The Binder's Road

Preface: Usually, I don't like "middle" books... the second in a trilogy, etc., I find them "pasty", as in school paste, used to bind the good parts of the story together. That said, "The Binder's Road" is a happy departure from such gluey fare. In "Illumination", Ms. McGarry Created the world of Eiden Myr, a world where magic is the norm, and to be without it, an embarrassment. She created within this world a cast of characters as diverse and as integrated as a snowstorm, with all the swirls of intrigue, pathos, and love as the analogy can allow. She left me wanting more... and in The Binder's Road, she delivers. She has created a new cast, separate yet tied by just enough threads to Illumination to make readers of the first book to think "Aha..." without leaving new readers thinking "Wha...?" If Rich characterizations and fantastic worlds made real are the elements you look for in your reading, read both of these and salivate with me while we wait for the third book!

Terry McGarry's elegantly written follow-up to ILLUMINATION, her marvelous first novel, is an extraordinary tale of heart-rending loss, the desperate quest for truth and understanding, and, ultimately, the renewal of hope and light. Like McGarry's first book, this one is elegantly written. The author has a unique and compelling voice, and her instincts as a storyteller are impeccable. Yet, there is more to this book than just fine prose. This is a thrill ride, complete with a chilling murder mystery, magic that is both wondrous and eerie, and fight scenes that will leave you breathless. McGarry's characters are hauntingly real -- Pelufer in particular is one of the most compelling, fascinating people I've ever encountered in literature -- and the world she has created manages to be both fantastic and brutally real. In short this book is a must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy that is at once eloquent and exhilarating, intelligent and passionate. Though a sequel, THE BINDER'S ROAD stands alone as a complete, satisfying tale that will leave you thinking long after you have turned the last page.