Sorry for being away for so long, but with term ending and a recent attack of allergies (it is spring time you know), I've returned to crank out a few reviews of some books I've just finished reading and old books sitting on my shelf. In Octorber 2002, Anne Bishop returned to the vivid landscape of Tir Alainn with her second novel in the trilogy Shadows and Light. Synopsis: Ever since the slaughter of the witches, the Fae--who should be shielding their long-lost cousins from danger--have ignored the needs of the rest of the world. And shadows are again gathering in the eastern villages--dark, potent shadows that threaten the lives of every witch, woman, and Fae. Only three Fae can stand against the growing madness and help prevent more bloodshed--the Bard, the Muse, and the Gatherer of Souls. Aiden, the Bard, knows how desparately the world depends on the Fae's protection. But the Fae refuse to heed his warnings about the wickedness lurking amid the trees. Now Aiden and his one true love--Lyrra, the Muse--must embark on a perilous journey to find the one Fae who can convince the rest to leave their secure perches to save the witches and mortals. Because if the Fae don't act soon, no one will survive....
The novel opens with Aiden and Lyrra travelling through Sylvalan countryside, on their way to the western villages of Sylvalan to seek out the Hunter, the Green Lord, to talk some sense into Lucian and Dianna who are refusing and blackballing the rest of the Fae against the fact that the witches are the Pillars of the World and that without them, Tir Alainn wouldn't exist. Aiden and Lyrra handfast while on their journey, becoming husband and wife. They figure out what Morag told them weeks ago, that "Ari is gone" but not dead. The Baron of Willsobrook, Liam, learns from his mother that the witches behind the house are, in fact, related to him and that the witch called Breanna, is his half-sister, sired by his deceased adulture of a father. His mother also tells him about what the Inquistors are and what the eastern barons decree is best for women. Liam is disgusted and gets to know Breanna as a friend and becomes overprotective like an older brother would be. Meanwhile, in Breton, Morag is learning how to garden. She's given Ari and Neall her former riding stallion, a black horse. Ashk, the local Lady of the Forest, visits and tries to train Neall in the ways of a Lord of the Woods. Meanwhile, Adolfo talks with his lieutenant, Ubel, to arrange for the death of all the witches to kill the Fae because they embarrassed him. Lyrra and Aiden flee from nighthunters and run into Morphia, Morag's sister, who tells them she's heading south to look for her sister in the western Clans. Liam informs his mother that he's leaving to go to the baron's council meeting. Baron Padrick stops by Ashk's place so she can look after their kids while he attends the baron's council meeting.
In Willowsbrook, Aiden and Lyrra meet Breanna and learn that the witches are descended from the House of Gaian and really are the Mother's Daughters while the Fae are the Mother's Children--and as has been noted, spoiled children at that. Aiden runs into an angry Lucian in Tir Alainn and Falco tells Lyrra how horrible Dianna's been treating everyone and that he wants to get to know witches better. In the baron's council meeting, Liam interrupts and tells the eastern barons how sick he is at how they've treated all women and is poisoned by Ubel. Padrick rescues him and they head to Willowsbrook. Adolfo orders Padrick's death. Aiden is almost killed when the Fae "forget" to warn him and Lyrra that one of the bridges is severly weak. Falco helps rescue him and they go to Willowsbrook where Breanna and her family help take care of them and warn them about causing harm if they intend to cross the Mother's Hills. Morag wants a sailor, Mihail, to move his family to the western coast because she senses a hint that death is whispering. Morphia finds her sister in Breton and alerts them about Aiden and Lyrra travelling to seek out the Hunter. Rory, a cousin of Breanna, asks Breanna if Liam can be trusted because of what the eastern barons are doing to the women. Breanna says he can be trusted and wonders why Liam hasn't returned home yet. Liam arrives with Padrick and encounters a hostile Rory. Liam tells Breanna that he was poisoned for speakin against the eastern barons.
The Inquisitors, led by Ubel, demand that Liam stand down and surrender. Aiden can't get his horse, Minstrel to move and uses music to get him to trot, something that the humans find amusing. Morag, Ashk and a few others find some nighthunters present over a wounded child and a woman. The child gets away but not the woman. A deer (the Hunter) helped defend the child. Morag, after the Hunter dies, helps him to the Shadowed Veil. Ashk, who had defeated her grandfather (the Hunter) long ago but spared his life. She is now the Hunter. The Inquisitors attack with their nighthunters. Keely dies and so do the Inquisitors, but Ubel survives and flees. It turns out that Liam has repressed magic in the branch of Fire. Breanna scolds Falco in his hawk form for nearly dying in the fight against the nighthunters and wants to know why. He mentions not being able to save a witch in time and he was curious to see how humans lived and was angered over the rest of the Fae treating witches like they're slaves. Breanna offers him a place to stay. Ubel reports to Adolfo who decides that war is necessary. Aiden and Lyrra meet Ashk and tell her that Lucian and Dianna refuse to help and have told the Fae to force the witches to stay at the Old Places while they reap the benefits without offering anything else in return. Morag sees Aiden and Lyrra and tells Ari and Neall who would love to see them again. Morag apologies for running out on Aiden and Lyrra earlier and tells them that Air and Neall are alive. Morag tells Aiden and Lyrra that Ashk is the Hunter. The novel ends with Ashk saying that it's time the Fae returned to the world.
