Ver dala Ven are a magical race of beings who once lived and flourished among the ordinary ones as healers, advisors and voluntary servants. Known by their golden eyes, they are a dying breed and Cobo, one of the last of his race fears that they will disappear forever.

Exiled in a distant land, he is waiting for signs that the Ver dala Ven will return, for it has been prophesied that they will return, and so will the Masing Star, their spirit guide. Cobo leaves behind his son, who shows little promise of becoming Ver dala Ven, until he is taught by an unprincipled Ver dala Ven, and they both want the power of the Masing Star in order to subjugate people, not to help them.

The ordinary ones are also under a curse because they have made another race, the Shodites, their slaves and until the slaves are freed, each family will suffer the loss of a child.

This is a book which has everything. Romance, a spiritual quest, adventure, political and sexual intrigue. The characters are well drawn with such depth that you feel you know them better than they know themselves. There are a lot of them to get to know, but once you do, you care enormously what happens to them, even the bad guys. It's one you'd want to curl up in your comfy armchair and read on a rainy day (or even a sunny one!)

At over 700 pages, it's not a short book, but it is well worth the time to read. I'm certainly looking forward to reading the next one in the trilogy.

The Last Gate

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