Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #550291 in Books
• Published on: 2002-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 416 pages

Customer Reviews

Excellent Fantasy
Fantasy mystery, elves and detectives. Well written and a fun read.

Smelling of Roses
I'd never read anything by Diane Duane before this, but I'm glad I picked this one up. An engaging alternate world scenario has the unique 'hero couple' combination of Lee, a psychic forensic investigator and Gelert, her speaking fey-hound partner who get drawn into a bigger problem when investigating the seemingly routine death of an Alfen living on Lee's world. The alternate worlds exist in the same time and space, and are aware of each other, they have just all evolved slightly differently: unfortunately they've just discovered our world, and the anthropological principle of cultural contamination can work both ways.

Lee and Gelert have to work within the closed, paranoid world of the Alfen - ruled by the Elf-King of the title - to try to find the answers to questions they hardly even understand, in time to avert the death of the Elf-King and the worlds-wide destruction that could well follow.

This is a charming, original story, with likeable characters and a believable premise. Especially commendable in a book with Elves, they may be beautiful, rich and nigh-on immortal, but they aren't all-knowing with the irritating habit of wafting around looking mystical. Overall, a book that I would highly recommend for a light diversion from the day-to-day.