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Crossroads #2
Under the Healing Sign
BJ Vaughan has ventured beyond the frontiers of science to become a veterinarian in Crossroads--where she treats species she thought only existed in fantasy. Unfortunately, others have learned the way to Crossroads, those who threaten to tear this magical place apart.
337 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 28, 2012
2.5. I've become more fond of this book with successive re-reads, and knowing more how it is the start of some interesting themes and storylines that continue in book three. But on its own it is still the weakest of the three Crossroads books. There is a character who appears in what is almost a framing story, and I swear she exists only to say clueless and inadvertently painful things. She has no relevance to the plot and doesn't appear in book 3. (Oh, and she didn't appear in book 1.)
May 16, 2022
С моей точки зрения, вторая часть цикла о мире Перекрестка значительно слабее первой. Это видно преимущественно в сюжетном плане, так как особого напряжения или непредсказуемости в книге не чувствуется. Да, вот-вот должна напасть Моргана, но все как-то очень спокойно и по плану. Есть довольно большое количество эпизодов "постольку поскольку", то есть они никак по сути не относятся к главному сюжету, а просто вводят в канву повествования для того, чтобы показать какие-нибудь "примечательные" виды Перекрестка, как птицы-огнепоклонники или люди-тюлени. Одним словом, если положить руку на сердце, то будь вторая часть самостоятельной книгой, она была бы посредственна, однако если вы из тех, кто, как и я, по уши влюбился в первую часть, то обаяние главных персонажей спасет вторую часть. Грифон все также ироничен и умен, Кружка все также похож на мудрого и заботливого дедушку, фавн Стефан неизменно мил и наивен. Эти персонажи удались автору так хорошо, что пока он не скатится в откровенную муть, они способны удерживать читателя. Поэтому третья часть тоже будет обязательно прочитана в скором времени.
8 / 10
December 14, 2025
There's a real trick to gently reminding readers about critical plot points from the prior book(s) in a series while writing subsequent installments, and O'Donohoe simply doesn't worry about that. We're diving straight into book 2 with no refreshers helpfully sprinkled throughout, and yeah it's my fault for forgetting to pick up the sequel for nearly a decade, but still, buckle up or have the first one handy for a re-read. Jumping in shortly after the events of book one, this is still a uniquely inventive riff on portal fantasy, where a veterinarian afflicted with a terminal condition is healthy as long as she lives in the secret otherworld, taking care of weres and unicorns and centaurs. The story itself is unfortunately not as engaging as the setting, and without any of those helpful refreshers, I struggle to remember loving this cast of characters (other than our heroine BJ). The plot is also a bit too realistic, at least as far as the pain and loss inherent to medicine, where you certainly lose some as painfully as the joys of your wins, and ends on a bittersweet down note. I love the idea of veterinary/medical fantasy, but might be done with this one in particular.
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May 27, 2020These books randomly popped into my head the other night when I remembered reading them YEARS ago. Can't remember a thing about them, but I do recall staying up late reading. This must have been one of those random library picks back when I used to wander the actual shelves before Goodreads...
October 31, 2014
BJ has made Crossroads her permanent home and set up a practice there. Unfortunately, even the everyday bizarre is falling back as Morgan continues to assault Crossroads. BJ also has to deal with an increasingly complicated love life; both she and Stefan have a lot to adjust to personally that is changing their relationship with each other.
As with The Magic and the Healing, veterinary medicine is one of the main concerns of the book. BJ and her friends from the last book have all graduated and are working their own practices in various parts of the world. A lot of the book focuses on various situations where BJ and sometimes a friend or two are working on an animal. It's still understandable even without knowing all the terms they use, which is nice, and having those terms in there makes it clear the author's done his research.
On the other hand, I didn't see as much tension in this book as the last one. Stefan is recuperating from his morphine addiction, just as BJ is trying to come to grips with her miraculous healing. Without the added depth of her personal struggle, this book lost a bit. Also the relationship between the two of them progressed into sex, which although not detailed, still ruined a lot of it for me.
The final battle with Morgan amused me. It was easy to see what was going on with Fields, as well as where that would eventually lead. BJ's idea to move everything out of Crossroads was interesting, but it also made Crossroads look like it only had about a half-dozen species. I realize they were only moving the bigger ones, and that Fields did a lot of it without her, but still...
All in all, if you liked the first book you might as well read this one. It's a bit weak to stand on its own. I liked the story, but given some of the content (and the fact that the plot doesn't really seem to go anywhere much for a large part of the book; Morgan is in the background but practically ignored until the end), Neutral.
As with The Magic and the Healing, veterinary medicine is one of the main concerns of the book. BJ and her friends from the last book have all graduated and are working their own practices in various parts of the world. A lot of the book focuses on various situations where BJ and sometimes a friend or two are working on an animal. It's still understandable even without knowing all the terms they use, which is nice, and having those terms in there makes it clear the author's done his research.
On the other hand, I didn't see as much tension in this book as the last one. Stefan is recuperating from his morphine addiction, just as BJ is trying to come to grips with her miraculous healing. Without the added depth of her personal struggle, this book lost a bit. Also the relationship between the two of them progressed into sex, which although not detailed, still ruined a lot of it for me.
The final battle with Morgan amused me. It was easy to see what was going on with Fields, as well as where that would eventually lead. BJ's idea to move everything out of Crossroads was interesting, but it also made Crossroads look like it only had about a half-dozen species. I realize they were only moving the bigger ones, and that Fields did a lot of it without her, but still...
All in all, if you liked the first book you might as well read this one. It's a bit weak to stand on its own. I liked the story, but given some of the content (and the fact that the plot doesn't really seem to go anywhere much for a large part of the book; Morgan is in the background but practically ignored until the end), Neutral.
March 7, 2025
I knew I was going to reread this trilogy this year, I didn't expect to pick up Book 2 for something to keep me busy while walking and end up reading the whole thing in less than 24 hours. I loved these books as a teen and young adult, seeing them now through an adult reader's eyes I can really see the craft. The seeds of book 2 were planted in book 1, and I can see the seeds of book 3 here. Just really, really well done.
The plot could have been rushed or grimdark to an extent, but the events are paced, it's made clear that time is passing, and the rising horror of Morgan's imminent return to Crossroads is interspersed with small bright joys, like the unicorns, Stefan (oh honey, "Strictly Ballroom" wasn't quite made when this book was written, I wish I could watch it with you), Rudy and Bambi's wedding, and the encounter with Brendan. Make no mistake, though, the story is as harsh in places as the first. People die. People you love will die, and it will hurt just as much as it hurts BJ and her friends, because this is real life and war and sometimes that happens. This shocked me as a teenager, and yet...the book wasn't talking down to me, if that makes sense. Actions had consequences, and just because Crossroads was magic didn't mean the magic could fix everything.
Are they a little dated now, thirty years later? Yes, somewhat. BJ is constantly writing letters to her friends (would the Internet even work in Crossroads?), and the two examples of online activity we see are library research and a throwaway reference to the Griffin utilizing a chat room. Still, everything feels real, even the unreal things. I love these books so much. If I found the Book of Strangeways, I would risk a lifetime of being utterly unable to read maps for a chance to walk carefully into Crossroads.
The plot could have been rushed or grimdark to an extent, but the events are paced, it's made clear that time is passing, and the rising horror of Morgan's imminent return to Crossroads is interspersed with small bright joys, like the unicorns, Stefan (oh honey, "Strictly Ballroom" wasn't quite made when this book was written, I wish I could watch it with you), Rudy and Bambi's wedding, and the encounter with Brendan. Make no mistake, though, the story is as harsh in places as the first. People die. People you love will die, and it will hurt just as much as it hurts BJ and her friends, because this is real life and war and sometimes that happens. This shocked me as a teenager, and yet...the book wasn't talking down to me, if that makes sense. Actions had consequences, and just because Crossroads was magic didn't mean the magic could fix everything.
Are they a little dated now, thirty years later? Yes, somewhat. BJ is constantly writing letters to her friends (would the Internet even work in Crossroads?), and the two examples of online activity we see are library research and a throwaway reference to the Griffin utilizing a chat room. Still, everything feels real, even the unreal things. I love these books so much. If I found the Book of Strangeways, I would risk a lifetime of being utterly unable to read maps for a chance to walk carefully into Crossroads.
December 27, 2015
"The Magic and the Healing" was one of my favorite fantasy books from the 1990s, and "Under the Healing Sign," its sequel, is a worthy follow-up. In it, BJ, who *****SPOILER ALERT******
was diagnosed with Huntington's disease in the first book, is living and working in Crossroads, whose magical field has stopped and even reversed the progression of the disease. There are more wonderful magical creatures, e.g., silkies, and we find out more about the gryphons, the wyr, and so on. For those of us who love "vet lit," BJ's medical cases are fascinating in and of themselves. There is also an overarching non-medical plot, about a scheme to invade Crossroads, which would destroy it, thus condemning BJ to a slow death from the illness that Crossroads' magic has been protecting her from. BJ must rally her disparate magical troops to save both Crossroads and herself...
Aside from the combination of vet medicine and the magical "pocket world" in the Blue Ridge mountains, perhaps the best thing about this book (also the previous book, but particularly in this one) are its heroines. A significant number of the main characters, including of course BJ, are female, and the relationships between BJ, Fiona, DeeDee, Morgan, Felaris, Polyta, and all the other strong (either good or evil) female characters really makes this book stand out from the crowd. Once again, I don't understand why these books aren't more popular than they are, and if you pick up one portal fantasy this year, let it be this one.
was diagnosed with Huntington's disease in the first book, is living and working in Crossroads, whose magical field has stopped and even reversed the progression of the disease. There are more wonderful magical creatures, e.g., silkies, and we find out more about the gryphons, the wyr, and so on. For those of us who love "vet lit," BJ's medical cases are fascinating in and of themselves. There is also an overarching non-medical plot, about a scheme to invade Crossroads, which would destroy it, thus condemning BJ to a slow death from the illness that Crossroads' magic has been protecting her from. BJ must rally her disparate magical troops to save both Crossroads and herself...
Aside from the combination of vet medicine and the magical "pocket world" in the Blue Ridge mountains, perhaps the best thing about this book (also the previous book, but particularly in this one) are its heroines. A significant number of the main characters, including of course BJ, are female, and the relationships between BJ, Fiona, DeeDee, Morgan, Felaris, Polyta, and all the other strong (either good or evil) female characters really makes this book stand out from the crowd. Once again, I don't understand why these books aren't more popular than they are, and if you pick up one portal fantasy this year, let it be this one.
September 27, 2024
This looked interesting. I love animals and adore reading about fantastical animals.
Didn't know it was a sequel to another book. Was still GREAT, but immediately had to get the library to looking for book 1 (and book 3) for me to read RIGHT NOW!
Now I have my own copies. And I ain't lending THEM out.
re-read 2/21/2014 -- OK, I lied... I lent them to my vet...
Didn't know it was a sequel to another book. Was still GREAT, but immediately had to get the library to looking for book 1 (and book 3) for me to read RIGHT NOW!
Now I have my own copies. And I ain't lending THEM out.
re-read 2/21/2014 -- OK, I lied... I lent them to my vet...
August 14, 2009
I enjoyed the first book so much, but this one was disappointing. It was a huge downer, the characters didn't sparkle like they did in the first book and I didn't like the direction O'Donahoe took Crossroads.
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October 8, 2007This is book 2 of 3. Book 1 is my favorite of the two I've read.
March 26, 2009
Wonderful. Really a great adventure to add to this world.
March 23, 2011
I loved this series.
July 13, 2014
It was wonderful to return to a world I really love (Crossroads) and experience a new story, even if it made me cry like a baby.
March 17, 2016
Did not quite live up the the promise of the first book. Still good but not as good as the first one.
March 23, 2016
A good sequel - liked the final resolution as well.
February 17, 2019
The second in one of my favorite trilogies of all time. Well written with excellent character development, with a veterinarian as the heroine. Enjoying my re-read tremendously.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews