"The Caul must be undone or we shall all sicken and die." In this second book of the Silver series, three strong women step up to champion their people. They put responsibility before their heart's desires and emerge the stronger for it.

Delphinea and her companion, the Gremlin Petri, are charged with crossing into the Shadowland and finding the Silver Caul. The stolen Caul, which protects the borders between the realms, must be returned to Faerie and unmade before Mid-winter. Delphinea has also promised to find and rescue Finuviel, the missing Sidhe prince who has lately begun to haunt her dreams.

Meanwhile, Nessa, the blacksmith's daughter, sets out from Killcairn, in search of her missing parents, who've vanished into Faerie. Nessa has no inkling of the part she's destined to play in the final clash that will take place between the mortals, the Sidhe and finally even the Gods who forge their fates.

Upon the death of her husband, Cecily takes up the reins of leadership. Drawing her strength from the land, her people and the ancient rituals that bind them, she not only is able to protect the land but have it accept her. And accept her it does, but at great personal cost.

In the uneven world of fantasy/romance offerings, Anne Kelleher has always come through for readers. I was not surprised that her newest book, SILVER'S BANE, is a standout. I went into it with high expectations and was certainly rewarded. A word of caution -- don't try to read it without having read the first book in the series, SILVER'S EDGE. You need the background of the first book for this one to make sense. A more than competent world- builder, Kelleher draws heavily upon ancient Celtic rituals, folklore and Gods for her tale of humans, fairies and goblins. Her characters and worlds are fully three dimensional. She pulls us into their world, makes us care about their fates and leaves us wanting more. The next book in the series will be SILVER'S LURE. I can't wait for it.