Excellent follow-up to 'The Stone Mage & the Sea', starting with a a fantastic escape sequence across the Australian-style landscape, and then immersing us in the complex politics of the Stone Mages and Sky Wardens. It's deliberately-paced yet taut, the descriptions of this strange world are searing and immediate, we're introduced to some great new characters (including the endearingly hyperactive Skender and his solemn yet kind father), and believable new tensions arise between protagonists Sal and Shilly, both well on their way to adulthood and thrust into a conniving adult world, which make the story immensely readable. Great stuff. ( )

The main theme of this second book in the trilogy was 'change and transition'.
There is the physical journey from the Strand to the Interior where Williams explores the beach through to desert landscapes. He gently inserts Australian fauna into the mix the way you see bears and deer in other novels set nominally in American or European inspired landscapes.
There is the transition from child to young adult. The main characters develop in the physical areas by going through the typical changes of getting menses and voice breaking. This just emphasises the emotional and psychological growth that occurs.
The most interesting theme, though, that is examined is that of reputation. How it affects people by how they are perceived and how they think they are perceived. It examines to what lengths people will go to to ensure that their reputation is maintained. Williams uses his characters to tell stories to show the emphasis of what power reputation can have on people.
I found this book very powerful and an enjoyable read. Sean Williams has a great talent of being able to immerse the reader in the world he has created. ( )