Awesome setting and characters, but it seemed to peter out in the end. Maledicte, who had such agency and drive, receded in the last twenty pages. Also, I kind of loathed Janus, and I'm not sure how Robins expects him to carry the sequel. ( )

http://fantasycafe.blogspot.com/2008/... ( )

It's a good book. It's no where near as erotically graphic as Kushiel's Dart, but it's dark in its violence. While reading, I thought this book wouldn't be dark enough for my tastes, but by time I reached the end, I was like, "Huh. Okay, I take that back. It's PLENTY dark."

The world is also interesting, but there's a part of me that hopes that if Robins chooses to write other volumes in this world that she picks a different cast of characters (after all, we only met one god, and there's quite a few others). I'm not sure I can handle seeing Mal go through his blood-lust again, to say the least. However, if Robins writes it, I'll read it, because I'd be honestly curious just what she'd do to make a sequel featuring Mal different than this.

For a full review, which may or may not include spoilers, please click here: http://calico-reaction.livejournal.co... ( )