How, if you have never seen him, never heard him described, did not know where he lived? How, if he wished not to be found?
And how, most especially, if he were the most powerful wizard in the world?
The steerswoman Rowan has discovered that the fall of the Guidestar and the massacre of Outskirter tribes were caused by one man: the secret master-wizard, Slado. But until now, no steerswoman had known of his existence, nor knew that the wizards answered to any single authority. Now, Rowan must find him.
She comes to the seaside town of Alemeth, where centuries of records might help her find clues for her search. Then, an unexpected encounter with a lost friend: Janus, a steersman who had resigned his membership in the Steerswomen, giving no explanation.
Now Rowan has hope for help in her search -- but Janus has changed. The bright intellect is shrouded in a dark, shattered spirit...
Then death comes to sleepy Alemeth, monsters from the Outskirts, and Rowan can not help but wonder: are all these strange events connected?
"An original and fascinating take on the tensions between science and belief, observation and expectaion, courage and fear. Highly recommended." -- Suzy McKee Charnas, author of Motherlines and Walk to the End of the World
"Kirstein's striking portrait of an innovative woman who is scientist, judge, historian, and adventurer makes for a good, thought-provoking read." -- Publisher's Weekly
“If you haven’t read Kirstein’s Steerswoman books I envy you the chance to read them now for the first time.... I think they have a very good claim to be my favorite thing still being written. […] If you like science, and if you like watching someone work out mysteries, and if you like detailed weird alien worlds and human cultures, if really good prose appeals... you’re really in luck.†— Jo Walton, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner, author of Among Others and Farthing.