If you missed my review of book one, Morrigan’s Cross, you can find it here. If you missed the last TGON Reads article on The Prisoner’s Throne, you can find it here.
Hi guys, it’s been a little while but I am back with the next book in the Circle Trilogy, Dance of the Gods, by Nora Roberts. I finally got through the second book, not because it was bad, but because life has no chill. This is a trilogy that I have read before but it has been a few years. One drawback of reading books with someone else is that you can’t just fly through it at your own pace as this is another trilogy I am reading with my sister-in-law. I don’t regret it at all though. Let’s get into the book.
I love the old man telling the story with the kids gathered around. I get the impression that wherever they are, it isn’t a place with modern conveniences. The book was published in 2006 so people as a whole were not as device-dependent as they are now but there wasn’t even the impression of electronics. It kind of makes me think that maybe it’s Hoyt when he is old.
The story picks up the day after Hoyt and Glenna’s wedding and the fight that took place but the focus of this book is Larking and Blair as opposed to more focus on Glenna and Hoyt. We still move between people and get their thoughts and actions and all six members still work in tandem which I appreciate about Ms. Roberts’s writing. We aren’t always left with just one character’s experience which for me increases the feeling of them being a unit which is critical in this trilogy. In the next book, it will focus on Cian and Moira.
In any case, the story picks up where Morrigan’s Cross left off. If you remember, Larkin and Moira are from the land of Geall and don’t have the technology, food, drinks, and a slew of other stuff that we do. Larkin has taken a liking to the soda Coke and prefers that to his morning tea. He’s a man after my own heart because my morning Coke is my version of coffee too. I want to see if Moira can recreate indoor plumbing.
The first month of them has come to an end and now the six need to go to Geall which for Moira and Larkin is bittersweet. They get to go back and see their loved ones and Moira can do what she needs to in order to become queen. On the other hand, they are bringing the peaceful people of Geall a war. Moira knows her people will be fighting against impossible odds and some will die, it’s unavoidable and that weighs on her, as it should. Hoyt and Glenna have been working on a cloak to shield Cian from the sun just in case when they go through the Dance it is sunny on the other side.
It is a race to get from the manor to the Dance in Ireland because they went at night when Cian could move freely. The problem is, the Dance is a vampire-free zone and Cian can’t get in. The next problem is the circle needs Cian or it is broken. At the last minute, Moira reaches out, and Cian grabs her hand and is transported with them. Luckily they had the cover of night when they landed in Geall.
Hoyt, Glenna, Blair, Cian, Larkin, and Moira need an army and to get that army, they must train the people of Geall. However, first, the six must get the people to believe and take the threat seriously. Unfortunately, in Geall, they are centuries behind us not only in tech but in men’s and women’s roles in life. In the beginning, the women just played and flirted which reminded me of some of the girls in gym class.
Later in the book, Larkin takes Blair flying with dragons. They were on their way to check out the sight of the showdown but when Larkin saw a rainbow, he knew there would be dragons and it was beautiful. If only I could fly with dragons, I would probably die of happiness.
The story has plenty of action and I love the magick. In this, each of the circle has their own magick, some are powerful magick users and can do big spells, like Glenna and Hoyt, but Cian had magick when he was mortal but lost that when he gained his vampiric gifts, which are a magick of their own. I would say shifting forms is magick. Even Moira and Blair have some. Moira has power that she can use to support and boost Hoyt and Glenna and some healing. Blair has faster healing and reflexes and improved senses.
Cian, though an important part of the group of the group isn’t seen in this book much which saddens me. He did, however, end an argument with Moira with a passionate kiss. Lilith, the vampire queen is interesting. She is ruthless and blood-thirsty but I think she truly loves Lora and her son Davey. Her love is twisted but strong nonetheless.
I adore that the goddess Morrigan continues to be with each of them. She speaks to them mostly in dreams but has come to Hoyt, Larkin, and Blair while awake. Morrigan didn’t just charge them with this quest and leave them to it, she encouraged them where they can hear and see.
In the next book, The Valley of Silence, the battle takes place. I wonder how many people will take the first circle seriously and train until the coming fight. The people of Geall are already dying and turning at the hands of a psychopath. The issue of Cian’s vampire nature has not been addressed yet. What do the people of Geall think of him? Are they scared? Curious? I would have liked to see that. As I said, Cian wasn’t in this book nearly as much as he was in the last.
I am ready to read The Valley of Silence. I have to get to the end so I can know what happens. As I said, I have read these before but it has been some years so while I know the ultimate end, I forgot the journey there. What have you read of Nora Roberts? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time, have fun storming the castle!
