Although I'd say that the title is misleading, the fantasy Scheller has created here is a beautifully drawn world which blends magic and religion in a seamless fashion, in a story that's somewhat reminiscent of Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea, but with a focus on family and some romance added into the mix. For me, the story felt somewhat tame and it took me some time to get engaged, but I do think that's due in large part to the title, as I was expecting something darker, perhaps even verging on a ghost story or horror.

All told, I really enjoyed this, and it's also nice to read a series beginning that does have some closure at the end, but where the questions left for the next book aren't so large as to take away the satisfaction that can come with a solid ending. I will say that the last portion of the book was somewhat predictable, but because the characters were so engaging and there were some unexpected details/twists, I never lost interest.

Certainly, I'll probably end up looking up the follow-up, and I'd recommend this one to interested readers. ( )