"A tale of loyalty, treachery, and love.... The author’s large readership as well as lovers of epic fantasy should enjoy this stand-alone prequel." — Library Journal, Starred Review
"Rawn weaves a rich tapestry of war, magic, and relationships in this historical fantasy prequel to 1996's The Golden Key.... Rawn at her best remains a mesmerizing writer." — Publishers Weekly
"Superb.... This book is a prequel to The Golden Key (1996) yet stands on its own merits and will delight anyone who enjoys reading about chivalry, the Middle East, and a genetic mutation that allows some to harness magic in ways that are carefully guarded." — Booklist
"Melanie Rawn is an amazingly talented writer who is capable of some of the most direct and clearest fantasy writing I've had the pleasure of reading in quite some time." — Seattle Post-Intelligencer