun Rising 1991 (DAW)
• #2 When True Night Falls 1993 (DAW)
• #3 Crown of Shadows 1995 (DAW)
Nightborn is Beautiful Horror Sci-Fi Infused with Ethereal Nightmares
Nightborn will hook new fans while exciting veteran Coldfire enthusiasts. The original trilogy occurs hundreds of years after humans found a way to survive on the planet Erna, whose energetic fae transform from an intangible mist into real nightmares. You’ll experience the initial colonization with Nightborn, before humans had any clue. Like Leo, Lise, and Ian (who all bring juicy, haunting memories with them) you’ll get to witness the beautiful, and horrific, wisps of fae manipulate and consume the crew. Friedman is a master at interweaving perspectives so you should expect a splendid interplay between every character’s personal trauma and that of Erna’s hungry energy.
The fae is the foundation of the Coldfire series, it is the source of lore, conflict, religion, and magic. Its various flavors ebb and flows with the moons/sun on Erna, but I won’t spoil the joy of experiencing it any further. Excerpts (below) emphasize what to expect: (1) Beautiful Nightmares (2) Weird Melee (3) Hypnotic Horror.
Expect Beauty, Nightmares, Weird Melee, and Hypnotic Horror
Already a fan of the series? Then read this to learn more lore, the origins and coining of key terms, and enjoy watching fae-worship evolve. Having Dominion bundled with Nightborn amplifies their impacts since they both are highlights of critical events (humans colonizing planet Erna and the Prophet of the Church for Human Unification dominating the Forest); the Book Blurbs serve as excellent summaries (provided below). Whereas the fae begins as nearly indescribable, supernatural energy/evil (almost Lovecraftian) in Nightborn, we learn that it can be manipulated and summoned with spells (aka Workings) in Dominion (more Dark Fantasy).
The role of personal sacrifice on how the fae responds is made poignant and breathtaking. This powerful synergy builds in Nightborn and sets up the epic prologue to Black Sun Rising (Book #1) that defines Gerald Tarrant as a fascinating, immortal protagonist. In short, be prepared to (re)read the Coldfire series!
Be Prepared to (re)Read the Coldfire Series!
Summary Blurbs
Nightborn
A ship full of colonists arrive on a seemingly hospitable planet, only to discover that it harbors a terrifying secret. Soon the settlers find themselves caught up in a desperate battle for survival against the fae, a natural force with the power to prey upon the human mind itself, bringing a person’s greatest fears and darkest nightmares to life.
As Colony Commander Leon Case and Chief Medic Lise Perez struggle to find a way to control the fae before more people die, other settlers have ideas of their own…and they may prove more of a threat to colony than the fae itself.
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is a tale that blends sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, suspenseful and emotionally intense, as a handful of humans struggle to survive on an alien world that seems determined to kill them. In the end they will have to draw upon both scientific knowledge and mystical traditions to save themselves.
Whether you’re just discovering the Coldfire universe through this prequel or returning to it as a classic favorite, Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is the perfect entry point to this unique, genre-blending space fantasy epic.
Dominion
Four hundred years after mankind’s arrival on Erna, the undead sorcerer Gerald Tarrant travels north in search of a legend. For it is rumored there is a forest where the fae has become so powerful that it devours all who enter it, and he means to test its power.
Excerpts:
A dose of Enigmatic Fae
Light was rising now, as if flowing forth from the earth: a strange blue glow, dim in illumination but intense in color. There were currents visible in it now, and as the light intensified waves became visible; they seemed to pulse across the ground in time to the pounding of Ian’s heart. It was as if the entire field was a vast luminescent lake, and he was part of it. The sight of it was mesmerizing enough, but the sensation— the sensation!— was like nothing he had ever felt before…
“I was looking out at the land beyond the camp, when a strange light seemed to rise up from the ground. A blue glow that rippled in waves over the grass, like water. There were visible currents, and in a few places it looked like they were flowing around invisible obstacles. It was . . .” He drew in a deep breath. Beautiful. Terrifying. “Otherworldly.”
—from Nightborn
Weird Melee
…A large beast was atop the table— twice the size of a man, at least— and it was unlike any creature Leo had ever seen. Its head was rat-like but its torso reptilian, and black spider legs jutted out on both sides. Its tail had the diamond patterning of a snake, with a long stinger at the end. A dark and viscous fluid dripped from that stinger, and when the tail whipped toward a nearby colonist—who quickly jumped out of the way—drops of it splattered across the table.
All this Leo saw in an instant, and then he was running towards it, Lise following close behind. What he was going to do when he reached it, he had no clue.
People were screaming and running in the other direction, and one of them almost knocked him over. A few people were simply frozen, and they stared at the beast in horrified helplessness as it grabbed Tom Bennet by the neck and shook him from side to side like a dishrag. Several others had pulled out their guns, and Leo did so as well…
As the creature turned towards him [Steve] thrust the black rod into its chest—deep, deep into the hellish flesh. Whether he hit a vital organ was anyone’s guess, but he must have stabbed something important, because the creature howled in pain and rage, and stopped trying to attack people. It began to draw in on itself, legs curling up against its chest like those of a dying insect, neck and tail pulling back into its body, a grotesque contortion. It began to shrink—no, dissolve—features running down its face in rivulets, legs melting like wax, all of it sinking into a pool of undefined flesh that was taking on a strange blue light… he watched in horrified fascination as the blue light grew stronger, the flesh lost all definition—and then suddenly it was all gone. Only Tom’s body remained, so mangled that it hardly looked human.
—from Nightborn
Hypnotic Horror
But at last her fragile will gave way. She slashed downward toward her left arm with the knife— fiercely, awkwardly— cutting deep into her own flesh. Bright red blood gushed out of the wound, splashing down into the tankard. A small moan of misery escaped the mother’s lips, and Tarrant could see the father tremble as he fought to break free of the Binding, but from the girl herself there was no sound, only a delicious admixture of resignation and terror, as refreshing to him as the blood itself.
—from Dominion
C.S. Friedman
An acknowledged master of dark fantasy and science fiction alike, C.S. Friedman is a John W. Campbell award finalist, and the author of the highly acclaimed Coldfire trilogy, This Alien Shore (New York Times Notable Book of the Year 1998), In Conquest Born, The Madness Season, The Wilding, The Magister Trilogy, and the Dreamwalker series. Friedman worked for twenty years as a professional costume designer, but retired from that career in 1996 to focus on her writing. She lives in Virginia, and can be contacted via her website, www.csfriedman.com.
As posted on Black Gate 4/2/2023: BEAUTY AND NIGHTMARE ON AN ALIEN WORLD: NIGHTBORN: COLDFIRE RISING BY C. S. FRIEDMAN
https://www.blackgate.com/2023/04/02/...
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising by C. S. Friedman. (DAW Books, July, 18th, 2023, 304pages).
Cover art by Jeszika Le Vye.
Every wonder if your feelings had shape and were visible?
What if you could see your nightmares manifest as they turn on you?
C. S. Friedman has published 14 novels, including the highly acclaimed Coldfire Trilogy and the groundbreaking science fiction novel This Alien Shore (New York Times Notable Book of the Year -1998). Her Nightborn: Coldfire Rising novel will be published this July, 2023 by DAW Books; this post reviews an advanced review copy (preorder from the publisher).
The stunning cover art by Jeszika Le Vye evokes and extends the signature covers of the Coldfire Trilogy crafted by Michael Whelan; the trilogy was released during 1991-1995 followed by a 2012 prequel novella, Dominion. Note that a revised version of Dominion, starring the Hunter himself, is in Nightborn.
And stay tuned — Black Gate has an interview in the works with C. S. Friedman (a perfect fit for our series on Beauty in Weird Fiction).
Coldfire Series
• #0 Nightborn: Coldfire Rising 2023 (DAW, also contains Dominion)
• #0.5 Dominion 2012 novella (Tridac Publishing)
• #1 Black Sun Rising 1991 (DAW)
• #2 When True Night Falls 1993 (DAW)
• #3 Crown of Shadows 1995 (DAW)
Nightborn is Beautiful Horror Sci-Fi Infused with Ethereal Nightmares
Nightborn will hook new fans while exciting veteran Coldfire enthusiasts. The original trilogy occurs hundreds of years after humans found a way to survive on the planet Erna, whose energetic fae transform from an intangible mist into real nightmares. You’ll experience the initial colonization with Nightborn, before humans had any clue. Like Leo, Lise, and Ian (who all bring juicy, haunting memories with them) you’ll get to witness the beautiful, and horrific, wisps of fae manipulate and consume the crew. Friedman is a master at interweaving perspectives so you should expect a splendid interplay between every character’s personal trauma and that of Erna’s hungry energy.
The fae is the foundation of the Coldfire series, it is the source of lore, conflict, religion, and magic. Its various flavors ebb and flows with the moons/sun on Erna, but I won’t spoil the joy of experiencing it any further. Excerpts (below) emphasize what to expect: (1) Beautiful Nightmares (2) Weird Melee (3) Hypnotic Horror.
Expect Beauty, Nightmares, Weird Melee, and Hypnotic Horror
Already a fan of the series? Then read this to learn more lore, the origins and coining of key terms, and enjoy watching fae-worship evolve. Having Dominion bundled with Nightborn amplifies their impacts since they both are highlights of critical events (humans colonizing planet Erna and the Prophet of the Church for Human Unification dominating the Forest); the Book Blurbs serve as excellent summaries (provided below). Whereas the fae begins as nearly indescribable, supernatural energy/evil (almost Lovecraftian) in Nightborn, we learn that it can be manipulated and summoned with spells (aka Workings) in Dominion (more Dark Fantasy).
