My absolute favourite entry in the Protector of the Small quartet and one of my all time favourite books when I was younger. In this installment, we see Kel become a squire and how she explores the world outside of the confines of page training.

- Kel's growth in this installment is great. She explores her abilities, morals, romance and sexuality in this book as well as the wider realm of Tortall 

- New characters come into play in this book including some of my favourites and I like how they add to the colourful background of the story.

- As an adult, I particularly love the was Pierce handles sex in this book. Nothing explicit or mature happens but the subject is still explored well and key messages such as consent, protection and love vs lust are covered perfectly. When I was younger, this book taught me more about those topics than my school education.

A wonderful and well written book, perfect for the audience intended. This installment of the series would be perfect for preteens, teens and young adults who are just beginning to explore the realms of near adulthood but also enjoy stories in a fantasy setting.