Darkness Falls

Gr 10 Up—In this sequel to Immortal Beloved (Little, Brown, 2010), Nastasya, an immortal, has been working hard to absorb and embrace the philosophy of River's Edge in the hope that she can escape the darkness she feels within herself. River, her mentor, shows incredible calm and patience as she tries to ease Nas into a more peaceful and fulfilling life. The same tensions and attractions that Nas felt for Reyn in the first book are palpable. She is physically drawn to him, but she can't forget the part he played in the destruction of her family centuries before. Though she gradually begins to feel that she is making some progress, there is always another roadblock in her path. River confesses the evil from which she came, which gives Nas some hope that redemption is possible. Nas is a beautifully drawn, multidimensional character. The setting shifts back and forth over the centuries in order to round out an understanding of her heritage and experience. Finally Incy, her best friend whose wretched behavior made her run to River's Edge in the first place, returns, and Nas is drawn to him and the others in her former circle of friends. For a while she is happy to be with them and to be living the high life with abandon. Eventually, though, the truth about him becomes obvious. Highly charged events lead to an exciting climax. Tiernan has created a story filled with suspense, adventure, pathos, and compassion. Fans of the previous books will look forward to the third volume.—Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