Another excellent book by Anne Bishop. She brings a fresh perspective tot the genre. Engaging from beginning to end, can't wait to read the second book of the trilogy.

Okay, I couldn't decide to give this 3 or four stars, because really, it's worth three and a half to me.I should start off by saying that, for me, it was hard to read- not because it's badly written, because it's got the same prose as her other books, however it was just a little bit dull at parts. Sections I felt stretched out more than I cared to read about them.I should also point out it's different from the other books from her I've read so far, Dark Jewels most of all. That's how it felt. Different. Sure, we still have the fantasy setting, roads/bridges/what-have-you connecting fantasy land and "human" land (in some of her series more human than in others), but this one felt much closer to home, so to speak. So we deal with humans, and witches, and faes (and a side assortment of wood sprites and the like).Also the way the story and characters on the other series seemed more... well, seemed stronger, and in this one it did not feel as strong. They did not feel as strong.Despite the dull moments, I enjoyed the read. It was a good book, a nice story, and I have to say, the first half of the book I had expected things to develop slightly differently, and was pleased with the way it ended- ("They had it coming"). I could get to like only one, maybe stretch it out to two of the characters, none of which were actually the main ones, but where important altogether.The bad guy annoyed me and I really disliked him, I guess it's good, that's what a bad guy is supposed to make you feel, right?Good book, not excellent, would still recommend her other series over this one, and yes, I'd still buy the next books of Tir Alainn to see how it develops further, but I hold no great expectations nor need to read them -nowwwww- like I did with the others. ( )

Author depicts the unusual life of a young woman who exists as part of one mythology while the antagonists, if they could be antagonists, believe another. Bishop depicts a struggle of belief versus belief and differing values, as well as illustrating how a mythology can be created over time. The world comes across as rich, and I enjoy how the writer lets the (spoiler) lead character end up with not the dangerous but suave bastard in the book. It must be a first. ( )

I really enjoyed the book "The Pillars of the World", by Anne Bishop, but the reader should be warned- this is nothing like her other books. Many reviewers didn't enjoy this book because they expected it to be like her Black Jewels Trilogy. It is different enough that one might consider it written by another, equally talented, author.

This is the first in a trilogy. In this book there are three main groups that we are introduced to. There are the witches, who are being persecuted by the Black Coats. Much like our own history, these witches are being tortured into confessions and then killed for the good of the community. They are, however, only ever accused of serving the Evil One. There is not modern religion to contend with in this fantasy novel.

The witches live on ancestral land that has been passed down through the women, generation to generation. When they are driven off their land and killed, the most powerful baron or other local authority figure takes control or their land. As many of these witches live alone or with a few female relatives, they are easy targets. Their creed "Harm None" doesn't allow them to use the magickal powers that they have over the elements in defending themselves.

The third group are the Fae. Most of them live in Tir Alainn, a separate place connected to the normal world by shining roads. The emerging problem: those roads or bridges are disappearing with no warning and no one is sure what happens to the Fae in that section (think of them as islands) when this happens. As the witches struggle for their lives, the Fae struggle for their own survival- the answer being connected to the witches themselves.

I highly recommend this trilogy, beginning with this book. It would be of special interest to people who are interested in Wicca or Fae related fantasy. ( )

C

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