The Spirit Gate

By Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff

The magic of Polia is broken, the delicate connection between its male and female elements, sundered. Blame for this and other calamities both natural and political has long been laid at the feet of the White Mothers–rare adepts who can handle both male and female elements. The young widow, Kassia Telek, is one such woman. Barred from the legitimate use of her talents, she peddles herbs in the town square to feed herself and her son, Beyla . . . until, one day, she comes to the attention of Master Lukasha, head of Polia’s foremost center of arcane learning.

Lukasha sees in the young widow a chance to mend his broken and besieged land and save Polia’s king from the necessity of a disastrous political marriage to a daughter of the Frankish Empire. It seems his dearest hopes will be realized when Kassia’s native curiosity and talent lead her to discover a trove of hidden knowledge. But Kassia gradually discovers that not everything that can be known should be known. The magic to which she holds the key, thrusts her into a battle with forces that can save Polia from its enemies or destroy everything she holds dear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff
• Release date: Jun 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781611384482

Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff

Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff is the award-winning author of short fiction whose work has appeared in publications such as Analog and Interzone. She has authored a number of Star Wars novels, including the New York Times bestseller The Last Jedi. She currently resides in San Jose, California.

Book preview

Chapter One — Kassia

The women of Dalibor did their laundry at the river the way their mothers had done it, and their grandmothers, and their great-grandmothers. Heads uncovered, hair a myriad earthy shades gleaming in dappled sunlight, they chattered and passed about bits of soap root, and paused now and again to push soaked sleeves further up their golden arms. Sometimes the conversation might turn to the way the women of faraway cities laundered their clothes in special buildings with hot running water and soap root that came powdered and perfumed in fancily wrapped packets, but the women of Dalibor were creatures of tradition, and they had the river Pavla Yeva at their doorsteps.

Kassia Telek did her laundry at the river, too. A little apart from the other women, her head covered by a scarf the color of green grass, she listened to the music of their banter and the rhythmic slap of wet cloth against rock. She didn’t attempt to join in; the women of Dalibor were creatures of tradition.

Sometimes when the older women had gone, the young ones would include her in their group and lend her soap root, or ask to borrow hers, but today the other women finished up all together and went their way. Only Panya Ogedei turned to wave at her.

When they had gone, Kassia pulled her scarf from her head. Hair the color of moonlight on cloud tumbled from beneath it. When she finished her washing she would bind the hair up again before making her way back through the village to her sister’s house. It was not law that made her cover her hair, nor tradition, nor even conscious shame or fear. It was simply that the pale stuff reminded some of a past of which they were both ashamed and resentful. It reminded all that she was shai.

Washing done at last, she climbed the stone ramp to the river road, pulling her laden handcart to the cobbled riverside plaza that housed the drying lines. The air quivered with tentative warmth, the frail Polian spring struggling in the grasp of a winter that seemed reluctant to pass. In the full light of the Sun, tiny blades of grass and fragile blossoms dared to push out of the blanket of sodden pine needles; in the shadows of rocks and fallen trees, snow still clung, stark white against the charred remains of what had been thick forest. Kassia was too young to remember the Fire, but she remembered the fear.

Her steps were slow on the cobbled path, keeping rhythm with the sound of a woodcutter’s axe somewhere in the arboreal graveyard. It was a sharp, lonely sound that reminded her, unaccountably, of death. She focused on the song of water over rock as she hung her things to dry; her sister’s aprons, her brother-in-law’s shirts and leggings, her little son’s patchwork jacket. She hugged that to her breast for a moment before fishing pins from her apron pocket and hanging it with the rest of the wash. At six, Beyla was growing so fast, he probably wouldn’t get another autumn’s wear out of the little coat. She ought to pass it to Asenka for her youngest, but the thought saddened her. Some of those patches had been sewn in place by her mother. It was all she had of Jasia Telek but for a little book of meditations, a locket, her tilted eyes, honey-gold skin and snowy hair, and the rare talents that went with them.

Task complete, Kassia set her basket with the others at the border of the drying flat and glanced back to make sure her bright red ribbon marked the end of her line. The rainbow of cloth floated in the weak morning breeze, the Sun breathing palely on it from above, tentative heat rising to it from the stones beneath the lines.

Kites. They look like a fleet of kites.

That thought caused Kassia to glance up across the village to the southeast, where Lorant sat high on its wooded hill—virtually the only place around Dalibor where adult trees still stood in any abundance. There was a small fleet of kites over Lorant today; a large white one announced the up-coming holy day in celebration of the New Year; a handful of smaller, varicolored ones sent messages to folk in neighboring villages; the one of royal red told the first yam or way-station on the road to Tabor to expect an envoy to the court of King Zelimir to be traveling that way within the week. Travel to and from Dalibor was regular now that the capital was no longer in the hands of the tyrant Tamalids, and the yam—until recently a neglected ruin—was now a fully equipped station with fresh horses, hot food and cold water for those carrying the proper credentials and communication to and from the king.

Below the royal messages, a small school of bobbing kites announced to the village of Dalibor and its environs that a graduation was near; four Initiates would become Apprentices, two Apprentices would become Aspirants, and of the current group of Aspirants to the holy station of Mateu, one would be accepted as Mateu, and four ordained as priests.

A bright blue bird-shaped kite with a golden tail caught Kassia’s eye. The Mateu were accepting new applicants for initiation. Someday, perhaps Beyla would go to Lorant. Kassia could already sense the gift of Itugen within him and marveled at that, wondering what kind of Mateu he would make who could draw upon all elements equally. It was rare enough for a woman to be graced with Itugen’s touch—the ability to see the unseen, draw upon the forces of earth and fire—for a male, it was practically unheard of. The Mateu wielded the power of Mat, held the heavenly forces in their hands. Kassia saw in Beyla a Balance. Perhaps one day Beyla could help redeem the lot of the shai.

Hauling her little handcart behind, Kassia headed homeward along the path. Half-charred blackberry vines tumbled down to meet her, tiny blossoms struggling to open on the straggling new growth. Fifty yards along, the path met the road from Ohdan, a rutted swathe of sandy mud and gravel that followed the river course east to west. Turning south at the edge of the village, she stepped onto the main road that wound among the thatched cottages of Dalibor—the road that led to Tabor. Here the muddy track gave way grudgingly to river-polished rock.

Kassia raised her eyes to the smoke-blurred horizon. Where she walked, the cottages were little better than hovels—one room, two, no more than four at best—where her eyes walked, great houses grew from the new prosperity that had begun to spread welcome tendrils into Polia with the overthrow of the House of Arik Tamal, twelve years before, by the Zelimirids. The owners of those new houses were largely immigrants from the capital at Tabor, sent by the royal court to cement its relations with the Sacred Circle of Lorant. Their roads were not mud, but hand-cut stone and fired brick.

Change had come to old Dalibor, as well, if slowly. The mud-packed stones beneath her feet said as much; two years ago she would have been up to her ankles in muck, trekking her little cart up this street. The white-washed faces of village shops smiled from beneath their moppish thatches. And even here, thatch slowly gave way to glazed tile. The baker’s shop had little gables of it; they looked odd poking out of the thatch, like red eyebrows on someone with wheaten hair. The angle of them, combined with the dark wooden beams surrounding the door gave the shop a look of perpetual surprise. As if it had just seen itself in a mirror, Kassia thought, and laughed.

A most becoming sound, Mistress Telek! The baker—one of the few people in Dalibor Kassia was tempted to think of as a friend—was on her porch dusting off the rough trestle table she had set up for guests who wished to sit and enjoy her wares. Has my little shop done something to amuse you?

Blushing only a little, Kassia stopped and shaded her eyes from the Sun that had begun to peek above the bakery’s ridge pole. Well, Mistress Devora, it’s only that your little shop is making faces at me.

