Alec and Seregil are back for another adventure, and this one will include resolving a lot of the questions and issues that begin in the previous volume of the Nightrunner series. Alec is still recovering from being used in a series of experiments to produce the rhekaro Sebrahn. While the creature appears to be a small child, Sebrahn is actually a being of amazing powers, allowing him to kill with the sound of his voice or heal or even resurrect the dead with his blood.

Thankfully, they have escaped from enslavement in the northern kingdom of Plenimar, but their trials their are not over. While Plenimar and Skala, the kingdom that is their adopted homeland, are at war, darker dangers lurk in Plenimar. Everyone knows about the necromancers and alchemysts who have a great deal of influence there, but the ability to create another rhekaro like Sebrahn could be a real danger. It also means that Alec and Seregil must go back to recover the spell books that were used by their slave owner to complete his experiments on Alec.

Along they way, they are joined by their good friend and fellow nightrunner, Micum. There group is enlarged when they run into a group of Fae. While Fae are normally their allies (particularly since Seregil is one of them), things prove to take a different take when the group attacks them. It turns out that the Haradzaiel have sworn to hunt down Alec because he is a half-blood Fae/Tir (think elf/human), which makes his blood impure and a danger to their tribe. The Haradzaiel hold an ancient secret that have forced them to hide away from other Fae and the world at large, and it is this secret that ties them to Alec. They demand that Alec and Sebrahn be turned over to them.

After some discussion, it is agreed that the group;s leader Reigel, will join Alec, Seregil, and Micum as they head out on their mission, leaving Sebrahn with the others.

Overall this a triditional quest-based fantasy novel with the epic tale taking the backstory. It is clear that Flewelling will likely return to that backstory in a later novel, but fans of Alec and Seregil will find everything that make the series popular to date. Their relationship continues to grow, particularly in light of their differing feelings about Sebrahn.

While I loved this book, it definitely should be read after the rest of the series since you need to know what is going on if you are going to have any chance of understanding the current plots. I loved this just as much as the rest, and can't wait for more Flewelling!