This book picks up almost where it's predecessor ("Fifth Quarter") left off. Vree and Gyhard have left the Empire and traveled to Shkoder in the hopes that a young and promising healer named Magda can find Gyhard a body without killing someone to claim it. If Gyhard ever kills again he will immediately come up under charges and be executed. Our initial conflict comes with with a jealous and emotionally wounded Bannon who will go through any length to steal back the life he and Vree shared up until Gov. Aralt's appearance.

"No Quarter" finally intermingles the plot lines of the characters from "Sing the Four Quarters" and those of "Fifth Quarter" as we meet a grown up Gerek and his little sister, Magda who are charged of taking care of a homesick Vree and a nervous Gyhard. Gerek has grown up to be a dashing romantic, while Magda inherited an iron will and streak of independence not uncommon in her family.

While the bards of Shkoder are marveling over Vree and Gyhard's "two kigh in one body" news comes in that points toward a reemergence of the walking dead, and therefore of Kars. Vree/Gyhard and Magda go off to finally put a stop to him, but they're not alone as Bannon and Gerek are quickly sent off to retrieve them.

All in all this book was so much fun to read! It may have used a well-worn plot line (oops we didn't kill *insert problem character here* the first time, but we'll get 'em now!), but the bits and pieces that Huff added to it to make it her own completely distance it from anything approaching banality. Huff's story is lively and engaging. I found Bannon's immature reactions in "Fifth Quarter" annoying at best, and downright painful to read at others. Luckily Vree/Gyhard are the main characters in this story, and Bannon gets to grow up a little towards the end. Huff chose wisely when she made the semi-romantic couple the lead characters for this book as they both have interesting backstories to deal with and plenty of room and need to grow as people.

The ending is a bit contrived, but the feeling of resolution it gives makes that small fact easy to overlook. I highly recommend this book as a lively, character driven fantasy novel to enjoy during a weekend read. It's best in one long sitting rather than multiple shorter ones as the sense of urgency is dimmed when you pick it up and put it down over and over.

- Katie Wilks
April 18th, 2005