From Publishers Weekly

In the fourth and final volume in his Age of Unreason series (Newton's Cannon, etc.), Keyes brings his multi-threaded yarn to a thrilling conclusion. Based on the premise that Sir Isaac Newton devised a theory of alchemy that led to the industrial use of demons, the book builds to a climactic confrontation to see who will reshape the universe. Chief among Newton's apprentices are wizard/scientist Benjamin Franklin, South Carolina's ambassador to the court of New Paris (Mobile), and Adrienne de Montchevreuil, sorceress and heir to a secret tradition. Against them is Adrienne's son, Nicolas (aka the Sun Boy), with his army of Russians, Mongols and Coweta natives that sweeps over the Great Plains. Such imaginative devices as demon-levitated airships and aetherschreibers (wireless sets) lend interest to the author's alternate 18th-century world, as do revelations behind certain historical events, like the identity of who helped Louis XIV drop a comet on London. Keyes entertains both with details of everyday life and with the conversations of people who may not have met but should have. He produces a fine pastiche of the formal writing of Voltaire (who appears as Franklin's friend and rival), marred only by a more modern "crash cut" narrative, which occasionally jumps mid-scene or reverses chronology, diffusing the suspense. Still, with the unfolding of secrets and past deeds, Keyes brings a welcome level of character uncertainty to the deterministic Newtonian novel.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The universe lies on the verge of destruction as demons and angels use mortal wizards and scientists as their agents in a war that pits the forces of a devastated Europe against a handful of American colonists struggling for freedom and survival. In Keyes's heady conclusion to his epic sf tetralogy (which includes Newton's Cannon, A Calculus of Angels, and Empire of Unreason) alchemical wizard Benjamin Franklin uses magic and diplomacy to unite warring factions in a grand alliance to save humanity. Spicing his alternate historical fantasy with Swedenborgian metaphysics and Newtonian physics, Keyes peoples his story with a cast of unforgettable fictional and historical characters. Though dependent on the earlier books, this vivid story of a world in the throes of revolution is highly recommended for all collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up–In this compelling retelling of The Phantom of the Opera, high school senior Esti Legard moves to the island of Cariba, in the West Indies, to begin theater studies at Manchicay School. Once there, she struggles to break free of the shadow of her late father, a legendary actor, in order to be recognized as a legitimate actress in her own right. During tryouts for Romeo and Juliet, Esti hears the seductive voice of a mysterious man–known as Alan–helping her through the audition. Unknown to anyone, she begins meeting privately with him at the theater although he refuses to reveal himself, and she performs in the play under his tutelage. When Esti shares with a classmate that she has been hearing Alan's voice, the news spreads, and the superstitious islanders suspect he is a type of ghost–a jumbee. However, Alan's passion for Shakespeare wins Esti over, and she begins falling for him, unsure of whether she has feelings for a man or a ghost. Further complicating matters is Esti's growing attraction to a family friend turned bad boy, Rafe Solomon. When mysterious accidents befall the set of the play, everyone, including Esti, begins to suspect Alan is behind them. In her quest for the truth, she uncovers shocking secrets about her father and the island. Keyes masterfully weaves Shakespearean dialogue into the narrative in a manner that is accessible to readers. This evocative gothic tale will engage teens looking for an unconventional romance infused with suspense.–Lalitha Nataraj, Chula Vista Public Library, CAα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

A teenage actress falls for a mysterious stranger in this haunting romance, reminiscent of The Phantom of the Opera. High-school senior Esti Legard and her mother have moved to the Caribbean after the death of Esti’s father, a famous Shakespearean actor. While playing Juliet at her prestigious performing-arts high school, Esti starts receiving acting instruction from a disembodied voice in the theater. Frightened that she is being courted by a jumbee, or ghost, Esti tries to switch her attention to charming flesh-and-blood Rafe, but she continues to be seduced by the velvety-voiced persona, which seems to read her mind. When Esti’s real and imagined worlds collide in the climax of a tropical hurricane, her secrets are revealed, along with those of her conflicted island community, where descendants of slaves and slave owners alike live in an uneasy peace. The lushly described exotic setting breathes new life into the classic star-crossed story line. Romance fans will enjoy the fascinating locale along with the slow-building suspense and incidental acting lessons. Grades 8-12. --Jennifer Hubert

War is coming. With the usurper Robert Dare having fled, Princess Anne has finally ascended to the throne to the Kingdom of Crotheny, but it may already be too late to stop the approaching destruction. Dark monstrosities prowl the countryside, and as the holter Asper soon discovers, the Sedos power that granted humanity its freedom may now be responsible for the corruption that will eventually destroy it. As the combined forces of Hansa and the Holy Church mass against the Queen they claim to be an unnatural shinecrafter, Anne's mother Muriele sets out on an embassy of peace to Hansa, accompanied by the knight Sir Neil MeqVren. But, there is more to Muriele's mission than first appears, a fact that puts both of them at the mercy of Hansa's unstable king, and the unkillable Robert Dare. The world has been poisoned, and only the one who gains control of the legendary Sedos Throne can heal it. Anne knows that it must be her, but as she embraces her powers, and the violent impulses they bring, she finds herself changing. Only she can stand against the forces that threaten Crotheny, but the cost of her victory may be too great for the world to bear...