"A beautifully written masterpiece of legend and lore."

The Mountain, destiny's siren, beckons each spring for those blessed enough to be chosen - a call that the chosen cannot ignore. The Mountain is home to the white gods of the Aurelian Empire. Every spring inside each of those chosen, the summons resonates, forcing them to journey to the Mountain and the school of the Riders. Those lucky and talented enough to pass the training and test become Riders of the Kingdom, placed with the young gods in their earthly shape of beautiful white horses. Together Rider and Stallion will participate in "the Dance," which is the magic and power of the kingdom; a power so unique and powerful, it can change the patterns of time.

Valeria is extremely skilled in the ways of women's healing magic. Her magic is so powerful that her mother slates her to become her predecessor as the next wise woman of the village. In addition, she is blessed with an innate and uncanny ability to communicate with animals, especially horses. Since she can remember, Valeria has been having vivid dreams and glimpses of her destiny. When Valeria hears "the Call," the internal fire inside her consumes her. Yearningly it burns with a great and powerful need that overrides her mind and her senses. Suddenly nothing matters but getting to the mountain, and no one or nothing can keep her contained when destiny calls. Most find being chosen a blessing and a privilege. However, Valeria has one obstacle that may keep her from become who she is to be -- she has the misfortune to be female. Never before in the history of the Calling, has a female been called to the mountain. But the gods have chosen, and Valeria is pivotal to their plans whether the rest of the Riders know it or not.

Soon the biased Riders name Valeria, the chosen of the white gods, an outcast. Finding herself enmeshed in more than just bias and politics, she also discovers what it is like to love. In the arms of the First Rider, Kerrec, she learns the depth and power that emotion. In the arms of a foreign Prince with an agenda to invade the Aurelian Empire, she finds an all-consuming lust. When one group would have her as their Queen, while her own homeland brands her a misfit, Valeria must make a choice that could forever alter not only the kingdom, but time itself.

Caitlin Brennan has created a masterpiece of legend and lore with her first novel. Hauntingly beautiful and extremely powerful emotions run through her story. She paints pictures with her words so well that you may forget where and who you are. Instead, you will breathe and ride along side the heroine on this magical journey through her trials and victories. You can feel Ms. Brennan's love of all things equine, especially the bond between horse and rider. Take Tolkien and Lackey and mix them together and you get this new magic that is Caitlin's own. You will stay enthralled with each page turned. I will be impatiently waiting for the book two in the White Magic series as even now I'm wondering what the fate of the Kingdom and Valeria will be.

Reviewed by Anne Barringer
Posted September 20, 2004