cedar_grove | From Back in February. (Reply)

Every colour, even the sombre grey of the rocks, seemed as bright and glowing as jewels. Whenever they came to a clearing or a mountain meadow, the sun poured over her like water; she could swear that she felt it dripping and running down her arms.
Dawnspell: The Bristling Wood by Katherine Kerr.

It's been a while since I've done one of these, so this is likely to be shortish and sweetish.

Reading this book reminds me why I loved this series so much the first time I read them, and I don't think I got much further than this the last time. I remembered some of the events in this instalment but not all, so it's possible that I didn't get to the end last time. The Bristling Wood continues the tale of the exiled prince, Rhodry, and his lover, the Silver Dagger's daughter, Jill, (a silver dagger in her own right), and their watchful 'soul mate' Nevyn - and if you wonder, yes, that is a play on words, since Nevyn means 'no one' and that's the way the old Dweomer-man considers himself.

The book continues its presentation of the elves of this land as being something slightly less regal than those you might find, say, in Lord of the Rings, a little more adventuresome, not quite as wholesome, but fun none the less. Salamander features very much in this novel, which also starts to unfold more of the deep complexities of the politics of the many demesnes, and the racial differences and rivalries. However it does this in a way that doesn't bog you down in the boring side of the politics of it, and by the end of the book there's so much going on it leaves your head spinning.

There's a resolution of sorts at the end of the book, of course there is, but it does leave you hungry for more, and to find out just how the characters are going to 'get out of this one' as it were. Well worth reading, but do start that the beginning of the series. Trust me. It's worth it.