Firethorn's story continues as her mysterious past unfolds in book two of Sarah Micklem's unique and powerful quasi-medieval fantasy. Firethorn follows Galan to war. During the struggle, she witnesses the violent transformation of men from soldiers into killers, thieves, and rapists. Her powers of healing, foretelling and shadow-walking grow, as well as her influence among the women of the camp, and eventually she is suspected of being a witch. After the invaders win a climactic battle, Firethorn loses Galan and is captured by King Corvus, who is fleeing with the remnants of his defeated army. He takes refuge in a neighbouring kingdom, where Firethorn finds the village where she was born and learns that her parents - horse farmers and traders - were killed in a previous war. Corvus uses her as a decoy in a plot to regain his kingdom; she goes along with the plot, living the life of a privileged aristocrat, in order to return to Galan.

Genre: Fantasy