It is so very satisfying to be back in Kay’s world of Sarantium, now called Asharias, the many city states of Batiara, the icy power struggles of Esperana and Ferrieres. This is a follow-up on his previous two books, Children of Earth and Sky and A Brightness Long Ago.

This time the tale focuses on a Kindath merchant/corsair named Rafel ben Nathan and his adventures and interactions with an armload of fascinating personalities throughout the Middle Sea; and his associate and worthy, Lenia Serrana, briefly known as Nadia - to hide her origins as a slave. The struggles throughout the novel involve Gurcu the Destroyer who renamed Sarantium Asharias when he captured the venerable city. Also the Jaddites whose center is Rhodias and the exiled Kindath who live on everyone’s sufferance throughout the many kingdoms and city states.

There is plenty of action: raiding, assassination, empire building and commerce.

But it is mostly about the wonderful characters sailing through this tale: Rafel, Lenia, Folco Cino d’Acorsi, Raina Vidal and the Sardi family. As well as the ibn Tihon brothers Ziyar and Zariq who, nasty and brutish, become the center of attention in a power grab and a practice run perhaps to take on Gurcu and break his grip on Asharias.

The writing as always is exquisite and fulfilling. Beautiful descriptions and great dialogue and characters well-rounded and distinctive. Kay is such a master and savory treat as an author. ~~ Sue Martin

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