FILLED WITH IMMENSE characters, this thrilling medieval fantasy filled with moral complexity and vision announces the arrival of a special new writing talent. Phaedra, the beautiful daughter of a baron, has been visited in dreams by an elusive knight for almost as long as she can remember. And when his presence becomes a reality, she is forced to choose him and a new life over her home and her father. But this sets off a chain of events that she could not have foreseen a battle between good and evil, which is in turn violent and psychologically compelling. This stunning novel grapples with the huge themes of life, and turns the reader s expectations upside down again and again, with one vertiginious plunge after another. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Dickinson's debut fantasy has lofty ambitions but quickly gets mired in its own complexity. Phaedra, 16, is the only child of the widowed Warden of Trant, one of 10 territories in an unnamed Kingdom. As such, she is sought after for the lands that will come into the hands of her husband upon her father's death; as countless suitors vie for her hand, Phaedra rebuffs them. She holds out for the mysterious knight who appears in her dreams each night, and agrees (through her dreams) to meet with him in person. He turns out to be Ulfin, the March-count of Tarceny, "of whose house no man could say a good thing." She escapes with him by sea, and discovers that the "dreams" are due not to witchcraft, according to Ulfin, but rather what he "prefer[s] to call under-craft," a "gift" from the titular Cup in his possession. Phaedra marries Ulfin, precipitating a war between Trant and Tarceny, which snowballs into a conflict involving the entire Kingdom. Soon, Phaedra's father is dead, she is pregnant, and Ulfin's dark secrets come to the surface. The plot moves slowly and the narrative can be ornate and bulky ("Then the world was blotted out by his arms about her, his lips upon her face, and the thud, thud, thud of her own heart within her chest"). Although Phaedra emerges as an interesting heroine, only determined readers will manage to stay the course to savor her bittersweet victory. Ages 12-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 9 Up-Phaedra, 16, rejects each of her nobly born suitors in turn because none of them can compare to the mysterious young knight who has visited her dreams since her childhood. When at last she meets her beloved in the flesh, she marries him immediately, despite his family's reputation for black magic and his leadership of a territory in near-open rebellion against the King. As her country descends into civil war, Phaedra learns the chilling truth about her husband's powers and finds the strength to save what she holds dear. Slightly formal prose gives the book the sound of a well-worn, classic tale. Subtle foreshadowing and superb pacing heighten the story's impact as Phaedra slowly uncovers the dark secrets underlying her new life. The characters are well rounded, and their motivations often play out in complex territorial politics that make the map a welcome inclusion. Fantasy lovers will revel in glimmering descriptions of Phaedra's country, complete with an invented mythology and a long history of warfare and subjugation. While central to the plot, these details also give the narrative depth and resonance. The corrupting effect of conquest is a weighty subtext for this genre, but Dickinson successfully weaves it into the story in symbolic terms that will remain with readers long after they leave this troubled, beautiful world.-Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 9-12. None of the nobly born suitors who come courting 16-year-old Phaedra compare to the handsome, mysterious young knight who has visited her in dreams since childhood. When she finally meets the knight in the flesh, she marries him immediately, despite his family's sinister reputation for practicing black magic and his leadership of a territory on the verge of rebellion against the king. As her country descends into civil war, Phaedra discovers the dark truth about her husband's powers and must find the strength to fight for what matters most to her. The setting of this story is beautifully realized, and the characters are well-developed and memorable. Dickinson's formal prose gives the book the sound and feel of an old-time classic, while numerous subplots lend a complexity and depth that will appeal to fans of fantasy epics. A map is included to assist with understanding the intricate territorial politics central to the plot. An engrossing, entertaining, richly layered story. --Ed Sullivan Copyright 2004 Booklist From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.