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My first glance at the galley covers for this novel, I thought Rorschach ink blots -- then I saw the significant golden horses galloping from the darkness. A fairy tale of an enchanted place with golden horses? Only if seen through the eyes of a mute psychopath who spins gold out of cobwebs in the bowels of a dilapidated stone prison. He imagines his death-row cell an enchanted world where he can magically float up through the walls in the steam of his breath, or step into a book and escape into the sunlight. He is surrounded by monsters, convicted of unspeakable violent crimes, but these inmates fear the mute; he is the most fearful monster in this prison, and the narrator of Denfeld's novel.

Rene Denfeld "is a licensed investigator who specializes in death penalty work. She is known for her diligent, informed and in-depth investigations. Rene has extensive training and experience in subjects including FASD, drug effects and cognitive impairments." [Rene Denfeld web page] This is her first novel and she sticks to the advice, write what you know. In an interview with Harper Books, Denfeld characterized her novel thus: "What does it mean to be human?" Whether or not you find the answer to that most fundamental inquiry of existence, your reaction to this ink blot novel may reveal a lot about your character. The book by design, is intrusive, and uncomfortable, challenging our fundamental beliefs. *There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us,* (as the saying goes) Denfeld gives the monsters the same weight as the angels in her tale. Does this equal weight unbalance and contradict our own comfortable notions of good and evil? Do we truly believe in redemption? Is the death penalty the answer, the balance?

Neither the nature of the narrator's crime, nor his name, are revealed until the end of the novel. Again, Denfeld challenges the reader, how much can we trust this all-seeing narrator? Between brutal depictions of the daily life in this prison, and the vulturous staff, we get the inmate's take on a fellow death-row prisoner about to be executed, York; the angel come to save him, The Lady (a mitigation specialist, mandatory for death penalty cases); and glimpses of a fallen priest, and a struggling warden. As The Lady researches York's case she uncovers his wretched childhood -- the worst kinds of abuse against the little boy and his mentally ill mother, sanctioned by a town that turned their heads. York was "an abortion that went undone." What she finds will justify a change of York's sentence; but York wants to carry on with the death penalty. She must also fight her own battles with the intruding memories of a childhood similar to York's. More challenges: Does York have the right to choose death? How does The Lady see both sides of a monstrous killer and an innocent child and find the footing to fight?

This was the one of the most genre challenging books I have read, and one of the most discomforting. You will see reviews that praise this book as an almost spiritual experience. No doubt, it will justifiably reside on the favorite shelf of many readers. You will also read that it was too dark, depressing, filled with despair, for other readers. And, I believe you will hear the confusion from some readers. I felt 5 *'s, 3 *'s and at times the emotions plummeted my assessment to 1*, finally settling on 4'*s because of the book's theme of balance. Inarguably 5*'s is Denfeld's writing -- it is breathtakingly beautiful and goes against all the usual tenets of writing...like seeing the opalescent sheen of a horrific soul-eating beast's scales lit by it's fiery breath and incongruously exclaiming, "Oh, so beautiful." That contradiction brings me to my trouble with seeing just the redemptive beauty of this book.

I felt manipulated at times, or, under an enchanted spell constructed from words and golden images. Free from the intoxication, I didn't see the illusion without first, the suggestion. I could not completely equate good and evil aligned side by side, the wounded child and the vile murderer, and remain neutral. And, maybe that was the true magic of this book, an author's challenge successfully met. Myself, in spite of my never-ending quest to walk in gratitude, grace, and compassion, I still lack the true compassion of saints, and any hope for the wisdom of Solomon. With a similar background as Denfeld's, I have worked with people that have lost their humanness. I confess that somewhere along the line, I lost my ability to balance events like Sandy Hook with compassion and comprehension; I began to believe in monsters even though I prefer to dwell on prancing golden horses in the dark shadows. Denfeld shows a talent beyond writing with her ability to be charitable, to create compassion, and open our hearts. I admire her grace.

What will you see? Will you believe in redemption? Will you see golden horses and angels, or monsters with black souls? I hope to keep coming back to see other reviews and opinions. This is a book that needs discussion; a brave, beautifully written book regardless of any ratings, and I hope to read more from this magnificent writer in the future.