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Even better than Camber of Culdi; Kurtz has introduced her characters and setting to the reader, and weaves a more twisted, involved plot. Shades of Hamlet make a nice touch in places. As always, Kurtz's world is very realistically Medieval, complete with royal and Church intrigues--the latter a rare find in the fantasy genre. Her characters come alive and keep the reader engaged. In short, she tells a good story and tells it well. I quibble a little that both Father Joram and King Cinhil too easily overlook the wrongs done to them in the book's climax, especially since it is out of character for both of them to absorb such slights soundlessly, but even a more in-character reaction from them would not necessarily have altered the plot or outcomes in any substantial way. The book definitely leaves the reader wondering which way Kurtz will take the trilogy's final book, with ample foreshadowing for either of two obvious alternatives. However, the book satisfies the reader in itself, neither requiring the reader to have read the first one (though it is better to have read it), nor leaving the reader completely unfulfilled should he or she not get to the next one right away. A good read!
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