As mage storms continue to sweep across Valdemar and her allied countries, Sunpriests and Heralds alike attempt to ferret out some method of preserving their populations from the devastating magical phenomena. Young Karal, finds his position as the Karse envoy heavy going, as rumors sweep the court that he has colluded with the Empire. In Hardorn, Duke Tremane begins to consolidate his position, regretting more than ever his previous actions against Valdemar and the allies.

A building book. Interesting to see the engineers and mechanically-inclined get some of their due here. ( )

Plot: It has a plot! It's a very predictable plot and it's clear from the beginning how it's going to end, but there is a plot. Two plots, in fact. One is full of angst and drama and romance and predictability, the other manages occasional moments of suspense and irony. Both are on the same theme - overcoming very bad odds and saving the world. Or your corner of the world.

Characters: Tremane gets fleshed out and develops in predictable but still interesting ways, as does Karal. The rest is given a lot of time to flail and throw tantrums and be dramatic, or alternatively be competent and exotic, and generally not terribly interesting.

Style: The book feels unfinished. Several major plotholes and logical gaps, and the writing is somehow off. There's too much clumsy teenage romance for the atmosphere to really work, and most of the time any chances at tension are passed up in favour of showing off exotic ideas or magical solutions.

Plus: More on Tremane. An actual plot.

Minus: The end-of-the-world problem was so obvious, along with its solution, that half the book was boring to read.

Summary: An average read that is entertaining in places and mind-bogglingly boring in others. ( )

I like Karal and his Firecats. Fun stroy. Gives some information on what those crazy Karsites are really like. ( )

This is really not one of Lackey's better series. On the one hand, we learn alot about Karse, and the magic cats are interesting (and not clones of companions). On the other hand, anyone who has read her other Valdemar books can tell exactly where this series is going from a mile away. ( )