Customer Reviews

Moon In The Mirror: A Tess Noncoire Adventure

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If it doesn't rain, it snows--at least that's probably the most apropos adage for this novel based in a Cape Cod winter. Science fiction and fantasy author, fangirl, and Warrior of the Celestial Blade has more than she can handle, including:

* visits by the ghost of her ex-husband, Dillwyn, who is looking more and more suspicious with each visit
* attacks by Lilia David, a Windago widow whose husband Tess killed in the first novel
* invasion by an army of biting garden gnomes who are in actuality orculli trolls
* appearance of Windscribe, one of her Aunt Moonfeather's coven who have been missing for 30 years
* wedding of her Mother to the father of one of her two love interests
* two love interests

Did I mention her book is due and every time she tries to work on it something else happens including problems I haven't mentioned yet?

But Tess does have one ally, the imp Scrap, who forms into the Blade at her command. Okay, he's an imp--and that alliance does come with a few problems of its own, but Scrap is 'mostly' helpful--when he's not off somewhere else, or painting his wounded rear with iodine, or avoiding the houseguest's cat, who he is allergic to and swears the cat is evil and is plotting to take over the world. (How perceptive of him!)

"Moon in the Mirror" is an amusing rollick that just keeps getting more twisted as each problem arises. The book does keep you interested and occasionally confused--but it's well worth it. You can read this book without reading the first in the series, "Hounding the Moon". I haven't--although I think I might have to add it to my shelves.

By the way, P. R. Frost is a pseudonym for Irene Radford, writer of fantasy extraordinaire. I am probably fonder of Radford's original works than the new additions--my own personal bias is away from fiction with a lead character who is too close to the author's own world, but Radford does manage to pull this story off very well.

Special kudos to Ms. Frost/Radford for incorporating the songs of Heather Alexander, one of my favorite Celtic bards, into her novel.

She is a Warrior of the Celestial Blade and bound magically to the imp Scrap. Her job is to make sure that demons don't enter this plane through portals and if they do, she has to send them back to their own realm. Her morning gets off to a bad start when her friend Allie the police officer calls her and tells she saw a young woman emerge from empty space and is being chased by garden gnomes with sharp teeth.

As Tess Noncoire goes to fix the problems, she thinks it is unfair because just before this assignment she fought against a Wendigo who wants revenge because Tess killed her mate. She discovers the woman is WindScribe, a witch who disappeared to faery with eleven other witches thirty years ago. She committed a crime in Fairy and King Scazz of the Orculli gnomes seeks to imprison her once again. In addition to dealing with a vengeful witch wanted by the Powers That Be; Tess's husband's ghost is haunting her, she has to hold Donovan at arms length because though he is not a demon, he is something else. She also has to worry about her mother when Darren, Donovan's demonic father marries her mother, needs a refuge for half demons and wants something that Tess owns.

MOON IN THE MIRROR is a fantastic magical urban fantasy in which the forces of good battle different evil beings in a series of high noon confrontations. Tess is a strong woman who although is tempted by Donovan and the ghost of her beloved she has the will power to resist temptation especially when the beings involved may be tainted by demonic forces. The biggest mystery is what Donavan's foster father's plan is and how will it impact the human race.

Harriet Klausner

Frost has a way with words. She's not an overly descriptive writer but she will give you enough that does not leave much to the imagination as she takes hold with her words. There is no padding her stories just straight getting to the point. This is how good stories should be written.

I still have problems with the main character, Tess. I do not feel her strong enough and too easily taken advantage of. It is a character flaw but one I do not like to see in this particular character. She stands up to one group but another group she bends to. If it was only her family the flaw would make sense but it is not only her family she bends for.

Scrap continues to be the gay little imp he is and while his point-of-view parts were fewer than the first novel he is still the most engaging of all of the characters. He tells the story in present tense, always, which could ultimately elude to a bad ending for this series. Until then he will continue to be engaging and crafty and just as shady as everyone else with answers.

Answers are the biggest flaw of them all. No one gives straight answers, they all tip-toe around them. To me it seems like the sort of thing that Frost is trying to do to keep a major plotline going. This should not have to be the case, she should be able to give us answers and still have a mystery. Instead we are left with minimal answers.

I may seem like I'm complaining a lot about this novel, but to be honest that is what I do. I pick at the flaws, and despite these flaws I still have to give this novel 4 stars. Why? Because of the well written story, the plot itself being engaging, and a female character that is flawed. Where the first one she came off as a Mary Sue in this novel you see her flaws and her hurts while never dwelling on them because there are more important things going on. That is how a story of a female perspective should be told.

If you enjoyed Hounding the Moon, then you'll like Moon in the Mirror even better. The plot is well paced and more complex. The characters have taken on new depths and dimensions. Scrap is as endearing as ever, and even manages to kick it up a notch.

If you haven't read the first book, you should =) But even if you don't, you'll enjoy this one all the same. It's a fun series with great characters and nonstop action. Well done, Ms. Frost!

Reviewed by Vicky Burkholder
on 07/13/2008

In Cape Cod in the winter, what else is there to do besides fend off the advances of two love interests, her ghostly husband, a Windago, hordes of orculli trolls and an editor who wants her latest book yesterday? Tess does all this and more in this fun urban fantasy from P.R. Frost. Oh, and in addition to this, she has to: try to keep her mother from marrying a demon; figure out the appearance of Windscribe, a member of her aunt's coven who disappeared thirty years ago and hasn't aged a day; and keep the local law enforcement from throwing her in jail just on the principle of all the weirdness. It's a good thing she has Scrap, her imp ally, to help her - when he isn't busy doing other things.

This book is so full of twists and turns, you'll be confused at times, but the story is well worth it. And you don't even have to read the first one in the series to know what's going on - something I absolutely adore. Since I enjoyed this one so much, I probably will. The only problem I had with the book is the unhappy ending. It was true to this story, and I know the next one in the series will make it all right, but I was really bummed. This is obviously part of a series as several plot points are left unresolved, but the story is so interesting that I didn't mind jumping in - much.

The world development is well done; the characters unique, well developed and interesting. The plot is a bit convoluted, but it all works out in the end.

Other than these minor issues, I recommend this book for a fun fantasy read. It definitely kept my attention as I didn't want to put it down. Pick up a copy today - and be sure to pick up the others in the series when you can. You won't go wrong with this one.

4.5 Books