Pruella McGuire has known great loss that has hardened her heart and molded her into the woman she is now. Her profession as business manager and partner of The Garden of Nocturnal Delights, a house of beautiful courtesans and the house of her daughter, gives her great pride and a feeling of home. After her husband decided she was not enough for him and disappeared, Pruella made a successful life for herself, living only for her daughter. One pleasure she doesn't mind indulging in is the theater where the entertainment troupe enthralls their audience with frivolous dance, tricks of the hand and heartbreaking music. To her dismay, Erik the Golden, with his beautiful soul-wrenching voice, has taken an interest in her; too bad her heart will not allow it.

Erik the Golden received his gift from the Gods when he was 17 and dying; these gifts are both a curse and a blessing. Not only can he make beautiful words into a heartbreaking song, but he can make others do what he wants just by demanding it. This is the reason he only uses the music and fights the urge to bend others to his will. When he was young and stupid, he did not understand the ramifications of using his gift of voice and caused the death of a woman; he runs from the guilt daily. Knowing the Gods have plans for him, he is still unable to resist the allure of the one woman who is immune to his charm. But if he is anything, it is persistent.

This sequel is just as magical and enticing as THE FLAME AND THE SHADOW with its science fiction flare, futuristic drama and depth of characters readers love. This is another piece of the puzzle Rosetti has placed before us. In my opinion, the wait is too long in between these stories. I am anxious to read the next part in this fabulous story arc.