This has been an action-packed trilogy that manages to combine a typical fantasy plot of dark lords, warring kingdoms and magical artifacts with a well-realized world that loosely resembles 18th or 19th century Europe. Her villains (even the drakhaouls) tend to be well-rounded figures, gifted with some redeeming features while most of the heroes (and heroines) are flawed in some way. Here is a trilogy that scores on all points for a fast-paced plot, world-building on an impressive scale, believable characters and unusual inspiration. I do hope that Sarah Ash will continue to enchant jaded fantasy readers with her own special brand of magic.