This series keeps expanding rather than just presenting the same kind of story over and over. Here we learn about Magiere's origins, and there are some painful and emotional developments. No black and white characters--even the villains have motivation and are sympathetic. Some questions are answered, but more arise. ( )

Magiere the half-vampire has set off to her homeland of Droevinka to learn more about her own history; even her own birth seems to have been a planned event, and she wants to know why. She and her partner Leesil the half-elven assassin are joined by a young sage named Wynn as they follow the trail that leads back to the sorcerer who planned her very existence.

Adding Wynn to the party makes the relationships of the characters even more complicated, as her scholar's perspective leads to conflicts with the more battle-seasoned Magiere. We also begin to see the stakes in the whole game, and see some of the more compassionate side of a character who was looking quite ruthless. ( )

This one I actually thought would be my least favorite in the series thus far. It might still in some way be. But I do have to give it credit. The last 100 pages pretty much managed to redeem well characters. But let's start at the beginning. Magiere and Leesil are about the only thing that made the book enjoyable at all for the first 300 pages. I don't much like Welstiel and I detest Chane and Wynn. But when they finally gave me Magiere's back story... it was well done. It answered everything I really cared about and it didn't take over 600 pages to do. Yes, JK I'm talking to you. It even made me genuinely respect in some manner Welstiel's actions when prior to this I had merely not cared for him. I now know there is a bit more depth there and I am satisfied. I am even a tiny bit more satisfied with Chane. Largely because I really am beginning to feel that he actually cares enough for Wynn...that maybe just maybe...he could do something awesome. However Wynn is just a whiny bitch. I can't stand her. Wah Wah Woe is her! Oh and Chap....totally awesome! If only because telling off the others of your kind and then basically forcing them to still do what you want....always perfection. I'd love to get a little more on that. Really a whole prologue to the series dealing solely with Chap would be amazing! ( )

Still impressed. It's not the most convoluted story, but the various characters are becoming more and more complex and developed and less and less plot devices and standard fantasy roles.

The chase continues... or rather the side bar to the chase, but various bits are revealed and coped with, or not. There's even a nice post-modernist moment when they're starting and ending the book in a very similar setting and commenting on it; but it's worked in as reasonable comment for the characters too, a trick that too few people pull off. ( )

After finishing their work in Bela, Magiere and her companions head to the village where Magiere was born in search of answers. With the help of Leesil, whose love keeps her strong, Wynn, who injects a much-needed though often resented touch of humanity, and Chap, who forsakes his own kin to stand by her side, Magiere faces the terrible secrets surrounding her own creation and her mother's death.

I liked the fact that Chap got more face time and that some of Welstiel's interest in Magiere was explained. The new villains were satisfyingly difficult to overcome, and the new knowledge gleaned helped flesh out the story. I found Wynn irritatingly naive and unwilling to attempt to understand Magiere (hypocritical too), but I do appreciate her calling for less violence and more humanity as well as judgments of individuals.

The book had many irritating spelling, grammar, and printing mistakes that could have easily been corrected by careful editing. This seemed like it was rushed to the printer's without proper proofreading. That always irritates me in a printed work.

The bottom line, though, is that I enjoyed this book and how it left a good hook for the sequel without forgoing a satisfying conclusion of this installment. ( )