Review first published at http://fansofmsw.com/ 
 Summary: 
 In this book, the magic in Elani street, the street of the magicians and charlatans, is going wild and the city is threatened by an invasion from another world; Kaylin and Severn are send to investigate this. 
 My opinion: 
 In this book, the relationship between Kaylin, Severn and Nightshade finally progress! Unfortunately, it's limited to Severn and Nightshade "expressing" their desire/ love for Kaylin and her being uncomfortable about it. Yet it was nice; after all the time I had almost lost all hope... As promise at the end of the last book, we have Nightshade's reaction to the revelation we get in Silence and we finally learn his motives - or at least part of it, he is Barrani after all. I was rather surprised by part of them (the part about the Regalia) but not disappointed and this revelation promised a change in his behaviour in the future books (though I expected it to come into play before the trip to the West March). It was a pleasant surprise to see him confront Kaylin about her avoiding him and finally kiss her. If Kaylin's reaction was a little disappointed, it was nonetheless not unexpected considering her past and the trauma she still carries. We also get Severn finally expressing his feeling which was good as I get the impression that if not for the circumstances he would never have done so. Whoever Kaylin end up with (though I obviously hope it will be Nightshade), it is nice that she has to confront their feelings and cannot simply ignore them completely. 
 In this book we also see again Evanton, his garden and the dragons Lords; I was delighted to see more of the Arkon who is as sarcastic as ever and plays a major role in the story; I always appreciate to see the relationship between the dragon Lords. 
 The plot in itself was engrossing and well develop; it was in keeping with the rest of the series, as we see Kaylin use her powers of Chosen to save the world. This book seems to be a sort of complement of Cast in Secret, as we come back to the elemental garden and the elements which I always love to see; we also see again the Oracles (I read this in someone else review, I had personally forgotten about them). Several plot threads which will become relevant for Cast in Peril and Sorrow are also put in place in this book, such as the Consort's anger at Kaylin for ignoring her "advice", the egg and the troubles with the Exchequer. I think that the Consort's anger is well done as it reminds us that the Barrani are not human, or that at last they are powerful immortals in love with political plots: despite all the friendliness she has previously shown Kaylin, the Consort still expects her to obey her and is irrationally angry when she fails to do so. We also meet the Norranir and learn that humans come from another world; I think that it was an interesting development. 
 On the whole, it is a good read essential for the fans of the series.