While Kay sprinkles important people such as khalifs and emperors and dukes throughout the tale, the story is for the most part about smaller characters who might or might not have large impacts and how their lives intertwine.

We meet Marin Djivo, the younger son of a merchant family who travels with his goods, but his latest trip will change his life. A young woman and a doctor pretend to be married as they travel to Dubrava so he can work and she can spy. A young artist is also aboard ship; his mission is to paint the feared Khalif in the "Western" manner. The ship is attacked by raiders including Danica Gradek who vows revenge against the Asharites who burned her village and stole her younger brother.

Kay's writing is direct and eminently readable, but it's not a book to rush through. He tackles a number of themes, but the one that stands out most to me is the difference of what one wants and what one has to do and the difference in what is expected of one and how one does things differently. Much of the story moves forward seemingly based on circumstances and decisions made by others. Most of the characters are well developed and easy to root for once you get to know them. It's more of a methodical read than an action-packed romp.

Kay adds a bit of magic to his story with Danica being able to speak to her grandfather's ghost. And, for fun, he describes some events from different points of view to show us both how characters see themselves and how they're seen by others. The third person narrator almost has a personality of its own, and I still can't decide what I think of that and some of the philosophizing. I will look for his other work and plan on going to reread the Fionavar Tapestry as well.

Book Summary