Book Three of the Looking Glass Trilogy (Arcane Society Series 12)

Once again, the first couple of chapters were hard to get into and made for a slow beginning, but the subsequent chapters got better and the book became a much more interesting read. This was much the same as Midnight Crystal. Thank you for asking for my review.

I was really looking forward to this book coming out. I've read all of Jayne Ann Krentz's Arcane novels and really loved the other period pieces "In too Deep" and "Quicksilver" in the Looking Glass Trilogy. But this book was a disappointment for me.

In this story we meet Charlotte Enbright as a teenager living on Rainshadow Island on the planet called Harmony. She is attacked one night by three guys and is saved by her teen crush Slade Attridge. He takes her to a mysterious wooded area called the Preserve that no one knows what it's actually preserving.

Cut to 15 years later and both of them have come back to the island. She's taken over her Aunt's antique shop and he's just taken the open Sheriff's position after a bad psi burn left him unable to work for the FBPI anymore. They both feel the attraction of long ago and start having an affair. In the mean time, Slade is dealing with a murder investigation, smugglers, and trying to understand what's happening to his talent.

I had several problems with the book. First, it seemed really short. There were a lot of chapters dedicated to side characters that end up going no where. The Preserve is never explained, just set aside as a set up for another sequel. The Bridewell curiosities make an appearance, but not until near the end of the book and the bad guy is thrown in almost as an afterthought. You never feel any urgency to solve the case, because nothing happens. The heroine isn't given anything to do until the very last chapters of the book and the romance is sedate. I didn't feel any chemistry and didn't really get to know her at all. Slade's inner monologues had to tell me she was a positive, warm person. Not to mention her talent is really difficult to understand. She reads rainbows? It's not auras, not dreamlight, but rainbows? I agree with her that it doesn't appear very useful in any capacity.

Overall, I definitely didn't hate the book. But it starts slow and never really picks up any speed. I was bored and left feeling like I only read a teaser for another book. Hopefully with more interesting characters.

I always enjoy Jayne Castle’s Harmony stories, and this one is set on the small island of Rainshadow. Charlotte Enright has returned after fifteen years to run the antique shop her aunt bequeathed her. The man she’s had a crush on since she was a teen has returned as well, to serve as the Chief of Police, along with Rex, his dust bunny companion. As Slade Attridge and Charlotte begin to get reacquainted, a man is found murdered in Charlotte’s shop, and then more dangerous events take place, including some strange sightings in the Rainshadow Preserve. They’ll get to the bottom of the murder and in the process, find not only love, but a place among the small town of eccentric residents. I love the little dust bunnies in these stories, and Rex was a delightful addition to the bunch. The two main characters are both a bit different, their talents are unusual and they haven’t really fit in anywhere else until they come back to Rainshadow. It was fun to see them open up and learn to trust each other, they’re a great couple.

Arcane Society 12 Looking Glass 3 Harmony 8

Charlotte Enright was just 15 when she first met 19 year old Slade Attridge, the night he rescued her from drunken tourists on Rainshadow Island. He also took her into The Preserve, a mysterious wild area with a spooky reputation. Slade left the next day to join the FBPI, but never forgot her. Fifteen years later both have returned to the Island, Slade to temporarily take over as sheriff. Sparks fly as they deal with their attraction to each other as well as Slade's damaged psi-powers and the psychic murder of Charlotte's former client. Murder, mayhem and mysterious goings on at The Preserve make for an interesting backdrop to Slade's and Charlotte's growing love.

While an enjoyable story, it wasn't as good as the other Harmony books. This should have been the finale for The Looking Glass trilogy, but instead it was more an introduction of a future series regarding the mystery of The Preserve. I was disappointed because there was so much setup of that strange forest, but with no payoff. Krentz appears to be setting up another Scargill Cove with Rainshadow Island as well. These dual plans took some of the intensity away from the supposed main storyline. But I am interested in visiting the town again, so I suppose it served its purpose. 3.5 out of 5.

