Onna can write the parameters of a spell faster than any of the young men in her village school. But despite her incredible abilities, she’s denied a place at the nation’s premier arcane academy. Undaunted, she sails to the bustling city-state of Hexos, hoping to find a place at a university where they don’t think there’s anything untoward about providing a woman with a magical education. But as soon as Onna arrives, she’s drawn into the mysterious murder of four trolls.

Tsira is a troll who never quite fit into her clan, despite being the leader’s daughter. She decides to strike out on her own and look for work in a human city, but on her way she stumbles upon the body of a half-dead human soldier in the snow. As she slowly nurses him back to health, an unlikely bond forms between them, one that is tested when an unknown mage makes an attempt on Tsira’s life. Soon, unbeknownst to each other, Onna and Tsira both begin devoting their considerable talents to finding out who is targeting trolls, before their homeland is torn apart…

Onna want to be a wizard. When she realizes that no matter how well she did on her exams she will never be admitted to Weltsir, the premier magic academy in her country, she changes plans and goes to Hexos to try to get admitted to the university there. When she hears that the lord Mage is looking for an apprentice she shows up for the interview just for fun and is pleasantly surprised to be chosen. Part of her duties lead her to involvement in solving the murder of trolls.

Tsira is part troll and part human who lives alone since she really does not fit in with her clan. She finds a wounded human soldier and takes him back to her cave to heal.  When a wizard shows up and almost murders Tsira it becomes necessary for them to leave her cave and go to the human cites to earn their living. When the troll murders hit close to home they go on the hunt for the murderer... a hunt that leads them to Hexos and a partnership with Onna.

The story switches back and forth between Onna and Tsira for perhaps two-thirds of the book until the two meet in Hexos.  Since, when the book starts, Onna is fifteen-years-old I had initially considered this a YA book. However, there are several uses of the c word which, to be honest, jolt the reader out of the story and thus seem not only unnecessary  but counterproductive to what is, otherwise, an incredible inventive and absorbing YA  story. Then we get many uses of the f word and some non-graphic sex which certainly renders it for adult readers only which is a pity as both  Onna and Tsira are wonderful role models for young girls to be true to themselves. Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon

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