After reading two books by Sharon Shinn, I feel it is safe for me to say that she is a lover of the traditional fantasy. She takes old tropes and cliches and uses them to her advantage, breathing new life into them and twisting them into new directions. Shinn's prose, as always, is elegant in its moderation; never does it seem to wordy or too succinct. As with the other book that I read by her, Archangel, it is primarily her characterization that makes this story more enjoyable than your standard fantasy adventure. Following Senneth, Kirra, Justin, Tayse, Donnel and Cammon across the landscape of Gillengaria was enthralling and immersing.

Senneth, who is one of two main leads whom our story's perspective is written from, is especially wonderful. She is the type of female protagonist seen so rarely in fantasy; strong, bold, but not solitary or aloof; Senneth shows emotions and femininity while still retaining her power and passion. Her strength comes through her womanhood; not in spite of it. Her personal struggles are not her own; rather, her purpose and her existence (contrary to her original designs) becomes validated and centered around the companions she grows to love. This sort of a character, whose unfolding realization is captivating in its gradual, steady portrayal, is something that immediately took hold of me, both as a reader and an amateur writer. Shinn really knows how to write good characters, and Senneth is a prime example of such a character, who's complexity is only matched by her subtlety.

The book further delves into deeper social and philosophical constructs: racism, classism, and the ambiguity of one's own righteousness or conviction, for example, are all touched on throughout the novel. While it is only a brief spattering, I for one like a book that shows it's characters can and do think deeply. Overall, it was an engrossing romp and a novel filled with joy. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Shinn's world; enough that I am setting off to find the second book in the series as we speak.