Kris L. (miss-info) reviewed on 1/27/2011 + 386 more book reviews

This is a typical McKinley book: start in the middle and work your way out from there. If you have the patience to follow a story before you understand all the details, it's a very good read. Like many of her books, it is full of rabbit trails and flashbacks, and everything ties together at the end. I kept my copy for a 2nd read-through; I expect it will be even better now that I know what's going on.

Basic plot: After the death of the previous Master and Chalice, Mirasol is chosen as the new Chalice even though she has not apprenticed and has no idea what she's doing. The position of Chalice is not merely ceremonial; she can heal the land after earthquakes, bind land, people, and animals, heal, and a variety of other things. If she had been trained and knew how. The new Master also has problems adjusting to his new role. He had been sent away to become a priest of fire and is no longer fully human. He's trying his best, but he is not really physically able. The two of them have to figure out how to heal the land after the last Master ruined it, while dealing with an evil Overseer who is not helping any.

A couple notes for the reader:

A demesne (dih-MEYN or -MEEN) is an estate, district, or region.

There is a LOT of mention of bees. Big, black bees in mighty swarms. They're the good guys.

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