The role of personal sacrifice on how the fae responds is made poignant and breathtaking. This powerful synergy builds in Nightborn and sets up the epic prologue to Black Sun Rising (Book #1) that defines Gerald Tarrant as a fascinating, immortal protagonist. In short, be prepared to (re)read the Coldfire series!
Be Prepared to (re)Read the Coldfire Series!
Summary Blurbs
Nightborn
A ship full of colonists arrive on a seemingly hospitable planet, only to discover that it harbors a terrifying secret. Soon the settlers find themselves caught up in a desperate battle for survival against the fae, a natural force with the power to prey upon the human mind itself, bringing a person’s greatest fears and darkest nightmares to life.
As Colony Commander Leon Case and Chief Medic Lise Perez struggle to find a way to control the fae before more people die, other settlers have ideas of their own…and they may prove more of a threat to colony than the fae itself.
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is a tale that blends sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, suspenseful and emotionally intense, as a handful of humans struggle to survive on an alien world that seems determined to kill them. In the end they will have to draw upon both scientific knowledge and mystical traditions to save themselves.
Whether you’re just discovering the Coldfire universe through this prequel or returning to it as a classic favorite, Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is the perfect entry point to this unique, genre-blending space fantasy epic.
Dominion
Four hundred years after mankind’s arrival on Erna, the undead sorcerer Gerald Tarrant travels north in search of a legend. For it is rumored there is a forest where the fae has become so powerful that it devours all who enter it, and he means to test its power.
Excerpts:
A dose of Enigmatic Fae
Light was rising now, as if flowing forth from the earth: a strange blue glow, dim in illumination but intense in color. There were currents visible in it now, and as the light intensified waves became visible; they seemed to pulse across the ground in time to the pounding of Ian’s heart. It was as if the entire field was a vast luminescent lake, and he was part of it. The sight of it was mesmerizing enough, but the sensation— the sensation!— was like nothing he had ever felt before…
“I was looking out at the land beyond the camp, when a strange light seemed to rise up from the ground. A blue glow that rippled in waves over the grass, like water. There were visible currents, and in a few places it looked like they were flowing around invisible obstacles. It was . . .” He drew in a deep breath. Beautiful. Terrifying. “Otherworldly.”
—from Nightborn
Weird Melee
…A large beast was atop the table— twice the size of a man, at least— and it was unlike any creature Leo had ever seen. Its head was rat-like but its torso reptilian, and black spider legs jutted out on both sides. Its tail had the diamond patterning of a snake, with a long stinger at the end. A dark and viscous fluid dripped from that stinger, and when the tail whipped toward a nearby colonist—who quickly jumped out of the way—drops of it splattered across the table.
All this Leo saw in an instant, and then he was running towards it, Lise following close behind. What he was going to do when he reached it, he had no clue.
People were screaming and running in the other direction, and one of them almost knocked him over. A few people were simply frozen, and they stared at the beast in horrified helplessness as it grabbed Tom Bennet by the neck and shook him from side to side like a dishrag. Several others had pulled out their guns, and Leo did so as well…
As the creature turned towards him [Steve] thrust the black rod into its chest—deep, deep into the hellish flesh. Whether he hit a vital organ was anyone’s guess, but he must have stabbed something important, because the creature howled in pain and rage, and stopped trying to attack people. It began to draw in on itself, legs curling up against its chest like those of a dying insect, neck and tail pulling back into its body, a grotesque contortion. It began to shrink—no, dissolve—features running down its face in rivulets, legs melting like wax, all of it sinking into a pool of undefined flesh that was taking on a strange blue light… he watched in horrified fascination as the blue light grew stronger, the flesh lost all definition—and then suddenly it was all gone. Only Tom’s body remained, so mangled that it hardly looked human.
—from Nightborn
Hypnotic Horror
But at last her fragile will gave way. She slashed downward toward her left arm with the knife— fiercely, awkwardly— cutting deep into her own flesh. Bright red blood gushed out of the wound, splashing down into the tankard. A small moan of misery escaped the mother’s lips, and Tarrant could see the father tremble as he fought to break free of the Binding, but from the girl herself there was no sound, only a delicious admixture of resignation and terror, as refreshing to him as the blood itself.
—from Dominion
C.S. Friedman
An acknowledged master of dark fantasy and science fiction alike, C.S. Friedman is a John W. Campbell award finalist, and the author of the highly acclaimed Coldfire trilogy, This Alien Shore (New York Times Notable Book of the Year 1998), In Conquest Born, The Madness Season, The Wilding, The Magister Trilogy, and the Dreamwalker series. Friedman worked for twenty years as a professional costume designer, but retired from that career in 1996 to focus on her writing. She lives in Virginia, and can be contacted via her website, www.csfriedman.com.
March 12, 2023
I absolutely love the Coldfire trilogy. Getting the ARC for Nightborn made my day. I’ve always wanted to know how it all went down with the neocounts. I briefly considered rereading the trilogy before this, but I got a bunch of other (boring, legal) reading to do.
Sadly, this isn’t a story about Gerald Tarrant, or the rise of the Church/Matriarch/Patriarch, sorcerers, or Adepts. It’s a rather stock first colony/settler story with banal interpersonal conflict and resource issues. Instead of hostile life, or something inherently inimical to humans, Erna has a unique and magical element. The characters discover this over the course of the story, but for people who have read the trilogy we already know what’s happening and how it has to end.
Conclusion
Well, I was excited to read it, I read it right away, and now I’m disappointed. I don’t think Coldfire needed a settlement story. The characters have no connection to the events in the trilogy, which takes place 1200 years in the future where their names and the events in Nightborn have been lost to time. The strange experiences in Nightborn are taken for granted by the modern inhabitants of Erna. Since I know what happens to them, which one can glean from Almea’s idle thoughts in Black Sun Rising’s prologue, I was never really concerned for the characters, nor did I get attached to them. Questions I had from the trilogy were not answered.
I don’t think this works well as a prequel to the trilogy, and I don’t think it works alone as the story of a first colony when there are so many other works which have explored that same topic. From the beginning and through to the end, the story is watching the characters hamfistedly figuring out what I already knew going into this. Maybe people who haven’t read the trilogy would find something new here, but I would say read the trilogy instead.
Sadly, this isn’t a story about Gerald Tarrant, or the rise of the Church/Matriarch/Patriarch, sorcerers, or Adepts. It’s a rather stock first colony/settler story with banal interpersonal conflict and resource issues. Instead of hostile life, or something inherently inimical to humans, Erna has a unique and magical element. The characters discover this over the course of the story, but for people who have read the trilogy we already know what’s happening and how it has to end.
Conclusion
Well, I was excited to read it, I read it right away, and now I’m disappointed. I don’t think Coldfire needed a settlement story. The characters have no connection to the events in the trilogy, which takes place 1200 years in the future where their names and the events in Nightborn have been lost to time. The strange experiences in Nightborn are taken for granted by the modern inhabitants of Erna. Since I know what happens to them, which one can glean from Almea’s idle thoughts in Black Sun Rising’s prologue, I was never really concerned for the characters, nor did I get attached to them. Questions I had from the trilogy were not answered.
I don’t think this works well as a prequel to the trilogy, and I don’t think it works alone as the story of a first colony when there are so many other works which have explored that same topic. From the beginning and through to the end, the story is watching the characters hamfistedly figuring out what I already knew going into this. Maybe people who haven’t read the trilogy would find something new here, but I would say read the trilogy instead.
March 28, 2023
4.5/5 stars! I picked up this story strictly based on its beautiful cover. It reminded me of the old Wheel of Time covers. Then I read the premise and was hooked. This prequel is an epic start to a science-fiction tale of survival. The characters are written with so much raw genuine expression that I found myself mourning their struggles alongside them. This was a really enjoyable read and I will be checking out the Coldfire Trilogy next.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
March 23, 2023
I was honored to read an advance release copy of this book. I devoured it in 24 hours. Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is the prequel to the Coldfire Trilogy and chronicles the first days of the landing of the original colonists on Erna and their subsequent struggle to survive. For those that have read the Coldfire Trilogy - you already know (roughly) how things turn out. Nightborn gives you a front row seat to those first, fateful days leading up to (insert spoiler here) and fills in the gaps hinted at in other books.
What I liked about the book was the pace. This is no slow burn or gradual decay; things get real bad real fast. The level of detail in the book matches the speed and urgency of events. There are no voyages or quests to explore character nuance and depth that allow you to establish strong connections with the characters. This is a story of immediate and perilous survival. The lack of detail and the focus on just a few key characters is enjoyable as I imagine this is how histories are written while 'in the moment'. None of the characters know if things will turn out for the better. The need to figure out how to survive supplants the detail and depth that later retellings of the founding of Erna would have as they are passed down by the original colonists to their children.
All in all, I can strongly recommend this book. Don't worry if you haven't read the Coldfire Trilogy - grab this one when it comes out and get ready to be introduced to an amazing world.
What I liked about the book was the pace. This is no slow burn or gradual decay; things get real bad real fast. The level of detail in the book matches the speed and urgency of events. There are no voyages or quests to explore character nuance and depth that allow you to establish strong connections with the characters. This is a story of immediate and perilous survival. The lack of detail and the focus on just a few key characters is enjoyable as I imagine this is how histories are written while 'in the moment'. None of the characters know if things will turn out for the better. The need to figure out how to survive supplants the detail and depth that later retellings of the founding of Erna would have as they are passed down by the original colonists to their children.
