The Bewitchments of Love and Hate is the second book of the Wraeththu trilogy, following on from The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit. It is from the point of view of Swift, the harling (child) of the beautiful Cobweb and Terzian, one the leaders of the brutal Varr tribe.

This book provides a unique perspective, that of one of the first Wraeththu to grow up after the time of men, when men are almost mythical creatures, bizarre and frightening.

The environment of Forever, Swift's home, is one of peace and lazy, indolent childhood days. Cobweb's superstitions govern Swift's early years and he only slowly learns about the outside world and the place of the Varrs within it. His journey to adulthood is fast and intriguing, and his world changes often during that time.

Perhaps the greatest changes are those of the relationships between his friends and family. The hatred of Cobweb for Cal becoming love and loyalty, the betrayal of Swift's closest friend, and his own changing perception of the father he adored into a violent and cruel warmonger.

The characters are again the driving force in this novel, their passions, secrets, and fears the pivot on which the whole story turns. Although it deals with the fate of a continent, it is told from the point of view of one person, their place in it and their vulnerabilities in the face of overwhelming change.