Radiant Shadows

September 1, 2010

Gr 9 Up-This title, the penultimate installment of the series, focuses on Ani, daughter of Gabriel, the leader of the Dark Court's Wild Hunt; and Devlin, brother of Sorcha, the Queen of the High Court, as the faerie world tips closer to the brink of war. Bananach wants to kill Ani, and Devlin has been secretly protecting her since she was a child. When Ani's and Devlin's paths finally cross, they feel an instant attraction, which pits Bananach and Devlin against each other. Meanwhile Sorcha pines for Seth while he spends six months of the year in the mortal world as a faerie trying to rekindle his relationship with Aislinn. Since each book in the series focuses on a different main character, the cast has gotten somewhat large and confusing. Once readers have gotten reacclimatized to Marr's faerie world, though, they will find that the story moves at a rapid pace. Ani and Devlin are fully fleshed-out characters, and their attraction to one another is believable. While the author's world-building is fairly solid, the fact that time runs six times faster in faerie than it does in the mortal world (as established in Fragile Eternity) is never addressed in this book. However, this is a worthy addition to a fine series. Readers who have enjoyed the early books will find this a satisfying read, and will be eager for the series conclusion.-Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH

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