All in all, I can strongly recommend this book. Don't worry if you haven't read the Coldfire Trilogy - grab this one when it comes out and get ready to be introduced to an amazing world.
May 16, 2023
This book felt “off” to me. I haven’t read the original Coldfire trilogy, but Nightborn is supposed to be a prequel, so I thought I’d be ok.
Part 1: Yes, there was no need to read the other books first for this section. A group of colonizers on their generation ship find a seemingly suitable planet, calling it Erna. They get to work on creating a community, but there’s a mysterious energy from the planet that connects to all parts of it (living creatures/plants). It seems to reject the Terrans and their dreams and nightmares are manifested into reality from their interactions with this property. I don’t like that the mysterious energy is called “fae”, I think it’s confusing and misleading. When I heard there was “fae” in this book I was picturing elves or fairy like sentient creatures the humans would be fighting.
Overall Part 1 was written fairly well; it was an interesting take on space voyagers and how they accomplish their mission on their new planet. The characters were meh, as several were introduced as important, but only 4 or so had any backstory or narration time. The writing lacked description. I wanted to know more about the alien landscape and creatures (even the bugs!) and hoped for detailed prose that I could picture, there really isn’t any imagery descriptions provided.
I wish there would’ve been more written about the early settler years. We only get to see up to Year 2 and there are still so many unanswered questions, things are still breaking down and going wrong in the settlement, and a group are heading out on an exploration mission….
Then…
BAM!!! Part 2 is 600+ years later….
It follows a random dude that means nothing to me, but I understand he’s a prominent character in the other books in the series.
I basically gave up here. It was a huge let down to not follow the original main characters any further. Why did I read all these pages to suddenly fall off a cliff and end up 600 years in the future?! Literally nothing was confirmed or resolved or answered in Part 1?!
Seriously annoying, and I wouldn’t have even included Part 2 in this book, just make a separate short story or something. Super super bummed that I wasted my time with this book. I had high hopes as I liked The Magister Trilogy by this author, but my opinion has changed and I won’t bother reading the rest of the books in the Coldfire series.
Part 1: Yes, there was no need to read the other books first for this section. A group of colonizers on their generation ship find a seemingly suitable planet, calling it Erna. They get to work on creating a community, but there’s a mysterious energy from the planet that connects to all parts of it (living creatures/plants). It seems to reject the Terrans and their dreams and nightmares are manifested into reality from their interactions with this property. I don’t like that the mysterious energy is called “fae”, I think it’s confusing and misleading. When I heard there was “fae” in this book I was picturing elves or fairy like sentient creatures the humans would be fighting.
Overall Part 1 was written fairly well; it was an interesting take on space voyagers and how they accomplish their mission on their new planet. The characters were meh, as several were introduced as important, but only 4 or so had any backstory or narration time. The writing lacked description. I wanted to know more about the alien landscape and creatures (even the bugs!) and hoped for detailed prose that I could picture, there really isn’t any imagery descriptions provided.
I wish there would’ve been more written about the early settler years. We only get to see up to Year 2 and there are still so many unanswered questions, things are still breaking down and going wrong in the settlement, and a group are heading out on an exploration mission….
Then…
BAM!!! Part 2 is 600+ years later….
It follows a random dude that means nothing to me, but I understand he’s a prominent character in the other books in the series.
I basically gave up here. It was a huge let down to not follow the original main characters any further. Why did I read all these pages to suddenly fall off a cliff and end up 600 years in the future?! Literally nothing was confirmed or resolved or answered in Part 1?!
Seriously annoying, and I wouldn’t have even included Part 2 in this book, just make a separate short story or something. Super super bummed that I wasted my time with this book. I had high hopes as I liked The Magister Trilogy by this author, but my opinion has changed and I won’t bother reading the rest of the books in the Coldfire series.
August 7, 2023
I've always enjoyed reading C. S. Friedman's work and have reread the Coldfire trilogy several times. In this prequel, she covers the original settlement of Erna, the destruction of technology and the sacrifices made by 2 of the settlers to make humans part of the planet ecology. The second part of the book skips ahead 600 years to cover Gerald Tarrant's taking of the Forest. This book plugs several holes in the story of Erna without any spoilers for the subsequent books. I liked it a lot. I don't think it's quite as compelling as the trilogy but it's still very good. It's always good to see a new book by C.S. Friedman.
March 30, 2023
I just finished reading Nightborn, and it’s incredible! Well worth the wait! I found myself caught up in it, immersed—at least once—so deeply that, had my wife not been sitting next to me as I read, I would’ve let a tear roll down my face. That’s not an exaggeration or hyperbole, either. Everything about that particular scene shook me, because it was so well written that it took me back to a dark place I’d hoped never to revisit. Is that melodramatic? Absolutely. Is it also the truth? Unequivocally. The way the author’s words reached into my psyche and pulled that pain up from where I’d buried it so long ago is a testament to her gift for storytelling. She should feel very proud of almost making me cry.
While Nightborn fits perfectly in the world of the Coldfire Trilogy, it is not the world of the Hunter. Not yet. Nightborn is very close to “hard science fiction”. While there is plenty of mysticism and religious symbology, it’s still rooted in the plausible and has a certain logic to it. Nightborn is about people that are culturally familiar to us, how they discovered the fae, what that cost them, and it also offers a glimpse of what they might gain.
Now, Dominion, that’s a whole other story! Literally! It drops you right smack in the middle of a world chock-full of malevolent demons, knights with shining swords, and soul-selling sorcerers! It revolves around Gerald Tarrant, of course, but you also meet a knight of the church with an unexpected gift. Amoril, Gerald’s protégé from the Coldfire Trilogy, makes his debut and you learn more about him than expected. But to me, the most interesting character in Dominion is the Forest. Not a walking-talking character, of course, but close. Through its interactions with the other three characters—and they are interactions, not just the environment reacting to characters, make no mistake—you get a glimpse into what makes the Forest tick, and what it was like before the Hunter.
Together, the two stories are the yin-yang of Coldfire. Nightborn shows you the “science-y” side of things and how people react to something that they’re completely unprepared for, something completely unexpected and unnatural (unnatural to them, anyway!) On the other end of the spectrum, Dominion shows you both humanity’s ultimate compromise with that unknown, and its ultimate weapon in its fight against it.
While Nightborn fits perfectly in the world of the Coldfire Trilogy, it is not the world of the Hunter. Not yet. Nightborn is very close to “hard science fiction”. While there is plenty of mysticism and religious symbology, it’s still rooted in the plausible and has a certain logic to it. Nightborn is about people that are culturally familiar to us, how they discovered the fae, what that cost them, and it also offers a glimpse of what they might gain.
Now, Dominion, that’s a whole other story! Literally! It drops you right smack in the middle of a world chock-full of malevolent demons, knights with shining swords, and soul-selling sorcerers! It revolves around Gerald Tarrant, of course, but you also meet a knight of the church with an unexpected gift. Amoril, Gerald’s protégé from the Coldfire Trilogy, makes his debut and you learn more about him than expected. But to me, the most interesting character in Dominion is the Forest. Not a walking-talking character, of course, but close. Through its interactions with the other three characters—and they are interactions, not just the environment reacting to characters, make no mistake—you get a glimpse into what makes the Forest tick, and what it was like before the Hunter.
Together, the two stories are the yin-yang of Coldfire. Nightborn shows you the “science-y” side of things and how people react to something that they’re completely unprepared for, something completely unexpected and unnatural (unnatural to them, anyway!) On the other end of the spectrum, Dominion shows you both humanity’s ultimate compromise with that unknown, and its ultimate weapon in its fight against it.
March 27, 2023
When C. S. Friedman got in touch with me to see if I'd like an early read of the forthcoming Coldfire prequel Nightborn: Coldire Rising, needless to say I was extremely excited. Not only would we get the short novel of the founding of Erna, but the book would also include a revised edition of the novella Dominion, which I read and reviewed back in 2012. It's been a while, that's for sure. Crown of Shadows, final installment in the original series, was published in 1995. Since then, the Coldfire trilogy has remained in print and very few SFF works can boast of such longevity unless they're quite good.
Friedman has always been adamant that there would never be a sequel to the Coldfire series. And nearly three decades down the line, it doesn't look like she will change her mind. However, the market for shorter works, especially novellas, has been expanding in recent years. So much so that she realized that the time could be ripe to explore ideas and concepts that, while they lacked enough material to warrant a novel-length project, could be turned into books that couldn't have been published just a few years back. Dominion was the first such project and it turned out to be a wonderful read.
Nightborn: Coldire Rising focuses on the Founding of Erna and what led to the First Sacrifice. Fans might recall that it's a tale hinted at in the prologue of When True Night Falls. Dominion recounts the story of how Gerald Tarrant mastered the Forest and became the Hunter. This novella takes place 613 years following the settlement of the colony on Erna and about six centuries prior to the events of the Coldfire trilogy. Friedman realized that Erna has a rich history that is hinted at in the series and that there was a wealth of material for potential prequels. Mapping out such story arcs, the author envisioned a set of novellas that would also explore the Age of the False Messiahs, the Neo-Gothic Revival and its Unification Wars, the great Rakhene Genocide, the transformation of the Forbidden Forest into Tarrant’s private hunting ground, and the Church’s doomed war against him and his minions. All of which has this Coldfire fan pretty excited!
