Sign of the Unicorn (The Chronicles of Amber #3)

Sign of the Unicorn marks the initial phases of Prince Corwin's actions as the regent of Amber. A beginning full of ill omens and worse. Corwin's first task is the investigation of Caine's murder by creatures from some unknown place in the shadows. The same creatures that once chased Random into Fiona's lair. Corwin's brother tells the story of his attempt to rescue Brand, and Corwin's own efforts nearly becoms another disaster. Things do not improve from there, either. Corwin is trying to unravel the source of the black road, the reason for the mysterious attacks on Amber, and identify the guilty parties. Needless to say his brothers and sisters, all seeking their own ends are rarely as helpful as they could be. A few, no doubt, are guilt of carrying on their on plots for control, and Corwin quickly discovers that there's no such thing as a safe house. Politics in Amber grow increasingly complicated and deadly. Corwin first has to narrow down the options and then face the uncomfortable decision of who really did want him dead. Zelazny wraps the story up by raising even more questions and confusion. Enough for a whole handful of sequels. Sign of the Unicorn is a return to Zelazny's usually fluid prose. While Random's narrative dragged a bit, the rest of the story is full of dark moments and surprise twists. This time we get to meet the rest of the family, and they prove to be a unique and worrisome bunch. Don't know if Oberon's children are the first dysfunctional family in science fiction, but not one is really safe enough to close you eyes around. If you are reading this review you are probably already hooked, and don't need to be told to keep reading. If you're new, go back and read Nine Princes in Amber and look forward to one of fantasy's most vital series.

The main theme of book three is the family reuniting to try to find Brand. The whole way through the book you'll be wondering who imprisoned him, all of the siblings add their own pontification and each has very valid points. You'll never guess who it was. Also, new shadows are introduced (the world of the clouds has to be my favorite so far), and some great new Questions arise. The main one being: is Amber itself a shadow? And are Corwinn and his siblings princes' of the true Amber? If you read the first two I'm not sure why you would even be reading this, but if you haven't I would recommend the first two highly and trust me they only get better and better.

I read the first two books, and I thought they were pretty good, but this book is by far the best! The plot becomes so much more complex and interesting, (Not that it wasn't good before) and the characters become so much more interesting. I hope the next two are more like this!

The third installment of this exceptional series continues the thrills and lays on the intrigue as we deal more thoroughly with the royal family of Amber...they make my family look like the Bradys...and Corwin continues to kick a$$ and take names. Arguably the most intelligent, well-written, and exciting fantasy series ever written.

The third installment of Zelazny's Amber series is by far his best--providing you prefer talk to action, that is. It starts out with an action packed flashback, filling in some information gaps from earlier novels, but its most fascinating moments occur when the venom starts spewing from the gathered Royal Family. Best of all, it would seem some of the questions plaguing poor Corwin through the two previous books are finally answered--only to provide him with more headaches, and a stabbing pain in his side. Of especial note is our introduction to Princess Fiona, one more enigma for Corwin and for us.