Shadows and Light

This book focuses on the two Fae characters, The Bard, Aiden and his lover The Muse, Lyrra, as they travel around the world of people. Throughout their journey they see and hear of more atrocities against witches and even the woman in East Sylvalan. The pair returns to the Fae world to try and convince their own kind to help the witches, as without them the doorways between worlds will close. But their clan’s turn against Aiden and Lyrra and they must turn to the witches for help.
Ari, the witch from the first book, was spirited away to the West by the Fae, Gatherer of Souls, and lives happily with her husband Neall. However, the Witch Hunter’s turn their attention to the West and move into the area, to influence the men there to kill the witches and torture their women.
The only Fae that can join all the Fae clans to fight this evil is The Hunter. Aiden and Lyrra disobey their own clan’s wishes and travel the dangerous roads to find The Hunter.

Personal Thoughts – This instalment focuses on two smaller Fae character’s from the first book. Their journey is quite interesting as it highlights some of the strife and misery that the witches and normal women are suffering as the Lords of their lands buckle under the evil influence of the Witch Hunters. Bishop describes these terrible scenes well and you really feel for the women in this story, getting a real feel for the insidious evil of the Witch Hunter’s beliefs. The other half of this story returns to the witch Ari, with her new husband. Morag, The Gatherer of Souls and Ashk protect the young couple and prepare them for the dark days ahead when they know the Witch Hunters will come into their lands. Their story highlights some interesting facts about the Fae history and how the witches are linked to their kind. There is one province in Sylvalan that still stands against the Witch Hunter’s influence and Lord Liam with his strong ties to the local witches becomes a target as the Witch Hunter’s attack him personally. Again this storyline shows the fear and awful times the women have to endure.
This book delves deeper into the plight of the witches and women in Sylvalan and some of the strongest characters shine as they battle against the evil of the Witch Hunters. However, as with the first book I felt the Witch Hunter’s were barely touched on directly and we never get a clear picture of who these characters are and what motivates them.
I did prefer this book to the first though, as it dark theme makes for compelling reading.

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Other Reviews of works by Anne Bishop

Sebastian - Apr 17, 2006

The House of Gaian - Dec 21, 2005