Some readers unfamiliar with the original trilogy will wonder if Nightborn: Coldire Rising makes a good starting point for newbies. Yes, it is a prequel and efforts were made by the author to make this book a somewhat stand-alone work that can be read and understood without having read the Coldfire trilogy. And yet, why would you want to do that? The Coldfire series is a seminal work of dark fantasy that has withstood the test of time, so why would you want to pick up this one before reading the original material? Though Nightborn: Coldire Rising can be read on its own, without the context provided by the original trilogy you'd be missing out on lots of things and not just a few nuances. You might enjoy Dominion without having prior knowledge of Gerald Tarrant, but if you actually know the story of this fascinating badass character you'll be ecstatic. This new one is slated to be released in July, so there is ample time for you to find out for yourself just how brillant the Coldfire trilogy truly is by starting with Black Sun Rising. Follow this Amazon Associate link to learn more about this title and its sequels. Believe you me: You'll love them! And you'll be up-to-date when this prequel hits the shelves this summer.
Here's the blurb:
A prequel to the lauded Coldfire trilogy, Friedman's latest novel mixes the best of dark fantasy and chilling sci-fi.
A ship full of colonists arrive on a seemingly hospitable planet, only to discover that it harbors a terrifying secret. Soon the settlers find themselves caught up in a desperate battle for survival against the fae, a natural force with the power to prey upon the human mind itself, bringing a person’s greatest fears and darkest nightmares to life.
As Colony Commander Leon Case and Chief Medic Lise Perez struggle to find a way to control the fae before more people die, other settlers have ideas of their own…and they may prove more of a threat to colony than the fae itself.
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is a tale that blends sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, suspenseful and emotionally intense, as a handful of humans struggle to survive on an alien world that seems determined to kill them. In the end they will have to draw upon both scientific knowledge and mystical traditions to save themselves.
Whether you're just discovering the Coldfire universe through this prequel or returning to it as a classic favorite, Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is the perfect entry point to this unique, genre-blending space fantasy epic.
As mentioned, Nightborn: Coldire Rising is the story of the Founding of Erna. It focuses on the horrors that the colonists had to face when they first encountered the mysterious and all-encompassing force they'll come to know as the fae. Coming out of cryogenic sleep after decades spent searching for an habitable planet, the leading faction of the settlers discover that their ship has been observing Erna for ninety years before waking them up. There are obviously some anomalies that prevented the ship from approving the planet as an acceptable settlement for their colony, but they can't find anything concrete as to why the process took this long. In an essay she wrote for her Patreon, Friedman says that one of the most interesting facets of the Coldfire Trilogy is its science fiction background. The people who landed on Erna were rational, scientifically minded people, from a culture not unlike our own. Yet a thousand years later they would have lost all their technology, mastered the fae (as much as anyone could), and adopted terminology and trappings from mysticism and sorcery. How did they get from point A to point B, changing not only their technology but the very tenor of their society? This is the question that she tried to answer with this newest work. How did the colonists figure out what the fae was in the first place? Fans of the trilogy will know that there were no adepts when the colonists landed on Erna. Hence, nobody could see it without Working their sight, but human beings hadn’t learned to Work yet. According to Friedman, this was the biggest challenge to address. If the colonists couldn’t see the fae, didn’t even know it was there to begin with, and had never encountered anything like it to make them suspect it even existed, how did they figure out how to See it, much less control it? That ended up being the main theme of Nightborn: Coldire Rising: a group of colonists trapped on a planet where a seemingly supernatural force was manifesting their darkest instincts and wildest nightmares, who were struggling to figure out what the hell it was and how to gain a measure of control over it before it killed them all.
And time is running out. When I started reading the book, I believed that the tale would cover the span of several months. Imagine my surprise when I realized that Nightborn: Coldire Rising only covers a period of about twenty days. Less than three weeks, that's how long it took for everything to go down the crapper. This lends a tense and suspenseful atmosphere to the story and forces characters to make questionable decisions as their lives and their chances of survival continue to unravel with each passing day. Though I would have liked for the story to cover a bit more ground and give us more than a glimpse of the colonists' early days on Erna, there's no denying that it is self-contained and ends with the aftermath of the First Sacrifice. You reach the ending wanting more, but this new Coldfire tale does what it set out to do. Understandably, it's more scifi than fantasy, and might feel a little discordant with the original material, at least stylistically. Yet a settlement story couldn't be anything else, and I'm sure that fans will enjoy discovering how it all began.
As for Dominion, well it was a doozy! Even though I read the original version a decade ago, like all Coldfire fans I relished the opportunity to revisit one of my favorite SFF characters of all time: Gerald Tarrant. And even though this one occurs more than six centuries into the pass, Friedman recaptured the feel of the Coldfire books. This makes this one impossible to put down and you'll likely finish it in a single sitting. As I mentioned in my first review, Friedman sets the mood perfectly. The narrative grabs hold of you and won't let go. The prose is evocative and the Forest almost becomes a character in its own right. Sure, some will say that hardcore fans are already won over. But it's no secret that the author knows how to draw readers into her tales and Dominion is no different.
The novella features the POVs of two protagonists. The first is that of Gerald Tarrant, first Neocount of Merentha. Although the thirty pages or so don't provide enough of an opportunity to fully appreciate this chance to see Tarrant in action and witness events unfold through his eyes, I loved every single moment of it. Hot damn, I want more! The second perspective is that of Faith, last survivor of a band of knights of the Church hunting faeborn creatures in the Forest. She possesses a special gift known as the Earth's blessing; the fae does not respond to her. Both characters find themselves in the heart of the Forest; one trying to escape, while the other means to best it. I think Friedman created a good balance between the two POV sections throughout the novella. I also enjoyed how the author introduced Amoril and how he became part of Tarrant's entourage.You reach the end too quickly for my taste, but again this tale is as long as it needs to be.
If all goes according to plan, Friedman says that the next novella will be a tale from the Neo-Gothic era, when a young idealist named Gerald Tarrant brings faith to his world, even as darkness begins to take root within his own soul. The author believes that fans of Gerald Tarrant will love to watch that corruption unfold, as well as seeing parts of his personal history that he hinted at in the original trilogy. So Coldfire fans unite! Unless Nightborn: Coldire Rising is a success, we might never get to read that new story. And I for one cannot countenance such a thing! I also want to read every other planned Coldfire novella, so we need to make it happen!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
Friedman has always been adamant that there would never be a sequel to the Coldfire series. And nearly three decades down the line, it doesn't look like she will change her mind. However, the market for shorter works, especially novellas, has been expanding in recent years. So much so that she realized that the time could be ripe to explore ideas and concepts that, while they lacked enough material to warrant a novel-length project, could be turned into books that couldn't have been published just a few years back. Dominion was the first such project and it turned out to be a wonderful read.
Nightborn: Coldire Rising focuses on the Founding of Erna and what led to the First Sacrifice. Fans might recall that it's a tale hinted at in the prologue of When True Night Falls. Dominion recounts the story of how Gerald Tarrant mastered the Forest and became the Hunter. This novella takes place 613 years following the settlement of the colony on Erna and about six centuries prior to the events of the Coldfire trilogy. Friedman realized that Erna has a rich history that is hinted at in the series and that there was a wealth of material for potential prequels. Mapping out such story arcs, the author envisioned a set of novellas that would also explore the Age of the False Messiahs, the Neo-Gothic Revival and its Unification Wars, the great Rakhene Genocide, the transformation of the Forbidden Forest into Tarrant’s private hunting ground, and the Church’s doomed war against him and his minions. All of which has this Coldfire fan pretty excited!
Some readers unfamiliar with the original trilogy will wonder if Nightborn: Coldire Rising makes a good starting point for newbies. Yes, it is a prequel and efforts were made by the author to make this book a somewhat stand-alone work that can be read and understood without having read the Coldfire trilogy. And yet, why would you want to do that? The Coldfire series is a seminal work of dark fantasy that has withstood the test of time, so why would you want to pick up this one before reading the original material? Though Nightborn: Coldire Rising can be read on its own, without the context provided by the original trilogy you'd be missing out on lots of things and not just a few nuances. You might enjoy Dominion without having prior knowledge of Gerald Tarrant, but if you actually know the story of this fascinating badass character you'll be ecstatic. This new one is slated to be released in July, so there is ample time for you to find out for yourself just how brillant the Coldfire trilogy truly is by starting with Black Sun Rising. Follow this Amazon Associate link to learn more about this title and its sequels. Believe you me: You'll love them! And you'll be up-to-date when this prequel hits the shelves this summer.
Here's the blurb:
A prequel to the lauded Coldfire trilogy, Friedman's latest novel mixes the best of dark fantasy and chilling sci-fi.
A ship full of colonists arrive on a seemingly hospitable planet, only to discover that it harbors a terrifying secret. Soon the settlers find themselves caught up in a desperate battle for survival against the fae, a natural force with the power to prey upon the human mind itself, bringing a person’s greatest fears and darkest nightmares to life.
As Colony Commander Leon Case and Chief Medic Lise Perez struggle to find a way to control the fae before more people die, other settlers have ideas of their own…and they may prove more of a threat to colony than the fae itself.
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is a tale that blends sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, suspenseful and emotionally intense, as a handful of humans struggle to survive on an alien world that seems determined to kill them. In the end they will have to draw upon both scientific knowledge and mystical traditions to save themselves.
