The second installment in the Mage Winds series finds Elspeth and Skif in K'Sheyna Vale. The Heartstone is still flawed, but for the time being the combined efforts of Shin'a'in, Taylesedras and Heralds (with a few other unlikely helpers) have thrown back Falconsbane's attempts to take the Vale.

Now that mere survival isn't a question, the allies must determine how best to defeat Falconsbane for once and for all.

Much better than the first volume (for one thing, Skif stops acting so stupid, and Elspeth starts to seem more human and less like a wooden doll. And this series as a whole is an improvement on the Last Herald Mage (Vanyel's story) series, mainly because there's a fully present villain to deal with. ( )

Plot: Mostly a coming-into-your-power plot, with some side adventures and a good bit of romance. The trilogy's villain is still around and presents a background threat, but only gains importance towards the end. Something of a temporary closure is done at the end, with the central plot essentially resolved.

Characters: The Tayledras in general are too exotic to really identify with, with the differences often being there for difference's sake. There's a prevalence of stereotypes in the side characters, though a few of them are developed to a point where they become interesting. The main characters go through some growth, since that's the main plot.

Style: Nothing challenging. The book pushes the buttons of a young female audience, with plenty of romance and horse-love and a good pinch of dress design. Overall the text flows, though scene transitions tend to be rough.

Plus: No damsels in distress, flailing about helplessly. Fairly thought-through magic.

Minus: Gryphon speech. There are other ways to describe a hiss than to spell every word with five 's'. Reading more than one sentence that way is virtually impossible.

Summary: It's not a book that has vast amounts of things happening, but it's entertainment if you like girl fantasy. ( )