The older woman, puzzled, came down off her porch and into the street, peering back at the building. The laughter that escaped her was as full and rich as the little cream cakes she made for worship day. And because Kassia had made her laugh, she gave her a loaf of braided bread for the noonday meal and a cookie for Beyla.

Cookie in one oversized apron pocket, bread nestled in the crook of her arm where she could inhale its warm fragrance, Kassia went along to her sister’s house, home these last three years. The house was one of the larger ones in the old town, four rooms in all. It had belonged to the Kovar family for generations and had grown and changed shape with the passage of time. The smallest room, which she and Beyla shared, had made up the entire original cottage. It was round and had a floor of rush-covered stone. She’d woven mats for their sleeping pallets and braided a little carpet for the floor where Beyla dressed each morning. It wasn’t a very good job of braiding, but it covered the floor.

The newest part of the house was square and squat, but Asenka was very proud of it. Her husband and his brothers had built it by hand, carving the neat blocks out of native granite; the rock looked as if it had been salted and peppered with jet and glass. It might have looked fine in a setting that did not include hard-packed mud and withered trees. Kassia glanced wryly at the scruffy little patch by the front door where, every year, she and Asenka and the children tried to coax flowers to grow. Maybe this year . . .

Blaz, Kassia’s brother-in-law, spoke often about putting one of those fashionable tile roofs on the house and of sending to Tabor for silk carpets to replace the rushes, skins and hand-braided rugs that covered the floors now. He was careful to let Kassia know those things would be long in coming with two extra mouths to feed.

Kassia paused before the low stone wall that framed the Kovar house, wondering if Blaz had left for the forge. She’d tried to love her sister’s husband once, tried to include him in the gratitude she felt for Asenka’s generosity, but she found it impossible when he so often reminded her that because of her and Beyla, his three boys must share one room and his young daughter sleep with her parents. Because of her and Beyla, there were no silk carpets on the floors and no red tiles on the roof. In his heart of hearts, she suspected, he also blamed her for the blasted trees and the sickly soil and the incessant rain.

Swallowing her bitter thoughts, she opened the little wrought iron gate Blaz had fixed in his stone wall and went into the yard, leaving her handcart outside. She’d taken no more than two steps up the beaten path when a snow-capped whirlwind of giggles swept her up in a boy-sized hug.

I smelled the bread, mama! Can I have some? Her son’s golden face was turned up to her in eager expectation, his tilted brown eyes grinning from beneath a thatch of white, sun-dappled silk.

His mother laughed and dredged her pocket for the cookie. The bread’s for dinner, Beyla, but Mistress Devora gave me a cookie for you. She held it out. You’re like a little mouse—always looking for a sweet crumb.

It took no more than a second for the ‘sweet crumb’ to come to his expectant hands. It was a large cookie, moist with molasses, fragrant with spices. He sniffed at it blissfully. I’m going to share it with Lenci, he said, and turned his eyes behind him. Is that all right, mama? May Lenci have a bit of my cookie?

Kassia glanced over her son’s head to where his four-year-old cousin Lenci watched, one grubby finger hooked in her mouth. That’s good of you, Beyla. I’m sure Lenci would love a bit of your cookie.

He sniffed the cookie again, sighed and turned sparkling eyes on his mother. I’ll thank Mistress Devora the next time I see her, I promise.

Hmmm. Hoping she’ll give such a courteous young man another cookie, I’ll bargain.

Grinning, he bounced away to where the little girl waited for him, his hands already working to tear the glorious treat in two.

Still smiling, Kassia continued on into the house. Her sister Asenka was there at the table that divided kitchen from living area, carefully slicing carrots into a stew pot. She glanced up as Kassia came in, then tossed her head and smiled, her eyes shifting to the long loaf of bread in her younger sister’s arms.

Ah, Kiska! You went by the bakery, did you? Her brow knit ever so slightly. I’m not sure we can afford—

Mistress Devora sent it along as a gift for our dinner. That and a cookie for Beyla. He’s sharing it with Lenci—I didn’t think you’d mind.

Asenka’s mouth twitched in something that was not quite a smile. Why that’s sweet of him. He’s a good little boy. Very helpful around the house. And you . . . She broke off, turning her eyes back to the carrot she was slicing. Shik! Shik! whispered the knife. Shik!

Kassia wrapped the bread in a piece of linen and laid it on the sideboard, eyes distracted momentarily by the satiny sheen of the polished surface. Her fingers caressed the wood, letting the grain of it pull them back and forth.

And our neighbors are so giving, Asenka blurted. Baked goods, clothing, extra milk . . . Why I was saying to Blaz just yesterday how easy this past winter was compared to . . . Her voice dissolved beneath the susurration of her knife.

Kassia watched her older sister out of the tail of her eye for a moment, reading the averted eyes, the flushed cheeks, the too-crisp movements of her hands. It required no shai faculty to taste the unease in the little kitchen. She turned to Asenka, preparing to ask what was wrong when the open front door was filled with Blaz Kovar.

Asenka jerked upright, then hunched her shoulders again. You frightened me, she said, in a tone that did not quite accuse him. Coming from the usually even-tempered Asenka, it sounded almost waspish.

Blaz, his broad face closed and emotionless, glanced from Kassia to his wife before pulling a rag from his belt and wiping his hands with it. Have you spoken?

Asenka’s face seemed paler than it had a moment ago. No. Kassia just came in. She was helping me with din—

You’d best be telling her your news, Aska.

Asenka brought her head up, color returning to her face in a flood. Her eyes locked momentarily with her husband’s, then Blaz was gone. Asenka gazed down at the carrot in her hand as if she’d never before seen it.

What news?

Her sister looked up at her, face pale again. It’s just . . . I . . . Oh, Kassia, I’m pregnant.

Kassia caught a flash of the underlying emotions, then. Like her sister’s expression, they fluttered back and forth between a frown and a smile—anguish and felicity. She smiled. Are you happy, Aska?

I . . . Oh, of course I’m happy, Kassia. It’s just . . . well, it’s a bit of a surprise. I don’t know how it happened.

Kassia raised her brows. Aska, by now, you don’t know how it happens?

Her sister waved the carrot, laughing, but still not releasing her anxiety. You know what I mean. Blaz . . . well, he’s been on one of the herbals. I’ve never known them to fail if they’re taken as they should be, but . . . She snorted delicately. I’m certainly not going to accuse my husband of carelessness.

Kassia nodded. So, Blaz had finally found a way to be rid of her. Five children. Do you know what it is yet?

Asenka shook her head. Blaz wanted me to go up to Lorant and have one of the Mateu cast a divination, but . . . She glanced at the door and lowered her voice almost to a whisper. I wanted you to do it. I’m surprised you didn’t know I was pregnant before I did.

Kassia laughed. I don’t know everything, Aska. Sometimes when I’m distracted, I don’t . . . listen very well.

You’ve been distracted, I know. Asenka gave the carrot a shake, then started peeling it. Blaz . . . isn’t an easy man to get along with always.

Blaz wasn’t an easy man to get along with ever, Kassia thought, but she kept her peace. "And now he wants me to leave—oh, not that he hasn’t always wanted me to leave, but now he has ample reason."

Asenka’s head came up, eyes glinting. This house is half mine. I should tell him if I want to let part of my half to my own sister—

Aska, there is not enough room in this little house for nine people. There isn’t enough room in it for eight, but you’ve made do. I understand this isn’t your decision. Please, don’t torture yourself that you should have done more. Beyla and I will go.

But where will you go? Janka’s in no better situation than I am, and you make so little with your herbals and such. I suppose if you had more reading students, you might—

Kassia moved to lay a gentle hand on her sister’s shoulder. Let me worry about that, Aska. I’ll think of something.