Whether you're just discovering the Coldfire universe through this prequel or returning to it as a classic favorite, Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is the perfect entry point to this unique, genre-blending space fantasy epic.
As mentioned, Nightborn: Coldire Rising is the story of the Founding of Erna. It focuses on the horrors that the colonists had to face when they first encountered the mysterious and all-encompassing force they'll come to know as the fae. Coming out of cryogenic sleep after decades spent searching for an habitable planet, the leading faction of the settlers discover that their ship has been observing Erna for ninety years before waking them up. There are obviously some anomalies that prevented the ship from approving the planet as an acceptable settlement for their colony, but they can't find anything concrete as to why the process took this long. In an essay she wrote for her Patreon, Friedman says that one of the most interesting facets of the Coldfire Trilogy is its science fiction background. The people who landed on Erna were rational, scientifically minded people, from a culture not unlike our own. Yet a thousand years later they would have lost all their technology, mastered the fae (as much as anyone could), and adopted terminology and trappings from mysticism and sorcery. How did they get from point A to point B, changing not only their technology but the very tenor of their society? This is the question that she tried to answer with this newest work. How did the colonists figure out what the fae was in the first place? Fans of the trilogy will know that there were no adepts when the colonists landed on Erna. Hence, nobody could see it without Working their sight, but human beings hadn’t learned to Work yet. According to Friedman, this was the biggest challenge to address. If the colonists couldn’t see the fae, didn’t even know it was there to begin with, and had never encountered anything like it to make them suspect it even existed, how did they figure out how to See it, much less control it? That ended up being the main theme of Nightborn: Coldire Rising: a group of colonists trapped on a planet where a seemingly supernatural force was manifesting their darkest instincts and wildest nightmares, who were struggling to figure out what the hell it was and how to gain a measure of control over it before it killed them all.
And time is running out. When I started reading the book, I believed that the tale would cover the span of several months. Imagine my surprise when I realized that Nightborn: Coldire Rising only covers a period of about twenty days. Less than three weeks, that's how long it took for everything to go down the crapper. This lends a tense and suspenseful atmosphere to the story and forces characters to make questionable decisions as their lives and their chances of survival continue to unravel with each passing day. Though I would have liked for the story to cover a bit more ground and give us more than a glimpse of the colonists' early days on Erna, there's no denying that it is self-contained and ends with the aftermath of the First Sacrifice. You reach the ending wanting more, but this new Coldfire tale does what it set out to do. Understandably, it's more scifi than fantasy, and might feel a little discordant with the original material, at least stylistically. Yet a settlement story couldn't be anything else, and I'm sure that fans will enjoy discovering how it all began.
As for Dominion, well it was a doozy! Even though I read the original version a decade ago, like all Coldfire fans I relished the opportunity to revisit one of my favorite SFF characters of all time: Gerald Tarrant. And even though this one occurs more than six centuries into the pass, Friedman recaptured the feel of the Coldfire books. This makes this one impossible to put down and you'll likely finish it in a single sitting. As I mentioned in my first review, Friedman sets the mood perfectly. The narrative grabs hold of you and won't let go. The prose is evocative and the Forest almost becomes a character in its own right. Sure, some will say that hardcore fans are already won over. But it's no secret that the author knows how to draw readers into her tales and Dominion is no different.
The novella features the POVs of two protagonists. The first is that of Gerald Tarrant, first Neocount of Merentha. Although the thirty pages or so don't provide enough of an opportunity to fully appreciate this chance to see Tarrant in action and witness events unfold through his eyes, I loved every single moment of it. Hot damn, I want more! The second perspective is that of Faith, last survivor of a band of knights of the Church hunting faeborn creatures in the Forest. She possesses a special gift known as the Earth's blessing; the fae does not respond to her. Both characters find themselves in the heart of the Forest; one trying to escape, while the other means to best it. I think Friedman created a good balance between the two POV sections throughout the novella. I also enjoyed how the author introduced Amoril and how he became part of Tarrant's entourage.You reach the end too quickly for my taste, but again this tale is as long as it needs to be.
If all goes according to plan, Friedman says that the next novella will be a tale from the Neo-Gothic era, when a young idealist named Gerald Tarrant brings faith to his world, even as darkness begins to take root within his own soul. The author believes that fans of Gerald Tarrant will love to watch that corruption unfold, as well as seeing parts of his personal history that he hinted at in the original trilogy. So Coldfire fans unite! Unless Nightborn: Coldire Rising is a success, we might never get to read that new story. And I for one cannot countenance such a thing! I also want to read every other planned Coldfire novella, so we need to make it happen!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
April 3, 2023
Awesome read! I may be one of the few that has not read the Coldfire Trilogy, though I have read other works by CS Friedman (Alien Shores and Dreamwalkers series). With that said, I'm actually glad I didn't have advanced knowledge of Erna and the fae because going into this blind really amped up the mystery of what was going on, and it's definitely going to propel me into Coldfire because I want to see how things develop. First, I want to say that I think Friedman is a master of science-fantasy. I wouldn't call this hard SF (so if that's what you're looking for, you may be disappointed), even with the premise being grounded in settlers colonizing a planet and the craziness that ensues when the planet rejects them. The fae is magic, and Friedman is masterful is weaving the science with the magic. The pacing is so fast and the attacks on the colonists by the fae, which manifest differently every time, really sucks you into the story and keeps you wanting to figure out what's going to happen (if you read Coldfire, that element of mystery may not be as palpable, because you know). And even as the colonists think they've figured something out about the fae, other things happen that challenge what they think they understand. They come to some sort of resolution at the end, which has a very shocking conclusion, though things still seem uncertain and tense, which I can appreciate given that this is a prequel set hundreds of years prior to Coldfire, where the story really is. So needless to say, now I want to know how humans and the fae come to relate to one another, how the magic evolves, how humans themselves may have evolved given the way the fae plays on their fears and desires. I will say, though, that without having read Coldfire, I can sense that there are elements of the story that attempt to lay groundwork for what's to come that I am not fully able to yet appreciate or grasp the significance of yet - in particular, religion and sacrifice and the way in which Dani and Angie serve as opposing perspectives on how to understand faith/belief, how it is that the magic specifically manifests in certain places, particularly with what seems to be a vampire like creature that appears. And there may be other smaller examples that I missed altogether. Still, however, as I move into Coldfire, I think these will be elements I can come to appreciate in hindsight.
One other thing is that I really loved the fact that the colony didn't devolve into anarchy as death and other frightening things were happening around the colonists. Friedman provides a a rationale for this with respect to the types of people (with a particular mental profile) being selected for this project, but I do want to say that I think there is often too much emphasis in fiction or movies on how it is that human groups break down when things get rough. I had recently read an analysis of William Goldings Lord of the Flies that criticized this very problem and the kind of worldview that illustrates, while also offering counter-examples. I greatly appreciated the fact that the colonists continued to try and work together over the course of the story. This isn't to say there were interpersonal conflicts that emerged - this isn't a story where the conflict is completely external. But the conflicts that did emerge didn't necessarily result in the colonists factionalizing. I don't yet know what this means with respect to the Coldfire world, but to me this is a move away from a pretty well worn trope in a lot of fiction.
Overall, I loved this as my introduction into the Coldfire world and can't wait to jump into Black Sun Rising!
One other thing is that I really loved the fact that the colony didn't devolve into anarchy as death and other frightening things were happening around the colonists. Friedman provides a a rationale for this with respect to the types of people (with a particular mental profile) being selected for this project, but I do want to say that I think there is often too much emphasis in fiction or movies on how it is that human groups break down when things get rough. I had recently read an analysis of William Goldings Lord of the Flies that criticized this very problem and the kind of worldview that illustrates, while also offering counter-examples. I greatly appreciated the fact that the colonists continued to try and work together over the course of the story. This isn't to say there were interpersonal conflicts that emerged - this isn't a story where the conflict is completely external. But the conflicts that did emerge didn't necessarily result in the colonists factionalizing. I don't yet know what this means with respect to the Coldfire world, but to me this is a move away from a pretty well worn trope in a lot of fiction.
Overall, I loved this as my introduction into the Coldfire world and can't wait to jump into Black Sun Rising!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2023
I have loved the Coldfire Trilogy books ever since I first read them over 20 years ago, so I was thrilled when I received the advance copy of Nightborn for review. This edition also includes Dominion, a novella that reveals more backstory on Gerald Tarrant, a protagonist of the Coldfire Trilogy and one of the most fascinating characters I’ve ever encountered. For fans of the trilogy it’s wonderful to have this additional material on him.
Nightborn takes place over a thousand years before the events of the trilogy and features the story of the first colonists on the planet. If you’re not familiar with the world, my recommendation is to avoid all spoilers and just dive in; that way you can experience the mystery of the planet in the same way as the colonists, and guess along with them as they figure out what’s going on.
The story is so fast paced that it was easy to get immersed in it right from the start. Even though I knew things would soon take a darker turn, I couldn't help but share the crew’s excitement about the new world they landed in. The vision of the ruined overpopulated Earth they left behind was vivid and chilling: the air is not breathable, a botanist needs special connections to experience a few hours around trees, forced population control and eugenics have become the norm. I found myself looking out my own window more often and appreciating what we have in our world, and I shared the colonists’ joy as they started building their settlement on a pristine planet.
I won’t spoil the plot, but I’ll just say things start going downhill soon and the colonists are racing against time to figure out the mystery of their new world before it’s too late.
