As the second story begins, the power structure of the kingdoms of Anuskaya have been rearranged and uprisings continue to bubble to the surface. Even though the effects of the rift have been somewhat abated, new threats have arisen that threaten the land. One threat is in the form of a guerrilla resistance that seeks to overthrow the leaders of the duchies in order to reclaim their lands that were wrested from them years ago. Another is from the mainland Yrstanla to the west which has launched a sudden all-out attack on the islands of the archipelago. Yet the reasons behind these attacks are far from clear to the leaders of Anuskaya. Little do they know that the leaders of Yrstanla are being controlled by powers far beyond their understanding. It is only through the relentless efforts of Nikandr, Nasim, and others with connections to the spirit realm that Anuskaya has even a sliver of a chance to save themselves.
This novel was well written and well-balanced. The chapters and sub-chapters were written from the points of view of different characters, a process that was skillfully handled and served to expand and strengthen the narrative. As was the case for the first novel in this series, this was not a quicky read. It took effort and commitment to keep up with the narrative and the growing conflict. However, the payoff made this attention well worth it. Now I move onto the final part of the trilogy, The Flames of Shadam Khoreh.