She would have to think of something, for Beyla’s sake, whether it was coming up with more exciting herbal cures and enhancers or finding more folk who wanted to learn to read and write. But neither of those things were entirely practical. She wasn’t the only one in town who could do adequate herbals and there were a good number of folk who wouldn’t touch anything she’d prepared anyway. As for reading—those that wanted to learn usually went to Lorant and those who didn’t, simply didn’t. What did it avail a blacksmith or a shepherd to read?

Despair was trying to settle on her. There really was very little she could do in a village like Dalibor and the thought of moving to a city like Radom, Ratibor or Tabor terrified her. Asenka was right about Janka, too—not only was their elder sister’s situation similar to Asenka’s, but even if it weren’t, she’d hardly be inclined to take her younger sibling and nephew in. That reality, perhaps, was the hardest for Kassia to bear.

Feeling her sister’s melting eyes on her, she murmured, I’ve got to go think, and fled outside. But first, she thought, first, I have to get this wretched weight out of my soul.

She wandered aimlessly for a while, making an effort to think, but doing very little thinking. At length, she found herself back down by the river, standing on a little stone jetty that thrust into the broad stream to shield the village fishing boats from the current. Her eyes went where they would, and they would go across the river to the dark tangle of dead trees and brush that almost hid the ruins of lost Dalibor.

There had been cottages among those trees once, not that long ago. She had lived in one of them with her husband, Shurik, and Beyla. From where she stood, she could just catch a glimpse of a broken wall. Stone—that would have been her parent’s house. Her house, and Shurik’s, had been made of wood. It was gone, washed away along with her father, her husband . . . her life.

The river smelled gently green and sang sweetly, yet it was easy—too easy—for Kassia to bring back the terror and fury of that night three years ago, when the storms had reached their peak, when the Pavla Yeva, swollen and enraged, had swarmed her banks and over-run the lower reaches of Dalibor.

Because both mother and daughter were shai. That’s what the villagers had said. Because of them, the river had escaped its banks. Because of that, Mat had taken their men.

It was true in a sense; Jedrus Telek and Shurik Cheslaf had died because they lived on the northern bank of the Pavla Yeva and they had lived there because their women were shai. Since that night Kassia had lived more or less in hiding—her hair covered along with her burgeoning shai senses, her magics bottled up to be dispensed only in the most mundane or secret of ways, she clothed herself in bright village garb while her mind, her soul, wore widow’s black.

This was an anniversary of sorts, Kassia realized. This was her third spring without Shurik, without her family. Three years, and she still mourned. She squeezed her eyes closed and thanked Itugen and Mat that she yet had Beyla. Had she lost him, too . . .

Anger welled in the reaches of her heart—a rising swirl of furious pain. She tore the green scarf from her head and flung it to the stonework at her feet, leaving it behind her to flutter in the capricious breezes off the Pavla Yeva.

oOo

The marketplace at the edge of the village was aswarm this late in the morning with vendors and patrons from Dalibor and beyond. Increasingly, landed folk from the lower foothills and high meadowlands of Teschen province joined the dwellers of Dalibor, old and new, to do their spring shopping. Tabor was four or five days’ journey, Ratibor nearly as far to the southeast; they made do with the simple goods offered by Dalibor. Though these days, to be sure, those goods were not as simple as they once had been. The ascent to the royal throne of the Zelimirids had done more than ease tension between Tabor and the provinces, it had caused a reversal of fortune that had begun in the capital and trickled like fresh spring water throughout the once-forsaken land.

Prosperity of any color gave the citizens of Dalibor reason for optimism, however guarded. That, in turn, made them believe they could afford tolerance. It was because of Kiril Zelimir and his successor, Michal, that Kassia could now walk through this marketplace, head uncovered, and cause only a minimal stir. Minimal, if she could make herself believe the hostile stares and startled glances did not bruise, or the frankly curious regard of the well-dressed newcomers did not embarrass.

Wending her way among the colorful stalls, some of which were permanent now, she concentrated on the scents of the day—fish and fruit, incense and spice, young pine and sun-basted stone. Her goal was the booth of one Ursel Trava who owned roughly one third of the cottages in lower Dalibor. If she was to find a home for herself and Beyla, it was to Ursel Trava she must go. She heard his voice before she saw the booth where he sold goods of dubious origin. Big, loud, gruff—it became him. It was a voice well-suited to growling out amounts—the voice of lock gears.

Kassia slipped between two young men, who eyed her with the rapt gaze of fish-hawks, and stood just within the doorway of Trava’s booth. It was one of the few permanent structures here. Built of whole tree trunks, bark-peeled and polished (and taken, no doubt, from the lower fringes of Lorant’s wood), it sported a roof of hewn beams and red cloth. It was bought, Kassia knew, with the anguish of those who’d lost their poor little houses to Trava after the flood. He’d traded goods for the houses—cloth for clothing, planting grain, farming implements, even fishing boats. Now about a quarter of the residents of old Dalibor paid rent on cottages they had once owned.

Hiding her disgust, Kassia placed herself at Trava’s right hand, waiting for him to finish haggling with a woman who was trying to purchase some gardening tools. He paid Kassia no heed until the woman, grudgingly satisfied with her purchases, collected them and hauled them away in a handcart. When she had gone, Trava pulled a bag from around his waist and put her money into it, counting the coins out one at a time, listening to each one fall as if the sound bespelled him.

When the last coin had fallen, he sighed deeply from his bear’s chest. So, Mistress Telek. You are without your scarf today. Have you lost it? Perhaps I can sell you a new one. He had yet to look directly at her.

I have no need of a scarf, Mister Trava. I have need of a house.

He cinched up the bag and returned it to his belt. A house? I thought you lived with Kovar.

My sister is expecting another child. There’ll be no room for my son and me. I need to rent a cottage.

So. Kovar finally got rid of you, did he? A thing he’d been wanting since the day you all moved in, to hear him talk.

Kassia ignored him. One room will do nicely. Near the river.

Now he did look at her—a brief, flicking glance through glittering black eyes. I would think, Mistress Telek, you would dislike the river as much as it seems to dislike you.

I love the river, Mister Trava. It reminds me of my home and family. Do you have any houses for let?

He nodded. Some. Near the river they’re cheap, too. Not many are willing to live along there now. He turned to face her, his eyes assessing. You have money?

How much?

Twenty rega. Paid every fourth Matek.

Twenty rega for a one-room cottage by the river?

A fair price I think . . . for you.

Kassia’s hands, tightened into fists, struggled with the reins of a temper threatening to bolt. For me?

Trava shrugged his huge shoulders. It’s possible, you know, that after you’ve lived in the place, no one else will let it. There’s still ill-will here for you shai and not a few who think you’re a jinx. So, I think twenty’s fair. What will you do to make a living? It can’t be easy trying to peddle herbals to people who’re afraid you might poison them.

Kassia bristled, fists clenching. What matter what I do for a living, sir, if I pay my rent on the day?

None, I suppose. He cocked his head to one side, reminding her of a foraging bear sizing up a bee hive. Though for you, Little Mistress, I think there could be most lucrative work. Even down by the river. He glanced over her head, making her turn to see where his eyes traveled. Behind her, at the booth’s carved and painted arch, the two young men she had parted to enter still watched her, though they pretended to study plows and handcarts. These up-towners seem to find you most interesting. Perhaps they’ve heard rumors of the shai and have never seen one . . . or touched one.

Face crimson with fury and embarrassment, Kassia whipped her head around to face Trava again. If I rent a cottage from you, I will pay with money honorably earned.

Ah, well, honor! Honor has no price . . . it is worthless. You are alone in Dalibor, Mistress. You need . . . protection. He pursed his thick lips looked her swiftly up and down. Perhaps we could enter a partnership of sorts. There might not be any need for you to pay rent at all, in a manner of speaking. I’ve no wife, as you know—

In two breaths he had gone from suggesting she turn whore to implying he might marry her. Kassia threw back her head and laughed, the sound cascading out to catch the ears of everyone within hearing. She laughed till her eyes watered and her ribs hurt.

