Wintertide

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY MAY 31, 2004

Set in a fantasy world closely resembling the Middle Ages (save for the witches, sorcerers and demons that dot the landscape), this captivating novel from Sinclair (Destiny's Game) follows a courageous healer named Khamsin as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Khamsin has long known that she has been chosen for a particular course in life, but she isn't certain what that course is. All she knows is that a very powerful being, most likely the sorcerer who governs the surrounding lands, would like to destroy her and that she's destined to face grave danger in her 17th year. Nothing could prepare her, however, for the vicious attack on her village that results in the deaths of her husband, family and friends. With the help of handsome and mysterious Rylan the Tinker, Khamsin travels to the city of Noviiya, where she seeks out a wise old healer who can help her hone her magical skills. From there, she makes the difficult trek to the Sorcerer's castle. The plot line is familiar and thinly fleshed out, but the suspense that builds as Khamsin grows closer to her goal, making friends and battling demons along the way, will draw readers onward. While this is far from an action-adventure fantasy epic, Sinclair's fluid prose and intrepid heroine ensure that it is an enchanting read.