A childhood favourite, so a half star added for sentimental reasons as this doesn't quite fly as an adult read. However, still a decent young YA (ie no language, no complicated smut) stand-alone in which a once-harmonious society must overcome its growing gender tensions if it is to defend itself against the increasingly rapacious Outworlder presence. Khian is the prince who has never learnt to love, who must decide whether to finally stop rebelling for the sake of it and bow to his warlord father's wishes to lead the armies into a war they can never win. Elana is the novice priestess pulled into intrigues beyond her years after an accidental encounter with the long-feared elder race of stonewraiths brings her to the attention of manipulative reverend mother Aylna-Bettany. But as tensions spiral out of control and personalities collide, can even the sisterhood's deep-laid plans avert disaster? ( )

I remembered this book from my teens so clearly & found it in Jamie Frazer (2nd hand SF in Toronto). So excited. What a letdown. It's still haunting, but more as a memory than as a read. ( )