Review: NOT ONE DULL MOMENT IN THIS SERIES!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 12, 2013
Every time I sit down with another Hayle Coven book, it is like going on a new, sometimes horrifying and sometimes hilariously funny, journey. Patti Larsen has a refreshingly unique and evermore exciting story to tell about Syd and co. This time Syd is plagued by dreams of war. No, not a guns and tanks war; a war fought with magic between ... oh, I think you have to read it to find out! Then there are the two children whom Syd is supposed to protect; that is if they would stop escaping and getting themselves and everybody else into trouble.I thoroughly enjoyed Light and Shadow and used every free moment to indulge myself in the adventures of Syd, Sassafras, cute Sidhe gatekeeper Liam and Galleytrot, hound of the Wild Hunt. With all the action and nail-biting suspense and a story that moves forward all the time with never a dull moment, this is adrenalized reading at its best.Syd's character development is masterfully advanced with every book. In Light and Shadow she has more self-confidence than ever before. She is learning how to use her considerable power wisely and handles snap decisions with remarkable maturity. When an old enemy surfaces who may be able to help Syd, she has to make a difficult choice; mercy or revenge. With her mother involved in counsel affairs, her father busy co-ruling Demonicon and her grandmother occupied with coven business, she is on her own. Syd's love life is also still rather confused but, despite the hurt and stress this causes her, she gets on with her very busy life and doesn't whine and mope about it.I'm probably carrying on and on about Syd's balanced and responsible character here but this is the best character development I have ever encountered in a series. The characters in the Hayle Coven novels are not just characters, they are real persons.I highly recommend Light and Shadow to all readers of paranormal books and I urge you to get the previous ten books to enjoy one of the best series ever. A standing ovation for this book and its highly gifted creator! (Ellen Fritz)