Cheap Shadows and Light (Book) (Anne Bishop) Price

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Customer Reviews of Shadows and Light

My first criticism is that the fact that it is the second book in a series is not readily apparent. It would be really great if any series is well marked so readers don't have to skip around reading the books out of order. I expect that I would have known the characters better if I had read the Pillars of Creation first.

I am looking forward not only to the other books in this series, but a lot more good books from Anne Bishop, those that grip you enough to make you stay up too late because you can't put them down.

Excellent Companion to Pillars of the World
For those who have read my reviews before this it comes as no surprise that the middle books of any series are not generally my favorites. I like complete stories, ones that have a beginning and a conclusion. Middle volumes usually have neither, concentrating as they do on character and plot development with the first volume setting the stage and the following volumes tying them together in conclusion.

Shadows and Light departs from the usual in a most delightful way. Yes it does start up where Pillars left off but with a complete shift in paradigm that brings with it a certain freshness, it's almost as if a totally new story has been layered on top of the old one. The focus in Shadows shifts from Ari and Neall as the main characters to Aiden and Lyrra, the Bard and the Muse. Ari and Neall are still there as are the Inquisitors, Barons, witches and of course the Fae. The story remains the same but the flavor has not.

Pillars of the World can stand as an independent work, Shadows can not. To fully enjoy this book reading Pillars is a prerequisite, that will not be a chore but a pleasure.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series so far and heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a nice romantic romp through a land of imagination.

Not the Black Jewels, but. . .
First I have to say congradulations to Anne Bishop for setting Ari on the sidelines and introducing Brianna, who is ever so much more interesting. Bishop has a particular talent for creating spirited female characters who aren't annoying (hello romance novels).

Although her characters aren't particularly multi-dimensional, they are enjoyable and the relationships are particularly nicley done. The humourous moments are charming and unforced, and it's nice to see a light side to the darker themes in the book.

Bishop writes well,and her books are easy to read, but she has this incredibly obnoxious habit of punctuating her character's. sentences. like. this. And it drives me crazy. Bishop is too good of a writer to use silly writing devices such as that.

My real complaint about this book, however, and the general theme of Bishop's books seems to be that men should be subservient to females. Shadow's and Light makes all these ominous references to how powerful the withches are, and how everyone has forgotten them, and the men are supposed to worship them. It seems a little contradictory to me that it's utterly horrible for the Black Coats to make women subservient but its alright for the witches to make men subservient. That bothered me a bit.

Overall this was a good book. This series lacks the polish and love that went into the Black Jewels, but it is worth reading, I think.