Charlotte Enright has never forgotten the night Slade Attridge saved her from three attackers and took her into the dark, beautiful, dangerous Preserve, a privately owned forest filled with mysterious psi energy. Fifteen years later Charlotte and Slade meet again, and the attraction between them has grown even stronger. But so have the forces inside the Preserve...

I'm a big fan of Castle (aka Krentz aka Quick) and the Arcane series, but like so many other reviewers I was disappointed with this one. It manages to plod on and on, but at the same time ends up feeling more like a short story than a novel. Charlotte and Slade don't come alive in the way I'm used to seeing from Castle, and while she's usually an old hand at weaving an interesting, exciting, well-paced plot, this one falls thin and flat. The villains are cookie-cutter, the intense excitement characteristic of Castle is missing, the psi talents don't feel like anything special and the mystery is not very compelling, nor are many things resolved. Indeed, this book felt more like an introduction to a coming series.

Castle, in all her personas, has a tendency to write lead women that, while strong, independent, and sexy, tend to talk like goobers at times. See: "'What in the world?' she gasped. 'Oh, my goodness, look, an aurora.'" She also likes to describe orgasms in a ridiculous, uber-ethereal way. See: "In the next moment the tension inside her was released in wave after wave of deep, satisfying currents. She was flung into the heart of the glorious storm." I don't know if my patience for these is just wearing thin with time or if they're less forgivable when not surrounded by a great story, but man, it's getting old.

Slade's dust bunny Rex is definitely a high point, some of the sex is hot and despite its problems the novel is okay. Just not anything more than okay.

Canyons is, in my opinion, the weakest of the Looking Glass trilogy, which is the weakest of the Arcane series. Don't give up on Arcane or Castle. She has a lot to offer. You just won't find much of it here.

I had preordered this book and was delighted when it arrived. Having read all of the Arcane Society novels, I knew that once I started reading, I'd be unable to stop. I highly recommend this series, if you are looking for a mystery, romance thriller with a paranormal twist. Second Sight by Amanda Quick was the first paranormal book I'd ever read. I read the back cover and said, "Paranormal?" "What?" "Yuck!" My husband brought this book home to me and since I didn't want to hurt his feelings; I dutifully began reading and thus my love for paranormal books began. This opened the door to all the genres for me. Don't be afraid to try a new genre, you may be amazed at what you find.

For those of you who have not yet read this series, I want to give you a little background on the author. Jayne Anne Krentz writes all of the Arcane Society novels using three different names. When writing about the past, she uses the pseudonym Amanda Quick. When she writes a contemporary story she uses her own name. When she writes about the future on a colonized planet called Harmony, she writes as Jayne Castle. While all of them can be read as a standalone or as part of a trilogy, I recommend reading them in order. I have added the author's link at the bottom of this review, so that you can see the chronological order of the series.

Canyon of the Night, the third book in the Looking Glass Trilogy, takes place on the colonized planet of Harmony. The setting is Rainshadow Island. Protagonist, Charlotte Enright is back on the island after inheriting an antique shop called The Looking Glass. Slade Attridge, a former FBPI agent, returns to accept the chief of police position. They both feel an instant connection, but personal demons leave them leery. Things quickly heat up after a break-in and murder at the Looking Glass. Someone on the island wants them dead and something is definitely wrong with the Preserve. I liked the main characters and was intrigued by some of the town's people. Foreshadowing leads me to believe we will meet them again. The novel is filled with suspense as they work to unravel the mystery. The romance is steamy and discreet, a talent that only Castle (Krentz) can deliver. While wrapping up the murder investigation, the book left many unanswered questions about the Preserve. The story kept me completely engrossed and had me saying things like, "one more chapter and I'll go to bed." I am looking forward to the next book in this series and hoping for some answers.

This book is the third in the Looking Glass Trilogy and first in the Rainshadow series. It takes place on the futuritic world of Harmony and involves parnomal talents, mystery, intrigue, and dust bunnies. Charlotte and Slade meet as teenagers on a remote island in the Amber Sea. Fifteen years later, they are both drawn back to the island and reconnect. This book made references to characters and stories in other Arcane books. I loved the connections. It also ends by solving one mystery but opening the door of another. Can't wait to read the next book.

