Excellent Series Opener. This is one of those books that sucks you in so completely you don't even remember it is a series opener... until certain plot threads are left dangling at the end. And yet those very threads are clearly worthy of at least one more book, and possibly a book each... which is clearly exactly the point. :) Lonsdale has always been a remarkably strong storyteller, and here she really begins to break away from everything that could have previously been seen as getting awfully close to "typecasting" - while still maintaining a strong and rare/ possibly unique voice of her own. A great story that hooks you in from chapter one and leaves you desperately begging for Book 2 at the end, this is one book you certainly won't want to miss. Very much recommended.