Aetria is an Illusionist Sorceress. She has just returned to active service in the Delmathian army following a burnout years before when she lost control of a spell designed to make a herd of cattle resemble a cavalry squadron and, hence, make the enemy believe her sides forces to be stronger than they were. She is assigned as sub-commander in a regiment comprising of novice magicians on their way to bolster the front line.

On the journey she senses a group of magicians near their position and her commander, and long time nemesis, the Adept Pleates decides the enemy force should be investigated and captured, despite the inexperience of the forces they are leading.

Soon after this, as she is assigned to an escort mission accompanying the army's general on a covert assignment, by the same Pleates, she discovers a traitor to the Delmathian cause as well as new information regarding the sources of magic. All she has to do is survive this and persuade people that it isn't she that is the traitor.

This was a well written fantasy story. The characters evoked sympathy in the reader and the setting of a magicians' regiment within an army was certainly one I had not come across all that often, so there was a certain feeling of freshness about this.

Also in these days when fantasy seems to be either of almost unending sagas or at the minimum the familiar trilogy, it is quite pleasant to read a self contained novel. This book is complete within itself - there is no need for further volumes. This is not saying that the authors shouldn't revisit this world and tell more stories of these characters. There is certainly enough scope to do this. It's just this is a fantasy novel which you can read, and put down satisfied without having to commit a large section of your life into reading numerous sequels.