Clovermead Wickward, erstwhile innkeeper’s daughter, has accepted her heritage as the heir of Chandlefort—but hates it. Suddenly she is expected to look and act like a noble, while shifting into her bear form is forbidden. Even sword practice with best friend Sorrel is less fun, now that he seems to prefer her ladylike cousin. So when a stranger offers to reminisce about the father she never knew, Clovermead ignores her mother’s strict proscriptions, a carelessness that puts Lady Cindertallow and her city in deadly danger. Once again, Clovermead must engage in a desperate quest that imperils her life and her very soul. Typical of the middle title in a trilogy, this volume emphasizes developing characters and setting up events for the final showdown over creating a stand-alone story. Dramatic action sequences interspersed with charming interludes offer everyone in the supporting cast an opportunity to shine, although the heroine suffers in comparison: Clovermead has lost much of her precocious spunk, and comes off as a moody brat. Still, at the end, she does grow in both strength and compassion, and is rewarded by learning the secret of her powers and destiny. A solid sequel; buy where the first is popular. (Fantasy. YA)
