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"A complicated, convoluted fantasy containing most of the elements common to high fantasy--the overthrow of an evil figure, a journey fraught with danger and difficulty, magic in various forms, and appealing protagonists . . . The narrative is told from constantly shifting points of view, which gives the impression of a story seen through moving water. The reader always has an uneasy feeling that another story exists just beneath this one. The denouement separates the two protagonists, with Caitlin going to Chameol to become a seer and the Badger becoming a knight vowed to celibacy, leaving many questions unanswered and much to be resolved. The author, who began the book when she was thirteen, has an unusual style, a fiendish command of plot, and a fine, fresh imagination." —A. A. F., The Horn Book

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"While many of the couple's adventures have a mock Alice in Wonderland lunacy about them, affording a sense of rollicking fun, the quest itself is serious and traditional, pitting good against evil, and the climactic scene at the convent, if somewhat murky, is in good pyrotechnic form. Add a touch of star-crossed romance as the Badger and Caitlin gradually become lovers, and it's clear the story has all the ingredients to entice and hold fantasy fans." —Booklist

"Downer gives little introduction to her intricate world, choosing instead to plunge her reader into incident, smoothly revealing secrets in the process of immersion. This is skillfully done, in language both poetic and witty, but effective only for the most persistent of fantasy readers, who will look forward to implied sequels. Still, Downer is an impressively skilled weaver of story spells in the tradition of Wynne-Jones." —starred review, Kirkus Reviews