Though this is the second book in this series, it could be read as a standalone novel insofar as while this takes place after the events of the first book, the events are not linked other than a few names, places and events that happened in the first book are mentioned. One previous character who appears is Kevah, but his involvement is minimal and he is portrayed differently than in the first book.

The two main protagonists in this tale are Zedra, the concubine to the crown Prince of Alanya, and Cyra, who is the daughter of a tribe leader, who was kidnapped and then given to the Shar of Alanya, who subsequently became fond of her and ended up treating her like a daughter. Both wield magical abilities that draw from the same source but are utilised in different ways.

As with the first book this has a similar theme, with religion being the catalyst for the events, but in this case, it's the same religion, but with two different interpretations of the teachings that are causing the conflict.

Again the book has a brisk pace, swapping from one character's point of view to another's with each chapter, and is written in the first person. There are many additional characters, all with varied and well-written personalities, but quite interestingly, none of them are portrayed as evil or bad, except from the viewpoint of the other characters.

There are also several interesting plot twists and mysteries which are deftly handled, all of which enhanced my overall enjoyment of the story and kept me entertained right up to the last page.