Talasyn has lived her whole life embroiled in the hurricane wars. As an orphaned child she experienced the neglect and abuse that a world at war found it only too easy to turn a blind eye to. As a teenager she trained to fight for her country. As an adult she is now their only hope of victory and survival. But being the only remaining lightweaver against an army of shadowforged soldiers is the least of her problems. And finding answers about her mysterious past will change her future forever.
War might be the central theme of this book, but it is Talasyn’s internal war that most intrigues me. She is constantly torn between doing what is right, doing what others tell her, and doing what she actually wants to do. A lot of this is due to the strong relationships that she builds with others, her lonely childhood encouraging her to attach herself instantly to anyone who shows her love. Yet, as much as it sounds like one, this does not appear to be a weakness. Instead it fuels her passion to do whatever it takes to help others, with the only real downside being the frequent neglect of her own needs.
What is clever is how Thea Guanzon effectively solidifies the strength and history of these relationships without needing too many actual interactions between characters. Talasyn only speaks to Khaede and Vela a handful of times throughout the book, yet there is never any doubt that these two women have made her who she is and that it is their love that motivates her every action.
Perhaps even more prominent than the war itself are the convoluted politics that prevail throughout this book. The main three nations all have very different views which they all feel very strongly about. This obviously makes for an exciting and high tensioned plot. However it is often what isn’t said, rather than what is said, that creates the most suspense. I suspect that book two will work to unravel many more secrets, some of which may completely change the way Talasyn sees the world and those around her.
Review by Mikaela Silk
Escape to the Bookshelf 
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