For those who like me already love the Coldfire Trilogy (spoilers to follow),
For those who haven’t yet read at least Black Sun Rising, you can read Dominion first as it stands alone, but if you like having the characters’ fascinating backstory revealed more slowly then I’d recommend reading Black Sun Rising first and then coming back to Dominion. Gerald Tarrant is definitely a character for whom it’s worth taking the scenic route!
Dominion spoilers:
To sum it all up, I think Nightborn is a great introduction to the world of the Coldfire Trilogy for those new to it and who love fast-paced sci-fi mysteries; and a great addition to the lore for those like me who already love the Coldfire books. The addition of Dominion is a wonderful treat; I already own a copy but I was hoping it would make it into this printing and I’m very glad it did.
Nightborn takes place over a thousand years before the events of the trilogy and features the story of the first colonists on the planet. If you’re not familiar with the world, my recommendation is to avoid all spoilers and just dive in; that way you can experience the mystery of the planet in the same way as the colonists, and guess along with them as they figure out what’s going on.
The story is so fast paced that it was easy to get immersed in it right from the start. Even though I knew things would soon take a darker turn, I couldn't help but share the crew’s excitement about the new world they landed in. The vision of the ruined overpopulated Earth they left behind was vivid and chilling: the air is not breathable, a botanist needs special connections to experience a few hours around trees, forced population control and eugenics have become the norm. I found myself looking out my own window more often and appreciating what we have in our world, and I shared the colonists’ joy as they started building their settlement on a pristine planet.
I won’t spoil the plot, but I’ll just say things start going downhill soon and the colonists are racing against time to figure out the mystery of their new world before it’s too late.
For those who like me already love the Coldfire Trilogy (spoilers to follow),
For those who haven’t yet read at least Black Sun Rising, you can read Dominion first as it stands alone, but if you like having the characters’ fascinating backstory revealed more slowly then I’d recommend reading Black Sun Rising first and then coming back to Dominion. Gerald Tarrant is definitely a character for whom it’s worth taking the scenic route!
Dominion spoilers:
To sum it all up, I think Nightborn is a great introduction to the world of the Coldfire Trilogy for those new to it and who love fast-paced sci-fi mysteries; and a great addition to the lore for those like me who already love the Coldfire books. The addition of Dominion is a wonderful treat; I already own a copy but I was hoping it would make it into this printing and I’m very glad it did.
June 24, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and DAW Books for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Nightborn: Coldfire Rising will be available on July 18th, 2023.
I fell in love with the Coldfire trilogy, back in the 90’s when I first read it. It was, and still is, one of the most remarkable science fantasy I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Naturally, I was beyond excited by the news that C.S. Friedman was returning to the world of Erna.
When there is such a large gap between books in a series, I always wonder how that will work. Will the author be able to slip back into the voice used to write the books in the first place? Will the new book mesh with the others? I found that Nightborn leans on the same original tone, but adds new threads to the rich tapestry of the plot. The story takes on an even more sinister tone with this prequel, becoming more sci-fi horror than science fantasy. The shift was calculated and perfect.
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is a prequel, detailing how the planet of Erna was originally discovered and the situations that led to the events in the Coldfire trilogy. It isn’t necessary to read the original trilogy first, although whether or not you do will probably change how you experience this book. Some parts will hit differently if you have read the trilogy.
The world of Erna is inhospitable, to say the least. In the original trilogy, much of the science behind the world comes across as magic. Even the energy that flows across the planet has a name reminiscent of the fantastical: fae. Here in the prequel, science takes precedence. The reader gets to see the evolution of the characters’ mindset as they experience things that they struggle to explain with scientific knowledge.
The characters themselves take a backseat to the events that unfold, although each plays an important role. The reader sees things mainly through the eyes of Leo, the Commander of the Colony, although other points of view are added here and there. He is likable, capable, and sincere in his desire to care for those under his command. He, like everyone else, is also way outside his depth. The entire planet seems to want the colonists dead.
Nightborn reads like a horror novel, with sci-fi elements sprinkled in. It is claustrophobic and unsettling. The pacing lends itself to a slow buildup of tension and growing unease. The writing is incredibly smart, balancing scientific theories with an unraveling of everything logical and unemotional. The give and take between the fae and the human colonists explains a power struggle between the new element (humanity) and the planet itself.
I couldn’t get enough of the story. My jaw was clenching by the end, I was so invested. I was fascinated by, yet dreaded the climax. Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is an engrossing and foreboding read. I highly recommend both this book and the Coldfire trilogy. C.S. Friedman has created a masterpiece.
I fell in love with the Coldfire trilogy, back in the 90’s when I first read it. It was, and still is, one of the most remarkable science fantasy I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Naturally, I was beyond excited by the news that C.S. Friedman was returning to the world of Erna.
When there is such a large gap between books in a series, I always wonder how that will work. Will the author be able to slip back into the voice used to write the books in the first place? Will the new book mesh with the others? I found that Nightborn leans on the same original tone, but adds new threads to the rich tapestry of the plot. The story takes on an even more sinister tone with this prequel, becoming more sci-fi horror than science fantasy. The shift was calculated and perfect.
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is a prequel, detailing how the planet of Erna was originally discovered and the situations that led to the events in the Coldfire trilogy. It isn’t necessary to read the original trilogy first, although whether or not you do will probably change how you experience this book. Some parts will hit differently if you have read the trilogy.
The world of Erna is inhospitable, to say the least. In the original trilogy, much of the science behind the world comes across as magic. Even the energy that flows across the planet has a name reminiscent of the fantastical: fae. Here in the prequel, science takes precedence. The reader gets to see the evolution of the characters’ mindset as they experience things that they struggle to explain with scientific knowledge.
The characters themselves take a backseat to the events that unfold, although each plays an important role. The reader sees things mainly through the eyes of Leo, the Commander of the Colony, although other points of view are added here and there. He is likable, capable, and sincere in his desire to care for those under his command. He, like everyone else, is also way outside his depth. The entire planet seems to want the colonists dead.
Nightborn reads like a horror novel, with sci-fi elements sprinkled in. It is claustrophobic and unsettling. The pacing lends itself to a slow buildup of tension and growing unease. The writing is incredibly smart, balancing scientific theories with an unraveling of everything logical and unemotional. The give and take between the fae and the human colonists explains a power struggle between the new element (humanity) and the planet itself.
I couldn’t get enough of the story. My jaw was clenching by the end, I was so invested. I was fascinated by, yet dreaded the climax. Nightborn: Coldfire Rising is an engrossing and foreboding read. I highly recommend both this book and the Coldfire trilogy. C.S. Friedman has created a masterpiece.
July 6, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, C.S. Friedman, and DAW publishing for providing this eARC!
.
.
.
Unrelated to the review, this book needs a trigger warning for animal death, assault and kidnapping, and self-unaliving
I think its only fair to disclose this is my first C.S. Friedman book, and I've never read the Coldfire series. I went into this more or less blind, with only the synopsis to fill me in on what to expect.
I blinked and was at 53%. I was absolutely freakin' hooked. I was engrossed by the mystery of what the fae is and how to survive its influences (and indeed, how far does the influence go?). I was emotionally invested in Leon, Lise, Angie, Ian, Dani, and the other colonists, and loved that I was able to get little glimpses of what drove their decision to go to Erna. I felt little stabs to my heart as I watched the population of the settlement drop one by one.
I really loved the blending of fantasy and sci fi, where we have humans from Earth relocated twenty thousand light-years from home, with all the usual sci fi trappings of cryo, data tablets, intergalactic travel, and those humans still observe science-defying rituals and religion.
I did not love the, in my opinion, rather unceremonious time-jump from Day 20 (ish) to Day 364. It's presented as an epilogue, but I feel like epilogues don't happen at the 80% mark. To go from a huge tragic event to, Spongebob Narrator Voice, "One year later", was jarring, and I didn't get to sit with the weight of the scene long enough. This epilogue concludes at 82%, and then we move into the epigraph, 613 years later, which is the remaining 18% of the book. We're given a full new cast of characters, and I suspect the epigraph is closer to what the core trilogy is like, and is much more fantasy-leaning then the previous 82%, so this was jarring as well. We see what is effectively magic, an intentional manipulation of the fae for a specified purpose, and we see two opposing factions: the Church and a fae-controlling sorcerer-demon-undead-formerly-human individual. Their dynamics play out on page for a while, and I was left with only the barest understanding of what a Working or a Knowing is. While I appreciate a book that doesn't pander to me, I couldn't really get past the abrasive shift from sci-fi with a sprinkling of fantasy, to full-on Paladin in plate armor praying to God in the forest for blessings while she's trying to carry out a crusade against hellspawn.
Honestly, if we had stopped at the 82% mark, at the end of the epilogue, and just not included the epigraph at all, this would have been an easy four stars for me. I could have lived with the one abrupt shift from Day 20 to Day 364, but having the second abrupt change to Year 631 just took me out.
.
.
.
Unrelated to the review, this book needs a trigger warning for animal death, assault and kidnapping, and self-unaliving
I think its only fair to disclose this is my first C.S. Friedman book, and I've never read the Coldfire series. I went into this more or less blind, with only the synopsis to fill me in on what to expect.
I blinked and was at 53%. I was absolutely freakin' hooked. I was engrossed by the mystery of what the fae is and how to survive its influences (and indeed, how far does the influence go?). I was emotionally invested in Leon, Lise, Angie, Ian, Dani, and the other colonists, and loved that I was able to get little glimpses of what drove their decision to go to Erna. I felt little stabs to my heart as I watched the population of the settlement drop one by one.
