With Belladonna being one of my favourite characters of Anne Bishop, it was lovely to have a book which solely revolved around her.
Loved it and it's now on my 'top shelf' listing, to read again when the mood strikes me. ( )

Well, there was almost no romance in that one. Anne Bishop focused much more on the Ephemera universe, which I greatly appreciated because once I had finished reading Sebastian, I felt there were too many things about the way Ephemera worked I hadn't fully understood. In fact, it occurred to me the concept was far more fascinating than I originally thought it was. The end was surprising... or rather I'd say the feelings I felt for don't-wanna-say-who-or-what came as a surprise. That's Anne Bishop's magic touch for you! All in all, that was a wonderful conclusion she brought to the duology. On one side I know the story is good enough left as it is now, but on the other I can't help but wish she's planning to write something else about that universe, or at least its main characters. Would be nice if she did like the Black Jewels Trilogy and wrote an anthology of short stories like she did with Dreams made Flesh. I'm especially curious about Lee and Teaser, bit more on Teaser. He's one of the most funny character I've read about in ages, it's a pity he had so little space in Belladonna. ( )

I liked Sebastian as much as I like this one, but I gave this one a slightly higher rating because it didn't have as much of the couple of things that drove me nuts with the first one in it. Once again, I wish we could have more detail on the magic system, but the first problem with that is that the characters themselves don't know what they're doing most of the time, particularly two of the newcomers in this book, and the second issue is that how the magic feels and responds is different for each user. This book helped me understand just how personal the magic system is by showing the differences between the way Michael and Belladonna use their magic. With a little bit of effort, she can understand how he uses his magic, but she still uses it differently. Seeing those differences helped me like the magic system more.

Once again, Bishop proves that one of her favorite themes is the idea of one strong woman sacrificing everything that makes her who she is to save the world. She did it in the Tir Alainn trilogy, she did it in the Black Jewels trilogy, and she does it here. This theme would bother me if she didn't do it as well as she does. But the way that each woman gives up herself is different in each book, and being saved by those who love her happens differently as well, so I enjoy reading it because only the very basic theme is predictable.

I loved discovering parts of Ephemera that we didn't know existed previously and that didn't know what Ephemera truly is. I loved watching the relationship between Michael and Belladonna and the family bloom. It made me cry, watching Michael wait for Belladonna and try to reach her. I loved how the Eater of the World ended up. I loved the way the theme of every being having both the Light and the Dark in them and needing both was woven into the story in so many places.

Despite how much I loved various aspects of it, I gave it 4.5 stars instead of 5 because it is not quite up to the standards Bishop set in the Black Jewels trilogy. It doesn't have the depth or the darkness that the Black Jewels trilogy does. It's still an entertaining read, and I would recommend it to readers who don't like overly complicated plots. ( )

A rich, beautiful fantasy novel. In a bid to save their world, a family may have to give up what is most precious to them. However, I will say that I enjoyed the first in this series more than the second. ( )

I understand the theme, purity wants to be pure without any evil in it, but reality is the tao, with both good and evil having energy and balancing each other out. However the writing is so heavy handed and predictable, and there is no tension in the book (you know Belladonna will win out, there is no doubt in my mind, and thus no fear or even interest) I read 80 or so pages but haven't finished, and my return it to the library unfinished, because I've picked up 2 other books in the interim, which is always a bad sign.
So, intense world building, but not great writing, weak plot and not very exciting characters. I give it 2.5 stars. ( )