HEAVEN'S NEEDLE, the follow-up to Liane Merciel's first book in the world of Ithelas, The River Kings' Road, is stronger albeit darker. While some of the characters including Kelland, the Sun Knight and his companion Bitharn, also appear in the second installment, others are replaced which works well as the story of Brys and Odosse was complete. There should be more of Brys' story hopefully in a later novel though. Where the River Kings' Road hinted at the evil in Ithelas, HEAVEN'S NEEDLE takes us right into its depths.

The fortress of Duradh Mal has been abandoned for hundreds of years but still evil lurks and has been reawakened. Asharre, a warrior from the far north with a troubled soul, accompanies two young illuminers—who serve the Bright Lady and all things good and blessed, to their first mission in the village of Carden Vale below Duradh Mal. But they aren't the only ones headed in that direction: Kelland and Bitharn also seek to rid the fortress of evil and with an unlikely partner, a Thornlord called Malentir. As Bitharn and Kelland serve the Bright Lady, Malentir serves Kliasta or the Pale Maiden who thrives on darkness and pain. The mad god, Maol, also plays a role here.

There are a number of victims here and a lot of food for thought. The horrors include not only what people and things do to each other but also to themselves. We're all faced with choices, and we all have principles to whatever degree, but those principles can be chipped away in small bits if one isn't careful. Some of the horrors in this story are stomach-turning and horrifying, and while you might put the book down for a bit, you'll be unable to not pick it up again. Merciel's talent for bringing the ghastly and creepy alive is disturbingly realistic. I never had nightmares or anything, but I had little problem with visualization. I have to say, I enjoyed the first book, but I really enjoyed the second one. I hope Merciel has plans for more stories in this world as there seems to be lots of opportunity, and these two books seem to be building up to a larger battle.