This is the sort of book which reminds me why I enjoy fantasy so much. While nothing happens here that hasn’t happened in dozens of other books, it is how it is done which truly counts. This is first book and it is a real page-turner. We are dropped into the story straight away and follow the fortunes of the delightfully sensible and outspoken Asher from rags to riches and beyond. He makes a good protagonist (mainly because he manages not to do anything really stupid) and a perfect foil to the tragic, magicless prince. Lur is a well-realized place without swamping the reader in information and getting bogged down with descriptions. has boldly chosen to complete her oeuvre in two volumes instead of the inevitable trilogy, so watch out for The Awakened Mage, and for more of her promising work in the future.