This is one of the best science fiction fantasy books ever written. ( )

A father and daughter master glassworker team are sold into slavery to pay debts. They are sold to the sorcerous Magi to help construct Threshold, a glass encased pyramid that the Magi have created through mathematics and is supposed to connect creation with their world. The slaves on the site are highly skilled in their chosen crafts, and many of them are Elemental (meaning that they can communicate with glass, metal, gems) which the Magi have forbidden. The Elemental slaves hear the glass scream when it is placed in the pyramid and know that something is very, very wrong about Threshold and that the Magi are playing with forces they don't (or won't) understand.

There are some disturbing scenes of infanticide and domestic violence in this book, although it could be argued that these create the necessary level of horror at the wrongness of the Magi's work and as well as emotional poignancy.

This is a strong 'unputdownable' book. ( )

As I have found with all of Sara Douglass' books, this one is hard to put down. Fortunately, I read it on a long plane trip. I enjoy the way she weaves a story around real historical people and places to the point where you start to think it could really have happened. ( )

The first half of this book is very excellent. The author does a great job of presenting an interesting world and an interesting conflict. There is a very strong sense of urgency, and the coming evil is kept nicely vague and indistinct without being overly nebulous.

Unfortunately, the second half of the book loses the sense of urgency, which is odd, considering that the second half of the book is really be operating under a tighter deadline than the first half. The author is attempting to explain the sudden growth and development of the main characters (neccessary in order for a happy conclusion), but is just unable to pull it off convincingly.

The weaker second half definitely affects the rating, but fortunately, the strong first half is able to carry through, and the overall impression is a good one. (4/5) ( )

http://books.moonsoar.com/archives/20... ( )