If you like the style of Guy Gavriel Kay I think you will love this book. I picked this book up because the cover intrigued me, a silly reason I know, but this has turned out to be one of my favorite books of the year.

The World
The book takes place in a fairly typical medival fantasy type world, although guns do exist so I guess it would be a little later than a medival time. We know it is not earth because there are six moons in the sky, but other than that it is a pretty typical world. Magic does exist, but there are no wizards or such in the story.

The Characters
Dr. Vossill is a foreign woman doctor in a country that does not approve of women or foreigners. She has landed a job with the king, but it is obvious someone does not trust her. We learn about her character from spy reports written about her and delivered to an unknown entity.

DeWar is a foreign body guard to the "king" of a totally different country. He has no friends other than an old concubine who is more than she seems.

The Plot
We alternately read about Dr. Vossil and DeWar, and their misadventures in courts of powerful kings. As the story progresses we slowly learn that the two may have something in common, but it is up to the reader to determine what that may be.

The plot is one of courtly intruges and murderous plots. Can DeWar and Dr. Vossil survive in the service of their kings?

The Grade
The grade is simple. I give it 5 out of 5 amulets. Banks uses some very unique narration styles and plot twists to create a beautiful and haunting story.

Caleyna

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