The Horse-Lords have wiped out almost all of the witch-folk from the Isles. Those that still live are subjugated or in hiding. When Warlord Ricca conceives a plan to construct a lasting monument of standing stones to himself and his people Naeri of the witch-folk will put herself in his path to insure that she takes part in the plans and construction. It is thought to be the only way to bring down the Horse-Lords who have taken so much but will the task ask more then Naeri is willing to give.

For many years after the death of her mother's house Naeri has lived in the hills above Ricca's camp, stealing food and bits of refuse to survive. When she is finally caught and brought before the warlord she is saved by the kind heart of the camp's smith, Gwi. Gwi takes her as an apprentice until a long-lost cousin arrives and reminds her of her duties to her family and tribe. Together with a kindly priest Naeri is trained in the gifts of geomancy, her earth-witch skills. She will learn to feel the energy of the earth and stone and the leylines around her so that, when Ricca begins his monument she will have the knowledge necessary to bring him down from the inside. Try as she might though, she knows this plan is wrong. Can she go against her people, even though the Horse-Lords have done them so many wrongs already?

As I read this book it took some time for me to realize that I felt absolutely nothing about it. The characters didn't garner any sympathy or even revulsion in me, the story didn't move me, and there was no real scenery to make any images in my head. The whole thing felt flat and incredibly lifeless. I believe this is one of the most boring stories I have read in quite awhile and with the amount of books I read that's really saying something.
-----------------------------------------
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Juno Books (August 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0809571579
ISBN-13: 978-0809571574