InthesecondinstallmentofC.L.Clark’sMagicoftheLosttrilogy,soldierTouraineandprincessLucamustreturntoBalladairetoreclaimLuca’sthroneandtofacetheconsequencesofdismantlinganempire.Therebelshavewon,andtheempireiswithdrawingfromQazal.Butundoingthetangledwebthatbindsthetwonationswillnotbeeasy,andTouraineandLucawillfacetheirgreatestchallengeyet.LucaneedstooustherunclefromtheBalladairanthroneonceandforallandtakeherrightfulplaceasQueen.Buthewon’tletgoofpowersoeasily.Whenhecallsfora“TrialofCompetence“andLuca’salliesstartdisappearingfromherside,shewillneedtofindawaytoprovehermight.Andsheknowssomeonewhocanhelp...TourainehasfoundahomeinthenewlyfreecountryofQazal.Butshesoonrealizesthatleadingacountryandleadingarevolutionaretwoverydifferenttasks.And,evenmoreimportantly,ifLuca’suncledoesn’tratifythetreaty,theQazalicouldenduprightbackwheretheystarted.Together,thetwowomenwillhavetocomeovercometheirenemies,theirhistory,andtheirheartbreakinordertofindawaytosecureLuca’spowerandTouraine’sfreedom.
