Rating: 
Summary: BUY BUY BUY!!
Review: Sadly, although this(IMHO)is one of, if not the best, of Ms. Huff's books, it didn't sell well enough to interest publishers in a sequel. I urge anyone who enjoys fantasy to read the first page, then see if you can put it down! The storyline follows a rag-tag band of modern heroes(a sort-of bard, a "simple" girl, a tough cynical social worker and an Adept of the Light) as they struggle to stop the imminent invasion of Darkness that plans to break through the barriers protecting our world on Midsummer's Night. With the clock ticking, they race to defeat the evil adept who strikes at each with their deepest fears come to life...the ending makes you cry(at least, it made ME cry)but also gives you lift for your spirits and hope for the human race yet!
Rating: 
Summary: Unusual Urban Fantasy, complete with Bag Lady
Review: Some of Tanya Huff's stock characters inhabit "Gate of Darkness Circle of Light": the crabby, driven heroine; the manly-yet-innocent hunk (in this case, an Angel); a surly cat that deals very efficiently with the Dark (much more so than the humans or the Angel); and a musician who struggles with his sexual identity through most of the book.That said, there are also some very unique characters in this urban fantasy about a band of intrepid heroines and heroes who attempt to save Toronto (and the rest of the world) from the forces of Darkness on Midsummer's Eve. One of them is a Bag Lady who is genuinely smelly and not at all cute. Another is a brain-damaged muffin maker. The musician is singled out by Huff to endure a particularly gristly coming-of-age journey. He is captured by ogres, and when he manages to escape from them, he has to run a gauntlet of ever more hideous fairy-tale creatures before he makes it back to Toronto to help save the Earth. "Get of Darkness Circle of Light" is a pleasure to read, well-plotted, with an interesting twist at the end. The most unlikely people band together in an attempt to defeat Evil, and Huff brings them all together in a way that satisfies and makes sense.
Rating:
Summary: Unusual Urban Fantasy, complete with Bag Lady
Review: Some of Tanya Huff's stock characters inhabit "Gate of Darkness Circle of Light": the crabby, driven heroine; the manly-yet-innocent hunk (in this case, an Angel); a surly cat that deals very efficiently with the Dark (much more so than the humans or the Angel); and a musician who struggles with his sexual identity through most of the book. That said, there are also some very unique characters in this urban fantasy about a band of intrepid heroines and heroes who attempt to save Toronto (and the rest of the world) from the forces of Darkness on Midsummer's Eve. One of them is a Bag Lady who is genuinely smelly and not at all cute. Another is a brain-damaged muffin maker. The musician is singled out by Huff to endure a particularly gristly coming-of-age journey. He is captured by ogres, and when he manages to escape from them, he has to run a gauntlet of ever more hideous fairy-tale creatures before he makes it back to Toronto to help save the Earth. "Get of Darkness Circle of Light" is a pleasure to read, well-plotted, with an interesting twist at the end. The most unlikely people band together in an attempt to defeat Evil, and Huff brings them all together in a way that satisfies and makes sense.
Rating:
Summary: Unusual Urban Fantasy, complete with Bag Lady
Review: Some of Tanya Huff's stock characters inhabit "Gate of Darkness Circle of Light": the crabby, driven heroine; the manly-yet-innocent hunk (in this case, an Angel); a surly cat that deals very efficiently with the Dark (much more so than the humans or the Angel); and a musician who struggles with his sexual identity through most of the book. That said, there are also some very unique characters in this urban fantasy about a band of intrepid heroines and heroes who attempt to save Toronto (and the rest of the world) from the forces of Darkness on Midsummer's Eve. One of them is a Bag Lady who is genuinely smelly and not at all cute. Another is a brain-damaged muffin maker. The musician is singled out by Huff to endure a particularly gristly coming-of-age journey. He is captured by ogres, and when he manages to escape from them, he has to run a gauntlet of ever more hideous fairy-tale creatures before he makes it back to Toronto to help save the Earth. "Get of Darkness Circle of Light" is a pleasure to read, well-plotted, with an interesting twist at the end. The most unlikely people band together in an attempt to defeat Evil, and Huff brings them all together in a way that satisfies and makes sense.
Rating:
Summary: Funny read, but wait, there's more
Review: This was a very amusing read that took many unpredictable turns that I won't even mention. Wouldn't want to spoil them. And yes, there is also a bit of comfortable predictableness where the reader sees things happening long before they hit the character. Somehow, Huff can make the most "oh I've known that story since kindy-garden" thing into oh my g how ghastly. Great sense of detail. And she isn't afraid to play fast and loose with world religions. And she is capable of creating a character that realistically (fantasy-style) changes and grows. What I was thinking about, among many other things she made me think about, when I put the book down, is how an author's whole life and way of being seep into their books. For example, some authors always have a wry way of looking at the world, perhaps their humor comes from showing "of course it's this way" juxtaposed to "this is how I hoped it could be, but of course no." Some authors always write with cynicism -- Ray Bradbury for one. His short stories are filled with a bitter view of humanity. Even Farenheit 451 is bitter -- but don't get me wrong; I love Farenheit 451 and it's phoenixesque qualities. Twain always writes with a deep cynicism that grows from great idealism. Huff writes from a generousity of spirit, a welcomingness and hopefullness. This book will make you feel more positive about the world, and have you seeing the "greys" scurrying around and hanging out in the trees. This is the first Huff book I have read, so I hope I haven't judged her wrong. I think this hopefullness is just part of her, and I love seeing a spirit like that weaving through the turns and dips of fiction.
Rating:
Summary: A fine, fine urban fantasy
Review: This was my first exposure to author Tanya Huff, and I immediately had to rush out and pick up as many of her other books as I could find. Not wanting to repeat what others have said, or give away important bits of the plot, I'll just add that this urban fantasy ranks up there with the best of, say, Charles DeLint. The finely crafted characters are the strongest part of the story--I almost wish for a sequel, as I missed Rebecca, Roland, Evan and the others as soon as I put their story down.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down ! A real pleasure
Review: This was the third book of Tanya Huff's that I have read and it was thoroughly enjoyable. A good tale of light versus dark with characters you can empathise with. It moves along at a fast pace with all the action happening in one week. It had echoes of Simon Greene's Shadowsfall for me in that it could have been a horror story but wasn't, or it could have been a trite little tale, but there was always just a little bit more under the surface. Well crafted and designed to pull you in to her world. I would recommend this book to anyone, even those who wouldn't normally read fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, wonderful book!
Review: This, for me, was one of the books that I read and it changed my life. From the inside jokes on the cover to the scene where the Beatles save the world, this is a great book and does not deserve to be out of print!! It is another one of those books that tries to make you think -- about why certain things are considered wrong, and what the potential of "slackers" or "mentally disabled" people really is. If you run across this in a bookstore, buy it!!
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