Short Excerpt
"In the shadowed corner, runes carved into the stone floor curved outward, and a char-coated brazier stood in their center. Staring into the brazier's black concave bottom, Dirkk muttered beneath his breath. A sickly green ember formed and floated in the darkness. He leaned forward and breathed upon it. Once. Twice. Three times. The ember flared, casting an evil blue upon his face. The flame spread until green fire filled, then danced suspended on the air."

Review Quotes
"Regan and Kelsey are take-charge, passionate heroines with riveting story-lines. An added treat is a beguiling cast of secondary characters, all with their own stories. The mixture of spellbinding romance and dark adventure left me eagerly anticipating the third tale."
4 1/2 stars
Susan Mitchell for Romantic Times Book Club Magazine

"This tale is an even greater book as Barbara M. Hodges paints a vivid picture of her magical realm, but Dirkk seems more genuine as a clever but malevolent strategist. Fans of deep sword and sorcery tales will appreciate this fast-paced story that connects Earth with Daradawn."
Harriet Klausner
Reviewed July 31, 2003

"Fans of powerful sword and sorcery tales will want to read the tremendous The Emerald Dagger, a descriptive epic fantasy that leaves the audience believing in Daradawn and the once in seven-year bridge between worlds. This second tale avoids the middle book syndrome due to the villain, a brilliant but evil strategist who makes this a winner for sub-genre fans."
5 STARS
AFFAIRE de' COEUR

"Once again, Ms. Hodges has a winning story. Even more complex and magnificently detailed than the first in the series, EMERALD DAGGER is exciting, heart rending, and enchanting. Characters maintain a continuity and heroism that makes the entire world she has created logical and reasonable. Love and heart break intertwine with action and magic. The lead to a sequel is left open in a very realistic, not at all forced, manner. This is a world readers will be happy to visit again and again."
Amanda Killgore
Huntress Reviews