Second in the Kitty Series. Kitty and her husband Rian, along with his crew aboard the trading vessel 'Katipo' return to the Bay of Islands in 1845 where they become caught up in events at the beginning of the New Zealand Wars. Hone Heke's just chopped down the flagpole and Rian wants to assist Maori however he can. He and the crew take off into the bush leaving Kitty in Auckland. While there, Kitty discovers abandoned street urchin Amber who is part Maori (Amber did not arrive on the scene until about two thirds of the way into the book). Missing Rian, Kitty and Amber travel to where Kitty thinks he might be. However, Kitty and Amber are captured by hostile Maori. Another great read. I haven't read the first in this series but I intend to. ( )