Shadows of Prophecy (The Ilduin #2)

The Barnes & Noble Review
From prolific romance maven Rachel Lee ( Before I Sleep, When I Wake, et al.) comes the second installment of her Ilduin trilogy -- and sequel to 2005's Shadows of Myth -- an epic fantasy that centers around Tess Birdsong, a young woman who has no memory of her past; all she knows for certain is that she possesses powerful -- and potentially deadly -- magical abilities.



Birdsong, it turns out, is an Ilduin, one of a group of legendary women with unparalleled supernatural powers. On a quest to find out who she is and what her destiny holds, Birdsong -- along with a small but important group of followers that includes an enigmatic man cursed with immortality, an innkeeper's daughter who is also an Ilduin, and a young prophet -- travels to the remote city of Anahar, where she hopes to find some answers in the sacred temples. In the midst of a looming war between the Anari and their Bozandari oppressors, Birdsong begins to understand the mysteries of her past, including a strange white rose tattoo on her ankle and a bag of 12 colored stones she possesses. But can she come to grips with her abilities before a nameless evil finally tracks her down? A palatable blend of understated romance and adventure fantasy, Lee's Ilduin saga should appeal to readers of both genres; the only criticism is a less than satisfying conclusion to this middle book of a projected trilogy. Readers will have to wait for the concluding installment to find out what ultimately happens to Birdsong and her companions. Paul Goat Allen