This is definitely not the book I'd start with if you're new to Anne Bishop or her Dark Jewels series. I'd recommend reading at least the opening trilogy first of Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows and Queen of the Darkness--and even the short novel "Kaeleer's Heart" included in the anthology Dreams Made Flesh.
I think this novel is more than just "okay." I did enjoy it, in the spirit of being able to spend some time with old friends, which is the way I've come to think of these characters. I thought it had an interesting premise, and it has the touches of humor leavening dark themes I so enjoy in this series. Plus, it heavily features the character Surreal--in my opinion always a good thing. (And as a bonus at the end includes a short story with her). So if I'm ranking this only 3 and a half stars, it's just because it doesn't for me come quite up to the high mark of the original trilogy--but it's a good read.
