This is my first review of a book from Waterbrook Multmonah, so thanks to them for giving me a free copy. See review and rating link here http://crossromance.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/fortress-of-mist-by-sigmund-brouwer.h...

To start with the positives Fortress of Mist did seem to be well-written and engaging. For a work of YA fiction the style did not seem amateurish or over-simplistic, and with some great use of description and language. The concept and storyline seemed original, and there were some well-drawn and interesting characters. Thomas of course the hero I liked, but also to some extent his shady comrade the Earl of York. For a children’s book it handled some of the subject matter, such as the power politics quite well, in a way that younger readers could understand.

Not all of the characters seemed well developed however; some were perhaps a little one -dimensional or simplistic. Some of the plot devices too seemed a little over-used or predicable. Lots of special potions slipped into food over and over again, or characters disguising themselves as older people.
However I had a couple of major issues with this book.

I have not read the first book, and so don’t know much about the back story but it combines a real historical setting with various fantastical elements such as druids, and a group of supposedly immortal human beings who seem to be followers of Merlin. I know druids really existed- but not in 14th century England as they were all wiped out by the Romans in the 1st century (who did not try to convert them as the novel claims).

Both seem to be possessed of supernatural powers of some description (or at least are clever at making people think they are). One of the ‘good’ immortals is described as going into a trance-like state to gain knowledge. The resemblance of this to certain practices in the occult should not, I think, be overlooked.

Another was that it contained a lot of misconceptions about the medieval period, such as the claim that most people were illiterate, and associated science with magic. As a student of Medieval History, these irked me, not least because they are just plain wring (at least for the specific setting of 14th century England anyway), but also because of the way that Medieval people were depicted as superstitious fools supposedly almost entirely ignorant of science, medicine, and even military strategy.

Thomas for instance derives most of his strategic (as well as scientific and practical) knowledge from his secret books of ancient ‘wisdom’ because supposedly his Medieval English fellows were so stupid and narrow minded that they hardly knew anything about anything. I felt that the depiction of the supposed backwardness, unpleasantness and 'darkness' of this period seemed to be exaggerated. 14th century people certainly knew more than this author gave them credit for, including certain things which supposedly only the druids and Immortals knew about like astronomy.
There were a couple of plain old errors too- like the ‘Scottish’ warrior from Carlisle which is in England or the claim that nobles just allowed peasants to do most of the fighting in battle from their position of safety.

There were references to the church and clergy, which are to be expected. Generally the former was depicted as a corrupt and morally bankrupt institution, which was in many respects, true.
There is a good Christian who is s friend and mentor of Thomas the hero, and wants to teach him about Christ and true Biblical Christianity- not the false version the church represented.
A character called Katherine also makes a comeback who supposedly taught Thomas about God in the last book. Yet perhaps she and her fellow immortal Hawkwood depended too much on cunning, their ‘secret wisdom’ and dubious special powers?

Overall Fortress of Mist is not a book I would feel comfortable recommending because of the possibility of readers believing things which are historically inaccurate , and some of the spiritual implications.
( )

I read Fortress of Mist, in exchange for review from Blogging for Books. The book was written by Sigmund Brouwer and published by WaterBrook Press. The book is part two to the Orphan King (which I need to read). I chose the book because I loved the description. The book is about Thomas, the new king of Magnus. He is orphaned. Thomas's parents died during The Orphan King. Thomas is being haunted by Isabella, who wants access to the castle's library. She also wants Thomas to show allegiance to the symbol and join the symbol's alliance. Thomas wanted no part of the alliance. (For some reason, this sounds similar to the mark of the best. Either you pledge allegiance to Christ and face death or the Anti-Christ and live).

I liked reading the book. I had to stop and start over a few times, but it is a good book. I definitely have to buy the Orphan King to fill in the missing blanks and questions I have. The book is descriptive. It is fantasy, medieval, adventure, and exciting. ( )

Very easy, light book set in 13th century England. While I'm sure I would have understood some things better if I'd read the 1st book, I got this as a review copy, and was able to follow just fine without the 1st. I enjoyed the main character's frustration at being trapped between two factions, the use of Sun Tzu for war and am definitely intrigued by the building and incomplete mystery of the castle he controls. I'd read other books in the series if I had the opportunity. ( )

I’m the type of person who doesn’t like to read a series out of sequence but in this case I went ahead and dove in. I had never read anything by Sigmund Brouwer and am now a fan of the clever writing style I experienced.

It has all of the components of your typical fantasy fiction, yet laid out in an evocative manner that had me on the reading well into the early morning hours. Suffice it to say I will go back and read Book One (The Orphan King) and am eagerly awaiting the third installment (Martyr’s Fire). ( )

Fortress of Mist is the second book in the Merlin's Immortals series. I haven't read the first book, and while the story fills in the basics from the first book, the book is probably easier to understand if read in order.

That being said the book was enjoyable on it's own. The young ruler of Magnus, Thomas, faces threats to his new land, both internal from the mysterious Druids who seek power and externally from his neighboring lords. Druids held the castle before he arrived but their ruler was defeated by Thomas and they want revenge. Thomas does not know who to trust, as he expects everyone of being spies for either the Druids or their rivals. Thomas marches into battle against the Scots and he manages to create a strategy to defeat the invaders without bloodshed. When he returned home from his success he found that his enemies had been active at home and he was forced to face down a near uprising. Through utilizing his mysterious library of ancient books Thomas manages to solve many puzzles and thwart his enemies. At the end of the book Thomas vows to trust no one and stand alone in his fight against the Druids. ( )