Cast into a world in which you might only read about, Chiyo awakes to finds herself in a battle alongside Muhjah and Senka for which they are saving refugees from a group of warriors. Her husband Michael and baby Hannah have vanished (where? She does not know) and Chiyo must figure out how she came to arrive at this nightmare of a life. Her simple life is no longer an option as she must travel with the duo to help these refugees find their freedom again. Under the care of Muhjah and Senka, Chiyo must learn to fight and learns the way of the sword to survive in her new surroundings. Chiyo becomes quite the warrior and rumors spread throughout the land that she is the Chosen One of the Goddess, fighting for the freedom and sacrificing her body for the ones held captive. How can this be, when only a while ago she was a wife and mother? Muhjah and Senka try to keep Chiyo from hearing the rumors and Chiyo doesn’t give it a second thought when the rumors pass over her ears. From the way she fights, a very strong and capable fighter, she can thank Muhjah and Senka for those skills. Between the three of them, they seize every opportunity for combat that they can find. In the meantime, the Emperor who controlled the refugees before the trio released them, sent his men out to find them as he seeks the Chosen One. He wants her to join up with him and together they will fight. But where will that leave the refugees and Muhjah and Senka? She has been traveling with these people for years learning the ways of the Sacerdotisa and they have a tight bond. As the Emperor’s people throw Chiyo in a cell, will her strength be enough to keep her alive? What will happen to Chiyo and is she the Chosen One?Chiyo is one tough lady. To have a deaf ear and not listen to the voices of the people as they whisper behind your back when it is such a glowing review, takes a very strong individual. When the people where voicing that she was a Chosen person and she ignored it, did not question them, or did not ask Muhjah or Senka for more information that was amazing. I would have been all over that! She could have been all proud and mighty but she remained calm and reserved. Muhjah and Senka were wonderful characters and I loved them just as much as Chiyo or perhaps even more. They were witty and they fed off each other. Lots of little stories and legends intertwined in this novel which added dimension and charm. I thought Sadie paid attention to her word choice in the book and the language flowed so well during much of the novel. There were a few times though, I was overwhelmed with too many words and I had to stop and reread a section. What a wonderful, in-depth story and the ending was fantastic."Their bodies littered the floor like deep piles of autumn leaves"
