High fantasy with a mixture of the grand and the quaint. I love Odessa's opening and the call of adventure, and I love the shift to a more omniscient narration about the kingdom. This brings to mind Tailchaser's Song and the high fantasy works of Tad Williams. I'd love to see this book in its entirety, to hold it in my hands, complete with a map, and enter the world C. Brenneke introduces us to here -- morning coffee at my side.