An interesting story - as much for what's left out or just mentioned in passing as for what's explained. There's a lot about the Alban culture and the whys of it (though I don't think they ever explain the disdain in which sorcery is held), rather neatly set into the interstices of an invasion story from the point of view of the invader. Aside from the poacher early on, we basically see the whole story from Talvalin's viewpoint, and thus from an (introspective) Alban viewpoint. ( )