Tras cinco años de paz, los habitantes de Fortriu deben acostumbrarse de nuevo a la guerra. El rey Bridei está preparando un ataque contra los galeses para echarlos definitivamente del sur del país. Pero el monarca no está muy seguro de las alianzas que ha establecido con los otros pueblos que, como el suyo, desean librarse de los galeses. Duda especialmente de la lealtad de Alpin, el jefe de los caittos. Para tratar de asegurarse su fidelidad, decide ofrecerle como esposa a Ana, una joven originaria de las Islas de la Luz que vive cautiva en la corte de Fortriu desde su tierna infancia. Ana, que se ha hecho muy amiga de Tuala, la mujer de Bridei, durante este tiempo, acaba aceptando su destino a regañadientes y emprende el largo camino hasta la tierra de los caittos. Más tarde, cuando el inicio del ataque de los galeses es inminente, Tuala tiene una visión en la que intuye que la vida de su marido corre serio peligro. En el siglo VI, mientras el pueblo de Fortriu se prepara para la gran batalla contra los galeses, los destinos particulares de Faolan, Ana y Drustan sufrirán cambios inesperados.

Wow. I didn't think it could happen. A part of a trilogy that brings other, minor characters into the fore and fleshes them out. But here you have that twist, in the hands of a master writer, who keeps both lines of a story going a la Two Towers.

Still building his kingdom and dealing with the problems of the Gaels in the West of his country is new king Bridei with his wife Tuala at his side and a baby to inherit the kingdom. The battle scenes are well-written and what I would imagine war on horseback with weapons to be: all the blood, pain, and sudden turns of change.

Then you have the primary plot of Faolan, the spy and trusted companion of Bridei, who is to escort the young Ana to her betrothed, Alpin, in distant Briar Wood. Both characters are mentioned as minor details in a larger tapestry in Well of Shades; here they have the central stage of events in the story. Such a deviation from the normal method of storytelling helps the history of Fortriu move forward while still keeping the reader's interest.

Again, there are plot twists that keep you alert and guessing and interested in every character's outcome. Even the bad ones: are they going to get their just desserts? And what is going to happen to one group of individuals or to another?

The writing is still more terse than Daughter of the Forest (whose writing is on par with Guy Gavriel Kay and Patricia McKillip), but I think that style adds to the difference in plot between the two. And landscape and culture and history. ( )

In this sequel to The Dark Mirror, King Bridei of the Priteni believes his mission is to eradicate the Gaels and their Christian religion from his lands. He is a strong king, brave in battle and devout in his allegiance to the old gods, so he's the ideal person to unite the Priteni against this outside threat. Bridei is planning a big move against the Gaels, but in order to succeed, he needs the help of a foreign chieftain named Alpin. Bridei therefore proposes to offer his royal hostage, Ana, to Alpin as a bride, hoping this will ensure his loyalty. Ana longs to marry for love, but she knows she has no choice in the matter. She sets out for Alpin's lands in the company of Faolan, Bridei's most trusted bodyguard, spy, and assassin. As Ana and Faolan travel together, their relationship deepens, but she is already promised to Alpin. And when she finally arrives at Alpin's court, Ana discovers a shocking secret that will have drastic implications for both Bridei's campaign and her own heart.

Much like its predecessor, The Dark Mirror, this book is very slow-paced, and I had trouble getting into it as a result. I find the world of this series fascinating; it's based on historical facts (the Priteni were real, and Bridei really was their king for a time), but Marillier weaves many fantastical elements into the setting. Half the novel focuses on Ana's story, while the other half follows Bridei's campaign against the Gaels. Personally, I was much more interested in Ana's story, especially since I always enjoy a little romance with my fantasy! Interestingly, the story seems very predictable at first, but it eventually veers into an unexpected direction. I wasn't entirely pleased with the resolution of Ana's story, but it does provide some interesting avenues to explore in the final book of the trilogy. I'll definitely be reading The Well of Shades to see how everything turns out, but I don't think this series is Marillier's best work. Try her Sevenwaters books instead!

Book Two of The Bridei Chronicles (Bridei Trilogy): This book carries on the story of young king Bridei who has held the throne of Fortriu for five years now. His preparations for war include Ana; the captive princess of the Light Isles who has been held hostage at the court of Fortriu for many years. Bridei strategically plans to wed Ana in an effort to forge alliances. Ana will travel north to marry Alpin of Briar Wood who Bridei hopes with aid him in his effort to rid Fortriu of the Gaelic invaders.

Escorting Ana on her journey is Bridei's assassin and spy, Faolan. Their ill-fated journey includes a terrible flash flood, death, a mysterious prisoner as well as a future husband who is not what he seems to be.

A great read. ( )

Book 2 of a Trilogy. This fantasy is set in Britain, but revolves more around the Picts, the pre-Celtics inhabitants of part of the Isles. The romance is more pronounced, and better handled, than in some of her earlier work. ( )