From Publishers Weekly
The second, tragedy-tinged Isavalta novel (after 2002's A Sorcerer's Treason) from Zettel (Reclamation) crosses a number of genres, moving from Lake Superior in 1872 through the fairy-tale Land of Death and Spirit to the high-fantasy court intrigues of Isavalta. Along the way, figures from Russian, Chinese and Indian myth intervene in the young empress Medeoan's struggle against her Hastinapuran consort, Kacha, who's plotting to control her through magic. In order to save her realm, Medeoan must turn to her mentor, Avanasy, a sorcerer who's been living in exile in Wisconsin. Ingrid Loftfield, who has fallen in love with Avanasy, persuades him to allow her to accompany him back to Isavalta. Caught between warring spirits and between this world and Isavalta, Ingrid has to decide whether to follow her heart or her conscience. Zettel achieves subtle effects, whether in the magical workings based on weaving or in the balanced understandings of her protagonists' motives. She reserves fireworks for a few climactic scenes, while the story is at its weakest when characters act cinematically. Romance readers should welcome this one as eagerly as fantasy fans.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
When Medeoan, the young sorceress-empress of Isavalta, marries for love and political reasons, she defies her lifelong teacher and mentor Avanasy's strong opposition. What's more, blind with love for Kacha, she exiles Avanasy. But the teacher's reservations about Kacha are confirmed a few months later as, now in total control of Medeoan and Isavalta, he prepares war against neighboring Hung Tse. Meanwhile, finding refuge in Sand Island, Wisconsin, Avanasy falls in love there with Ingrid. When Medeoan's desperate message begging Avanasy to return arrives, Ingrid agrees to accompany him. Then things get dire. Hung Tse releases its ancient and deadly guardian, the Firebird, which puts the survival of Isavalta at risk. Only Baba Yaga knows how to defeat the Firebird, and she will only if a request of her own is met. No one is more surprised than Ingrid herself when Baba Yaga designates her for the job. For love of Avanasy and their unborn child, Ingrid sets forth on a perilous journey through the Land of Death and Spirit. Paula Luedtke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
In a sweeping new epic of breathtaking excitement and adventure, Sarah Zettel, author of A Sorcerer's Treason, tells the enthralling story of a courageous woman from small-town Wisconsin caught up in a maelstrom of empire-shaking politics and sorcerous conspiracy on a dazzling world far removed from our own.

It is 1872. Ingrid Loftfield and her sister Grace are living uneventful lives with their family on Sand Island, Lake Superior, until the day Grace nearly drowns. Grace becomes inexplicably ill, for she has been saved by the spirit of a drowned sailor which rests uneasily beneath the water. Ingrid can only watch as her sister drifts toward death, lured by the restless spirit, until an immegrant Finnish fisherman, Avan, helps Ingrid release Grace from the spell that binds her.

Having rescued her sister, Ingrid herself begins an odyssey stranger than she could imagine. For Avan is not what he's assumed to be. He's Avanasy, a powerful sorcerer who's been banished from another world, Isavalta, where he tutored Medeoan, the princess-heir to the empire until she married a prince of a rival realm. Prince Kacha has won Medeoan's heart, and with the aid of his mentor, a subtle and ambitious sorcerer, plans to win Isavalta, using sweet Medeoan's love and an array of magical means to usurp her crown.

