Summary:
A world of shifting lands connected only by bridges, Ephemera has been kept stable by the magic of the Landscapers. In one land where night reigns and demons dwell, the half-incubus Sebastian revels in dark delights. But then in dreams she calls to him: a woman who wants only to be safe and loved-a woman he hungers for while knowing he may destroy her.
But a more devastating destiny awaits Sebastian, for in the quiet gardens of the Landscapers’ school, evil is stirring. The nearly forgotten Eater of the World has escaped its prison-and Sebastian’s realm may be the first to fall.
Made it: 100 pages (25%)
Why it didn’t work for me:
Bishop’s novels tend to be engrossing, despite their (sometimes rather large) flaws. The Others series, for example, is very weak when it comes to plot, but the concept and characters make it worth a go. This not only doesn’t have the strong plot, but the characters feel stock and this whole notion of light/dark feels both cheesy and heavy-handed due to a writing style that feels pretentious when trying to talk mythology. Finally, the whole bit of Eater of the World being referred to as an It and having the body of a spider (albeit with a different head) feels like it goes beyond homage to It and instead feels like a lazy copy.
I wanted to like this, but it just wasn’t happening for me. Bummer.
Fantasy Findings 