School Library Journal Review
In a world where exiled gods live among the people who worship them, two unlikely heroes find the strength to transcend society's expectations. Khai is chosen at birth to protect Princess Zariya and is trained as a warrior and a thief by the Brotherhood of Pahrkun. But secrets that threaten their identities and world have been kept from Khai and Zariya. Khai is lovably imperfect, making too-quick judgements and getting himself into trouble as he struggles with his identity and the at-times overwhelming task he's been given. When it is discovered that he is bhazim-born a girl but raised a boy-the reactions of those around him vary, from the love and sympathy offered by his brothers to the confusion, ignorance, and even disdain directed at him by members of the royal family. Unlike Khai, Zariya is portrayed as nearly perfect, possibly because Khai is telling the story. With this exploration of identity, master storyteller Carey has created a rag-tag cast of characters who shrug off society's labels, as well as a fantasy world readers will be reluctant to leave. VERDICT Fans of world-building powerhouses such as Rhoda Belleza and Garth Nix will be in awe of Carey's stand-alone epic.-Kaitlin Frick, New York Public Library © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
This rich, evocative fantasy epic from Carey (Miranda and Caliban) is a poignant tale of grand adventure. Khai was chosen at birth to serve as shadow (a soul-twin and protector) for the Sun-Blessed Princess Zariya of the House of the Ageless. He has spent the entirety of his young life in the desert, preparing for this task the gods have bestowed upon him. As puberty draws near, Khai is due to be presented to the princess, but his position is undermined when he learns that he is bhazim, a daughter who was pledged to be raised as a son. He also learns of a prophecy that speaks of the fallen god, Miasmus, a darkness that will "arise in the west against which one of the Sun-Blessed will stand." Pragmatic Zariya, who was injured in childhood and walks with canes, is determined to be that prophesied one with the aid of her shadow. Khai, cautiously experimenting with gender presentation, joins Zariya and the defenders of the four quarters, a ragtag group who are committed to halting Miasmus's destructive force. Carey handles themes of duty, love, and identity with tenderness and fortitude, never pigeonholing her protagonists, and the tapestry of her characters elevates this novel above its peers. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
Carey's new historical epic fantasy introduces Khai, who, born during a lunar eclipse, was taken into the Pahrkun clan to learn the ways of a warrior in order to protect the princess Zariya of the Ageless and Sun-Blessed. Khai is Zariya's shadow, bound by prophecy as her defender and soul's twin. Although he trains for years in the ways of honor, he gradually discovers that the clan holds a secret that impacts him directly. Thrown into the midst of court politics and conspiracies, Khai struggles to understand his own identity, that of Zariya, and the truth about the coming of the dark god -Miasmus. Survival depends on Khai and Zariya's joining a group of prophecy seekers who sail under starless skies searching for the answer that will save their world from utter destruction. VERDICT Carey's evocative prose and skillful worldbuilding establishes a lushly detailed setting populated by memorable, well-drawn characters in a story that is deliberate and immersive. Exquisite action sequences will delight the many fans of her "Kushiel's Legacy" series. [See Prepub Alert, 12/11/17.]-Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.