Shadowdance is truly Mr. Bailey's best work to date, and certainly one of the most gorgeous books I have ever read. The story itself is original and compelling, in which a young man named Innowen, who was born without the use of his legs, meets a witch one stormy night, and she gifts him with the ability to walk, but only at night, and he must dance every night if he wishes to keep the gift. The other side of his gift, though, is that the dance awakens the darkest desires of those who witness it. The novel contained a number of twists to the plot, all of which worked beautifully, none of which were predictable. Bailey's writing skill meets its peak in this work, every word is necessary and perfect. Bailey's handling of the events in the book is masterful as well, and I was particularly struck by how well he portrayed the relationship between Innowen and his lover, a young man named Razkilli, especially when one considers the "touchiness" of such a subject, even in our society of today. However, Bailey cannot be accused of being too shy or too subtle with scenes that would have been hurt by such an attitude, particularly in the battles and in a graphic encounter between the witch and her son. The novel is a dark fantasy, an advisory warning to the easily offended, or faint-of-heart. Which is not to say that the degree of graphic portrayal in this story is to any extreme, or exceeds that of many other books in the same genre. I must heartily recommend this novel, it was truly a story to be experienced, and brought me to tears more than once. The level of emotion that Bailey manages to establish and maintain in his brilliant story is what helped to make it what it was - a purely enjoyable and unforgettable read.--Carrie A. Hirsc