Ursel Trava blinked at her from beneath his mahogany thatch and tugged at his beard. What? What? Why do you laugh? I’m serious. You could have a fine house then—my house. You should count yourself fortunate to have such an offer.

Not trusting herself to speak, Kassia covered her mouth and squinted up at him through tear-dazzled eyes. She had no reply to him, save her laughter. She shook her head and turned away.

You need a husband, Kassia Telek! he growled at her back. You need a man!

No, she thought, when at last she could think. But I do need work. Because I do not have twenty rega for a cottage, even by the river.

oOo

It did not surprise her to find, when she left the marketplace, that the two young men followed her. It did not surprise her, but it angered her. They were finely dressed, both of them, and wore the bright little felt caps and matching leggings that were rumored to be the fashion in Tabor. Kassia was not afraid of them, for she could sense from them no ill intent. Still, their crude interest made her uneasy, and when she was in the lane that led from the market into the village proper, they caught her up, splitting one to each side.

You’re one of the White Mothers, aren’t you? said the one with the red cap.

We’ve heard stories about you, said the other. His cap and leggings were blue.

She didn’t answer them, but kept walking, eyes straight ahead.

I heard you tell that merchant you needed a place to live. We could give you money if you would . . . well . . . Licking his lips, he glanced across Kassia at his companion and she thought she would like to brain them both. We’d like you to divine for us.

She stopped dead in her tracks, looking from one to the other. You want me to tell your fortunes?

Red Cap nodded vigorously. We’re up for our Aspirant’s exams at Lorant, you see. And we’d like to know . . . if we’ll become Mateu or . . .

Or only priests, finished Blue.

We’ve heard White Mothers can see the future. You are a White Mother, aren’t you? His eyes were on her crown of silvery hair.

Kassia smiled. It was an insincere smile, but it would have to do. Yes. I am. And I would be happy to divine your fortunes . . . for a small fee, of course. Let’s say . . . one alka each.

Only one? Blue Cap seemed relieved.

Mentally kicking herself for not asking a higher price, Kassia nodded. One alka, since you’re such fine young gentlemen. But when you tell your friends about me—and you will tell your friends about me . . . She gave them each a certain look to emphasize the point, hoping they would think she spelled them. Don’t mention the price. I give it to you so cheaply as a favor.

Where do we go? asked Blue Cap. Do you have a hut or a cave?

Kassia snorted delicately. We go to the bakery.

Bemused, they followed her there, and she told their fortunes (or as much as she could see of them) and let them buy her turkaffee and a meat pocket pie. When they had gone, happily considering to what province and town they would go when they had become full-fledged priests, Mistress Devora, the baker, joined Kassia at one end of the trestle table.

Fortune-telling, eh? the baker mused, looking at Kassia’s handful of coins. Do you think you saw the truth? Maybe they’ll be Mateu, after all.

Kassia laughed, wiping pie crumbs from the corners of her mouth. If they had a speck of the Mateu’s gift, they wouldn’t have needed me to divine their fortunes. They’d have seen themselves in their vestments, clear as stars in Mat’s sky. They’ll be priests. Though one of them won’t be one for long. There’s a scandal in that one’s future.

You didn’t tell him that.

He asked only if he’d become a priest or a Mateu. I told him. Besides, who pays to hear ill-fortune? She rattled the coins in her hand. I wonder, Devora—if I go up-town, do you think many of those folk would pay to have their fortunes told?

The older woman gave a chuff of disdain. No doubt they would. But you waste your talent, Kassia. It wasn’t that long ago the voice of prophecy was silent among the shai. I remember how it was with your mama. She was a dammed-up river for years—unable to do much more than prepare herbals and foretell the weather.

While I do not even that much. Kassia sobered. I remember. I also remember that the people of Dalibor blamed her for that, thinking she cheated them.

Not all.

Not all. But most. Even when Itugen smiled again, and her gift for divination returned, they refused to trust her, saying she dealt with malevolent spirits.

Devora shrugged broad, rounded shoulders. That was their loss. They’d have known of the flood if they’d listened to Jasia; she spoke to them of water and darkness.

Ah, but the Mateu didn’t. The Mateu spoke only of blessed rain falling from the sky.

The Mateu see only with their eyes—and with half-closed eyes at that. The baker’s own eyes slid sideways to Kassia’s face. You’ve read the kites over Lorant. They seek applicants for initiation.

Beyla’s too young yet.

Beyla? Who said I was speaking of Beyla? What about Kassia?

Kassia shot a startled glance at her friend’s round face. What? You can’t be serious. I’m a widow. I have a child.

And so?

And so . . . I’m not the sort that usually—

And so?

"Devora, I’m shai!" Kassia thumped her chest.

So much the better. That means you have exactly what the Mateu pray daily to find in their Initiates. You should go up there.

Kassia stood. It’s a ridiculous idea!

Are you calling me ridiculous? See if I give you any more free bread! Devora reached out and laid a hand on the younger woman’s shoulder as she moved to leave. Perhaps, Kassia Telek, you should cast your own fortune. It may lead you to Lorant.

Head shaking in exasperation, Kassia pocketed her two alkas and headed back to the marketplace to earn more.

Chapter Two — Augur

Kassia spent the entire afternoon in the marketplace, flaunting her pale, bright hair, trying to look mysterious to those who did not know her, trying to look less than silly to those who did. From shy to brazen, from terrified to bored, she plied her new trade with mixed results. The strangers were easy enough to deal with once she got past the initial bout of nerves. They purchased her divinations freely—most amused, a few eager or fretful. It was the familiar faces that galled her; the angry, the scandalized, the disapproving, the smug, the pitying. Underlying her anger was a buzz of unease; in the moments when she allowed her self to think about what it meant to be in a public market hawking her shai talent, she felt as if she would like to wriggle out of her skin and find something else to cover her soul.

Once she looked up to find a Mateu staring at her from beneath his finely embroidered cowl, disapprovingly, she was certain, and twice her prospective clients insulted her by mistaking what she was offering to sell. In either case, it made her want to go home, but there was no home, there was only Asenka’s house, where she and Beyla were only half welcome—where they would be even less welcome when Blaz Kovar heard what his sister-in-law was doing in the marketplace. So she stayed, feeling more ambivalent with every coin that crossed her palm. Every time a client murmured, Thank you, White Mother, satisfaction and discomfiture hit her in quick turns. Still, she smiled and bid them welcome and good fortune and took their money.

As to that, she soon found that not all were willing to be so generous as the two would-be priests. Even the most regally appointed of her customers refused to pay more than a half rega for her service. Most balked at that, haggling with her over every rez and pitar. Still, the day passed in a blur of faces, leaving Kassia with the impression that she had divined every fortune in Dalibor.

The Sun was kissing the tops of the charred hills west of town when she finally remembered that her family’s washing yet hung on the drying lines by the river. Grimacing, because after all, Blaz would be sure to take her tardiness as a sign of irresponsibility, she pocketed the last of her earnings, hiked up her skirts and headed for the riverside drying plaza.

It was all but dark when she got down the last of the washing; it was absolutely dark and quite cold when she got back to Asenka’s and trundled the handcart up onto the porch. Entering the house, she found the family seated around the kitchen table beginning the evening meal. Warmth from the hearth molded itself to her cheeks, making her skin tingle. Blaz, in the midst of saying the blessing over the food, shot her a quelling glance. She froze where she stood, the laundry basket an inadequate shield, and waited until he’d finished to continue to the circular hearth.

Where have you been? Blaz asked her back.

She set the basket down and composed herself by wiping her hands carefully on her overskirt. At market.

