The novel opens with a dry and complex Prologue that outlines the history of Foxe's world over the past millennium. Get through it as best you can, because you'll need this information later in the story. Once you're past the prologue, the writing smooths out and you plunge into a vivid world occupied by fully realized characters.

Vengeance Moon really begins with a Summoning. Walter, the Hunt leader, and his men cannot refuse this call -- the Goddesses deem it a worthy cause. Lady Richenza's Summons is the first in more than 300 years, in a time when the Hunt is all but forgotten, a tale told around the fireside to shorten the long winter nights.

Foxe handles her players well, developing each member of the Hunt as he becomes pivotal to the story. However, with such a densely populated book, sometimes it's hard to remember who is who. In Richenza's world, your social status depends almost entirely upon who your relatives are; this leads to long, complicated genealogies and people with similar names. And because I hate referring to character lists in the front of books (talk about lexus interruptus), I just muddled through and eventually got everybody straight.

Perhaps the most refreshing aspect of Vengeance Moon is how unpredictable it is. It's not about Good and Evil, or about Issues. It's about people. Characters reveal themselves to be different from what you thought at first. The plot twists like Chubby Checker on a double espresso. And like all good fiction, this novel is a mystery as much as it is a fantasy.

Foxe also has a penchant for conveying crucial information through dialogue. I have long suspected that philosophical conversations among characters often interest authors more than readers, but in this case the exchanges rarely feel contrived. She also avoids the mystery-novel trap of people over-explaining where they've been and what they've found. Her characters usually speak in realistic sentences, rather than long-winded expository essays:

"'As Reynard reported yesterday, the queen arranged for me to meet with her tonight. I just came from the palace.'

'You didn't let yourself be followed?'

'I know my business better than that.'

'You've had enough practice.'

Hamon's eyes flashed at that, challenged by the thought that Walter might be picking a quarrel, but Hamon rejected the bait and said lightly, 'Indeed I have. Walls are no obstacle nor jealous husbands. Love is a fine locksmith...'  'Did you get the ring?' Walter cut him off."

Vengeance Moon is original and compelling. Despite the cruel non-ending, I recommend this book to anyone searching for a different twist on the fantasy genre. And who knows, maybe the sequel will make my suffering worthwhile.