I really loved the blending of fantasy and sci fi, where we have humans from Earth relocated twenty thousand light-years from home, with all the usual sci fi trappings of cryo, data tablets, intergalactic travel, and those humans still observe science-defying rituals and religion.
I did not love the, in my opinion, rather unceremonious time-jump from Day 20 (ish) to Day 364. It's presented as an epilogue, but I feel like epilogues don't happen at the 80% mark. To go from a huge tragic event to, Spongebob Narrator Voice, "One year later", was jarring, and I didn't get to sit with the weight of the scene long enough. This epilogue concludes at 82%, and then we move into the epigraph, 613 years later, which is the remaining 18% of the book. We're given a full new cast of characters, and I suspect the epigraph is closer to what the core trilogy is like, and is much more fantasy-leaning then the previous 82%, so this was jarring as well. We see what is effectively magic, an intentional manipulation of the fae for a specified purpose, and we see two opposing factions: the Church and a fae-controlling sorcerer-demon-undead-formerly-human individual. Their dynamics play out on page for a while, and I was left with only the barest understanding of what a Working or a Knowing is. While I appreciate a book that doesn't pander to me, I couldn't really get past the abrasive shift from sci-fi with a sprinkling of fantasy, to full-on Paladin in plate armor praying to God in the forest for blessings while she's trying to carry out a crusade against hellspawn.
Honestly, if we had stopped at the 82% mark, at the end of the epilogue, and just not included the epigraph at all, this would have been an easy four stars for me. I could have lived with the one abrupt shift from Day 20 to Day 364, but having the second abrupt change to Year 631 just took me out.
April 24, 2023
This is a prequel to the Coldfire trilogy, one of my favorite sci-fantasy series. While you could read this either before or after the trilogy, I read it after and I believe that I enjoyed the trilogy more because of that experience (YMMV). Keep in mind this is not hard sci-fi, but a prequel to what is more like a dark fantasy series (so the science is good but still not solid); however, In the series, you eventually come to realize the world on which it all happens is an earth colony that essentially lost its tech and was more or less a primitive semi-feudal society. This book explains how that came about … and the colony story was actually pretty compelling and well done … with the action starting up quickly and ramping up just as fast (perhaps too fast). Although there are some 200 original colonists, the story revolves about a dozen of so personalities, each with their own back story (some of which are explored in flashbacks at the beginning of the chapters.
The main characters are Leo (mission commander), Lisa (Doctor), Dani (chaplain) and Angie (a holistic neural researcher/occultist) with some important side characters, such as Ian the biologist. At the confusion of the story, you will have a solid understanding of the relationship between humans and their new world (aka Erna) that for me would have detracted a bit from the mystery/puzzle presented in the beginning of the trilogy (which is what I am happy to have read this last). What is missing is the story of Gerald … whose story has such an outsized impact on the trilogy that its short treatment at the end just didn’t seem like it was enough. All of that considered, if you enjoyed the trilogy you will very likely enjoy this prequel … if you enjoyed the prequel, you might enjoy the trilogy (which I liked primarily for the well executed redemption arc of the hero’s journey).
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#NightbornColdfireRising #NetGalley
The main characters are Leo (mission commander), Lisa (Doctor), Dani (chaplain) and Angie (a holistic neural researcher/occultist) with some important side characters, such as Ian the biologist. At the confusion of the story, you will have a solid understanding of the relationship between humans and their new world (aka Erna) that for me would have detracted a bit from the mystery/puzzle presented in the beginning of the trilogy (which is what I am happy to have read this last). What is missing is the story of Gerald … whose story has such an outsized impact on the trilogy that its short treatment at the end just didn’t seem like it was enough. All of that considered, if you enjoyed the trilogy you will very likely enjoy this prequel … if you enjoyed the prequel, you might enjoy the trilogy (which I liked primarily for the well executed redemption arc of the hero’s journey).
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#NightbornColdfireRising #NetGalley
March 30, 2023
I have not previously read any of the Coldfire series, so I went into this prequel with no real idea of what I was getting myself into. The lack of knowledge wasn’t a problem; this works fine as a stand-alone. I could tell when something was being introduced that was important to the series (the casual, “oh, she called them Nightborn” or “we decided on ‘fae’” felt prophetic) but it wasn’t awkward.
As a stand-alone, this gripped me right away. Chapter One immediately thrusts you into a mystery to be solved, with the perfect balance of world-building and plot. The entire novel had an ominous vibe to it. Not super dark, but an undercurrent of unease with a mild sense of threat throughout. I stayed up late on several nights wanting to know what was going to happen next. This is not horror, but there are some suspenseful moments as well as descriptions of violence.
Decent character development for a novel that is not really character-driven. Dialogue is natural. Prose flows well. A lot of unanswered questions about the world-building, but I’m not mad about it. That’s to be expected with a prequel. Some interesting plot twists that are foreshadowed enough to make sense when they happen without being heavy-handed.
Overall I was impressed. I may even pick up the first book of the original series to see where things go from here.
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a stand-alone, this gripped me right away. Chapter One immediately thrusts you into a mystery to be solved, with the perfect balance of world-building and plot. The entire novel had an ominous vibe to it. Not super dark, but an undercurrent of unease with a mild sense of threat throughout. I stayed up late on several nights wanting to know what was going to happen next. This is not horror, but there are some suspenseful moments as well as descriptions of violence.
Decent character development for a novel that is not really character-driven. Dialogue is natural. Prose flows well. A lot of unanswered questions about the world-building, but I’m not mad about it. That’s to be expected with a prequel. Some interesting plot twists that are foreshadowed enough to make sense when they happen without being heavy-handed.
Overall I was impressed. I may even pick up the first book of the original series to see where things go from here.
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2023
I read this book without doing a reread of The Coldfire Trilogy so I could see how well it stands alone, with only tendrils of the Planet Erna and it's nightmares a vague recollection.
The story begins with human settlers arriving on the planet. They are wary colonists on a new world and the author did an excellent job of drawing you into what it would feel like to be one of them as you follow the storyline from different points of view.
It is an excellent example of Sci Fi horror as things slowly go wrong. Equipment failures and strange deaths of a few of the colonists make the settlement question everything as they attempt to protect themselves.
The story jumps 600 years at about the 2/3 point and shifts us to an excerpt of the Coldfire Trilogy's most famous character Gerald Tarrant. At this point, he already has made himself a powerful being, but it defines how he began his bonding to the Forest. Truthfully, as a reader, I want more history of his beginnings which are hinted at several times.
Overall, this book left me wanting more, as always with anything I have read by C.S. Friedman.
The story begins with human settlers arriving on the planet. They are wary colonists on a new world and the author did an excellent job of drawing you into what it would feel like to be one of them as you follow the storyline from different points of view.
It is an excellent example of Sci Fi horror as things slowly go wrong. Equipment failures and strange deaths of a few of the colonists make the settlement question everything as they attempt to protect themselves.
The story jumps 600 years at about the 2/3 point and shifts us to an excerpt of the Coldfire Trilogy's most famous character Gerald Tarrant. At this point, he already has made himself a powerful being, but it defines how he began his bonding to the Forest. Truthfully, as a reader, I want more history of his beginnings which are hinted at several times.
Overall, this book left me wanting more, as always with anything I have read by C.S. Friedman.
July 19, 2023
I do not think C.S. Friedman has an equal as an author. There are authors with intriguing ideas, weird worlds, and kooky characters who seem to be the trend in science fiction. But none of their characters seems real. They're not motivated by reasonable things, or they're deliberately bizarre to make them "interesting." I'm looking at you Neil Gaiman.
Friedman writes stories filled with intriguing ideas, but her characters are eminently believable and real. They are interesting, not because they're quirky, but because they could be someone we know. So that when things happen to them, we care. We care because Celia writes about a world so strange and bizarre and yet recognizable, and she writes with such realism that the perils feel real. They make sense, and we believe in the danger, the politics, the responses of her characters, the motives of the men and women all make sense.
Erna is a world of literal nightmares, but the heroes have always been, ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances doing the best they can, and that's why we love them. Nightborn has been a long time coming, but it's worth the wait.
Friedman writes stories filled with intriguing ideas, but her characters are eminently believable and real. They are interesting, not because they're quirky, but because they could be someone we know. So that when things happen to them, we care. We care because Celia writes about a world so strange and bizarre and yet recognizable, and she writes with such realism that the perils feel real. They make sense, and we believe in the danger, the politics, the responses of her characters, the motives of the men and women all make sense.
Erna is a world of literal nightmares, but the heroes have always been, ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances doing the best they can, and that's why we love them. Nightborn has been a long time coming, but it's worth the wait.
April 12, 2023
Nightborn: Coldfire Rising by C.S. Friedman
It has been a minute since I’ve read any C.S. Friedman. This story takes place on a far distant planet where a colony ship that has gone awry deposits its occupants. After reading the book, I recalled watching Forbidden Planet, a movie that came out in 1956. The monster in the movie was created by a manifestation of Moibius's Id. I don’t know if Friedman is old enough to have seen the movie but there are some parallels between the book and the movie. The colony finds the planet itself seems to be opposed to them settling there. The immediate problems are resolved and the story jumps 600 years in the future and occupants of that time period are now the protagonists.
I enjoyed the book. The concept of Earth Mother has been explored many times. This iteration is entertaining and thought-provoking.
