Rating: 
Summary: I Preferred "Pillars of the World"
Review: Although I wasn't a big fan of "Pillars of the World", the first book of this series, I broke down and bought "Shadows and Light" just to see what happened to the characters.The answer? Not much. This book was stagnant. There was very little action. We see only brief glimpses of Ari and Neill--just enough to learn Ari is expecting. I really would have preferred a better transition between main characters. The book jumps around from Morag to The Muse and The Bard to Ashk, and nothing really happens. There really is no end to the book, because nothing of importance is resolved. I have no problem with broadly-sweeping series (Katherine Kerr's "Deverry" books are wonderful) but each individual book, aside from being a part of a bigger story, should have its own self-contained plot. And even more in this book than in the first, I (as a woman, even!) took offense at Ms. Bishop's characterization of men. Did anyone else notice that the only decent guys in these books are Fae or Half-Fae? No full-human male is a good guy in the least, and if one of the male characters shows some redeeming qualities, it turns out he has Fae blood. (I'm sensing a pattern here!) The passages where the men publicly humiliate their wives on the pain of being branded sissies were painful to read...not because of the torture techniques, but because Ms. Bishop took care not to have ONE SINGLE MAN stand up to the inquisitors. For all of the terrible chauvinistic and misogynistic tendencies of our world, there ARE good men out there who do not and would not abuse their wives or allow their families to be tortured. Men ARE capable of rational thought, they DO have feelings, and CAN tell the difference between right and wrong. Really. I was also heartily offended by Ms. Bishop's glorification of suicide. Suicide is NEVER, EVER an answer, and it is NEVER, EVER noble! All in all, If this is going to be your first taste of Ms. Bishop's work, steer clear of this series. I've heard her other series are okay, so maybe you should start with those instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Bishop can do better
Review: Anne Bishop wrote a funny and erotic, if a bit vague in spots tale in the Black Jewels Trilogy. Fans of those books should not look to find those qualities here. The first novel in the Pillars series had a budding romance and a small love triangle in it, but along with the first novel's main heroine, the triangle is shoved aside in this novel for boring characters and editorializing. Bishops gets points for showing how women can be used and abused by men with her scenes on "the procedure", but this novel is more of a commentary on what can happen in a society that fears women's sexuality then it is an escape into a far off world. The very sensitive reader should avoid this novel. The reader looking for a good read should also pass unless they want to be depressed, bored and outraged at world injustices by reading a work of fiction. Lighten up Ms. Bishop.
Rating:
Summary: I felt bludgeoned by her theme
Review: Bishop has always rode a fine line between writing a fascinating plot and shoving her "lesson" down her reader's throats. Until this book, I always felt like she did it well. All her books definitely have one common theme, the gradual destruction of the social order in a way which degrades and dehumanizes women. In general, the methods used are fear of a woman's inherent power. It was fascinating in the Black Jewels Trilogy that another woman was at the heart of that corruption, but it is equally as fascinating in Pillars. That is her point and lesson and she has previously woven it into some great plots. This time though, much to my disappointment, I feel as if her point both bludgeoned me, as a reader, and overshadowed the plot and storyline. Maybe because she was too specific in her condemnation. I agreed with her, don't get me wrong. But I didn't want to read a book on the evils of cliterectomies--I can go to class for that. I feel that she was accomplishing more with her generalized demonstrations of the ways that women can be disenfranchised and repressed. It distracted me and irritated me. That aside, I thought that the shift from Ari and Neall to the Muse and the Bard was well done. I think it was a smart decision because while they were the main characters in Pillars, they were ultimately only catalysts and can only take the story so far. I thought that the development of Lyrra and Aiden was a trifle rushed and forced, and this is 10 times true for Falco, but it didn't detract too much from the story for me. This was a good story, but i felt a little like I received a lecture. I would have rather come to the conclusions that I wanted to, rather than have them forced on me by the author. Just a personal preference though.
Rating:
Summary: I felt bludgeoned by her theme
Review: Bishop has always rode a fine line between writing a fascinating plot and shoving her "lesson" down her reader's throats. Until this book, I always felt like she did it well. All her books definitely have one common theme, the gradual destruction of the social order in a way which degrades and dehumanizes women. In general, the methods used are fear of a woman's inherent power. It was fascinating in the Black Jewels Trilogy that another woman was at the heart of that corruption, but it is equally as fascinating in Pillars. That is her point and lesson and she has previously woven it into some great plots. This time though, much to my disappointment, I feel as if her point both bludgeoned me, as a reader, and overshadowed the plot and storyline. Maybe because she was too specific in her condemnation. I agreed with her, don't get me wrong. But I didn't want to read a book on the evils of cliterectomies--I can go to class for that. I feel that she was accomplishing more with her generalized demonstrations of the ways that women can be disenfranchised and repressed. It distracted me and irritated me. That aside, I thought that the shift from Ari and Neall to the Muse and the Bard was well done. I think it was a smart decision because while they were the main characters in Pillars, they were ultimately only catalysts and can only take the story so far. I thought that the development of Lyrra and Aiden was a trifle rushed and forced, and this is 10 times true for Falco, but it didn't detract too much from the story for me. This was a good story, but i felt a little like I received a lecture. I would have rather come to the conclusions that I wanted to, rather than have them forced on me by the author. Just a personal preference though.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the Black Jewels, but. . .
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Not the Black Jewels, but. . .
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Companion to Pillars of the World
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Companion to Pillars of the World
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: On the rebound of Black Jewels Trilogy
Review: Having read the Black Jewels Trilogy first (which I would rate at least 7 on a 5-star scale), Shadows and Light does seem to be a let down. It is, however, a well written story and probably deserves better than the 4 that I gave it. 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.
Rating:
Summary: On the rebound of Black Jewels Trilogy
Review: Having read the Black Jewels Trilogy first (which I would rate at least 7 on a 5-star scale), Shadows and Light does seem to be a let down. It is, however, a well written story and probably deserves better than the 4 that I gave it. 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.
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