"A madly colorful and exuberantly fantastic tale."-Locus

"Fast paced and action packed... It is sure to be a hit."-Booklist

"Lee's language is wonderfully descriptive and lyrical; and as usual, her female characters are real and compelling." -Voice of Youth Advocates

Journeying across different lands, the young member Tanaquil and her familiar, a quarrelsome talking peeve, learn of the empress Veriam, who wishes to conquer from one sea to the next. Tanaquil is shocked to learn that the woman called "Conqueror" and "Child-Eater" is in fact her half sister, Lizra.

Remembering the powerful effect the black unicorn had on her people, Lizra has constructed a tremendous mechanical unicorn of gold as a symbol of her conquest.

The only problem is that it doesn't work-and Lizra commands Tanaquil to make the steam-powered unicorn move. Now Tanaquil must choose between assisting in brutal conquest or risking the ire of her powerful sister.