Fan's of dark fantasy such as Kushiel's Trilogy by Jacqueline Carey will be thrilled with Sarah Monette's Melusine. A dark tale of magic, corruption, madness and the depth of love between brothers set in its own complex world makes this a book well worth reading and earning a spot in the most discerning of fantasy libraries.

Melusine is the story of two brothers, unknown to each other and only brought together in their darkest hour by a fate more often cruel than kind. Felix Harrowgate is a handsome, powerful wizard, though he harbours dark secrets of his past. Mildmay the Fox is a kept-thief, a wanted murderer, and Felix's half brother.

When Felix's former master, Malkar, abuses him yet again and channels Felix's own substantial powers to destroy the Virtu, a magical icon protecting the Mirador. The combination of the physical, mental abuse and the backlash of power seem to destroy Felix's mind reducing him to a terrfied shell who is then used again as a scapegoat by the very people who should have been able to see the damage done to him as well as the damage that was wrought through him.

When fate brings Mildmay, rather than Felix, to a foreign wizard by way of a calling charm, the wheels are set in motion and once the two meet there is no doubt of their shared parentage, but neither know much of there parents other than their mothers first name. With escape or capture and death as their only choices, Mildmay and Felix are forced to run and the bond between the brothers strengthens. Though Felix's bouts with sanity are few, those moments have been prophetic and Mildmay is inclined to believe his brother know much more than his shattered mind can often share.

They must find the illusive gardens Felix "sees" and they must stay alive depending on Mildmay's considerable survival instincts to do so or they will both go die horribly. They will either live together or they will die together.This is a powerful first novel and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the second The Virtu to continue the adventures of Felix and Mildmay.