This is my first Nora Roberts novel, and, after having read it, I can definitely see why she’s a perennial bestseller. Her writing is crisp, her characters vivid and compelling, and her romance utterly and hopelessly bittersweet. With a story that is fantastic, while at the same time very real and emotional, Valley of Silence is all that a paranormal romance should be. Its only real drawback for me was that it is the third and final chapter in a series and, not having read the two previous Circle trilogy books, I was a bit in the dark.

True, Roberts does provide a good deal of background. In previous books, Morrigan, the Celtic goddess, chose one man – a sorcerer named Hoyt – to gather a Circle of Six to fight for humanity against a demon army, led by Lilith, the Vampire Queen. Hoyt traveled through time to choose for his Six: a “good” vampire (Cian,) a shape-shifter, a Buffy-style demon hunter, a magic-user, and a scholar (Princess Moira.) The final battle for all humanity is destined to be fought in the Kingdom of Geall, a mythical land ruled by Moira. The battle itself will be on cursed ground in the Valley of Silence, the site of a long-ago battle between demons and gods.

In this third and final book, in the trilogy, the Six have marshaled and trained an army they plan to lead against Lilith’s own forces. The Geall army is brave, noble, utterly human, and willing to give life and soul in this battle. Lilith’s army, on the other hand, is made up of those who are already dead and, having nothing to lose, care for nothing but a victory.

During the previous books, four characters have paired off, leaving only the Princess and the Vampire unattached. Lovely Princess Moira has her eyes on vampire Cian, and, in this final chapter of the trilogy, isn’t taking “no” for an answer.

Valley of Silence is both the story of the Six’s battle against Lilith and her demon army as well as the culmination of Cian and Moira’s love story. Obviously, the two are devoted to each other. Realistically, however, Cian knows that he and Moira will never live happily ever after – she’ll grow old and never have children and will eventually hate him for his youth, or, even worse, ask him to turn her into a vampire. Both living through or dying in the ultimate battle seems dismal to Cian, so, he focuses all his energy on destroying Lilith.

Lilith is the perfect villainess. She has no redeeming qualities and makes Cruella deVille or even Buffy’s Drusilla look like the average girl next door. Lilith’s idea of fun is slaughtering a village or two and then going out for drinks. There is absolutely no virtue in Lilith’s camp, which makes the war completely justifiable. The outcome of the battle, as well as the juxtaposition of Cian against Lilith, is very black and white. If Lilith wins, the world is doomed. If Geall wins, then humanity is saved and Lilith’s army of darkness will be wiped from the earth.

As you might imagine, Cian and Moira’s romance is a dark one. Cian is tormented by his nature — and, although he won’t admit it, by his past. Moira is struggling to become a Queen and a leader. Not only must she come to terms with war and her new authority, but she has to accept what a relationship with Cian would mean in the long run. As a Queen, she needs heirs. With Cian, that would be impossible.

Roberts does a wonderful job of paralleling Cian and Moira’s struggle against the war. Their story and their possible union (one of light with darkness) is a nice counter to Lilith and Cian’s turbulent history. Valley of Silence is a fairy tale, but a dark one, in the true tradition of the Brothers Grimm. The heroes are troubled, the villains are wicked, and the outcome is always uncertain.

Altogether, this final book in Roberts’ Circle trilogy is a brilliant story very well told, with just the right amount of gothic darkness, reckless hope, and romantic tension. The characters are heartbreakingly real and you will really feel for each of them. If you’re a Roberts’ newbie like me or you are a long-time fan, you’ll love this story. It is a war story, but also a love story. And, whether you are a fan or love or war (or both,) it’s a keeper and one that I’ll definitely read again.