From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up—Jubert's second book in a dance-themed fantasy series is a confusing mix of magic, science, and future history. The city of Basle, located in the mountains of Switzerland, is apparently one of the few remaining areas of dry land in the world. A catastrophic flood has wiped out much of civilization and the survivors live in isolated city-states. This information is difficult to ascertain, requiring close attention to detail, a good knowledge of European geography, and several hundred pages. In Basle, crime is virtually unknown. Tiny wind-born particles, called tracers, monitor all areas of the city, making detective work unnecessary. The tracers were invented by the city's witches in return for tolerance of their existence. Improbably, that existence is known to the political bureaucracy but has never leaked to the public. The police detective bureau is at the point of being disbanded when a series of gruesome murders occurs, undetected by the tracers. It is up to Detective Roberta Morgenstern and her lover/dance instructor to find the killer. Though parts of the story are interesting, the phrasing is frequently awkward and many of the plot elements seem thrown together. Witchcraft, herbal medicine, computers, gypsies, golems, genetics, and nanotechnology don't fit together all that neatly. The identity of the killer can be deduced midway through the story, but the explanation of how the victims are chosen stretches logic to the breaking point, even given the existence of magic. Readers will find Elizabeth Knox's
Dreamhunter (Farrar, 2006) better written and more entertaining.—
Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School Library, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
In this sequel to
Dance of the Assassins (2000), sorceress-detective Roberta Morgenstern is back to solve another series of murders with her partner, Clement Martineau. The Baron of Mists, a killer who vanished years ago, has returned, as invisible and undetectable as ever. While on his trail, Morgenstern and Martineau uncover a plot masterminded by the minister of security, who wants to use murder to stir up hatred of Gypsies, boost his support in the mayoral election, and create one devilish act of dark magic. Jubert paints a colorful futuristic world, and the murders make for a clever start though the story falters some under the weight of numerous, undistinguishable characters and extensive side plots. Eventually the plotlines and tangents converge, though, producing ample suspense and intrigue as Morgenstern confronts the baron and the minister's plan comes to fruition. Despite problems, the novel will satisfy fans of futuristic fiction who are willing to stay the course, and it provides plenty of cliff-hangers to ready them for the next book.
Krista HutleyCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
