Shadows and Light

Well, though I feel like I'm reading these books slower because they're less absorbing than her other books - they are still quite interesting. I am definitely enjoying them and the story is a solid one. This one is, I think, better than the first in some ways, but strange because it completely abandons the P.O.V. that is the most prevalent in the first book.

This book was just as beautiful as Bishop's Black Jewel's trilogy but a bit more light and funny. The richness of her charachter's contend with those of much more prominent literary figures and her plots are increadible. She has a way of mixing darkness with it's natural balance of light that makes her stories absolutely irresistable to those that understand them. It's wonderful to read the women's conversations and see the way different peoples think differently about the way things should be in their world. The developing relationships between charachters are realistic and lovely. After getting into the story you can laugh at the reaction of a charachter and think how like them that is. You feel like you know them. Even the sometimes hard-seeming Ashk has endearing qualities such as the way she looks after her people. I, personally, cannot wait for the third book The House of Gaian to come out. Shadows and Light is a fantastic read.

I really liked Pillars of the World, and Shadows and Light was no disappointment. It continues the story of Tir Alainn in a vibrant and enticing manner. And while I liked the Daughter of the Blood series-this one stands on its own with its own unique perspective that isn't quite as dark. In the last book she dealt with Love, what it is and what it isn't. In this book, I think she handles the subject of loyalty and respect very well. Truly her *jewels* are shining. And while I am giving a small spoiler here it is interesting to see an author finally bring "the procedure" into print. It has been decried for sometime internationally, but Bishop is the first person I've seen to bring it into her novel. It's about time IMHO.This one is a can't miss!

It is the witches across the land that anchors the roads that lead to Tir Alainn, the home of the fae. The Inquisitors say the witches are evil so they drive them out of their homes or kill them. Every time that happens a piece of Tir Alainn disappears. The fae, for the most part, are arrogant creatures and don't want to believe that anything in the human world can affect them.The Inquisitors also believe that women are second class citizens whom should be under the domination of their fathers or husbands and it is believed their rights should be taken away from them. They have made headway in the East and are trying to extend their influence in the west. Aiden the Bard and his mate Lyrra the Muse understand the threat to humans and fae but nobody will listen to them. They must find The Hunter, the one member of the fae that every other fae will heed and convince him to help save the witches or Tir Alainn will be no more.Anne Bishop has created a vivid fantasy world and populated it with creatures from legends and myth. The story line is deep and complex, with many sub-plots tying back into the main theme. SHADOWS AND LIGHT is a beautiful fantasy novel that will keep readers turning the pages until they reach the end of the tale. It is to be hoped that the final installment in this great series will be out soon.Harriet Klausner

It has now been over three years since I first picked up Anne's work. From the start of Daughter of the Blood she sucked me into her worlds. But I think with Shadows and Light she has truly hit her stride. Not as much in the story itself, but in the way she tells her stories.In Shadows and Light, which picks up just after Pillars of the World, the Bard and the Muse set out to convince their Fae kin that the witches are also kin and deserve protection from the Inquisition, which is revaging the land and the women. Trying to convince the fae the east continues to prove futile, so they head for the Western clans, which have been looked down upon by the Fae for some time. They find Morag there, with her sister Morphia, as well as some other unexpected people. And, possibly, a way to save the fae, witches, land, and humans. I refuse to spoil too much of the story, but it is SO worthwhile! So what if there's no Daemon?