A wonderfully told fantasy tale with unexpected twists that easily engages the reader. Everything about this story is original from the world it in which it takes place right down to the way the wizards practice their magic. With a touch of high fantasy combined with an air of a tribal legend, K.J. Parker spins a tale that excites, regales, and shares an interesting message with readers. It does seem to run a bit longer than it needs to be, but not enough to really detract from the message. I definitely recommend checking this out if you enjoy fantasy or science fiction. ( )