The Shadow Matrix: A Novel of Darkover (Daw Book Collectors, No. 1065)

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Summary: Rebirth of Darkover continues...
Review: The Rebirth of Darkover, which started in EXILE`S SONG (1996), continues in this exciting and wonderful sequel. Margaret Alton and her lover Mikhail Lanart-Hastur not only have to fight for their love, but they also have to defeat a dangerous enemy from the past: Ashara Alton, Margaret's nemesis. Be sure to expect a wonderful story with lots of swashbuckling and romance. This book is really hard to put down. I recommend it to everybody, who has read (and liked) one of the previous Darkover novels), but be sure to read EXILE`S SONG first.

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Summary: Filled with adventure!!!
Review: The Shadow Matrix ... the title relates to a shadow matrix that is emblazed on Marguerida Alton's hand. It is something she got from visiting the overworld. Her sweetheart, Mikhail goes with her on a journey that is unreal ... they go back to the past. But oh it is real! They could change the future (their own time) by changing something where they are now. Asharra is trying to find something ... the one who overshadowed her when she was a child and if Asharra finds Marguerida then Marguerida will die if she can't escape in time. Meanwhile some of the Towers are in big trouble as is the rest of the planet and if Marguerida and Mikhail don't do anything it will destroy everything they know and wipe away everything they've created together ...

Rating:
Summary: Filled with adventure!!!
Review: The Shadow Matrix ... the title relates to a shadow matrix that is emblazed on Marguerida Alton's hand. It is something she got from visiting the overworld. Her sweetheart, Mikhail goes with her on a journey that is unreal ... they go back to the past. But oh it is real! They could change the future (their own time) by changing something where they are now. Asharra is trying to find something ... the one who overshadowed her when she was a child and if Asharra finds Marguerida then Marguerida will die if she can't escape in time. Meanwhile some of the Towers are in big trouble as is the rest of the planet and if Marguerida and Mikhail don't do anything it will destroy everything they know and wipe away everything they've created together ...

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Summary: Not quite as good as Exiles song
Review: This book had a few dragging plot points but overall it was still quite worth reading

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Summary: I simply loved it, it kept me turning the pages.
Review: This book is one of Marion's best, I was tempted to read it all in one night. This book has an ever-twisting plot that keeps you turning the pages. Margaret Alton is suddenly informed on a past she never new, and seemingly foolish ways of the Darkovans. Mikhail Hastur, her lover, is a lovely figure to read about. He is sent off to test young children for the Elhaylin throne, and finds something terribly wrong. In all I love this book, and would read it again anytime.

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Summary: Ashara
Review: This book tells us why Ashara was so bent on crushing Margaret, which would explain a lot of other things like in "The Heritage of Hastur" and "Exile's Song"

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Summary: Loved it.
Review: This book was a great sequel to Exile's Song. I loved how Mikail had to deal with his uncle sending him to find a new heir to the thrown. This book keeps a good pace, not really having any dull moments. I couldn't put it down, espescially when Margaret and Mikail met Varzil the Good. Again, a great book.

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Summary: Absolutely dire
Review: What happened? Can this really be the same MZB? I know her health is failing and she wrote it with someone else, but still.... It's like Mills & Boon! I love the Darkover series - but this one is trite, with shallow characters and a far cheesier style of writing that usual. The characters are inconsistent with the other books (Lew Alton and Regis Hastur, for example, seem to have undergone a mutual personality transplant) and the usual Darkovan politicking is garbled. Plus the unspeakably naff way Margarita and Mikhail get sent back in time to be married by Varzil and Evanda.... Please, bring back the Marion Zimmer Bradley who wrote "Heritage of Hastur" and "Thendara House", and pray that the sequel isn't this bad.

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Summary: An Excellent Sequel to "Exile's Song."
Review: While I liked Exile's Song, the ending was somewhat anticlimatic and left you hanging. The Shadow Matrix makes up for this with an exciting and satisfying story that complements Exile's Song and fills in a lot of the gaps. However, you must read Exile's Song first to fully appreciate The Shadow Matrix. I am looking forward to the next novel in the series. Meanwhile, these two books have whetted my appetite for more things "Darkovian" and I plan to go back and read some of the earlier novels.

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Summary: Bland - not as involving as other Darkover novels.
Review: While it was still Darkover, and I enjoy reading all of the Darkover novels, I was disappointed with this book. Dialog was bland, development of characters was superficial, and the end just seemed to have been slapped on because it had to have some kind of ending.

Glad I waited for the pocket version to come out and didn't spend 20 bucks on the hardcover.