Reviews

When True Night Falls by C.S. Friedman

mpoper's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

lithographic's review

adventurous challenging dark funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I liked this one much better than the first. The journey and the traveling dragged on overmuch, but the climax was fantastic and I liked how Friedman explores various perspectives on organized religion. Gerald and Damien were constant sources of amusement. I can sum up many scenes in this story like so: 
-The Hunter gets angry, storms out of the room
-Damien rushes after him
-They have a Moment and talk. Damien finds himself growing closer to Tarrant, (I mean we even got a few first name drops), even as he bemones Tarrant's evil ways
-Rinse and repeat. 

eol's review

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

yak_attak's review against another edition

2.0

Pretty disappointing - partially for very spoiler reasons (character actions and decisions at the end are angering and baffling), but partially because the long meandering 'will they won't they' style from the previous book returns with a vengeance here. Something happens, Damien is concerned, Tarrant saves them but ~evily~ and then they have to argue whether it's worth it. I don't really feel like anything much was added. The characters either feel the same, as avatars of the author arguing with themselves, or are so completely blank-slate that we never get to know them even after traveling with them for some time. This is most evident with Hesseth, whose inclusion somehow adds absolutely nothing to the story?

Rinse and repeat until the "dramatic" conclusion. The length of the book doesn't do it any favors. Not planning on continuing on with the series at this time.

judithisreading's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

4.0

working_title's review against another edition

3.0

After a promising start with [b:Black Sun Rising|36159|Black Sun Rising (The Coldfire Trilogy, #1)|C.S. Friedman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437435124s/36159.jpg|2498], the second book of the Coldfire Trilogy [b:When True Night Falls|33835|When True Night Falls (The Coldfire Trilogy, #2)|C.S. Friedman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309209925s/33835.jpg|940527] sadly fails to impress me with the impact and originality [a:C.S. Friedman|1276004|C.S. Friedman|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1257214912p2/1276004.jpg] delivered so unexpectedly in his first book. In one line: The story cools down to a stringy mass.

Spoiler

The cookie-cutter-problem: Plot layout recycling throughout the entire book.
Damien Vryce and Gerald Tarrant meet and travel with two side characters on their dangerous journey towards an (somewhat) unknown enemy. Side character(s) get(s) disposed of for dramatic plot development. Story hints at betrayal without the needed twists to really sell it to the reader. Conflicts between main characters get resolved by one of them rescuing the other from (certain) death repeatedly.

Plot elements: Being an agnostic myself, I don't mind reading about religious ideas and believes of any kind. It is a rather interesting concept to build a world in which humanity creates its own deities. Sadly, it seems like an ever-present excuse to fix plot holes, while bending its own rules.

Don't get me wrong, [b:Black Sun Rising|36159|Black Sun Rising (The Coldfire Trilogy, #1)|C.S. Friedman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1437435124s/36159.jpg|2498] is not, by all means, a terrible book, I just feel it doesn't fulfill the high expectations I had for it.

dwheeler88's review against another edition

4.0

Like the first one, this book was pretty slow paced and the characters are only so-so, but what I enjoy is the world building. I’m curious to see if book 3 closes strong or if the creativity is all used up and the author starts grabbing at straws.

warriorpickle's review against another edition

4.0

Extremely good book. Haven't read this trilogy since middle school and I am really enjoying reading it again. It's been to long. I have to say the Gerald Tarrant is cool character. I love reading about him. He is exactly the kind of character I would like to see in almost all books. That bad guy who has good in him, you just know it, and then he does something unforgivable. And then he does something that you forgive him for. I love that dynamic. Great book. Read it.

ssho's review against another edition

3.0

Better, but essentially the same plot as first one only in a slightly different setting.

czarmorte's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced

4.0