I look forward to the next book in the series.
It has been a minute since I’ve read any C.S. Friedman. This story takes place on a far distant planet where a colony ship that has gone awry deposits its occupants. After reading the book, I recalled watching Forbidden Planet, a movie that came out in 1956. The monster in the movie was created by a manifestation of Moibius's Id. I don’t know if Friedman is old enough to have seen the movie but there are some parallels between the book and the movie. The colony finds the planet itself seems to be opposed to them settling there. The immediate problems are resolved and the story jumps 600 years in the future and occupants of that time period are now the protagonists.
I enjoyed the book. The concept of Earth Mother has been explored many times. This iteration is entertaining and thought-provoking.
I look forward to the next book in the series.
April 20, 2023
This is an honest review in exchange for an ARC copy from Netgalley. Thanks to DAW and Netgalley both.
Okay, I read the original trilogy a long, long time ago and remember vaguely that I loved it. This new Novella--may I call it that because it is too short?--is set in the same universe and is the story of the first human settlement in that world.
I do think the story, the plot, and the characters were interesting but the story was too short for me to be able to review it fairly.
The one aspect that I didn't like was the final 4th of the story. All of a sudden the story is moved 600 years into the future just to introduce us to Gerald Terrant. There are no rhymes or reasons for this other than for the readers of the original trilogy to gush over memories. The jump is completely unnecessary and jarring and takes away from the beauty of the story. I gave this a generous 4 stars but it probably deserves a solid 3 stars.
Okay, I read the original trilogy a long, long time ago and remember vaguely that I loved it. This new Novella--may I call it that because it is too short?--is set in the same universe and is the story of the first human settlement in that world.
I do think the story, the plot, and the characters were interesting but the story was too short for me to be able to review it fairly.
The one aspect that I didn't like was the final 4th of the story. All of a sudden the story is moved 600 years into the future just to introduce us to Gerald Terrant. There are no rhymes or reasons for this other than for the readers of the original trilogy to gush over memories. The jump is completely unnecessary and jarring and takes away from the beauty of the story. I gave this a generous 4 stars but it probably deserves a solid 3 stars.
May 24, 2023
I may be in the minority to say that this one is NOT a perfect entry point in the Coldfire Trilogy, but I won't deny that it is still an excellent companion novel.
A little backstory: This trilogy is one of the few truly excellent crossover Fantasy/SF/Horror novels that are equal in every portion. The worldbuilding is very well thought-out and very memorable, even after decades of reading so many other SF and Fantasy.
The surprise really did it for me. The slow build-up and reveal, the inherent complexity and coherence. *chef's kiss*
This short prequel of a novel really lays ALL those secrets out and if you already know the story, it's great... especially since we get to follow the big bad's beginnings and progress. Muahahahaha
Oh yeah, it's great. I may have a few quibbles about the poor preparedness of the original colony, but streamlined like this? It's still pretty great.
A little backstory: This trilogy is one of the few truly excellent crossover Fantasy/SF/Horror novels that are equal in every portion. The worldbuilding is very well thought-out and very memorable, even after decades of reading so many other SF and Fantasy.
The surprise really did it for me. The slow build-up and reveal, the inherent complexity and coherence. *chef's kiss*
This short prequel of a novel really lays ALL those secrets out and if you already know the story, it's great... especially since we get to follow the big bad's beginnings and progress. Muahahahaha
Oh yeah, it's great. I may have a few quibbles about the poor preparedness of the original colony, but streamlined like this? It's still pretty great.
May 26, 2023
A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advance reader's copy. I love the original Coldfire trilogy, and to be given the opportunity to read this early, was amazing and wonderful. Friedman has written another brilliant book. This story introduces you to the world of Erna before it was the Erna most know in the original trilogy. It's well written and gives the reader a new introduction to this world. If you haven't read the original trilogy, this is a great introduction. If you have read the original trilogy, it's like coming home. And spoilers, but a favorite character makes his appearance near the end. Thank you C.S. Friedman for revisiting this world. I will be buying it when it comes out, and gifting it to the person who first introduced me to Erna. Best book I've read this year so far. Now excuse me while I go reread the Coldfire trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2023
There is a trope in Sf where a starship settles a colony on a world with magic. C. S. Friedman’s version, written in the nineties, shows a planet centuries after colonization where the coldfire magic rose from the depths of the Earth to work with human nightmares. Nightborn: Coldfire Rising (hard from DAW) is the tale of a seedship that found the habitable planet after centuries of looking. The colonists, woken from stasis, were not expecting the magical horrors. The tale follows the first two weeks of settlement Colony Commander Leon Case and Chief Medic Lise Perez have to somehow find a way to ;et the colony survive while their technology is slowly failing. I found this, like the original trilogy, disconcerting, but I have trouble with pure horror. This is still highly recommended, especially for a short tale at the end with Tarrant, s vampire from the original trilogy.
March 15, 2023
CS Friedman has written a thoroughly engaging story—dark but hopeful, frightening but touching. Not only well-plotted but honest and meaningful in the characters' relationships with each other, and in the compassion she shows not only for the easily lovable but also for the twisted and the misguided.
Imagine being among the first few to inhabit a new planet. You volunteered, knowing you'll never see Earth again. What you find there is breathtakingly beautiful and utterly terrifying.
You know how, when you're reading a good book, it sneaks into your day-to-day life? You find yourself wondering about a character while examining the produce? Imagining scenarios while doing the dishes? That happened to me with Nightborn.
I loved this book.
Imagine being among the first few to inhabit a new planet. You volunteered, knowing you'll never see Earth again. What you find there is breathtakingly beautiful and utterly terrifying.
You know how, when you're reading a good book, it sneaks into your day-to-day life? You find yourself wondering about a character while examining the produce? Imagining scenarios while doing the dishes? That happened to me with Nightborn.
I loved this book.
March 28, 2023
I have followed C.S. Friedman for many years, I love her writing. The original coldfire books were addictive, dark and wild. This book took me back to those books and didn't disappoint. We are there at the landing from Earth, living with the colonists on a planet wild, wonderful and so deeply deadly to human beings. We are there with the discovery of the Fae and the tactics used to learn to control them. I loved it, every spooky minute. The language used is deep, descriptive and beautiful. I wanted so much more and it is a nice large book. There is even a wonderful short story at the end. Well wonderful in my opinion as it is a horrifying, terror wracked run in a forest with an old friend. But yes it was fantastic. READ this book!
April 2, 2023
First off, I loved the Coldfire series and the Magister series from Friedman, while those two are more geared towards the fantasy aspect, Nightborn is more about the shift from sci-fi to fantasy.
The way this story weaves horror and Sci-fi together is pretty amazing, and leads into fantasy with Dominion’s addition as well.
When the fae starts to affect the earth colonists throughout their camp, there’s a sense of fear, but also something familiar about it.
I love the circle back to the way the fae respects sacrifice.
This book also includes Dominion, which I read years ago.
It’s always great to revisit Gerald Tarrant’s story and origin though. He’s still one of my favorites, a very complex reformed villain / anti-hero.
The way this story weaves horror and Sci-fi together is pretty amazing, and leads into fantasy with Dominion’s addition as well.
When the fae starts to affect the earth colonists throughout their camp, there’s a sense of fear, but also something familiar about it.
I love the circle back to the way the fae respects sacrifice.
This book also includes Dominion, which I read years ago.
It’s always great to revisit Gerald Tarrant’s story and origin though. He’s still one of my favorites, a very complex reformed villain / anti-hero.
April 18, 2023
This was a first for me, a rich blend of both science fiction and fantasy. Intense with a mystery that keeps the novel moving to reveal a complicated world with complex characters. The wordsmithing is fantastic and captures scenes and feelings in raw detail. It is a dark science fiction/fantasy book and gave me goosebumps from trepidation as a vulnerable population makes sense of all the unknowns.
C.S. Friedman wrote many various perspectives (and does it well), but I prefer to connect to only a few individuals when reading.
It can be enjoyed without reading the others as a prequel to C.S. Friedman’s series: great work and a great read. I highly recommend it for those that like suspense, science fiction, and fantasy.
C.S. Friedman wrote many various perspectives (and does it well), but I prefer to connect to only a few individuals when reading.
It can be enjoyed without reading the others as a prequel to C.S. Friedman’s series: great work and a great read. I highly recommend it for those that like suspense, science fiction, and fantasy.
August 7, 2023
A ship full of colonists arrive at a plant at the edge of the galaxy. The planets appears to be hospitable. Colony Commander Leon Case feels that the planet is hiding something. It took the colony ships 90 years to decide to wake up the colonists.
After the colonists land, they encounter strange happenings and people are dying.
This is a fascinating story. It is an awesome blend of sci-fi, horror and fantasy. I have not read the Coldfire trilogy but plan to add the trilogy to my reading list.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC and this is my honest review.
After the colonists land, they encounter strange happenings and people are dying.
This is a fascinating story. It is an awesome blend of sci-fi, horror and fantasy. I have not read the Coldfire trilogy but plan to add the trilogy to my reading list.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC and this is my honest review.
June 28, 2023
A “how it happened” narrative creating the background for earlier novels. Human colonists land on Erna and discover that there’s something that can apparently read their minds and manifest dreams and fears, which they label “fae.” The last quarter of the book jumps far ahead in time, to characters we’ve met before, tenuously linked to the first three-fourths. It didn’t seem necessary to enjoy the earlier novels, but I guess there’s a market for this kind of filling out the narrative.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews