This is really more of a three and a half star experience.

I like how comfortable Daine has become with her powers. In fact, that caused some problems when it she began "riding" with the various creatures. I was surprised she had any difficulty with it. It didn't help when the badger showed up to encourage her to try. He felt much too convenient in this book, like Dungeon Master in the cartoon D&D series, though not nearly as annoying.

It was also nice to see some depth given to the immortals. Not everyone is evil in this book, not everyone is good. It's mixed, just like humans/mortals. I have yet to see an evil animal, though. More on that later.

I absolutely love how the friendship has grown between Numair and Daine. His concern for her is even stronger in this book than in the last (if that's possible) but it's never mushy or sickly sweet. I think it has something to do with the threats he gives her. They always make me smile. And when he moves to protect her or tries to rescue her...gah, the feels! His caring always comes through very clearly to me.

The only thing that kills it now and then is when he corrects her grammar, like she's a little kid (which she's fourteen and a half so she kinda still is). That's not treating her like an equal or accepting her. Though I'm starting to wonder if he's doing that on purpose to keep some distance.

Before I leave the topic of Numair, I have to put in this lovely little interaction between him and an innkeeper named Master Parlan:

[Master Parlan] looked [Daine] over, then asked Numair, "Ye said--adjoinin' rooms, sir?"

"Yes," Numair replied. "If there's a connecting door, it must be locked."

The innkeeper bowed, but his eyes were on Daine. "Forgive me, sir--locked?"

Daine blushed, and Numair looked down his nose at the man. "People have sordid minds, Master Parlan." /quote

I LOVE THIS MAN.

Okay, so on to the plot. It's a fairly quiet plot, similar to the first book. I think some people might not care for it because they expect the danger to increase along with the volume count. This book really isn't about any growing conflict. It's about Daine increasing her abilities and growing up in the process. Except for a show-down at the end, there really isn't the same level of physical conflict that existed in the first book. There are no great battles, and, at the risk of spoiling the plot, the political situation doesn't change.

However, that's not to say there isn't conflict or action. There's quite a bit and it is gripping. Daine makes choices and that naturally brings conflict into the plot. I love her reactions when things fall apart and I love how she never abuses her abilities. She's always considerate and that aspect of her grows even more in this book. In fact, her kindness creates conflict all by itself. It's beautiful.

There were only a few things that irritated me, beyond what I've already mentioned.

First, it's clear who Daine's father is. It can't be any clearer. It makes her look dumb when someone actually uses her father's name, even describes what he looks like and when he shows up, and Daine can't piece it together. I know it's implied that someone's blocking that knowledge, but I really didn't appreciate it. It was so frustratingly clear and she's staring at the guy like he's speaking another language. (Like the author can go back and fix it now, heh. :))

Second, Numair's magic confused me. It took a bit to figure out that using different magics means different consequences. He can brew up a potion or wave his hands and that's not going to have a detrimental effect (I guess because he's using his own power), but if he uses a word of power (?) then suddenly there are consequences. Given where this happened in the story and that I don't remember any foreshadowing, it seemed arbitrary. One of those "I'm sorry but I can't rescue you because of this limitation that I've told you about but not the reader" kind of moments. Don't get me wrong. I liked how this limitation was used later on (I really, really liked it) but I wish there had been a little more focus on it in the beginning.

In fact, I wish there was more explanation of Numair's magic, period. I like the contrast between his Gift and Daine's Wild Magic and have I mentioned that I love the way it's described? I always see it as black with white sparkles, which makes me think of the night sky. It's beautiful. I have no idea if that's how Ms. Pierce wants others to see it, but that's how I see it.

Okay, enough fangirling. Back to the review.

Third, the thing with Carthak is getting old. Though I appreciated learning more about the mages, the university, and the way they think, I'm getting tired of nothing happening politically. It really does feel like the Cold War and it's just as tense and unrewarding.

Fourth, and finally, I hope in the next novel, animals are shown to be evil as well on occasion, just like the immortals and humans. Otherwise, the series begins to feel a little like a lecture on the inherent goodness of animals. I'd like to see something like what Kipling did with Shere Khan, or even Kaa, who was always ambiguous when it came to good and evil.

Either way, the series is still good enough to keep me reading. Always a good thing. :)