This book was an enjoyable read. However, when it is viewed as the conclusion of a three part trilogy, it was weak. The glass weapons were glossed over. The engine to create the glass weapons could have been really exciting, but it was just there without anyone really understanding its importance. Rather than taking the time to conclude the current trilogy with all the suspense and detail it deserved, much of this book was used to introduce a new plot line. The Preserve is obviously in a new series, since it did not function in the plot of this one. Several characters played no real role in this book but are probably important in the next one. An allusion was made to something that must be found, but it wasn't. I don't mind a prequel to a new series. I am looking forward to a new series. However, I thought I was buying the conclusion to the current series. I feel cheated because I bought and read the first two books in this series expecting a rousing conclusion in the third. I didn't get the conclusion I was expecting.
What is with the half naked woman on the cover? This must have been Marlowe Jones, the motorcyclist, who is barely in the book. It is certainly not Charlotte, a nerdy rainbow reader with glasses.

Fifteen years ago on Rainshadow Island, Charlotte Enright was recued by her hero Slade Attridge from the assault of three drunken off islander visitors near the Preserve. She already had a young girl's crush on the orphan teenager before he saved her. She explained she could read auras, a useless talent for an arcane while he never was registered as a hunter but will soon leave for the Federal Bureau of Psi Investigation academy.

In the present, Charlotte runs her late Aunt Beatrix's Looking Glass Antiques. Slade has just retuned to be the island as the police chief though his talent has become somewhat muted after a traumatic incident though his buddy Rex the dust bunny remains at his side (and on his shoulder). As the pair starts seeing one another, she finds the corpse of a persistent customer who her father felt was a stalker; someone killed Jeremy Gaines in Charlotte's shop.

The final Looking Glass sci-fi romantic suspense (see In too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz and Quicksilver by Amanda Quick) is an engaging and delightful paranormal police procedural. The romantic subplot within the Rainshadow otherworld realm leads in a slow deliberate manner until the homicide investigation begins about half way into the story line, but still does not pick up much speed. Still fans of the Arcane Society saga will enjoy a visit to the island of Rainshadow.

Harriet Klausner

This is second time reading this book. Was just as great as the first time. When you get older and forget what you read you get to enjoy the book again. Only remembered some of it but not who did it. I highly recommend all her books to everyone who love paranormal mysteries.

This is the conclusion of the Arcane Society series according to the author's webpage. I enjoyed the whole series. I thought the futuristic books were a little annoying with the over use of the word rez.
Turns out though that this book is the beginning of the Rainshadow series as written under the name Jayne Castle. There's just enough of a cliffhanger at the end of the book that you want to know what is going on in the Preserve.

Canyons of Night moves the Castle/Krentz/Quick's Looking Glass series back to the future and to a new corner of her Harmony world to finish off the trilogy, while apparently starting a new series of Harmony books set on Rainshadow Island.

Slade Attridge had never planned to return to Rainshadow Island, but having suffered a grievous injury to his hunter talent and on the verge of psi-blindness, after a fifteen year absence he's back to play sheriff while pulling together plans for his soon to be talentless life. Having also recently returned to Rainshadow to take over her late aunt's antique shop, Charlotte is no longer the geeky young girl with a crush on the older Slade - who long ago played knight in shining armor and also took her exploring in the forbidden Preserve - but she is still captivated by Slade.

Taken on it's own or as the start to the books set on Harmony's Rainshadow Island, Canyons of the Night was a cotton candy read - enjoyable, but without much substance. Both of the pair are likeable for the most part, although during the reunion that serves as our intro to our now grown up leads, Charlotte comes across a bit naggy with Slade whose dust bunny pal is on the loose around her precious antiques. But except for a minor snag on their first date, they are pretty much a done deal from the start, so their relationship just flows along to their happily ever after.

Taken as the final chapter in the Looking Glass trilogy however, Canyon of the Night was pretty thin. There a few of the lethal devices make an appearance, along with a key artifact, but the wrap up to the three book saga was just plain anti-climatic with the villain popping up out of nowhere at the end, and then the classic cartoon villain pitfall leading to defeat - the monologue.

Since this is the Rainshadow series starter, there are at few characters introduced and threads left hanging with respect to the mysterious Preserve. So, Canyons of Night was pleasant enough, if not all that satisfying, and I'll likely read the next one and hope for a bit more ghost hunter action the next time 'round.

This is the conclusion of the Arcane Society series according to the author's webpage. I enjoyed the whole series. I thought the futuristic books were a little annoying with the over use of the word rez.
Turns out though that this book is the beginning of the Rainshadow series as written under the name Jayne Castle. There's just enough of a cliffhanger at the end of the book that you want to know what is going on in the Preserve.

Canyons of Night moves the Castle/Krentz/Quick's Looking Glass series back to the future and to a new corner of her Harmony world to finish off the trilogy, while apparently starting a new series of Harmony books set on Rainshadow Island.

Slade Attridge had never planned to return to Rainshadow Island, but having suffered a grievous injury to his hunter talent and on the verge of psi-blindness, after a fifteen year absence he's back to play sheriff while pulling together plans for his soon to be talentless life. Having also recently returned to Rainshadow to take over her late aunt's antique shop, Charlotte is no longer the geeky young girl with a crush on the older Slade - who long ago played knight in shining armor and also took her exploring in the forbidden Preserve - but she is still captivated by Slade.

Taken on it's own or as the start to the books set on Harmony's Rainshadow Island, Canyons of the Night was a cotton candy read - enjoyable, but without much substance. Both of the pair are likeable for the most part, although during the reunion that serves as our intro to our now grown up leads, Charlotte comes across a bit naggy with Slade whose dust bunny pal is on the loose around her precious antiques. But except for a minor snag on their first date, they are pretty much a done deal from the start, so their relationship just flows along to their happily ever after.

Taken as the final chapter in the Looking Glass trilogy however, Canyon of the Night was pretty thin. There a few of the lethal devices make an appearance, along with a key artifact, but the wrap up to the three book saga was just plain anti-climatic with the villain popping up out of nowhere at the end, and then the classic cartoon villain pitfall leading to defeat - the monologue.

Since this is the Rainshadow series starter, there are at few characters introduced and threads left hanging with respect to the mysterious Preserve. So, Canyons of Night was pleasant enough, if not all that satisfying, and I'll likely read the next one and hope for a bit more ghost hunter action the next time 'round.

Rainbow Island on the planet named Harmony is an almost perfect place to live, as long as you don’t wander into “The Preserve”. The Preserve is fenced to keep people out but not everyone stays out. It is also a great source of temptation for parts of it are beautiful enough to defy descriptions. But it has been changing since Slade first took Charlotte to see the Preserve, when Charlotte was a teenager. Now as adults both Charlotte and Slade have returned to Rainbow Island. Charlotte has inherited an antiques shop and Slade is filling in as Sheriff while he makes plans for his uncertain future. Strange things start to happen and a man turns up dead in the antiques shop while the erratic weather becomes even more unusual. There is romance and mystery and an ending that promises that more interesting things will be happening on Rainbow Island.

I always enjoy the Jayne Castle books but this one felt a bit lacking in depth. The characters were likable and interesting but their psychic talents were never explored in very great depth - and really that is sort of the point of the series. As others have mentioned, the ending left too much hanging for future books. Another major gripe is the stupid cover! What idiot designed it? It has nothing to do with the book at all, and have they not figured out who their primary target audience is? A half-naked, leather clad woman - really?

I love Jayne Ann Krentz's books, but her futuristics as Jayne Castle are my favorite and CANYONS OF NIGHT are a great new twist to this series. It takes us out of the glowiing caves and onto an islands, and gives us a whole new spooky preserve with a mysterious pond. I can't wait to see what kind of monster is in it. We've got a lot of new characters to watch develop, the jokes about the everlasting zucchini bread were hysterical, and I liked Rex the dust bunny even better than Elvis, altho that was a tough call. Althogether a really great read!

Others have synopsized the story very well, so I'll just jump straight into the review... I really enjoyed reading the first two books of the Looking Glass series. The first book was a shoe-in because I was anxiously awaiting for Fallon Jones' story. I wasn't sure about the second book, Quicksilver, but it gripped me immediately. Unfortunately, I can not say the same about the third, Canyons of Night. I only connected somewhat with the main characters, but I really did enjoy some of the side characters. I will admit I never saw the villian coming until about 5 pages before the big reveal, but I agree with another reviewer that was because the villian seemed more like an afterthought. Besides not really connecting with (and therefore not caring enough about) the main charcters, my biggest complaint is that after reading the entire book, I still don't understand what a rainbow reader is... something to do with auras??? I always anxiously wait for Jayne's next book whether it be as Amanda Quick, Jayne Krentz or Jayne Castle, but I was a bit disappointed in this one. Still, I will check out her next novel because I'm not ready to give up on her just because this one was less than her best.

Charlotte has had a crush on Slade since the night he saved her from her attackers when she was a teen. The two of them have always had some sort of connection, but Charlotte's talent has made it somewhat difficult for her to be in relationships. That is until Slade.

Both were the perfect match for the other. They were these quirky characters that had just the right amount of chemistry. I really liked both Slade and Charlotte from the beginning. I liked all the residents of the island.

The mystery aspect was interesting enough. I didn't suspect the culprit at all. That person was never really on my radar.

A nice addition to the series.

A very disappointing end to the trilogy. Not up to her usual. Seems kind of forced rather than well planned or inspired. The characters could be charming, delightful but they seem only partially developed -- caricatures. The story lacks her usual pizazz. It left me flat.

I love her books, usually, not this one. I recently read her new one, "Copper Beach: A Dark Legacy Novel," a huge improvement over this one.

I absolutely love all Jayne Ann Krentz books but as stated on other reviews - especially those written under her Jayne Castle pen name. What a delightful writer for my purposes - she entertains me - no HO HUM reading her books.

I usually really look forward to Jayne Castle's Harmony books. But Canyons of Night is disappointing: poorly written, simplistic plot, lukewarm characters and no real satisfying ending. Must have been written for a short deadline. I do not like to see good authors suddenly feel like they can ride their success and fame by writing a poor novel, just to get by.

Book Three of the Looking Glass Trilogy this was really more of a set up for future books. The romance was nice, the dialog snappy but a lot was left unsolved. Future visits to Harmony are in the making. In fact I just read that Jayne Castle will be writing a new trilogy set on Harmony. I really enjoy the books and look forward to future stories.

"Canyons of the Night", which title is referred to in the story, but never explained, is typical of her books these last couple of years. Pages of dialog (during which characters explain the obvious) and practically no prose (not until almost half way through the book).

There were 15 pages - yes, I counted them! - in which the main characters explained to each other what had happened...and then 25 pages of previews for the two books published prior to this one.
Arrgh.

What is really sad is that Krentz was one of the first authors to venture into romantic SciFi...what would later be classed as the Paranormal genre. And she was superb! As a serious SciFi fan, I really loved those books. But these later series don't hold a candle to her earlier paranormal works!

If you would like to read what some of what I considered her really good paranormals, look for these books that were written during the 1980-90's:

Shields Lady (Amanda Glass)
Orchid,
Amaryllis,
Zinnia,
Gift of Gold,
Gift of Fire,
Sweet Starfire,
Coral Kiss,
Crystal Flame

Krentz/Castle/Quick is no longer an auto buy for me; I've gone from "OMG...I've got to buy that book..." to "I'll look for it in the used book store next time I'm there..."

So sad.

I read the previous 16 reviews and found something to agree with in all of them. I rated this 5 stars because even though this is one of her less engaging books, it is still better than most others in the romance/suspense genre, and I will re-read it again and again as I do all of the Krentz/Castle/Quick books.

And how could anyone not find Rex totally adorable? After Fuzz, he's my favorite dust bunny--clutch purse and all!

what a disappointment this book was after so enjoying all of the other stories and series by this author. the ending left so many questions unanswered. It felt as if several chapters were left out...unfinished. Maybe the lost chapters will show up?