8 Stars
"As the newly appointed Chalice, Mirasol is the most important member of the Master’s Circle. It is her duty to bind the Circle, the land, and its people together with their new Master. But the new Master of Willowlands is a Priest of Fire, only drawn back into the human world by the sudden death of his brother. No one knows if it is even possible for him to live amongst his people. Mirasol wants the Master to have his chance, but her only training is as a beekeeper. How can she help settle their demesne during these troubled times and bind it to a Priest of Fire, the touch of whose hand can burn human flesh to the bone?" (Taken from this site.)
This is probably the best new fantasy I have read in a LONG time. It is imaginative, thought-provoking, and heartfelt. It is also full of McKinley's organically lyrical writing and avid descriptions. I would happily live in this world she's created, and can readily identify with several of the characters, though we have few life experiences in common. The only reason I gave it 8 instead of 9 stars is because there is no direct timeline, so it's a little confusing to get into at first. Eventually, I appreciated the flow this gave the book, but I recognize it could be off-putting to readers. And, as with all of McKinley's books, I felt it just the tiniest bit lacking in the "ending" department; but I would readily read it again, and only hope that the somewhat open-ending will encourage her to write more in this setting!
