Best of the 3!!! ( )

Twin sister and brother Kestrel and Bowman Hath are living peacefully in their now egalitarian society after having endured a totalitarian regime most of their lives (this is covered in book 1 of the Wind of Fire Trilogy). However this state of affairs doesn't last long when an ambitious young soldier decides to capture the entire town as slaves for the people of the Mastery. The methods used to keep captured slaves compliant are incredibly cruel, so the people have no choice but to let themselves be led to their new masters. While the raid takes place, Kestrel and Bowman are separated, with the boy and other family members taken in captivity while Kestrel is left behind to make her way to safety. Along the road, she meets a young and extremely beautiful princess travelling in great pomp who takes her under her wing. The twins each use their great intelligence and special skills to get their family back together again while also doing all they can to overthrow the oppressive regime, with the girls also having to fend off the advances of dangerously enamoured men. And exciting adventure story which is rather unique, as was the first book. Both are highly recommended. ( )

I've put off reading this book for a long time. I loved William Nicholson's first book in this trilogy, The Wind Singer, but others said the second one wasn't nearly as good. I disagree! Both books are filled with action, engaging characters, and philosophies of society and life that I find challenging and meaningful. ( )

The second book in the triology has more plot and less dreamlike-fairytale. The Mastery invade Aramanth and capture the people as slaves. Only Kestrel escapes, and in her journey to save her family she meets a beautiful but sheltered princess, who is travelling to the Mastery to marry the Master's son...

William Nicholson continues with his interesting but disturbing themes around what is good, and what is freedom. The citizens of the Mastery are all slaves, but they build beautiful things, and when they are released they riot and destroy. Bowman gains his victory by using the evil power of the Zars. The Manaxa is deadly and violent and cruel, but is beautiful and alluring.

Again, like the first book, it doesn't really hang together if over-examined. If the master has such perfect mind-control over them all, why do they need the monkey-cages? If he can turn all his people into soldiers, why can't he just control the soldiers of Gong not to fight? If everyone in the mastery is encouraged and supported to do what they love and are good at, how do they ever find people to do dull and manual jobs? No matter how naturally talented Kestrel and Mumpo are, they can't just magically know how to do difficult and physical things by just watching...

But I love the very fact this book challenges and disturbs my world view. And Kestrel dancing the tantaraza will stay with me. And Sisi's development and growth is haunting and inspiring. ( )

This is stronger than its predecessor as the people of Aramanth are marched away from the sacked city into slavery. The relationships are more complex and there are fascinating conspiracies and machinations between the characters. ( )