I read this book when it first came out and finished it in forty eight hours. Hand is one of my favorite writers,I have followed her work since Winterlong. Waking the Moon is my favorite. This is a dark, gothic fantasy where secret societies and demon angels exist and plot for world domination using every means at thier disposal. This book has already been reviewed many times and I cannot add much except to say that I loved the way she used both the song lyrics of legendary early rock singer Roky Erickson side by side with the depressive poetry of C.P Cavafy. Erickson had a good early start but succumbed to mutliple bouts of mental illness, many say brought on by drugs. The lyrics she used in Waking the Moon are perfect in the context of the story.