The Pillars of the World

by Anne Bishop

Book Overview

The first novel in New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop's Tir Alainn Trilogy. The youngest in a long line of witches, Ari senses that things are changing--changing for the worse. For generations, her kin have tended the Old Places, keeping the land safe and fertile. But with the Summer Moon, the mood of her neighbors has soured. And Ari is no longer safe. The Fae have long ignored what occurs in the mortal world, passing through on their...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451458508
• ISBN13: 9780451458506
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Mythology + WWII references = Good Fantasy

This book, with its mix of Hitler & Greek mythology (well, actually technically Roman because of the names...) is still an entertaining re-read - especially since I remember so little of this trilogy. And while the sequel seems open this first tale does have a satisfying conclusion. What is worrying me is the answer to what I'll read after these next two books are done!

Beautiful

I've read the Black Jewels Trilogy and the Invisible Ring. I loved that series.However, it was getting to the point that there really wasn't much left to say.Pillars is a marvolous departure from her darker side. The plot is accurate and enthralling. There are parts that will make you want to laugh out loud, and parts that make you want to strangle someone. As with the Black Jewels Trilogy, you can almost touch the characters and see the land scape.I would recommend this book to any avid reader. (Except those who get nit-picky about historical accuracy)

Another Amazing Book!

I've read all of Anne Bishop's books, and I've loved every single on of them. Sense this book is set in a different world then all of her other books, I was wondering if she would be able to create a world just as interesting and with characters that could live up to her previous work. Well, Pillars did. The details of the book were very solid and the characters were all very well written. The plot was also very well done. It was interesting even when they were only dealing with minor characters thinking. Ari the main character is a young witch living all alone after the death of her mother and grandmother. She gets intangled with the Fae due to a trick played on her by the local gentry that forces her to look for a lover on Summer's Moon. She ends up meeting one of the Fae in his other form. Eventually you also learn that there are Witch Hunters moving through the land, and they are slowly coming towards Ari. Eventually you do learn what the Pillars are and I promise that everything is wraped up very nicely. It's good from start to finish, and I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Once Again!!

The Queen of The Darkness has done it again! And with a new/old world. Drawing on the ancient legends of Fae and mortal interaction, she has created a simple tale of loss and gain. Throw in a healthy helping of greed, brutality, lust, intolerance and fear, and season with courage, fidelity and true love and you have a delectable dish to satisfy the most discriminating.The characters are well developed. (Some "minor" beings, eg. Ahern, the horses, and the pups, are capable of starring in their own tales.) This story, like all of Anne Bishop's works, can be read and re-read, and enjoyed on several levels; whether you see it as fantasy, philosophy, history or, God protect! prophecy. It is well worth the time. Now Miss Bishop, when may we have your next story?

Reads like a beautiful ballad

The Veil that separates by a road the land of Tir Alainn from the human plane is vanishing in spots and none of the Fae knows why. When the road finally vanishes, the Fae clan lands near it disappear too because they are anchored to the place. It is imperative to not only learn why this is happening but also find a way to stop it before all of Tir Alainn disappears. Ari the witch lives among the humans, but her lover is Lucian the Lightbringer. He gives her jewels when she craves his love. Lucien, like the rest of the Fae, believes mortals are beneath them and would never consider a permanent relationship with an inferior being. There is someone else who will do anything to keep Ari safe especially since the witch hunters are coming for her. It is imperative that Ari live since she is connected to Tir Alainn though she knows it not. THE PILLARS OF THE WORLD is a stand-alone fantasy novel that reads like a beautiful ballad involving two humans who believe love is the ultimate magical force in the universe. Anne Bishop is very descriptive with a visual narrative that provides the reader a panoramic view of Tir Alainn that only a real visitor could have written based on first hand observation. Fans of romance and fantasy will delight in this engaging tale.Harriet Klausner