Alanna goes on a quest to find the Dominion Jewel, a legendary stone said to bring prosperity to the land or any ruler to wield it. Meanwhile, she has a feeling that all is not right in Tortall.

I liked this least of all of the books in the quartet because all the little annoyances in the first three books built up and became big annoyances to me in the fourth. I was irritated by the wording of sentences, the easy way Alanna has of going through lovers (three in three books? really?) and the fact that the part of the story I was really interested at the end of [The Woman Who Rides Like a Man] didn't get addressed until the second half of the book. It probably would have gotten a higher rating if I had taken more time between books 3 and 4. ( )

Excellent book, amazing plot, fast-paced and unpredictable. ( )

Awesome, very good book to end an incredible series (or quartet, rather). I don't want to give anything away, but I don't think anyone whose read the first three will be disappointed in this book-everything FINALLY comes to a conclusion, for better or for worse. Its also good to know that there are two other quartets that are set in the land of Tortall, The Immortals takes place pretty soon after this book ends, which is great for people who are hooked on the characters and can't wait to keep reading more. ( )

This book was the BEST of the series! It held me till the end- especially at the end. I couldn't put the book down at all! Alanna fulfills her own destiny, as well as restoring the realm of Tortall. It saddens me that some of her greatest sorrows occur in this book, but they are balanced with her greatest triumphs. I do find myself wishing to follow her still, witnessing her life and going about telling her tales in song as the bards would for ages to come. ( )

I love this series, it is feminist without being preachy or obvious, and written for the growing preteen. There is not always a clear right or wrong answer. And Alanna is complex 3-dimensional person. ( )