Once Avanasy is gone, Kacha acts swiftly to isolate Medeoan from other allies, and to weave a spell that will weaken her so he can rule in her stead. When Medeoan discovers Kacha's treachery she flees, determined to win back her crown. She can only succeed if Avanasy, her oldest friend and most powerful ally, will return to help her. Because Avanasy loves Ingrid Loftfield and she loves him, together they must cross the vast gulf that separates our world from the magical realm of Isavalta. to rescue Medeoan, and fulfill a destiny far beyond Ingrid's wildest dreams.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"It is 1872. Ingrid Loftfield and her sister Grace are living uneventful lives with their family on Sand Island, Lake Superior, until the day Grace nearly drowns. Grace becomes inexplicably ill, for she has been saved by the spirit of a drowned sailor that rests uneasily beneath the water. Ingrid can only watch as her sister drifts toward death, lured by the restless spirit, until an immigrant Finnish fisherman, Avan, helps Ingrid release Grace from the spell that binds her." "Having rescued her sister, Ingrid herself begins an odyssey stranger than she could imagine. For Avan is not what he's assumed to be. He's Avanasy, a powerful sorcerer who's been banished from another world, Isavalta, where he tutored Medeoan, the princess-heir to the empire until she married a prince of a rival realm." "Prince Kacha has won Medeoan's heart and, with the aid of his mentor, a subtle and amibitious sorcerer, plans to win Isavalta, using sweet Medeoan's love and an array of magical means to usurp her crown." Once Avanasy is gone, Kacha acts swiftly to isolate Medeoan from other allies and to weave a spell that will weaken her so he can rule in her stead. When Medeoan discovers Kacha's treachery, she flees, determined to win back her crown. She can only succeed if Avanasy, her oldest friend and most powerful ally, will return to help her. Because Avanasy loves Ingrid Loftfield and she loves him, together they must cross the vast gulf that separates our world from the magical realm of Isavalta to rescue Medeoan and fulfill a destiny far beyond Ingrid's wildest dreams.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The second, tragedy-tinged Isavalta novel (after 2002's A Sorcerer's Treason) from Zettel (Reclamation) crosses a number of genres, moving from Lake Superior in 1872 through the fairy-tale Land of Death and Spirit to the high-fantasy court intrigues of Isavalta. Along the way, figures from Russian, Chinese and Indian myth intervene in the young empress Medeoan's struggle against her Hastinapuran consort, Kacha, who's plotting to control her through magic. In order to save her realm, Medeoan must turn to her mentor, Avanasy, a sorcerer who's been living in exile in Wisconsin. Ingrid Loftfield, who has fallen in love with Avanasy, persuades him to allow her to accompany him back to Isavalta. Caught between warring spirits and between this world and Isavalta, Ingrid has to decide whether to follow her heart or her conscience. Zettel achieves subtle effects, whether in the magical workings based on weaving or in the balanced understandings of her protagonists' motives. She reserves fireworks for a few climactic scenes, while the story is at its weakest when characters act cinematically. Romance readers should welcome this one as eagerly as fantasy fans. Agent, Shawna McCarthy. (Apr. 23) FYI: Reclamation won the 1996 Locus Award for Best First Novel. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

VOYA - Lynn Rutan

In the land of Isavalta, magic can be woven from threads of the earth and the soul into powerful workings that can alter the fate of nations. Devious spells woven by the ambitious sorcerer Yamuna are working invisibly to tangle the rulers of three countries in a web that will strip them of their lands. Blinded by the love of her new husband, the High Princess of Isavalta, Medeoan, banishes her tutor, Avanasy, and he flees across the Land of Death and Spirit to Sand Island, Wisconsin, in the present world. Avanasy, heartbroken by what has happened, works as a fisherman and falls in love with Ingrid Loftfield, but their fate is woven into the fabric of Isavalta, and soon Avanasy and Ingrid sail back to aid Medeoan, who has fled her court in disguise. In this second novel of Isavalta, Zettel takes readers back a generation from the first book. Readers meet the parents of Bridget Lederle, heroine of the first novel, Sorcerer's Treason (Tor, 2002/VOYA August 2002), and learn of the events that shaped the fiber of Medeoan, Dowager Empress of Isavalta. Zettel's world springs to life in this book, each country lushly described and the political maneuverings worked effortlessly into the narrative. Strong characters abound: Avanasy, torn between love and duty; Ingrid, bravely struggling with a world that is almost unimaginable; and Medeoan, dealing with the bitter knowledge of betrayal and deceit. Zettel has the many threads of her complex story well in hand as she weaves her storyteller's magic. VOYA Codes: 5Q 4P J S A/YA (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult).2003, Tor, 528p,

KLIATT - Sherry Hoy

The prequel to A Sorcerer's Treason, this recounts Empress Medeoan's story and how she conquered the firebird. Again, a young woman (Ingrid) is swept up from her fishing village (1872 Lake Superior). She follows Medeoan's sorcerer in exile (Avan) back to Isavalta. Together they work to stop the empress' traitorous husband from wreaking havoc on the nation. Unfortunately, they are too late to stop a neighboring country from unleashing the deadly firebird. In the ensuing conflagration, Medeoan's husband and most of the army are incinerated. Avan gives his life to "cage" the firebird; Medeoan is left to try to mend her kingdom; and Ingrid returns to her village, pregnant with Avan's child, to marry a man she does not love. Those awaiting the sequel (rather than prequel) will enjoy this as they wait. One of the other librarians in my district is eagerly awaiting this volume: she loved the first. I was ho-hum on the first volume, but this one went a long way in explaining questions I had. Best for mature fantasy fans looking for something a tad different. KLIATT Codes: SA—Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2003, Tor, 532p., Ages 15 to adult.

Library Journal

When Medoan, Empress of Isavalta, realizes that her husband is plotting against her to take the throne for himself alone, she sends for the one person who can help, the banished sorcerer Avanasy. Having found refuge in another world, in a quiet Wisconsin town, Avanasy dares the dangerous Land of Death and Spirit to return to his queen's aid, and with him comes his betrothed, a young woman named Ingrid whose love leads her into a strange and deadly adventure. This enchanting sequel to A Sorcerer's Treason is set in a land steeped in magic and haunted by spirits, and Zettel's imagined world is flavored with Russian mythology. A good choice for most fantasy collections. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews