This story is set in the same universe as a quartet series previously published by this author but you don’t need to have read those to enjoy this story.  The story rotates evenly through three viewpoints:  Aiz, Quil and Sirsha.  Until about halfway through when we then get the viewpoint of Cero – not sure that one was really necessary.

Aiz’s people are the poorest of the poor, most downtrodden, and absolutely nobody cares if they live or die.  The only thing they can contribute to society is the almost-lost talent of windsmithing. All children are tested and if they have the talent, they are sent for training.  If they survive and succeed at the training, they will be set for life as a pilot of a Sail.  And if they are a pilot, they are sent to bomb a neighboring country so they can steal all the resources available; in this way, their people survive.  They also survive on tales of past glories.  And, as is typically attributed to such people in stories, they have a God.  This God, Mother Div, is the source of inspirational stories and promises that they, as a people, will be able one day to return to their homeland and prosper.  Aiz grew up with those stories and she had hoped to be a pilot; but although she has the talent, she has no control over it so she is discarded and sent back to the slums.  Her best friend, Cero, however, becomes a celebrated pilot.  Aiz also lives with the memories of a particular rich boy from her childhood who, in retaliation for some mean-spirited comments from other children, deliberately burned down the orphanage where Aiz grew up; she escaped, most did not.  Aiz means to finally kill him. Failing at that, she and her friends who give succor to orphaned children are imprisoned and punished for her attempt.  While imprisoned alone, she hears a voice, believing at first that it was a hallucination; later coming to believe that Mother Div was actually speaking to her.  Enlisting her to save Mother Div from her own imprisonment.  Now, Aiz has a reason to escape and live.  She has a mission to save Mother Div so the goddess can save all her people.

Quil is the nephew of the reigning Empress of their land, far to the north of the war-mongering Kegari, where Aiz lives.  He wishes he was not destined to become Emperor after his Aunt, but not because he doesn’t care about his people.  In fact, he cares a great deal and is especially unhappy when he learns that dozens of children throughout the Empire have been murdered; their hearts torn from their bodies.  Murders just like the ones his guard, the Masks, have been experiencing.  The deaths of the Masks were a state secret as the Empress feared public reaction; but the children are a different matter, in Quil’s opinion.  Quil’s father was the most hated Emperor in history and to keep Quil from being killed, he was fostered with The Tribes, well away from the city and political machinations.  But if his Aunt intends to see him crowned, he will learn what is going on in his Empire.  But before either of those things happen, the Empire is attacked by a superior force.  Unbelievably, it is the Kegari and their dreaded Sails, filled with bombs.  Quil is forced to flee his city if he is to be the next Emperor and restore his people.

Sirsha is a down-on-her-luck bounty hunter, skilled at tracking the most elusive prey.  Down-on-her-luck as she just recently got cleaned out by a thief; all of her savings meant to get her out of town and able to safely create a new life – all gone.  But at her lowest point, she is approached by a well-to-do man with a job; a job that will pay more than she had ever saved – enough for her to go anywhere she pleases.  Somewhere far from her murderous family, she hoped.  Sirsha’s method of tracking does involve a certain amount of inherited magic; something that no one – absolutely no one – knows.  If her family found her, and especially, if they found her using her family’s magic, she’d be killed instantly.  So for this man to hint that he knows about her magic and knows where she comes from…that’s a puzzle for Sirsha.  And the job is not one she normally takes; in fact, she is puzzled as to why this well-to-do and capable warrior isn’t doing the job himself.  But after he coerces her into a blood-oath, she is trapped by her own magic.  Her magic will turn on her if she reneges.  And the job?  Hunt down and kill the person murdering children.

This is an epic fantasy; even if not on the scale of GoT.  These three people’s stories revolve around each other, teasing the reader to divine exactly how they will coalesce.  The author is very clever. While most experienced readers of fantasy would quickly figure out the hidden mystery, this author cleverly manipulated readers by hiding the timeline.  I won’t say more because I thoroughly recommend this book and you should see it for yourself.

The characters are very well-detailed, the world-building is excellent and the plot really carries the day.  This one is highly recommended. ~~ Catherine Book