This novella introduces two new characters in prelude to the next full-length novel in S.J. Hime’s wonderful action and character-driven “Beacon Hill Sorcerer” series. (I have enjoyed re-listening to books 1-3 of this series many times).

Surprisingly, in this novella the characters and their backstory are rather thin. Low marks mostly for when a main character in this novella jarringly boasts that he aligns himself with a controversial modern-day political ideology. Very unnecessary to drag such issues into a magic and fantasy book. I think giving this novella “a miss” will not take away from enjoying the next full-length Beacon Hill Sorcerer book, “The Necromancer’s War.”