Bron's Reviews > Firebird

Tristan and Isolda in space. This story brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'love you to the end of time'. It's a book that hovers between science fiction and legend. There is science but it feels a bit off kilter. There's a reason for that which is revealed in a little twist near the end.

This is the second novel I've read by this author, the other was The Ring of Ritornel'. There's an important ring in this book too (don't worry, it's not evil like the One Ring although it does seem to have a power that can't be explained by science). Both books tackle the big question - is everything that happens in a universe inevitable, must it roll out exactly this from the moment of the Big Bang? Or do sentient creatures have free will? Can it be changed?

The sentients in this story aren't us, they evolved from a feline ancestor. But I was intrigued to see that there are no aliens in their multi world empire, they seem to be alone in the universe, as maybe we are. However they do have a god, one that puts its own needs before theirs with chilling consequences.