I don't even have the heart to write a decent review, and believe me when I say I'm hurting inside---this was my first Tamora Pierce book and I had such high expectations, but the poor darlings came all tumbling down as the story progressed. I just couldn't get into it. It's... it's all over the place, to the point that I had no idea whatsoever of what, who, when, where... I just---I just---it's not for me.