August 1, 2007
Gr 7 Up-Book Four in this series introduces fans to Bec, an apprentice priestess who may have magical powers. She struggles with the mysteries of her origins while at the same time trying to protect her adoptive clan from the ravages of the Demons attacking the island. When a mysterious boy arrives in her village with an urgent request for help, Bec convinces the clan leaders to give her an entourage of some of the best remaining warriors to accompany her. Journeying into a horrifyingly bleak landscape, Bec and her companions meet Drust, a Druid who claims he knows a way to shut the entrance that the Demons use to enter our world. This book is classic Shan, with lightning-fast plotting, over-the-top gore, and an overarching sense of gloom and despair. The author promised three narrators in the series, of which Bec is the third and final character to be introduced. Given the horrifying and literally gut-wrenching ending, it will be interesting to see how he brings Bec back in later installments. In the meantime, this book can easily stand alone."Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ"
Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.