Sunlight and Shadow

Okay, I'm going to declare my cultural ignorance right here and now by saying that I know NOTHING about the opera 'The Magic Flute', upon which this book is apparently based. But I DO know a thing or two about good book writing, though, enough to say that this is a compelling, well written book. If you're the type of person who'd rather drink a bucket of goo than have anything to do with opera, then don't worry. This book is nothing like an opera. There's no fat lady singing, no foreign languages to try to interpret, and no rich women sitting in the dress circle wearing hideous fur coats. Nor will it cost you a month's wages to view it. Rather, this book is unpretentious and accessible to anyone and everyone, young or old. The author takes a bold chance on this story, by writing each chapter from the viewpoint of a different character, even the bad guy. In lesser hands it might not have worked. But here it works very well indeed, once you get used to it. This is Mina's story, even though she only writes some of the chapters. Her parents are literally night and day, and don't get along. Her father wishes her to marry someone of his choosing, someone she doesn't like. So in true storybook heroine fashion, she leaves home to follow the song of her heart, and find her own true love. Of course, she finds him...but as always, the path to true love does not run smoothly, and the two lovers literally have to go to hell and back to prove their love for one another. This book is like a bag of mixed lollies--sugary, tasty, full of variety and highly addictive! Enjoy!

I am in awe, but as well, I stand corrected. After reading Spirited, I thought no Once Upon a Time book would beat it. I was wrong-Sunlight and Shadow draws equal, if not surpasses, Spirited, which is one of the best books I've ever read. Lady Mina, daughter of Pamina, Queen of the Night, and Sarastro, Mage of the Day, lives in a house divided. A prophecy has kept her from seeing her father until she turns sixteen. Her father, however, afraid that Pamina will break her word, breaks his own by stealing Mina the night before. Sarastro, though he has never met her, has arranged her marriage and her new life. However, Mina loves another, one her mother has appointed to steal her from the realms of day. Can Mina and her prince live happily ever after? Can they use their love to bind their hearts? A beautiful story, somehow weaving the essence of golden sunlight and silver moonlight into one. Told from different perspectives throughout, Sunlight and Shadow is simply amazing. Not just a love story, but a story about heart and soul that will leave you spellbound.

As I loved the two previous fantasy titles by this author (Beauty Sleep, & Storyteller's Daughter)it was with much anticipation that I cracked open the first pages. A consecrated moment! Once again Cameron Dokey has served up a delightful mélange of fantasy, myth & fable as a fresh story. Inspired by Mozart's `Die Zauberflote' (The magic flute), she has crafted a newly emerging world, and a warring dynasty. Title of first chapter: A House Divided. The fantasy sweeps you away whilst the touches of whimsy and quick humor remind that this is a book for young people, a book to grin at, before moving on in the grand adventure. The first chapters dwelling on details of Mina's life, growing with a companion, beautifully described & fleshed out `Lapin', her relations with her mother (Queen of the Night). Sarastro, (Mage of the Day - dad) has raised another girl in his palace and Mina feels very displaced in his affections. When she is untimely wrenched away by the father she has never seen or known one is able to properly experience with her the high emotions which rage. In a brilliant departure from the standard, the man who ought to be the "villain" of the piece, Sastro, who in the original story was a Moor & evil, Dokey has given him compassion, and humor, and an ability to see his own flaws, and in the end; redemption. Occasionally the humor jarred, but on the whole it was a welcome addition and helped on to feel that the hero wasn't such a dull character. The biggest plus is the authors ability to write every detail, every nuance or happening so evocatively that one is swept away by the majesty of her words. Shorter than anticipated, and perhaps ending at a pace a little more sprightly than the epics I am used to, this is a small book, no more than 184 pages - a nights reading. Short and sweet? Pretty much. It's a book I will read again, and I'm sure on the second read I won't gallop through it, anxious to devor, but will take time to savor it more fully. Who knows, I might need to readjust my review. If you enjoy fantasy books (as I'm sure you must) or even if you are just a fan of Cameron Dokey's other books, you are guaranteed to like this one. Kotori Nov 2004

The plot was a little rushed in this book, I thought, but it was still quite good. Mina is a girl who has grown up withher mother, the enchantress of the night. She has never even met her father, the mage of the day, since birth. One night, just before her 16th birthday, her father steals her away. Meanwhile, her mother, desperate to save Mina, asks the servant Lapin to use the magic bells. Lapin plays the enchanted bells, and a prince from a faraway kingdom hears and answers the call. Unfortunately for Mina, her father intends her to wed the man of her father's choosing: a handsome, but conceited prince. Most of the characters had depth and believability, especially the fight between Mina's father and mother. The ending was satisfying, though a little rushed. Overall, pretty good book. Worthy of all five stars. Note: If you liked this book, I would also recommend The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley, as well as Spindle's End, also by Robin McKinley.

SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW by Cameron Dokey is the latest retold fairy tale in the ONCE UPON A TIME series from Simon Pulse. It tells the story of Mina, the daughter of the Queen of Night (Pamina) and the Mage of the Day (Sarastro). Mina has lived with her mother for almost sixteen years, but, on the day before she was supposed to be returned to her father so he could choose her husband, he steals her away ahead of schedule. He wants to force her to wed the man of his choosing, when all she wants to do is follow her heart.The story swtiches viewpoint sometimes by chapter and sometimes by paragraph. Cameron Dokey does a good job of giving the characters distinct voices, so that I only got confused about the point of view once. The POV switches between:Mina: The daughter who wants the freedom to choose her husband, and to stay with him once she has done so, Lapin: Mina's best friend and the Queen of Night's faithful servant,Tern: the prince who follows Lapin's bells to his true love and faces trials to win her, Statos: Sarastro's right hand man and Mina's intended husband, andGayna: the orphan girl that Sarastro raised as his own daughter and who now has to face the fact that she will always be second in his affections.Dokey weaves an enchanting spell around the reader. Her writing is as engaging as always, sometimes tongue-in-cheek funny, sometimes serious, always magical. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales. The only fault I can find with it, is that it is too short, and I think a few things are rushed. Still, it's a must-read book.