Evil goddess Kala Nag reads the proverbial tea leaves and determines that Balkis is a threat to her desire for world domination, and so must be dealt with. After being kidnapped, Balkis manages to regain enough composure to foul up the spell intended to send her to her death - instead sending her to the man that she is destined to fall in love with an marry. The rest of the book of about the two of them falling in love and travelling back to Maracanda - and of Matthew trying to find them.

Given that this is the last of the Wizard in Rhyme books, it's kind of sad that less was done to wrap up the series. At least in the Warlock series we finally had the Warlock's last ride where we could say goodbye to our hero and watch him ride off into the proverbial sunset. In this one, after chapter one, we didn't see Alliande, or Mom and Dad again. We had some time with Stegoman, but not much else.

Another quick gripe is that once again, we had a very curt ending. The journey was most of the book, and the "finale" was glossed over, as were any remaining questions about the future, Kala Nag and how Balkis would end up resolving things. Additionally, there was far too much whining about not being good enough. Anthony might have a good heart, but he'd have to be really quite dense to not realize that he is a good person and worthy of Balkis. ( )