“I don't think I've ever looked forward to a book more, or been sadder to finish it. The third book in the Lumatere Chronicles opens with everyone separated. Quintana, Queen of Charyn hides in a cave so that she can protect herself and the child she bears, Froi is recovering from arrow wounds, Queen Isaboe and Finnikin have words and he rides off in anger, and Lucian still grieves for Phaedra whom he believes to be dead. These are characters whom we have come to love dearly. Daring to hope that the story will come out well for them all seems pointless. Froi must find the woman he loves and find a way to save her, knowing that he may never stand beside her or claim the child that they created together. And he also must find a way to reunite the warring, divided Charyn. Finnikin must place his trust in a man who his wife tells her secrets to, someone he is finding it very hard to trust. And Lucian must learn to forgive Phaedra for her deception and to make the best decisions for himself and for his mountain. Along the way, there will be pain and there will be tragedy, but Marchetta brings the trilogy to a very satisfying end. Does it have to end? There are babies....”
