Flight into Darkness

December 22, 2008
Singer and spy Celestine de Joyeuse must finally come to terms with her father's legacy in this complex sequel to 2008's Tracing the Shadow
. While serving Francia's King Enguerrand, Celestine longs to destroy the Magus Linnaius, whom she believes betrayed her father to the Inquisition. Celestine is aided by Faie, a spirit bound by her father to protect her, but Faie was responsible for keeping the balance between the mortal world and the realm of the dead, and now lost souls haunt the living. The story ties up minor plot threads from Ash's Tears of Atramon trilogy, but its dependence on backstory will challenge new readers, while fans of Tracing the Shadow
will wonder why previously major characters have been relegated to token roles.

February 15, 2009
Rieuk Mordiern accidentally freed the spirit that keeps separate the kingdoms of life and death; Celestine sees the spirit as her link to vengeance for the murder of her father by the Inquisition. Following the action of" Tracing the Shadow", Ash ("Tears of Artamon" trilogy) weaves together the lives of two individuals who must weigh their personal goals against the salvation of their world. With a richness of detail and a visual freshness that transcends its genre; for most fantasy collections.

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2009
Those who enjoyed the intricate Tracing the Shadow (2008) will want to read the conclusion of its story, set in the world of the Tears of Artamon trilogy. It continues the exploits of dozens of characters in several different countries, dealing with politics, mythology, espionage, ghosts, religion, music, and romance. A prophecy predicts the end of the world if the Drakhaouls, who change the people they inhabit and can fly as dragons, are freed and brought into the world of the living. Rieuk Mordiern finally begins to love again but faces betrayal before venturing into the Rift and getting lost for years. Musicians Celestine (formerly Klervie) and Jagu go spying in Muscobar, and when they are targeted by the inquisition, Celestine gets her appearance altered to become an opera-companys cleaning lady (though she is soon performing in it). An exorcism gone wrong slays a monarchs best friend, seven daemons escape the Rift and possess highly placed men, and characters and story lines eventually converge. A challenging journey for characters and readers alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)