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Rating: 
Summary: A realization
Review: Laurie R. King's books always weaves an interesting view of religion with her protagonist. Again with Ann, she has created a view of a religion (and yes to the reviewer who thought it was fake and no intelligent person would remain a member of this group, it is a religion). Her background in Religious Studies is a huge factor in the amplification of the credibility in her writing and enchants the reader to the end of the novel. Her book keeps the reader of the edge of their seat and has so many strengths in the way she details scenes to paint a picture in your mind. This novel is a must read and I encourage all to partake in it.
Rating:
Summary: From the "cultist's" point of view
Review: Reading the reviews, I realized that this is a book of hers I have read. I don't do titles on the memory chache... I was interested in seeing that other people found flaws where I found gratifying realities in the book. Anne Waverly is a very believable character to me, at 43, and a long time member of one of those "odd" cults. (I am of the Wicca.) I found her outsider's view very consistent with that of many others I have known that have tried to understand WHY I am what I am. It has to do with emotions, the physical alchemy is supposed to be allegorical, but I know many hollow people who cannot handle the multi-tiered reality we work with and therefore desperately try to find a physical manifestation that will fill the need they have. The criticism of the ending of the book surprised me. Whether Anne survives or not is not germane to the needs that drove her there and the resolution she obtained. The end is implicit in the beginning. I won't spoil it, but that IS the ending of that part of her story. Anything else that may happen will be another woman, another story. Honestly, I hope Laurie revisits her. How she changes and does would be a very interesting story.
Rating: 
Summary: Plan to do Nothing Else That Day...
Review: This book was one of Laurie King's best written works...and she's no slug to begin with. Her heroine is so very human, full of inconsistencies and faults, but so brave and ready to sacrifice herself for innocents that you find yourself admiring her even if you wish you didn't. I was mesmerized by the book. I wanted so very badly for all to end well - my idea of "well", which would be for Anne to survive and adopt both children and live happpily ever after. This is, of course, not exactly Laurie King's style. So I began to experience a sense of forboding, that went something like this - ohmygod, don't tell me she's going to die, that would be so unfair, that would be so awful, ohmygod, don't let those kids die, that would be so unfair...well, you get the picture. And I read faster and faster, hoping for the best, because I certainly wasn't going to get to sleep until I KNEW. And after all that agony and suspense, the ending was NOT GRATIFYING. It didn't fulfill my worst fears, nor my fondest hopes. It was, in fact, a bit on the lukewarm side, which was quite surprising since the book absolutely sizzled until the very last paragraph! Laurie, wherever you are, I would have given a lot for an "afterword" telling us what happened to Anne and the kids! (And I'd love to read a sequel!)
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