This is a highly entertaining story that reminds me of various fairy tales and proves that fantasy has other inspirations apart from Tolkein and Dune. Fans of Patricia McKillip will lap it up, and this is very much a story for the female sex. Jena struggles to be her own woman in a world where she is expected to be a young lady, and not run her father’s business or make her own choices. Tati becomes wan and listless as she pines for her lover, Sorrow, held in thrall by the Night People. It is a book about the pains of growing up, the joys and woes of first love and, more than that, just a jolly good escapist story. You don’t have to be a young adult to enjoy this one - I am not and I certainly did. It will appeal to anybody who likes this sort of thing, as it is so beautifully done. A story about a magic frog, somebody pining away from love and a bossy cousin might well have been extremely tedious, but instead it manages to work on many levels, including what is possibly the most beautiful cover of 2007. I do hope it has a sequel!