Ann Sanger (Children's Literature)
Shannon Hale has an uncanny knack of grabbing your interest in the Prologue and not letting go until you finish the entire book. The chapter heading spurred me on to finish the book in one day. I could not put it down. This mystery is wonderfully written, boasts excellent character development and vivid descriptions that bring the scenery and characters of this magical land in full view. The land of Bayern is trying to prevent another war with neighboring Tira by agreeing to an ambassador exchange. The Ambassador will be accompanied by Enna, who is secretly a fire-speaker, and Captain Talone, along with twenty hand-picked from the king’s personal hundred-band of soldiers known as Bayard’s Own. Razo is eager to be chosen, but he feels he has no special skills that would be helpful on this peace-keeping mission. Razo is not the only one to question the wisdom of the Captain’s choice when he is picked to go to Ingridan, the capital city of Tira. As the entourage nears the end of their destination, a burned body is found. Suspicion threatens Razo’s friendship with Enna. The discoveries of more burned bodies threaten to sabotage their peacekeeping mission. No only is this book a reading treasure but this is a great book for affirming to teens that everyone has value and possesses many talents and qualities that can prove useful. Razo could be any undersized teen who needs reassurance and encouragement. It is a must for every school library. 2006, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, $17.95. Ages 12 to 17.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2006 (Vol. 74, No. 16))
A character from Goose Girl (2003) and Enna Burning (2004) takes center stage in this marvelous continuation. Razo becomes part of the Bayern guard that accompanies its ambassador Lady Megina to Tira. The Lady is nearly a hostage, as the mistrust and bitterness of Tirans to Bayern after their war makes for a fragile peace. Razo, 17, quick with a slingshot and with making friends, is surprised to be chosen, but warms to his role as spy. He's glad to be near his friend Enna, who has harnessed her fire-speaking abilities and whose role in the war is hidden from the Tirans. A subversive Tiran movement to rekindle the war catches Bayern's Own in attacks subtle and outright. Through it all, there is Razo's devotion to food and to his friends and his steadfast refusal to recognize his own gifts. Hale makes profound statements about war and peace, friends and strangers, men and women and all the different kinds of battle. Her language glimmers like firelight, like sunshine on water as she propels readers along a river of wonderful writing to the tumultuous and heart-tugging climax. 2006, Bloomsbury, 304p, $17.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 11 to 15. Starred Review. © 2006 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

April Spisak (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, November 2006 (Vol. 60, No. 3))
In this companion novel to The Goose Girl (BCCB 11/03) and Enna Burning (BCCB 11/04), a secondary character, Razo, now takes center stage as his home region of Bayern recovers from the brutal war with the nearby Tira. In the hopes of preserving the fragile peace, ambassadors and guards are sent from each region to promote goodwill: Razo, seventeen, awkward, and unsure of his future, is surprised to have been chosen as part of the group sent to Tira. He is even more shocked to learn that he has been selected to be the only spy in the guard. Indeed, Razo often underestimates himself: he doesn’t know that his observational skills are uncanny, he is unaware that his slingshot skills are unrivaled, and he thinks himself to be unappealing to women even while having obvious admirers. As tensions heighten between the two regions, Razo’s abilities may be all that prevent an all-out resurgence of war. As in the earlier novels, Hale’s impeccable writing style and dedication to detail result in a rich, fully developed world, right down to the salty pungency of the Tiran olives and the vibrancy of the Bayern clothing (the fondness for which convinces the residents of Tira to make peace as much as all of the goodwill meetings). Fans of the unforgettable Enna will not be disappointed with this new volume: Enna’s struggle with her fire-speaking gift is still very much a focus in this novel, even as Razo narrates his own wryly told adventure. Hale’s imagined world is danger-filled: gruesome deaths are alarmingly frequent, attempts on lives more so, and even talents or gifts are double-edged as potential curses if used incorrectly. It is to the author’s credit, therefore, that she has also created a landscape and characters with enough beauty, depth, and complexity to keep readers eagerly anticipating visits. Maps of the region and town are included. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2006, Bloomsbury, 290p., $17.95. Grades 8-12.

Jenny Ingram (VOYA, December 2006 (Vol. 29, No. 5))
This companion book to The Goose Girl (Bloomsbury, 2003/VOYA October 2003) and Enna Burning (2004/VOYA December 2004) features Razo, the short, awkward, stone-slinging member of Bayern's army. When an entourage from Bayern travels to Tiran on an ambassadorial mission, the captain of the king's special guard of soldiers chooses Razo to accompany them, in part because of his close friendship with Enna, the fire speaker, who will need close protection from someone who knows of her secret talent. Arriving in Tiran, Razo first escapes danger by accident but later hones his skills as a soldier, spy, and diplomat to head off a plot to create war between the two countries. In Tiran, Razo meets Dasha, a redheaded woman who controls water in a way similar to Enna's talent with fire and who likes him a lot. At the end of the journey, Razo realizes that he has grown physically and emotionally, and he and Dasha make plans to stay together. The story is slow at first, but as the plot to create war between the countries unfolds, things pick up. The book is complete on its own, but readers unfamiliar with the previous two volumes will find some aspects difficult to follow. The characters have depth, and women and men are equally talented and support one another with their skills. The settings, customs, and festivals of both Bayern and Tiran are easy to imagine. Fans of Hale's previous books will enjoy this one and will hope that there is more to come. VOYA CODES: 4Q 3P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2006, Bloomsbury, 304p., $17.95. Ages 11 to 15.

Rebecca Moreland, Teen Reviewer (VOYA, December 2006 (Vol. 29, No. 5))
Hale delivers again with this satisfying take on magic and mystery, mayhem and murder. Even with the same elements as other fantasy books, the story stays fresh by painting an intriguing, peculiar land and working around delightfully confused and sometimes clichTd characters. Although readers might predict the exciting twists throughout the plot, it does not detract from the fact that this book is a finish-in-one-day, don't-stop-reading ride of a story. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2006, Bloomsbury, 304p., $17.95. Ages 11 to 15.