Starred review from February 7, 2011
RITA Award-winner Owens (Protector of the Flight) offers a world strongly imbued with a sense of magic in this contemporary fantasy series launch. Jenni Weavers, an online game developer who resides in Denver, stepped away from her magical heritage as Jindesfarne Mistweaver 15 years earlier, after a significant battle resulted in the deaths of her family except for one crippled brother, and alienation from her lover and the rest of the magical community. The rulers of the Lightfolk again seek the Mistweavers' unique ability to balance the four magical energies and capture the power of rising bubbles of magical energy. The Darkfolk forces are on the rise, including new creatures, shadleeches, that feed on magical beings. Jenni's brother Rothly has gone lost in the mists after the Eight paired rulers of the four elements persuaded him to undertake the mission, leaving only Jenni with the ability to find him. Despite her hurt and distrust of her ex, Aric Paramon and the Eight, Jenni agrees. Romance and fantasy fans will enjoy Jenni's preparation to enter a new world of compromise between the Folk, humans, and technology and Jenni's rediscovery of love along the way.