I read this series years ago and loved them so much that I kept the books for 20 years. It is only since I am moving that I decided to part with them and of course as I put them into the box to go to the library book store I put them into Librarything as well. This is a swords and sorcerers series at its best. Roberson consistently writes great characters who grow and change and become very interesting over the course of the series. In this one the reader gets a female heroine who is worth all the time it takes to read this book. ( )

Keely is Corin's twin sister - a brash, outspoken and often cruel young woman - afraid of almost nothing. But that deep, hidden fear is what drives her to isolation. Her independence is a manifestation of that fear. Throughout the book we peel back the layers of the onion until we finally see her soul bared before us and she, too, see it and understands it for what it is. And, of course, Strahan shows up to prey upon her - realizing some of her loudest protests against marriage and men. She's faced with choices - many choices and makes them regardless of the consequences.

Aside from the constant whining about her male dominated societies, I didn't have any real issue with this book. The peeling of the onion was interesting, showing layer after layer of fear and resentment until, finally, we know what the true problem was. And at the end, just when you thought it was all over and done, Rhiannon comes along and tosses a giant monkey wrench in things.

Overall, not as strong as some of the other books - but I appreciated finally getting another book with a female perspective. ( )