I see no goods, though I can’t imagine you’d have the money to buy any.

She turned. I wasn’t shopping. I was . . . doing what I could about finding a place to live.

Beyla glanced up at that, his dark eyes wide. Are we leaving, mama? Are we going to live somewhere else?

Kassia smiled, falsely, and moved to sit beside her son at the crowded table. Your aunt Asenka is going to have a baby. We need to find our own place to live so there’ll be room here for it.

Where will we live, then? Will I have my own room?

Kassia glanced at Blaz. I don’t know where we’ll live just yet, Beyla. But I talked to Mister Trava about a little cottage by the river.

That took you all afternoon? asked Blaz. Asenka could have used your help here. You left your boy for her to watch and no fresh bedding to set up.

Asenka joined in at this point, defending her younger sister. Bey’s no trouble, Blaz. In fact, he’s a great help to me; he watches Lenci so I can get things done about the house. The bedding can be done after dinner.

Shouldn’t have to be. What sort of woman leaves her child unattended and gads off to the marketplace like a footloose maiden?

The sort of woman, said Kassia, who’s just been told she must find her own place to live. The sort of woman who must now figure out how to pay the price of rent when she has no family business to fall back on.

Blaz’s smile was not in the least conciliatory. Did you? Figure out how to pay your rent?

I did, thank you, brother-in-law. I found a very satisfying way to pay my rent. Using the talent Itugen gave me. She reached into her pocket, grabbed a handful of coins and dumped them onto the table. The children jumped at the sound of metal and stone on wood, then stared round-eyed.

Oh, Aunt Kiska! breathed Etouard, the youngest boy. What a lot of money! I’ve never seen a rega piece before. May I hold it?

She nodded curtly, her eyes still on Blaz’s, waiting for his censure.

He surprised her, leaving the issue of how she’d earned the money completely alone. You’d not have shown us this, I’ll bet, if I hadn’t goaded you. You’d have hidden it somewhere and never let us know it was.

She and Asenka were both scowling at him. Why should it matter that I show it to you, Kassia asked, as long as I have it?

Blaz laughed unpleasantly. You’d let your sister believe you a poor unfortunate when you had money to contribute to this household—

Blaz Kovar! Asenka was on her feet. You’ve made me toss my own sister out of our house and now you want to attach the money she needs to start her own home? Whatever are you thinking?

I’m thinking of what this family needs to—

"We need no more than what we have. It’s what you want that’s driving you, husband. The blacksmith’s house must be the grandest on the row. It must have red tiles and silk carpets and clear glass windows. Would you have Kassia pay for those things? Well, fine then. Let her stay here."

There’s no room.

Make room. Build a new room for Kassia and Beyla.

We can’t afford—

If Kassia pays rent, we can afford—

Kassia could stand no more. To be talked around was bad enough; to be talked about and around at the same time was unbearable. She held up her hands, wanting nothing more than to verbally thrash Blaz Kovar within an inch of his disagreeable life, willing to forego that pleasure only for her sister’s sake.

Please stop! Blaz, I know you’ve not welcomed Beyla and me these last three years. It was only for Aska you let us stay. Well, I’ve not been happy either. It pains me to be the cause of discord between you. Because of that I’m only too happy to leave. But if you’re of a mind to take this little bit of money I’ve earned—

Ah! Now it’s only ‘a little bit of money’. A moment ago it was this great treasure!

It’s a lot of money to me, brother-in-law, but in Ursel Trava’s eyes it’s less than a month’s rent. If you want it, you’re welcome to it, but know that if you take it, it’ll be that much longer I’ll be forced to stay under your thatched roof.

Blaz’s mouth screwed itself into an wizened blotch. Fine. Keep your damned witch money, if it’ll get you out of here sooner. I want you out before the month’s up, Kassia Telek. Stay one day longer and I will have some of your so-called earnings. Abandoning his supper, the blacksmith stomped around the table and out of his house into the night.

In their tiny room later that night, Kassia counted her

Reviews for The Spirit Gate

[authorhollynewhous-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was my favorite kind of book being slow to start to allow the reader time to understand the backstory then sped up as the book went along at just the right times. The characters were well developed as were the concepts presented. I could not put this down. It was a great book, just wish I knew more about polish history to enjoy it even more. Did some research on my own and then read it a second time and enjoyed it even more! A must read!

[lunaradawn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is honestly such a beautifully written story, with gorgeous descriptions and realistic characters. I'm in love with the author's use of language, and impressed that she got me so invested in a novel infused with politics and religion, which I don't tend to prefer.There were times when I knew what was going to happen next, and other times in which I was completely surprised. I appreciate this in a story, because while I enjoy finding out I'm right, I also enjoy discovering I was wrong and thinking of things in completely the wrong way.I will admit there were a couple of things that moved a little quickly for me to find realistic, that I won't name to preserve the story, but one of them could be accounted for with the time period, and the other helps the story have a happy ending, so I don't really dislike it.It appears to be a standalone novel at this point, and while I loved it, I'm not sure it needs a sequel. (But if the author happens to read this, I definitely wouldn't be upset if there was one!)In conclusion, I found this to be a unique, well-written, magic-infused novel that has the potential to grab the attention of many different kinds of people. I highly recommend it for the beautiful writing alone, with the story itself being a delightful plus.Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Early Reviewers in exchange for my honest review. Everything I've written above is completely sincere.

[minakelly_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I could have sworn I'd reviewed this, but I did have some technical issues with LT a while back, so maybe it got eaten.I broadly enjoyed this novel. It's less medieval western europe than a lot of fantasy, but doesn't always exploit this to its full extent. The heroine's personal journey comes in fits and starts, and the extent to which other characters deferred to her as her powers developed annoyed me occasionally (especially as her real talents for research were more worthy of their praise), though generally she was likeable enough, and having a single mother heroine in fantasy is unusual. The love interest was bland, and the plot with the king was awkward.The most awkward plot was her teacher being slowly seduced by power. I kept expecting him to develop into a full on villain, but instead there was a strong "ends justify the means" overtone to the plot that made me feel like we were meant to condone his actions. It felt a little halfbaked, like a plot that had been rewritten at some point.There was enough about this novel and its worldbuilding that was new to me that I kept reading, but in other respects it felt quite dated.

[angela9vaughn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It took me forever to figure out how to download the ebook, and when I finally did, I could only read it on my phone, so it took some time. I was happy I enjoyed it as much as I did! It captures the imagination and keeps you engrossed for hours. And although you get minimal detail of the past that is constantly referred to, you don't need too much information to understand what is going on, but you wished there was another book-a prequel if you will, to tell that story as well.

[raistlinsshadow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was on the more "meh" end of my fantasy preferences—there was enough strange alternate history droppings to be kind of obnoxious, and enough changes to the history to make me think it was probably trying to be more high fantasy than anything else....But now I'm not sure.It was difficult to keep track of the names even as I got to be halfway through the book, and I really had trouble connecting with the characters. The writing is super stilted and really unnatural-sounding, as if the writer thought, "Ah, I will write a fantasy novel, so I must use my fantasy voice!" (which, unfortunately, is not uncommon). This could have been a really compelling book—I enjoyed this take on a magic system, and the characters seemed like you could probably like them well enough, but they were extremely two-dimensional.I was also not a super huge fan of the "maybe it's alternate history" line; I'd rather it be obvious whether I'm reading an alternate history as opposed to a fantasy novel. I was inclined to think it was just "straight up" fantasy, but there are aspects that are clearly taken from actual history with the names changed a little bit, which strikes me as a little bit lazy (are we in an alternate-universe Poland? Why don't we just call everything by their Polish names, then? Why bother "fantasy-izing" all of the names?). I'm glad this book seems to be a one-off and not part of a series (though that's certainly left open at the end). Thinking of a trilogy with books like this one... seems tedious.

