I really enjoyed this one. It's not a horror story, but what it does do is show you how 'good' and 'evil' are not black and white definitions but fall into the greyness of human existence. Oh yes and its a well written, good read as well and I love how Merrily and Jane's character's have progressed.
Following the recent publication of the eleventh book in the series, I've decided it's time to re-read the series. I'd forgotten how this book takes the set up from The Wine of Angels and increases the tension by around 100%. The book opens with Merrily on a training course for her new role, as Deliverance minister for the Diocese of Hereford - she's an exorcist. Her appointment isn't popular especially with her predecessor, Canon Dobbs, or her teenage daughter, Jane, who's increasingly being drawn into paganism.
In the meantime Lol, whose moved into a flat in Hereford, is trying to help another psychiatric patient, Moon, move on with her life. Sadly for Lol and Moon, things go rapidly downhill when Moon moves to Dinedor Hill, the site of her family farm.
A highly original book, which explores the dark side of humanity.
A Crown of Lights,
The thing I really like most about Rickman's characterisations is that he doesn't fall into the trap of making his characters black and white they are all grey, with some having some very black bits. I love Merrily with all her doubts, fears and the smoking. My one sadness with this book was no Lol, hopefully he'll be back in the later books as I have high hopes for him and Merrily.
Another highly original book, one I've always thought was the weakest of the series, which isn't saying that much as this is such a strong series, but now, following a re-read, I'm not so sure.
On the surface this book is all about the conflict between Evangelical Christianity, the mainstream Anglican Church and paganism, in this book being Wicca, as it explores the maelstrom stirred up when a Wiccan couple move onto a piece of land in Radnorshire which includes and derelict, abandoned and decommissioned church. But, as always with Rickman, this book is really about the evil that creeps in when power and privilege (not necessarily of the monetary kind) are abused both domestically and locally. ( )
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(3.67)
1
I really enjoyed this one. It's not a horror story, but what it does do is show you how 'good' and 'evil' are not black and white definitions but fall into the greyness of human existence. Oh yes and its a well written, good read as well and I love how Merrily and Jane's character's have progressed.
Following the recent publication of the eleventh book in the series, I've decided it's time to re-read the series. I'd forgotten how this book takes the set up from The Wine of Angels and increases the tension by around 100%. The book opens with Merrily on a training course for her new role, as Deliverance minister for the Diocese of Hereford - she's an exorcist. Her appointment isn't popular especially with her predecessor, Canon Dobbs, or her teenage daughter, Jane, who's increasingly being drawn into paganism.
In the meantime Lol, whose moved into a flat in Hereford, is trying to help another psychiatric patient, Moon, move on with her life. Sadly for Lol and Moon, things go rapidly downhill when Moon moves to Dinedor Hill, the site of her family farm.
A highly original book, which explores the dark side of humanity.
A Crown of Lights,
The thing I really like most about Rickman's characterisations is that he doesn't fall into the trap of making his characters black and white they are all grey, with some having some very black bits. I love Merrily with all her doubts, fears and the smoking. My one sadness with this book was no Lol, hopefully he'll be back in the later books as I have high hopes for him and Merrily.
Another highly original book, one I've always thought was the weakest of the series, which isn't saying that much as this is such a strong series, but now, following a re-read, I'm not so sure.
On the surface this book is all about the conflict between Evangelical Christianity, the mainstream Anglican Church and paganism, in this book being Wicca, as it explores the maelstrom stirred up when a Wiccan couple move onto a piece of land in Radnorshire which includes and derelict, abandoned and decommissioned church. But, as always with Rickman, this book is really about the evil that creeps in when power and privilege (not necessarily of the monetary kind) are abused both domestically and locally. (