Epic, that probably describes Peter S Beagle's own favourite novel, in a word. Told from 10 different points of view, each narrative connects an epic tale of love and loss, guilt, betrayal, and the weight of memory. The fantasy elements of wizardry and magic, of light and shadow, come clothed in characters so human and so deeply profiled that they are almost real in the mind of the reader.

It is an easy book to pick up, but not so easy to stay the course. At times, the different perspectives slow the pace of the story, but the beauty and elegance of Mr Beagle's language more than compensates for this.