[helcura_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book, though I felt as if I would have gotten even more out of it if I had a better knowledge of Polish history as this is pretty clearly an alternate history with magic being the significant variant. After the first chapter, which was a bit unwieldy, the writing was smooth and the editing pretty good, only a few typos and grammatical errors. I liked the characters, although they were a bit predictable, following the usual fantasy tropes of the well-meaning but misguided into evil mentor, the romantic triangle, and the initially uncertain but eventually confident heroine. I particularly liked King Zelimir, who was a really well-developed supporting character and Kassia was nicely three-dimensional with her conflicts over where to spend her time and attention - with her child, her vocation, her duty, or her lover. The world-building was interesting and had enough complexity to keep my attention and make me unwilling to put down the book. The love story was a little thin, but there was a lot going on and I can forgive that. Many of the supporting characters were flat and it was easy to lose track of who was who, but overall the book was well-written and engaging.Worth reading more than once, but you can let the library store it for you.

[northernstar_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this fantasy, set in a medieval, eastern country in a world much like our own, except for the magic.I liked the story, the world, and the magic. I had a few issues with the depiction of the characters. As an example, I liked the main character most of the time, but she went from being very subservient, self-doubting, and reluctant to challenge herself; to leading her magic class, challenging teachers, assuming she could do very complicated magic, and refusing the advances of a king. Not impossible, but very unlikely over that short a period of time. The love interest also developed very quickly, out of almost nothing. I received this through the LT early reviewers program.

[lizbuckley · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

While I enjoy reading a variety of genres in books, I had a hard time getting through The Spirit Gate's first chapter and could not bring myself to finish the book. I kept losing interest and forgetting the characters/places names (they were too crazy sounding and too many of them, i.e. Asenka, King Zelimir, Dalibor). I wound up getting frustrated and putting the book down..so many times I just gave up. I felt like the author was trying too hard. I'm sure that many die hard fantacy fans might like this book, but I found it a difficult read. I don't enjoy books that I have to work so hard to get through.

[belindarlsa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was well written, engaging, and VERY hard to put down. The author takes us back to another time and another place, deep in the heart of Europe, where feudal lords and the incursion of Chrisitanity are battling for supremacy over a region that is caught in the middle. The peoples of this little land, Polia, are attempting to re-establish their old religion after having been conquered and ravaged by one such barbaric group.At the center is a woman with strong innate powers passed down through the generations which she at first is trying to surpress as a shunned commoner associated with and blamed for the destruction (in which she lost her own family) from which the country is trying to recover from. A high priest of the old order has summoned her through arcane abilities and is now trying to school her to control and command those powers, it turns out for his own misguided ends, to control the king and the direction this country is to take. Overall there is strong character building and story development. The heros and villains you root for and detest...it is easy to get caught up in the weave of this story well told.The book did have some editing errors, but not to the extent that it detracted from the story itself.

[almab_48 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found the book reminding of fantasy books of old...the ultra feminine heroine without much personality development other than being a mother, a love interest, and a target for villains. It turns out this book was published earlier in the late 80s. This was a sort of re-released e-version of the tale. It was slow and plodding. I didn't really care for it. It's competently written but lackluster and unremittingly dull.

[ronincats · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an ER ebook that I won for December. It was decent fantasy, but predictable. Interesting world-building about a small nation between the Christian Frank Empire and the Muslims, but very, very predictable. Characterization was not very developed and I could put the book down for several days without feeling any pull to pick it back up.

[nhlsecord · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This review was written for the LibraryThing Early Reviewers .This is the story of Kassia, a woman who inherited the ability to use magic, and who must learn to use it to help her people. Overall, I was delighted to read this story; it kept my interest and I looked forward to spending time with it. The author has written some lovely descriptions of scenery and weather i.e., “The air quivered with tentative warmth”, and details of the surroundings were neatly encapsulated with no wasted explanations. The magic system was described in good “scientific” detail and was interesting enough that I almost thought I could do it myself.I thoroughly enjoyed being with Kassia, her son, and her mentors. I really liked the idea that she was a strong, smart woman with no romance involved, but then there was a romance late in the story which didn’t seem necessary. Her son and his mentor also were interesting. I would like to know more about their relationship. However, most of the drama and tension in the story was saved for the ending. It would have been good to have a little more of that earlier in the book as well.The characters in the story were believable and interesting. Perhaps this book should have ended sooner and the King’s Court could have started in a second book. The Bishop’s part simply had very little explanation and was not believable. I would have liked to know how he came to be that way. The use of “real” religions and countries and history added an unwanted dimension that interfered with my enjoyment of the story. From the King’s Court on, the storyline was overly familiar although the earlier part of the book was so well done that I had the feeling the ending was a rushed choice.

[zjakkelien · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was certainly interesting and different. For one, it has a single mom as a main character. That's not often seen in fantasy. One of its themes is the treatment of women, and especially powerful women, because Kassia is rediscovering her kind of magic, which hasn't worked for tens of years, at an alarming rate. Kassia's mentor is all for it, but there is plenty of discouragement from other quarters. Another theme is Christian vs. pagans. I can't say that's my favorite theme in the world, but The spirit game does have an interesting take on it. I guess the whole struggle is not that new (well, perhaps the fact that the christian party is secretly using magic), but the interesting part is that both the christian guy and the pagan guy are evil. The christian guy more obviously so, as he is trying to subvert a whole nation by force. The pagan guy at first seems to be working for good, but it becomes clear early on that he is crossing lines that he really shouldn't be crossing for any reason. It can be a bit frustrating that Kassia is blind to the faults of her mentor at first. Quite frankly, the fact that he puts up with Damek in any way (his assistant who has a grudge against Kassia and is vindictive and spiteful) and only smiles at his more serious transgressions shows to me that there is something fundamentally wrong with him. Some of the things Damek does are completely unacceptable in anyone (letting Kassia believe a relative has died when this is not the case! Or nearly turning her away when she is the one you've been looking for for a long time... The first time may be put down to ignorance, but if the fate of the realm really depends on Kassia's type of magic, then you make sure it doesn't happen again. And this whole 'I'm testing her' business is ridiculous: as if she is not discriminated against enough already. Plus, what was the point of making her sit with children? Didn't make any sense and didn't accomplish anything. ), let alone in a trusted helper. I was very happy that Kassia was adult enough not to fall for the king, because that would have spoiled the whole book. She relies on her master a bit too much, but she has spunk and she follows her own heart. Her relationship is one of equals, and although it doesn't get much page time, she also has a few female friends. Admittedly, none have her magic, but they are not pushovers either. Overall, the pacing is slow, which I really liked in the beginning, but I was getting a bit bored halfway through. Or perhaps impatient is a better word. It might have gotten 4 stars from me otherwise, but I think 3.5 is better now.

[cfraser_38 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have read one other book by the same author but unfortunately I did not enjoy this one as much (Taminy). I found it climaxed and ended quite abruptly and contained some logic flaws. I enjoyed some of the characters, though the main one Kassia came off as implausible at times. Something fun an easy to read, but that is all

[landwaster_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A historical fantasy depicting a small, magical country caught between the Mongols and Christendom. It's competently written by a mature author, telling an interesting story with a satisfying conclusion. Unfortunately, for me it had two flaws: everything that happened was predictable, and it was just too easy to put down. Nothing pulled me back to find out what happened next - I was happy to read it, but just as happy to stop reading. Neither of those is a fatal flaw, it's a perfectly decent read and I'm happy with the time I did spend reading it.

[lynette.williams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book kept me up far too late. It was intriguing from the beginning, and I couldn't put it down.The world Bohnhoff creates is familiar enough to feel possible and fantastic enough to be a wonderful escape. I cannot wait to enter this world again with the next one.

