THE LADY OF THE SORROWS The Bitterbynde, No. 2 By Cecilia Dart-Thornton

THE LADY OF THE SORROWS
The Bitterbynde, No. 2
By Cecilia Dart-Thornton
Macmillan - November 2002
ISBN 0333907558 HB
Fantasy

Reviewed by Rachel A Hyde, MyShelf.com
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This is the sequel to The Ill-Made Mute and follows the further adventures of Imrhien,"Lady Rohain of the Sorrows", adrift with no memory in a Celtic folklore-inspired world. Now healed and in possession of a new identity, she journeys forth to the King's court to convey vital news. But court is not to her liking, and she is swamped by bitchy nobles and complex protocols, and nowhere nearer to finding her true identity or her beloved Thorn. The Wild Hunters are abroad - but who exactly are they hunting, and why? Rohain is to encounter friends and foes both new and old, journey to a mystic hidden island and brave many dangers before she can even begin to get her wish - but will she like it once she has found it?

The sumptuous cover gives an inkling of what is in store, and it more than lives up to its promise. Rohain is a delightful heroine and the Celtic world is a change from Tolkien-esque settings. I like the retellings of traditional folk tales interlaced with the narrative, and the description of the storm is wonderfully real and gripping.

There is much to enjoy here and it is one of those books that manages to enthrall even when there isn't much happening. The first book tended to be somewhat linear; it would wheel on one supernatural being after another in quick succession, give a description, engage with it, then move on. In this sequel the author has ironed out such flaws. I particularly enjoyed the way in which one famous and well-known tale becomes an integral part of the story. There is a great deal to enjoy in here and it is certainly one of the best fantasy novels I've read this year.