All in all, a good second entry in a "lavishly sensual" (Library Journal) trilogy. Great character arcs and wonderful prose that carries through the novel and Bishop's work. A must read for any fan of fantasy or Anne Bishop admirer.
The novel opens with Aiden and Lyrra travelling through Sylvalan countryside, on their way to the western villages of Sylvalan to seek out the Hunter, the Green Lord, to talk some sense into Lucian and Dianna who are refusing and blackballing the rest of the Fae against the fact that the witches are the Pillars of the World and that without them, Tir Alainn wouldn't exist. Aiden and Lyrra handfast while on their journey, becoming husband and wife. They figure out what Morag told them weeks ago, that "Ari is gone" but not dead. The Baron of Willsobrook, Liam, learns from his mother that the witches behind the house are, in fact, related to him and that the witch called Breanna, is his half-sister, sired by his deceased adulture of a father. His mother also tells him about what the Inquistors are and what the eastern barons decree is best for women. Liam is disgusted and gets to know Breanna as a friend and becomes overprotective like an older brother would be. Meanwhile, in Breton, Morag is learning how to garden. She's given Ari and Neall her former riding stallion, a black horse. Ashk, the local Lady of the Forest, visits and tries to train Neall in the ways of a Lord of the Woods. Meanwhile, Adolfo talks with his lieutenant, Ubel, to arrange for the death of all the witches to kill the Fae because they embarrassed him. Lyrra and Aiden flee from nighthunters and run into Morphia, Morag's sister, who tells them she's heading south to look for her sister in the western Clans. Liam informs his mother that he's leaving to go to the baron's council meeting. Baron Padrick stops by Ashk's place so she can look after their kids while he attends the baron's council meeting.
In Willowsbrook, Aiden and Lyrra meet Breanna and learn that the witches are descended from the House of Gaian and really are the Mother's Daughters while the Fae are the Mother's Children--and as has been noted, spoiled children at that. Aiden runs into an angry Lucian in Tir Alainn and Falco tells Lyrra how horrible Dianna's been treating everyone and that he wants to get to know witches better. In the baron's council meeting, Liam interrupts and tells the eastern barons how sick he is at how they've treated all women and is poisoned by Ubel. Padrick rescues him and they head to Willowsbrook. Adolfo orders Padrick's death. Aiden is almost killed when the Fae "forget" to warn him and Lyrra that one of the bridges is severly weak. Falco helps rescue him and they go to Willowsbrook where Breanna and her family help take care of them and warn them about causing harm if they intend to cross the Mother's Hills. Morag wants a sailor, Mihail, to move his family to the western coast because she senses a hint that death is whispering. Morphia finds her sister in Breton and alerts them about Aiden and Lyrra travelling to seek out the Hunter. Rory, a cousin of Breanna, asks Breanna if Liam can be trusted because of what the eastern barons are doing to the women. Breanna says he can be trusted and wonders why Liam hasn't returned home yet. Liam arrives with Padrick and encounters a hostile Rory. Liam tells Breanna that he was poisoned for speakin against the eastern barons.
The Inquisitors, led by Ubel, demand that Liam stand down and surrender. Aiden can't get his horse, Minstrel to move and uses music to get him to trot, something that the humans find amusing. Morag, Ashk and a few others find some nighthunters present over a wounded child and a woman. The child gets away but not the woman. A deer (the Hunter) helped defend the child. Morag, after the Hunter dies, helps him to the Shadowed Veil. Ashk, who had defeated her grandfather (the Hunter) long ago but spared his life. She is now the Hunter. The Inquisitors attack with their nighthunters. Keely dies and so do the Inquisitors, but Ubel survives and flees. It turns out that Liam has repressed magic in the branch of Fire. Breanna scolds Falco in his hawk form for nearly dying in the fight against the nighthunters and wants to know why. He mentions not being able to save a witch in time and he was curious to see how humans lived and was angered over the rest of the Fae treating witches like they're slaves. Breanna offers him a place to stay. Ubel reports to Adolfo who decides that war is necessary. Aiden and Lyrra meet Ashk and tell her that Lucian and Dianna refuse to help and have told the Fae to force the witches to stay at the Old Places while they reap the benefits without offering anything else in return. Morag sees Aiden and Lyrra and tells Ari and Neall who would love to see them again. Morag apologies for running out on Aiden and Lyrra earlier and tells them that Air and Neall are alive. Morag tells Aiden and Lyrra that Ashk is the Hunter. The novel ends with Ashk saying that it's time the Fae returned to the world.
All in all, a good second entry in a "lavishly sensual" (Library Journal) trilogy. Great character arcs and wonderful prose that carries through the novel and Bishop's work. A must read for any fan of fantasy or Anne Bishop admirer.