[carod_51 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kassia is a White Witch, a rare adept who can handle both male and female magics. White Witches are also blamed for all the calamities that have befallen the land of Polia. Kassia, a young widow, peddles herbs and tells fortunes to feed herself and her young son. When she is accepted into the school of arcane learning she sees a future for herself and her son. Lukasha, the Master of the school, sees Kassia as the only hope to heal Polia's broken magic and save the country from threats from all sides. When Kassia's curiosity leads her to find forbidden magic she could be the saviour of her country or doom them all. This fantasy novel is set in an alternate world where the Christian Frankish Empire and the Muslim Turkish Empire surround the smaller Pagan Polia. The clashing religious beliefs are part of what I found interesting in this novel. I also enjoyed the way the author has developed and describes the magic system in the book. The prejudice shown to the White Witches is also an interesting aspect to the novel. The characters had depth and changed and grew during the story. The fact that the heroine had a young child to consider added another layer to her character. I really enjoyed this fantasy. The world and history building were complex. The story was not predictable. The novel was originally published in 1996 and has been reprinted by Book View Cafe. I hope this encourages the author to revisit this novel and write a sequel.

[randyharper_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful book and I don't think we have heard the last from Lukasha or his sidekick Damek.. This was another wonderfully woven story of a female main character (like The Meri) with more magic than she knows how to handle at times. The characters are well thought out and although at times it is a bit predictable, there were enough twists in the plot to keep me immersed in the book. The alternate types of magic and levels of focus were a great slant and ones that I hope are embellished on if another book springs from this work. Kassia was an enjoyable character with her love of life, family and values that are sometimes missing in today's literature. The compendium at the end is helpful, but it would have been more helpful if I knew it was there to start with or was placed in the front of the book. All in all I was very pleased with a fun read that gave me enough magic mixed with rough and tumble. I hope Shagtai develops more as well as Kassia's son and I really think we need to watch our for the Bishop. If you are looking for a fun read and enjoyable storyline, this book needs to be on your "to do" list. Thanks Maya

[misterkorman · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm not going to lie, I didn't care for this one as much as I hoped I would.When it comes to stories, there are two things that I care about more than anything: the story and the characters. Without those two, you'll never have a good story. You can have good characters, but if the story sucks than they'll be wasted. You can have a good story, but if your characters aren't any good, the reader just won't care. The Spirit Gate is a case of the former.I absolutely love Kassia as a character. She's deep, complex, and overall a great character. Other characters, like Bennett, are really good as well. The characters are absolutely great.In terms of historical accuracy, I can't really speak since I know nothing about the period where this story takes place.The conflict itself is simple enough, but it's the execution that kills it. I don't care about the conflict simply because the conflict isn't interesting. Given the time period, I think it's silly to start bringing in witches and magic. There's so much you could do without it, and it's just disappointing. It doesn't help that what the author does with it isn't very interesting anyway. It just feels like a waste.

[reading_fox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Starts well to very good up until the final third which seems rushed and not properly thought through. I'd have been quite happy reading a longer book with a better considered ending, as the some of the beginning was very clever indeed.Set in mainland Europe at the time of the Byzantine empire - but of little actual historical basis I suspect - a small principality is recovering after a turkish invasion, having regained it's independence by a successful revolt and a powerful king. His brother is now on the throne and hence magic is returning to the land after a generation of it's absence, both the Father and Mother gods are at peace and so the shai can finally call upon balanced forces. One of the first to do so is our heroine Kassia, widowed in previous floods caused by the dis-harmony in the heavens she finds her talent for predicting the future is slowly growing, and other magics come to her too. She manage to eek out a humble living as a diviner enough to look out for her son. But her circumstances change as she finally hears her gods call and attends the local religious school to learn higher magics. Here she comes to the attention of the headmaster who sends her to the palace as an advisor to the king - who still hasn't wed yet, and is being petitioned by various neighbours including the powerful catholic Frankish empire, and the old enemies the turks. Kassia soon discovers that the Franks in the form of one Bishop Bennett are seeking an unfair advantage in this race, but she comes across some ancient magic that might be able to help.Kassia takes nearly all of the centre stage and it would be a better book if she took all of it. The headmaster gets a couple of interludes, and then Bennett does just long enough to reveal his plans - which jars badly. I'd much prefer to have had Kassia discover them, than to have been told them in this way. None of the other characters develop much, even her lover although there are a few sweet moments remains mostly a characture. The magic is good though, there careful reasoning, and balance of elements, the equations versus Kassia's instinctive feel, and the politics and pressure that a king may feel. Some of the executions of the magic especially towards the end are just imposed rather than being thought through, and this does detract a bit from the general joy. Perfectly readable as a standalone it is however hooked for what one supposed will be a trilogy.

[drled_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis: Kassia is a 'White Mother', a widow, fatherless, and the mother of a precocious son. She is also having trouble supporting her son and herself, particularly since her brother-in-law doesn't want her living in his house. A friend encourages her to try to become a Mateu; this would allow her to learn to use her magic and to support herself and her son. Accepted into the program by the Dean of the school without any tests and because of her latent talents, she is resented by many of her fellow students. Her abilities propel her through the training, leading her to uncover hidden spells that plunge her into danger and toward a new romance.Review: It's readily apparent that this is an exceptionally well-written book. It is also a new digital edition of a book previously published in the 1990s. In any case, the story is compelling, mixing fantasy with Judeo-Christian beliefs and highlighting the roots of prejudice and religious fanaticism.

[flusteredduck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Group in exchange for a review.This novel had a slow start but, once I had managed to insert myself into its world, was really enjoyable. It is an unexpectedly serious study of reawakenings - not only of the magic which creates the title's spirit gate but also of the heart which animates the magic. The characters are well drawn for the most part (with the exception of the main villain who is almost a caricature) and with a nice depth and complexity which makes them believable. Some of the storytelling devices - the almost real history, the simplistic male/female dichotomies - are rather tiresome in their predictability and the earnestness, idealism and lack of humour in the storytelling make this novel a heavy read. However, overall, this is an interesting novel on an epic scale.

[06nwingert · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In The Spirit Gate Kaissa is a young woman with a young child, and she can perform magic. She is shunned by society due to prior religious wars and persecution. Although shunned, there is a school of magic in the town, which Kaissa joins. She learns how to harness her magic and learns new, complicated magic. While at school, she and her masters are asked to help a neighboring town being infiltrated by an enemy. Of course, Kaissa succeeds. I found the writing to be outstanding, but the plot and characters to be slightly flat. Parts of the plot felt predictable, and the only character with any development is Kaissa.

