I read this book on the recommendation of another writer, who declared this book one of her favorite reads. Any book that becomes the favorite of one of my friends is worth checking out, at least to me. And I'm glad I did, as I found it to be an enthralling read. I've read other Cherryh books, so the writing style felt somewhat familiar, but the world and characters were entirely new to me.

Book Title: Fortress at the Eye of Time
Book Author: C. J. Cherryh
Book Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: April 25, 1996
Retail Price: $8.99
Buy it at: Various Outlets

Mauryl, for what little time he spent being active in the plot, created Tristan. More than just your run-of-the-mill golem, this "Shaping" seems to be entirely innocent while having the ability to know anything if given the opportunity to experience something, or if given a proper trigger Word. If only we could all learn that easily. Just imagine the savings you could have from not needing to worry about college.

As Tristan continues to learn more Words and lives beyond the crumbling and creepy walls where he was shaped, the shadows darken and ill winds blow more fiercely. He may have escaped whatever fate Mauryl gets, but there are still plenty of dangers left ahead. Political intrigues, assassination attempts, outright war, Tristan will have to navigate his way through them all. And during all this, a disgruntled wind by the name of Hasufin keeps playing shenanigans with window latches and shutters. (Somewhat anticlimactic really for a big baddie: a nocturnal wind that feeds on bad emotions.)

Thankfully, the golem (as in clay creature brought to life, not creepy toad guy with ring obsessions) type MC does get some help, in the form of Prince Cefwyn. Yet another underrated fellow in society (don't worry, they both evolve throughout the story and prove themselves competent and worthy of notice and respect), Cefwyn helps Tristan to essentially grow up. At least to the point where Tristan can ride a horse, save damsels in distress, fend off evil forces of creepiness, and even use a sword. Behold, the power of cheese...I mean friendship and access to Words. (But hey, you never know, maybe Cherryh powered the heroes by cheese after all, but left that detail out of the final draft. We shall never know.) And somewhat to my disappointment, [SPOILERS] the Eye of Time does not resemble the Eye of Sauron in any way, shape or form. (I was hoping for something dramatic and freaky, but it's a little less unusual than a giant flaming eyeball lighthouse.) The fortress isn't that impressive either, really. No Time Lords, blue boxes, Deloreans, telephone boxes--not even a clock. What proper time fortress doesn't even have a clock? I think that's what made Mauryl so grumpy, not knowing when tea time was.[END SPOILERS] After all was said and done, the dust had settled, and the plot was tied up in a complicated sailor's knot that might defy the laws of physics, I have to say that Fortress at the Eye of Time was a rather good read. Thankfully, there's more books to the plot, so all the various questions still left unanswered have a chance to be dealt with and raise more questions. (I think the questions are breeding at an exponential rate.)

All in all, it's definitely worth a read if you enjoy Cherryh's other works, or a good old hero's journey tale.