In this book from Wrede's acclaimed Lyra fantasy series, a young woman must fight for her life while on a quest to claim a magical family heirloomThree weeks after Eleret's mother is killed, the messenger arrives with the tragic news. She died far from home, succumbing to wounds sustained in battle, and Eleret must travel to reclaim her belongings. The overland journey to the city of Ciaron is treacherous, but Eleret has no fear. She straps a dagger to her leg and sets off to recover one of her mother's prized possessions: a ring etched with a raven. Though she makes it to Ciaron safely, getting home is another story. Eleret doesn't know what's special about her mother's ring, but someone wanted it badly enough to kill for it. To make it home in one piece, she must unlock the mysteries of the ring her mother died to protect."This refreshingly charming story makes good use of its warrior maiden, allowing her to find less obvious solutions to the rather typical dilemmas presented." -Publishers Weekly "This fantasy adventure by Wrede blends action, intrigue, and romance. Clever dialog and engaging characters add further spice to this magical comedy of manners." -Library Journal "High-style fantasy and adventure." -The New York TimesFor over twenty years, Patricia C. Wrede (b. 1953) has expanded the boundaries of young-adult fantasy writing. Her first novel, Shadow Magic (1982), introduced Lyra, a magical world in which she set four more novels. Her other series include the Enchanted Forest Chronicles; the Cecelia and Kate novels, co-written with Caroline Stevermer; the Mairelon books, which take place in Regency England; and the Old-West Frontier Magic series. Wrede lives and works in Minnesota.