Pauline J. Alama

I hadn't read this one before and wow. This is spectacular. Kind of Duane's Door series (4 gods/goddesses, direct interference by the gods) thoroughly mixed with the LOTR (quest, take something somewhere uncertain and something uncertain will happen, but it must be done). I was crying for all of the last two-three chapters. Very real characters, with very real reasons for their choices - sometimes the wrong choices, and...how do I say this? When a wrong choice was made, it neither was a necessary wrong choice for the plot nor, apparently, spoiled the plan; it just happened. They made it through by luck and chance and stubborn determination. That's apparently her only book - blast! I'd have liked to read more by her. Though it was very hard to pick up another book after Eye of Night - it was so rich and powerful nothing else felt right.… (more)