Review first published at http://fansofmsw.com/ 
 Summary : 
 Following the events of Cast in Shadow, Kaylin is forced to take magic lessons with a dragon lord, Sanabilis, and the Barrani High Court having taken an interest in her invites her to their gathering for the Festival. None is thrilled at the idea of Kaylin going, as Barrani are well known for their love of convoluted plots, assassinations and betrayals. Lord Nightshade also "invites" Kaylin to stay in his castle in the meantime, as, because of his status of outcast and her link to him, most Barrani Lords want her dead. 
 Unfortunately, the High Lord's youngest son is dying and Kaylin's friend, Teela, who also happens to be a Barrani Lord, brings her to court to use her healer power to save him. Now that she has made such a powerful ally and that they are magically bound together, she has no choice but to go to the court gathering and face all of their deadly plots and the role her new ally wants her to take in them. 
 My opinion: 
 This book was principally about the Barrani and I loved it! They are very fascinating characters and even when they are Kaylin's allies, one always feels their alieness and the threat they exude. The new characters we discover, the Lord of the West March and the dragon lord Sanabilis, are very interesting and both oblige Kaylin to think about her powers. Sanabilis only makes a brief apparition but I love his relationship with Kaylin. He is more patient and tolerant with her than most and because he doesn't insist on proper protocol she manages to learn lots of things with him. 
 Lord Nightshade interacts again with Kaylin and his intentions and motivations are again mysterious and suspicious. He is always a very fascinating character despite his brief apparition in this book. I love the fact that we get to see the epilogue from his point of view even if we are not privy to his thoughts. 
 Kaylin is now in the spotlight and she hates it, but it was fun to see how she deals with some of Elantra most powerful members (mostly with her usual lack of grace and manners). 
 The plot is in keeping with the rest of the series: Kaylin uses her power of chosen and healer to face a magical threat menacing the whole Barrani court. 
 (view spoiler)[ I loved the fact that she ends up as a lord of the High Court. It must have been hilarious to see the face of the Barrani Lords when she survives the test. (hide spoiler)] 
 This book is the one that made me fall in love with the series.