Book Review: The Ephemera Series: Belladonna SPOILERS!

In 2007, Anne Bishop returned to her Landscapes of Ephemera for another chapter in the story, this time focusing heavily on Glorianna Belladonna, her love life, and the events in another part of Ephemera. Plus, Glorianna becomes even more evil that the Eater and we see how well It takes that. Synopsis: The thrilling follow-up to Sebastian. The Eater of the World continues to spread its dark influence across the realm of Ephemera, corrupting people's souls with doubts and fears. Only Glorianna Belladonna possesses the ability to thwart the Eater's plans. But she has been branded a rogue, and must stand alone against the encroaching entity. But she is not alone. In dreams, a call has traveled throughout Ephemera-"Heart's hope lies within Belladonna"-and reached Michael, a man with mysterious powers of his own. It awakens a fierce hunger within him to find the dark-haired sorceress he's dreamt of-a beautiful woman named Belladonna. Together, they may be Ephemera's only hope.

The novel opens with Glorianna Belladona and Sebastian pondering if the Eater of the World is dead. Two weeks earlier, in the town of Dunberry, a woman died to It (Eater of the World). In the present, the Magician, Michael, attempts to use his magic gift for listening to people's souls to sooth the town and lighten Dunberry. On the White Isle, Sister Merrill and Sister Shaela travel to Raven's Hill to demand (Merrill demands) that their former Sister, Brighid, force her nieve, Caitlin Marie--Michael's sister--to give them heart's hope and belladonna plants for a prayer cicle. They git it to them and send them off, Merrill, Shaela, and the other Sisters manage to separate White Isle from that realm of Ephemera. It is angered and attacks a convoy of ships. Michael, scared and angry, attacked at Raven's Hill by the Eater and hate-filled villagers, crosses a boarder and ends up in one of Glorianna's dark landscapes. Caitlin wants to go somewhere safe and ends up in the Bonelover's landscape. Michael travels to the Den of Iniquity and Sebastian takes him to Gloriana via a dock and boat that Michael must use. He passes the River's Test, then Glorianna's. She's puzzled by the fat that Michael has some kind of connection to the "wild child" (as Michael calls Ephemera) and takes him to meet her family and see that Caitlin ended up in Aurora, Nadia's home. After getting to know Glorianna, Michael realizes that she's the Warrior of Light and according to a story, she must drink from the Dark Cup to trap Evil and become the thing that Evil fears. Even though both of them are falling for each other, they hesitate to take things further.

Glorianna, Lee, Michael, and Caitlin travel back to Raven's Hill. Michael and Lee learn from Captain Kenneday that, though the White Isle is visible, no one can reach it. Gloriana tells Caitlin that her secret, hidden, unseen garden is at Raven's Hill because Caitlin needs it to be and that's it's grounded elsewhere. The four of them decide to take Brighid back to the White Isle via Kenneday's ship. When they can't reach it, Lee creates a Bridge and they cross over to the White Isle. Merrill will let Brighid back into the Place of Light if she leaves and denounces the evil (Michael, Caitlin, Lee, and Glorianna). Merrill, loathing Caitlin because she's a "sorceress," says, at the same time Caitlin does, that "I don't want you."* In response, Ephemera shatters the White Isle, creating a sort of moat around the Place of Light. Lee creates Sentinel Stones in the lake to guide people coming and going. Glorianna and Brighid learn from Shaela that people from Darling's Harbor--on the White Isle--have been searching for the Heart Seer for twelve years, since Caitlin found Darling's Garden. Caitlin settles in and Brighid does the same in Sanctuary. Sebastian tells Michael that he (Michael) is both a threat and a promise. Learning that the Eater is striking in his territories, Michael tells Gloriana about the Warrior of Light. After spending one private day with Michael, Gloriana goes back to the remains of the Landscapers School and lures most of the Dark Guides and the Eater there. She then seals off that landscape and sheds all her light and becomes the thing that Evil fears. It realizes, after being harmed by Its former friends that It needs light to survive. Lee is angry at Michael. Michael asks Sebastian to help him get Glorianna out of that pure dark landscape. Ephemera pulls Gloriana out after months of her family and Michael sending her gifts. She comes back as two halves of a whole. Michael and Sebastian both are glad that Glorianna is back.

All in all, a great read and one of the best fantasy-romance novels I've read in a while. So much world building and magic and romance to fill a novel and keep you entertained for a couple of weeks. Definitely worth reading for any fan of Fantasy and Romance.

Book Review: Honor Harrington: Flag In Exile SPOILERS!

