Circle of the Moon [Paperback]

When I reviewed Barbara Hambly's Sisters of the Raven, I mentioned how I would be disappointed if there was a sequel, because it seemed to end at the perfect place and didn't need a sequel. In fact, I said that a sequel would "cheapen the magic that this one carries." Of course, she had to go and prove me wrong. With Circle of the Moon, Hambly builds on everything that she created in the first book, giving a logical extension to the events there and writing a book that is almost better than its predecessor. Not quite, but very close.

In a small desert society, the magic of men has disappeared. Sisters of the Raven detailed how some women discovered that they had some magical power of their own, and how that power became important. Circle of the Moon shows us the development of this magic as an even greater threat to the Yellow City emerges from the dead. As Raeshaldis, the only woman trained in the art of the old magics, works with the king's concubine, Summerchild, to discover why female magic works only sporadically, weird things start happening. Water monsters long thought extinct are terrorizing the coasts of the Seven Lakes. Some men are behaving in a monstrous fashion, turning into maniacs intent on nothing but destruction. Raeshaldis must figure out what is going on and how it relates to the various tombs scattered in the desert. Things become even more complicated when the King is challenged to a renewal of the ritual trials that proclaimed him King, and he discovers that it was the old magic, now seemingly non-existent, that stood in the way of the King dying. Can things get any worse? Of course they can.

Hambly once again gives us an extremely interesting society, where women are still treated as chattel but some women hold more power than many of the men. Summerchild is the power behind the throne, along with King Oryn's charisma and intelligence. With women now working magic, they may become even more powerful, and Hambly shows us all the different facets of this. Some use it for monetary gain, a power that is easily gained. Others use it to try and get a family member on the throne, and will stop at nothing to obtain that power. Meanwhile, a small circle of women (the Sisters of the Raven) try to help the king as well as figure out how their power works. It's all extremely fascinating, and Hambly weaves all of these stories into a tapestry that includes this grand threat to everything in existence, and she manages not to lose her way doing it. It helps that many of these stories are tied together, of course.

Once again, it's Hambly's power of setting that makes the book even better, though I can certainly see why some people wouldn't like it. She sets the scenes extremely well, describing everything that's going on around the characters as they walk and talk, or as they sit in the desert heat trying to keep cool. My mind's eye pictured every location vividly, and each character seemed even more human as they went about their business, discussing what they can do to help Summerchild as they eat what proves to be one of the few meals they're able to enjoy, for instance. Of course, this description can get tedious if you aren't hooked on the story, but this time there's no problem there.

Then there is the characterization, which Hambly performs with her usual aplomb. I said before that everybody seems human in this book, but it's much more than that. I really grew to care about the characters, even as some of the events in their lives are extremely predictable. Hambly seems to play coy with the relationship between Raeshaldis and Jethan, but it's obvious where it's going. Even so, how it develops says a lot about Raeshaldis and provides even more characterization for her. The loving relationship between Oryn and Summerchild is even better, even with Summerchild being out of the book for a long stretch of time. Hambly avoids the clich? of the handsome king and the beautiful queen. While Summerchild is quite pretty, Oryn is described as slightly overweight, almost pudgy. But their love is strong, and this makes them both seem even more realistic.

Even the bad people in the story are three-dimensional. There isn't really a "villain," per se, but Mohrvine is hungry for the throne and anxious for Oryn to fail the tests. But even he is humanized, helping Oryn when it's in his best interest to do so, and feeling an obligation to the Sisters who saved his daughter's life. His mother is the closest to one-dimensional, using her power cruelly in the hopes of saving her son's life and having him ascend the throne, but even she isn't too bad.

I haven't said much about the plot of the book, other than my description, but that's because it really should be experienced without many hints. When I discovered the secret behind the women's fluctuating power, I had to hit myself on the forehead, it was that obvious. But Hambly disguises it well, and what's happening with the rest of the story is equally intriguing. The final action sequences go on a bit too long, but that's the only criticism I can give to this book. Circle of the Moon is yet another winner from Hambly, and only the fact that I loved Sisters of the Raven so much keeps me from saying it's better. Combine these two books, and you have a wonderful series. And, best of all, Hambly leaves room for an obvious sequel, and this time I can't wait.

