Despite almost DNF-ing this book at around 57 pages, I stuck with it and am glad I did! I FLEW through the rest of the book in a matter of hours.

There is a deadly disease known as The Blot, spread by the written word, so the Bards of the High House have banned ink and the use of it and also certain words can't be spoken out loud.
When Shae's mother is murdered, she sets out towards High House to learn the truth. What she finds is that she has the magic of the Telling, which the Bards possess.

You are thrust into this world without a lot of explanation as to the past beyond the Blot and the Tellings, but I figure that's part of the ban of the written word. It didn't bug me too much in this story. I knew a few of the bad guys but there were also some twists as to who had the right motivations for the things they did. I really want to see what happens in the concluding book.