Synopsis: The malign shadow of the Devourer has darkened the land, extinguishing life and hope. The followers of the benevolent goddess Karm are hunted mercilessly and cut down by an army of bewitched slayers led by Lord Bahl, the Devourer’s flesh-and-blood incarnation. Only two people stand in the way of an apocalyptic bloodbath that will literally bring hell to earth: a man and a woman linked by a love as strong as it is unlikely–Honus, a grim-faced warrior dedicated to Karm, and Yim, a beautiful former slave with the divine power to stop Lord Bahl.But that power will prove a terrible curse as Yim is called upon to make a costly sacrifice–a sacrifice that will not only put her love for Honus to the test but call into question her very faith. As the evil storm descends, can the flame of hope endure? (from the back of the book)Review: This is the second in Howell's The Shadowed Path trilogy, and I advise you to have all three on hand when you begin. Each book ends the book's story, but the larger story arch is left open and will drive you crazy. I found this book hard to read, but for a good reason: I'd come to care about the characters and was heartbroken when events tore them apart. Yim and Honus struggle to remain faithful to a goddess who leaves them in harm's way, or even calls them to sacrifice what they most want and love. I can't say more without giving away the plot. The imagery is rich, the dialogue is well-crafted and the plot is twisted, dark, well-layed and enthralling. The characters, major and minor, offer a range of humanity and responses. My only complaint is some bits felt contrived, but this didn't detract from the novel overall.
Bookmarks: 8 of 10
Awards: None
Date Finished: 2-26-2011
Pages: 384
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