Valley of Silence

Nora Roberts

The Circle has crossed over to Geall for a showdown with Lilith, the vampire queen, and her army of vampires and half-deads. Moira knows she first has to be proclaimed Queen of Geall then they face a deadly war on the night of Samhain. There is still much preparation the Circle has to do, including training the peaceful people of Geall who have never had war.

Cian is a vampire who was changed by Lilith. It has been a thousand years or so since than and he has since turned against caniballistic practices. He still lives in the night and the shadows, but interacts with humans regularly. When his brother time-traveled forward to take on this war, Cian joined Hoyt in the battle. Glenna, a witch, Blair, a demon hunter, Moira and her shape-shifting cousin Larkin also joined, completing the Morrigan's Circle of six.

Moira gets past her fear of the vampire and realizes what a strong, attractive man Cian is. He is not the normal vampire and is willing to die in this war against "his own". His knowledge, strength and tactics are essential for them to win against Lilith and her army. Once Moira proves she is worthy to rule Geall, she decides she will be with Cian as long as she can. Samhain will mark the end of their relationship.

Cian wants to rebuff Moira, but he has fallen in love. Like her, he knows the relationship cannot last. Like her, he decides to take what he can while he can. Their love solidifies in the midst of the growing shadows. Now the Circle needs to create an army and vanquish an unstoppable nightmarish army before first Geall, then Earth, is taken over.

OK, folks, this is Nora Roberts so you know Valley of the Silence is going to have a happy ending. But there is that whole vampire/human thing that just won't work in Geall. It gives a nice twist to the last of this paranormal romance trilogy. The women are strong, the men worthy, and the battles dangerous. People die in war, but we are certain the good guys will vanquish the foes.

Does the predictability take away from it? No - it's an enjoyable book that the reader can sink right into and appreciate. The Circle Trilogy is not as strong as some of her similar trilogies, but when you are as prolific a writer as Roberts, you know they won't be. It's not great literature. It is good escape.

Notice: Graphic violence, Strong sexual content

Morrigans's Cross
Dance of the Gods
Valley of Silence