Clive Barker has written an outstanding follow up to the Great and Secret Show. If you have not read that, you should pick that up, and then this. Don’t worry, there are no spoilers in this review. The story has a limitless range of both love as well as hatred. There are so many characters (some from the first book, and still quite a number of new ones) that keep your interest. The interactions and the dialogue is outstanding. I have read several of Clive’s books, and the dialogue in this book is the best I have read from him. The descriptions that detail the surroundings are very easy to picture as you go, to the point this fantasy seems eerily real. There are so many surprises along the way that finishing the book quickly became sustenance. Great book. Highly recommended.

The story did wrap up nicely, and does not leave you hanging. Having said that, I do think a petition needs to be started- to have the third and final installment of the trilogy be released. This book- as well as the first book, deserve to have complete closer.

Be sure to check out Clive's website: www.clivebarker.info/