David Roy

Circle of the Moon (2005) is the second fantasy novel in the Raven Sisters series, following Sisters of the Raven. In the previous volume, the Raven Sisters were being abducted and then murdered. Raeshaldis investigated various sources of magic within the city, discovering the nature of the magical being within the idol of Nebekht and transporting herself to the site of the Raven's sacrifice. Luckily Summer Concubine, Pomegranate Woman and Oryn also figured out where the sacrificial site was located and arrived just in time to rescue Raeshaldis and Foxfire Girl from the murderer. But the teyn jenny had already been sacrificed. Three days later, the rains came to the Yellow City.

In this novel, the Raven Sisters are trying to renew the magical protections within the kingdom. Assisted by some former mages, Raeshaldis is intensively studying and practicing the known sigils and chants. The traditional methods, however, seldom work quite the same way for Ravens.

Cattail Woman is getting rich by selling love and hate potions that don't necessarily work as advertised. Ahure the former Blood Mage is also raking in money for amulets that are completely ineffective. Other male mages are continuing to hide the loss of their powers.

Shaldis is called to her home because of a magical attack on her grandfather Chirak Shaldeth. She finds him little changed from the angry, abusive patriarch that she had fled two years before. Still, she checks for signs of magic use within the household and finds several traces of unknown origin. Maybe there is another Raven in the city that she has not met; with the burdens placed on the Ravens, another female mage would be a gift from the gods.

Shaldis is also having strange dreams about dying children. Although trying to contact the source while awake, she has no success. Soth, the former Earth Mage, suggests holding thoughts of healing herbs in her mind before falling asleep and she tries this for many days. Finally she dreams again of the dying children and establishes contact with the faraway woman.

Pomegranate and Soth discover that ancient wards are no longer working to constrain the lake monsters. Of course, none had previously known that these wards even existed, so what other ancient wards are no longer functioning? And what danger were they designed to prevent?

This novel follows the Raven Sisters as they investigate several urgent mysteries, including the deaths at Three Wells and the unusual behavior of the teyn. Then Lord Akarian suggests that the gods have deserted the land and will only return after the Ceremony of the King's Jubilee. The king's uncle, Mohrvine, quickly agrees with the idea and the news is spread to every part of the city and beyond. Without magical help, maybe the king will be killed during the ceremony and then Mohrvine can become the king.

Highly recommended for Hambly fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high adventure, exotic cultures, and perseverance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

The world has changed since men lost their magic while women have gained a new form of magic....

Things are going awry in the Yellow City and its surrounding areas as water monsters have appeared and a plague of madness seems to be on the move along with a deadly green mist. The entire Realm of the Seven Lakes and King Oryn Jothek II's very life may be in jeopardy unless the Raven women (ie, the Crafty women newly empowered with magic) figure out a way to help Oryn with the deadly obstacles he must face in the newly proclaimed Jubilee- obstacles that were handled via magic in the past but no longer seem to be effective. Meanwhile, Raeshaldis finds herself torn between her loyalties to Oryn and her grandfather, who has demanded her assistance after a magical attack on his life. Will the Ravens be able to save Oryn and the Realm of the Seven Lakes in time?

Barbara Hambly returns readers to the very ambitious world she first crafted in SISTERS OF THE RAVEN. Without a doubt, readers should first read SISTERS OF THE RAVEN in order to get a real grasp on the complex world building and the numerous characters. SISTERS OF THE RAVEN spent a lot more time initially on showing readers all the various politics within the Yellow City while CIRCLE OF THE MOON builds on those already established relationships and assumes the readers are familiar with the underlying issues. The strength of CIRCLE OF THE MOON makes the initial struggles with reading SISTERS OF THE RAVEN more than worth the effort!

CIRCLE OF THE MOON is chock full of intrigue with a good dose of action to keep the plot flowing. The characters are so well drawn that readers will feel an instant kinship with many of them, including even Pomegranate's pig, Pontifer! However, CIRCLE OF THE MOON is really more Raeshaldis' story as she learns to grow in her magic and stretches herself in ways she had never previously imagined. Facing her grandfather again is a real test for her, as her grandfather had once thrown her out of the house for having the very same magic from which he now seeks to benefit.

CIRCLE OF THE MOON continues to address some of the issues of prejudice that first manifested in SISTERS OF THE RAVEN. Readers will be thoroughly enthralled with this book in the series, as the depth and complexity is simply astonishing. Many questions regarding the changes in magic are answered in this sequel. Barbara Hambly demonstrates why she is one of the masters in the fantasy genre with CIRCLE OF THE MOON.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES