September 15, 2008
Pseudo–Native American myth blends with passion in the colorful conclusion to Smith-Ready’s Aspect of Crow trilogy (after 2007’s Voice of Crow
). A brutal war rages between those who embrace Spirit, animal magic that grows stronger with each generation, and the Descendants, who shun it. Twelve years have passed since the bloodthirsty Ilion Army of the Descendants invaded the cities of Velekos and Asermos, and the hoped-for Raven leader has yet to emerge. Spirit mages Rhia and Marek follow their son after he joins his uncle’s army to avenge his girlfriend’s murder by Ilion soldiers, while Asermon refugee Sura, recently bestowed with her Snake aspect, falls in love with Dravek, a Snake betrothed to someone else. Newcomers will feel a little lost, but those familiar with the soap opera will enjoy the satisfying conclusion.
November 15, 2008
The armies of Ilion, known to the people of the Spirits as the Descendants, have nearly conquered the land, forbidding the totem-based magic of the natives and enslaving or killing those who cause trouble. Rhia, whose totem Spirit is Crow, the deliverer of the spirits of the dead, has visions of death and destruction even as she hopes for the gift of Reawakening that can ultimately save her world. Concluding the trilogy begun in "Eyes of the Crow" and continued in "Voice of the Crow", Smith-Ready brings to life a culture both vibrant and exotic, where forbidden love can ignite the flames of war and where finding the path to victory involves finding the road to one's true self. Along with its companion novels, this coming-of-age tale belongs in most fantasy collections, though graphic sexual scenes may limit its appeal to some audiences.
Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.