In September of 1995, David Weber published Honor Harrington: Flag In Exile, which features Honor and Nimitz on Grayson, exiled from Manticore, where they attempt to help build Harrington Steading while both the Havenites and religious zealots attempt to thwart her--the former doesn't even know she's there, and the latter are Graysonites who are too set in their ways and can't handle the idea of a woman in charge. Synopsis: Hounded into retirement and disgrace by political enemies, cut to the heart by the murder of the man she loved, and bereft of confidence in herself and her abilities, Captain Honor Harrington has retreated to the planet Grayson to take up her role as Steadholder while she tries to heal her bitter wounds. But the People's Republic of Haven is rising from defeat to threaten Grayson anew, and the newborn Grayson Navy needs her experience desperately. It's a call Honor cannot refuse, yet even as she once more accepts the duty whose challenges she fears she can no longer meet, powerful men who hate and fear the changes she's brought to their world are determined to reverse them. They have a plan ... and for it to succeed Honor Harrington must die. Two irresistible forces are rushing together to crush Grayson between them, and only one woman uncertain of her capabilities, weary unto death, and marked for murder-stands between her adopted planet and its devastation.Two irresistible forces are rushing together to crush Grayson between them. Only one woman--uncertain of her capabilities, weary unto death, and marked for murder--stands between her adopted planet and its devastation.

The novel opens with Adml White Haven, aboard HMS Queen Caitrin, under attack by Havenites. On Grayson, High Admiral Wesley Matthews tells Protector Benjamin IX that he wants Honor Harrington in the Grayson Space Navy for her battle experience by Mayhew doesn't believe that, even after nearly a year, that Honor's not recovered from losing Paul. In Harrington Steading, Honor attends a dedication of the city dome with her armsman Andrew LaFollet, treecat Nimitz, and her Regent Howard Clinkscales plus the Reverend Julius Hanks of the Church of Humanity Unchained. Brother Marchant, a member of William Fitzclarence--Lord Burdette's--Steading, disrupts the gathering and insults Honor because she's not a subservient woman or a member of the Church of Humanity Unchained; it goes too far and the Harrington Steaders descend on him. While her armsmen escort Marchant away, Hanks assures Honor that Marchant will be "dealt with." Marchant is expelled from the Church. HAdml Matthews visits Honor and asks her to accept the position of Admiral in the GSN on the Terrible with the entire First Battle Squadron. In Haven, Chairmen Robert S. Pierre of the Committee of Public Safety activates Operation Stalking Horse and Operation Dagger. Back on Grayson, Honor begins her duties as Admiral with Captain Alfredo Yu as her flag captain and Captain (Junior Grade) Mercedes Brigham. As Honor gets situated on GSN Terrible, Burdette plots with Marchant and Steadholders Mueller and Mackenzie to ruin Honor.

The Havenites are gearing up to attack the Yeltsin System. At a Grayson SkyDomes Ltd construction site, a dome collapses, killing dozens of workers and children. Honor is shocked by this especially when people begin to blame her for the incident and deaths. Adam Gerrick and a couple of his men find out the truth and inform Honor. As Honor, Adam, Reverend Hanks, LaFollet and Nimitz and Jared Sutton, in a pinnance, leave Terrible for Grayson for a special Keys meeting led by Mayhew IX, when it's attacked. Adam and a couple of armsmen die when the pinnance crashes. LaFollet searches the ship for survivors, assassins attack Honor, but kill Hanks when he throws himself in front of her to save her. One assassin is captured and confesses all. Mueller overhears about the affair and sends his armsmen to Burdette Steading to arrest Marchant while Second Elder Jeremiah Sullivan gets the truth from the assassin, Edward Julian Martin. Mayhew keeps the Keys in the Conclave and tells them what happened and demands to know how it came to this. When no one answers, Honor enters and names Burdette as the mastermind. He admits it and challenges Honor, Mayhew's champion, to a duel to preserve God's righteousness. Honor accepts, despite her woulds and slays Burdette in a sword duel. Immediately afterwards, she returns to the Terrible and Operation Dagger jumps in. After a brief battle, Honor destroys the first wave and chases off the second group of Havenites. She's honored again on Grayson; Mueller is scared of her and will bide his time, while putting on a cheerful and thankful face.

All in all, a decent novel that is the best in show-casing world building. The entire novel is focused on Grayson and the Grayson Space Navy as well as a male-dominated society with heavy  politics and religion intermixed together becoming exposed to someone like Honor Harrington.