[jael112-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from Library Thing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.First off, let me explain. When I give a book 3 stars, it doesn't mean it's not good. It just means "it's okay", with emphasis on the okay part.The Spirit Gate by Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff tells a story of a 24-year-old widow named Kassia Telek who was born a shai (i.e. someone who was bestowed with the blessings of Itugen, the Goddess of the Earth and hence has control over earth element magic). Due to some misfortune that happened years before the start of the book, the shai, once a proud and respected race, became shunned by the people who believed that they were cursed, the general idea being that the shai were responsible for the disasters that were brought upon them. At the start of the book, both of Kassia's parents and her husband had died in a flood three years before, forcing her and her 5-year-old son, Beyla to live with her sister, Asenka. Unfortunately, Asenka's husband resented them "freeloading" off his family and constantly plotted to drive them away. Eventually, Kassia was convinced to become an Initiate at Lorant to make a living for herself and her son. What follows is a story depicting her rise to success and how she saved the day.Let's focus first on the good part of the book. The writing was beautifully done. The author has kindly included a glossary at the end of the book to explain some of the terms used in the book and I would advice all readers to avail themselves of the list to avoid confusion in the unlikely event that you experience any. I avoided it initially for fear of spoilers but really, there are none. To the credit of Bohnhoff, despite creating a whole new fictional world, there wasn't much of information dumping and the story was delivered such that you never get too overwhelmed with information or so underwhelmed as to be confused about what was going on. For parents concerned about what their kids are reading, rest be assured that there are no swear words, gore or explicit content in this book. In fact, I felt like this is pretty much the perfect book for children to read, because it draws a pretty clear line on the good and bad, which I always think is important for children to understand before we start discussing the philosophy of grey areas with them. However, staunch Christian families who would forbid their children to read Harry Potter should stay well clear of this book. I'll explain why.The Spirit Gate revolves around a fictional country, Polia (or at least, I think it is fictional and has nothing to do with the Polia in our world) centering on a fictional religion whereby Mat is the God of the Sky and Itugen is the Goddess of the Earth. People of the religious faith have to go through the path of Initiate > Apprentice > Aspirant > Priest/Mateu, whereby those strongly gifted in magic becomes a Mateu whereas the ones who are not becomes a priest. Basically, the Mateus are sorceror-priests who are capable of "invoking" the power of Mat (only shai can invoke the power of Itugen) and performing what we would call magic. Nothing wrong with all this so far. The problem comes when the fictional world collides with real world. Despite having a fictional country and a fictional religion, we have real world religions such as the Christians, Buddhists and Muslims as well. Not fictional religions that are strongly related to them, but the very same religion in name and all. Then we also have the Turks, the Mongolian etc. Initially, I felt intrigued, because so many of the English books were written by Christian authors or authors raised in a Christian-dominant community that most fictional religion were either strongly similar to Christianity or painted Christianity in a good light. For once, in The Spirit Gate, Christians were painted as the bad guys, being absolutely rigid and unreasonable.And then I went from mildly amused to outright annoyed. It was one thing to have a fictional religion. To have a fictional religion and ridicule a real-life religion and paint it as a satanic, demonic force was another thing altogether. Granted, towards the end, it was clarified that only the Bishop was demonic, not the religion itself. But still. I'm not terribly religious myself and even I got offended.The plot of the book itself is fairly simple and straightforward. One-third of my way into the book, I could already predict the ending of the book and I was pretty much right about everything. This, coming from a person who would usually bludgeoned her way through a book without much speculation, is quite something. Brent Weeks once said something along the lines of "success is worth nothing without failure" (note that this is a very loosely paraphrased line) and I find it terribly true in the case of this book. Kassia faced virtually no obstacles or failures at all in this book, so much to the extent that this book reads like a prequel - you already know the end (Kassia will definitely succeed without experiencing any major failures), you only want to know the how (Kassia getting frustrated at not achieving immediate success).The characters are pretty much cardboard-like. The only character to show any form of growth at all is Kassia. The rest are there simply for the sake of being there. Oh, and let me emphasize on the fact that Kassia is 24 years old, because I didn't pick this up until late in the book and it resulted me in judging her too harshly. Because she was a widow with a son, I assumed her to be in her mid-thirties (silly of me, really, considering her social setting where everyone marries young and her son was merely five years old) and got annoyed when she acted in the rash, hot-headed way one would expect of someone in their late teens. But really, Kassia had a smooth glide to success and her "growth" merely involved her becoming less arrogant. Her son, Beyla, is every mother's dream come true. (Read: lack of development and being extremely malleable for the convenience of the plot.) He never threw any tantrums at being constantly offloaded to another man while his mother went to classes, his goals are so aligned with his mother's that he didn't mind spending what seemed like less than an hour a day with his mother, he didn't seem to mind when his mother failed to returm home at the promised time, he loved his father so much that he refused to let his mother replace his late father by marrying some vile merchant just so he can have a home and the constant company of his mother (something that makes sense in a child) but accepted his mother's new love interest immediately even though he virtually knew nothing about the guy and wants to call him "Da" right off the bat. As a mother, Kassia was terrible. She constantly claims to have taught Beyla to read and write but really, throughout the entire book, there was no mention of her teaching him to read or write, nor did she ask him about his studies, if he is doing any revisions at all. I mean, this kid is freaking five! At five, writing compound sentences was a huge thing for me and I'm to believe that this 5 year old kid can read and write well enough that he no longer needs supervision? Moreover, Kassia have these huge dreams for him (fortunately for her, Beyla seem to also want for himself) but instead of grooming him in that direction, she sends him off to learn how to make kites with Shagtai. It's like a mother who wants her son to be an engineer but sends him off to learn the piano everyday instead of going to school. It's not that the piano isn't a good extra to learn but it should be something you learn together with your regular classes, not instead of your regular classes. If Beyla was developed more, I would have loved this kid. Instead, he was another cardboard character that only appeared when it was convenient for him to do so, hence my previous remark.Also, while it was obvious right from the start that a certain character was introduced to be Kassia's love interest, really, in the book itself there was no reasoning why she eventually fell in love with this guy. It's pretty much I-have-no-idea-what-this-guy-is-thinking most of the way, then she finds out that he loves her and all of a sudden, she loved him so irrevocably that she agrees to marry him right away. Woah. Girl, did no one tell you that's not the way marriage works?All in all, it wasn't a bad book. In fact, it's probably a good way to kill time if you're out of books to read and badly need a new one. Just don't pick up this book expecting it to change your life or to gain any new insights.

[lauravga98 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well, this is the first time that I read a book like this I i wasn't dissapoined, I love the way this book was written, is just the perfect mix between accion and fantasy and Magic (fact that I really love).If we talk about the plot I have to say that I really liked it, I'm surprised because I wasn't so trilled when I read the synopsis but wow, I was so wrong, the main character is so strong and its amaizing like...... All the story, I love who this author created a world, a fiction world where you could find a separation between magic and the real word, in this case between the sky magic and the earth so I was so In love with the story, also I really liked the fact that this book was soooooo easy to read, wow, is amazing how lovely and exiting this book is and in the same time how easy to understand.I really like this book, such and amazing writer!

[fatimareadsbooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I won this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program and the ebook was sent to me via Book View Cafe. Thank you!So I was unsure of this book at first because it's genre is speculative fiction and I've never read that subcategory of fiction. Let's just say I was not disappointed. Summary from Amazon: “Blamed along with the other witches of the mountain for everything that goes wrong in the kingdom of Dalibor, the widow Kassia finds a chance for escape from Master Sorcerer Lukusha at his school of arcane learning.”This story had me captive since the the very first page. I loved the whole story, mainly:1. The characters.I think Beyla is adorable. I shipped Zakarij with Kassia since we first meet him. They're so cute!! During some points of the story I felt a little dislike for Master Lukasha. The way he got really passionate about Kassia's shai magic made me uneasy and I guess that passion was what doomed him. As Shagtai said: “He is a man driven by his past.” I still felt sorry for him though. Throughout the book, Kassia is blamed for a myriad of calamities, has lost loved ones, and been betrayed. Despite that, she still maintains a clear head and doesn't let her anger or fear overtake her. Kassia is definitely my favorite character. 2. The plot. There's just the right amount of action and suspense to keep you on your toes, but without overdoing it. A deep secret that can destroy Polia is dug out by Kassia and she has to fix her mistake. In my opinion, the main moral of this book is that everyone has a fatal flaw that can lead to their doom. Marija and Kassia's curiosity. Master Lukasha's passion. Damek's blind faith in his master. Michal Zelimir's trust. They all caused an amount of damage. Very well thought out plot!3. The writing.Maya's writing is so beautiful! The way she describe colors is breathtaking. There are thought-invoking quotes and clear descriptions. The romance in this book is so indescribably well-written. I'd love to read more of that writing style.OVERALL: Captivating story with a beautiful writing style and likable characters. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes eloquent and brilliant stories.

[lillian9maddocks9389 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

really enjoyable story loved the characters