Highly Recommended

The Drevnyan Temple of Light stands as a symbol of witchcraft and a source of superstitious fear for the inhabitants of corruption-ridden White Haven. But one amongst their amoral number, the handsome musician, Randrik alt Harbinnen, has been chosen by the ancient order for an important role -to aid one of the Drevnyan adepts in fullfilling her potential, a goal that can only be achieved through the Drevnyan sex magick rites and the girl's embrace of her own emotions. Randrik's acceptance of his role, however, is strained when he realizes he dislikes this adept, Perian. The musician's comfortable self- centeredness is further tested as he is obliged to escort Perian to a forest in order to find the Nomad Drevyans. Only here, amongst the race from whom she was separated, can Perian hope to overcome the crippling aversion to sensuality instilled by her cruel foster parents.

But Perian is plagued by malevolent dreams as well, dreams that bid her and Randrik on a journey to the east. There, in the Everdark forest, waits an ancient power, one whose hope for liberation is tied with the brainwashed Perian. With Randrik's company Perian sets to face this evil corrupter of her dreams.

While a lot of fantasy stories focus on simplistic sword & sorcery- type dynamics with two-dimensional characters, Burton has delivered a very human and complex romance to go along with her battle between good and evil. Randrik is in the beginning very dislikable; a medievalish white-trash player, with no aims of using his musical training and other inherent talents toward any aspiration higher than what meets the moment's need. On the other hand there is Perian with all the baggage left over from the abuse of her foster parents, baggage that has left her at once self-questioning and distrustful. These characters are wholly incompatible; and only a talented mind could have convincingly reconciled the two. Without reliance on romance "formula", Burton succeeds at just this and builds between these two a relationship of mutual admiration and appreciation. But there is no formulized ending here for Perian and Randrik either; the reader is left to question if their respective fates would have been healthier if they'd never met in the first place.

The narrative of Dreams of Darkness is enriched by the author's adept use of colorful, often witty, metaphors and fresh dialog. Burton respectfully implements an understanding of genuine sexual magick philosophy into her Drevnyan culture, further adding to the maturity of Randrik's evolving character and Perian's developing self-image. The tormenting persona of Souleater is enjoyably horrific, and I liked how Burton stayed away from the Chrisitianized conceptions of evil which are so routinely used in literature of this genre.

Elizabeth Burton has broke new ground in both romance and fantasy. An absorbing story of good versus evil, with solid writing and mulit-faceted, mature characters, Dreams Of Darkness is the best fantasy I've read since Bradley's The Mists of Avalon. This is one title that is sure to win the hearts of all fans of sorcery and adventure.

Reviewed by Maria Osborne Perry