Customer Reviews

Shadows and Light

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For those who have read my reviews before this it comes as no surprise that the middle books of any series are not generally my favorites. I like complete stories, ones that have a beginning and a conclusion. Middle volumes usually have neither, concentrating as they do on character and plot development with the first volume setting the stage and the following volumes tying them together in conclusion.

Shadows and Light departs from the usual in a most delightful way. Yes it does start up where Pillars left off but with a complete shift in paradigm that brings with it a certain freshness, it's almost as if a totally new story has been layered on top of the old one. The focus in Shadows shifts from Ari and Neall as the main characters to Aiden and Lyrra, the Bard and the Muse. Ari and Neall are still there as are the Inquisitors, Barons, witches and of course the Fae. The story remains the same but the flavor has not.

Pillars of the World can stand as an independent work, Shadows can not. To fully enjoy this book reading Pillars is a prerequisite, that will not be a chore but a pleasure.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series so far and heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a nice romantic romp through a land of imagination.

It has now been over three years since I first picked up Anne's work. From the start of Daughter of the Blood she sucked me into her worlds. But I think with Shadows and Light she has truly hit her stride. Not as much in the story itself, but in the way she tells her stories.

In Shadows and Light, which picks up just after Pillars of the World, the Bard and the Muse set out to convince their Fae kin that the witches are also kin and deserve protection from the Inquisition, which is revaging the land and the women. Trying to convince the fae the east continues to prove futile, so they head for the Western clans, which have been looked down upon by the Fae for some time. They find Morag there, with her sister Morphia, as well as some other unexpected people. And, possibly, a way to save the fae, witches, land, and humans.

I refuse to spoil too much of the story, but it is SO worthwhile! So what if there's no Daemon?

Bishop has always rode a fine line between writing a fascinating plot and shoving her "lesson" down her reader's throats. Until this book, I always felt like she did it well.

All her books definitely have one common theme, the gradual destruction of the social order in a way which degrades and dehumanizes women. In general, the methods used are fear of a woman's inherent power. It was fascinating in the Black Jewels Trilogy that another woman was at the heart of that corruption, but it is equally as fascinating in Pillars. That is her point and lesson and she has previously woven it into some great plots. This time though, much to my disappointment, I feel as if her point both bludgeoned me, as a reader, and overshadowed the plot and storyline. Maybe because she was too specific in her condemnation. I agreed with her, don't get me wrong. But I didn't want to read a book on the evils of cliterectomies--I can go to class for that. I feel that she was accomplishing more with her generalized demonstrations of the ways that women can be disenfranchised and repressed. It distracted me and irritated me.

That aside, I thought that the shift from Ari and Neall to the Muse and the Bard was well done. I think it was a smart decision because while they were the main characters in Pillars, they were ultimately only catalysts and can only take the story so far. I thought that the development of Lyrra and Aiden was a trifle rushed and forced, and this is 10 times true for Falco, but it didn't detract too much from the story for me. This was a good story, but i felt a little like I received a lecture. I would have rather come to the conclusions that I wanted to, rather than have them forced on me by the author. Just a personal preference though.

Having read the Black Jewels Trilogy first (which I would rate at least 7 on a 5-star scale), Shadows and Light does seem to be a let down. It is, however, a well written story and probably deserves better than the 4 that I gave it.

My first criticism is that the fact that it is the second book in a series is not readily apparent. It would be really great if any series is well marked so readers don't have to skip around reading the books out of order. I expect that I would have known the characters better if I had read the Pillars of Creation first.

I am looking forward not only to the other books in this series, but a lot more good books from Anne Bishop, those that grip you enough to make you stay up too late because you can't put them down.

this book picks up where the last one left off, except it is not from Ari's view point anymore, she is no longer the main character, but the Bard and the Muse are. it is very interesting to see that they are 'rebelling' against the Lightbringer and the Lady of the Moon as they seek out the Hunter, another powerful Fae to bring them down. many new things are revealed and some take you by surprise. more is known about the House of Gaian and we get to understand that they are not as weak as they seem. they are acutally powerful in their own right and the Hunter comes to take revenge for all the Daughters that have been taken by the Black Coats. this is a very interesting read.

Well, though I feel like I'm reading these books slower because they're less absorbing than her other books - they are still quite interesting. I am definitely enjoying them and the story is a solid one. This one is, I think, better than the first in some ways, but strange because it completely abandons the P.O.V. that is the most prevalent in the first book.

This book was just as beautiful as Bishop's Black Jewel's trilogy but a bit more light and funny. The richness of her charachter's contend with those of much more prominent literary figures and her plots are increadible.

She has a way of mixing darkness with it's natural balance of light that makes her stories absolutely irresistable to those that understand them. It's wonderful to read the women's conversations and see the way different peoples think differently about the way things should be in their world.

The developing relationships between charachters are realistic and lovely. After getting into the story you can laugh at the reaction of a charachter and think how like them that is. You feel like you know them. Even the sometimes hard-seeming Ashk has endearing qualities such as the way she looks after her people.

I, personally, cannot wait for the third book The House of Gaian to come out. Shadows and Light is a fantastic read.

It is the witches across the land that anchors the roads that lead to Tir Alainn, the home of the fae. The Inquisitors say the witches are evil so they drive them out of their homes or kill them. Every time that happens a piece of Tir Alainn disappears. The fae, for the most part, are arrogant creatures and don't want to believe that anything in the human world can affect them.

The Inquisitors also believe that women are second class citizens whom should be under the domination of their fathers or husbands and it is believed their rights should be taken away from them. They have made headway in the East and are trying to extend their influence in the west. Aiden the Bard and his mate Lyrra the Muse understand the threat to humans and fae but nobody will listen to them. They must find The Hunter, the one member of the fae that every other fae will heed and convince him to help save the witches or Tir Alainn will be no more.

Anne Bishop has created a vivid fantasy world and populated it with creatures from legends and myth. The story line is deep and complex, with many sub-plots tying back into the main theme. SHADOWS AND LIGHT is a beautiful fantasy novel that will keep readers turning the pages until they reach the end of the tale. It is to be hoped that the final installment in this great series will be out soon.

Harriet Klausner

I really liked Pillars of the World, and Shadows and Light was no disappointment. It continues the story of Tir Alainn in a vibrant and enticing manner. And while I liked the Daughter of the Blood series-this one stands on its own with its own unique perspective that isn't quite as dark. In the last book she dealt with Love, what it is and what it isn't. In this book, I think she handles the subject of loyalty and respect very well. Truly her *jewels* are shining.

And while I am giving a small spoiler here it is interesting to see an author finally bring "the procedure" into print. It has been decried for sometime internationally, but Bishop is the first person I've seen to bring it into her novel. It's about time IMHO.

This one is a can't miss!

Bishop's main characters have shifted in this book. You get introduced to more characters as well as learning more about those mentioned in passing in the first book. Her world building is excellent, writing is great, but again, I still don't like what she turned some characters into. For example, Lucian and Dianna.