Paralyzed from birth, young Innowen is given the power to walk between sunset and dawn--with only one condition. He must dance every night, in a seemingly harmless homage to the sorceress patron who gave him the gift of mobility. However, Innowen soon discovers that this gift does come with a price.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid fantasy, on the dark side.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Shadowdance (Hardcover)
A good fantasy about a crippled young man who is given the ability to walk at night by a passing sorceress, though his magical compulsion to dance causes unpredictable results in those who watch. Lots of twists, most of them logical, though one begs the question of why one character doesn't recognise another for what he is straight away. I also wish the Witch had been more developed - are female characters Bailey's weakness? There are only two in the novel. I did like the refreshingly matter-of-fact way in which the characters' sexuality was handled. Very well written, and a good story despite the above glaring flaw.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quintessence of dark fantasy,
By Mark Peterson (talos187@bentonrea.com) (Eastern Washington) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Shadowdance (Hardcover)
Bailey weaves a plot unbelievably believable. He has a thousand twists, most of which are unforseen yet set up. Looking back in the book, you'll find yourself wondering how you missed it, until the next twist comes at the turning of the page. The characters are alive with real human motivations, and the magic is a subtle thread woven throughout the story, something that dominates from the background. Don't expect any knights fighting dragons with enchanted swords -- the magic is rare and powerful, with a price that makes one understand its scarcity. Although there is some bisexuality (gasp), it's done masterfully well. There are no gay parades, no coming-out chapters. It simply is, something portrayed neither as good nor evil, right or wrong, but simply as there. All of this combines with a storyline that puts most soap operas to shame, yet still is ruled by cause and effect rather than "coincidence". The only weakness is that it may be more than most are ready for, as it is very much both dark and fantasy, neither of which the mainstream is particularly fond. If you enjoy either, though, this book will take your breath -- and sleep -- away.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautifully done must-read for fantasy lovers,
By A Customer
This review is from: Shadowdance (Hardcover)
Shadowdance is truly Mr. Bailey's best work to date, and certainly one of the most gorgeous books I have ever read. The story itself is original and compelling, in which a young man named Innowen, who was born without the use of his legs, meets a witch one stormy night, and she gifts him with the ability to walk, but only at night, and he must dance every night if he wishes to keep the gift. The other side of his gift, though, is that the dance awakens the darkest desires of those who witness it. The novel contained a number of twists to the plot, all of which worked beautifully, none of which were predictable. Bailey's writing skill meets its peak in this work, every word is necessary and perfect. Bailey's handling of the events in the book is masterful as well, and I was particularly struck by how well he portrayed the relationship between Innowen and his lover, a young man named Razkilli, especially when one considers the "touchiness" of such a subject, even in our society of today. However, Bailey cannot be accused of being too shy or too subtle with scenes that would have been hurt by such an attitude, particularly in the battles and in a graphic encounter between the witch and her son. The novel is a dark fantasy, an advisory warning to the easily offended, or faint-of-heart. Which is not to say that the degree of graphic portrayal in this story is to any extreme, or exceeds that of many other books in the same genre. I must heartily recommend this novel, it was truly a story to be experienced, and brought me to tears more than once. The level of emotion that Bailey manages to establish and maintain in his brilliant story is what helped to make it what it was - a purely enjoyable and unforgettable read.--Carrie A. Hirsc
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