Sagacious Blade — Sherwood Smith

The final book in the Phoenix Feather and Sagacious series, Sagacious Blade brings the story full circle.It would be difficult to find two boys more unlike.Friendly, animal-loving Ki Mek, youngest of a sprawling family of gallant wanderers, was born with Essence talent—much to the dismay of the Kis, who only believe in the skills of their blades.Je Tai, the scholarly, reclusive only son of a subsidiary branch of the lofty Ji family, is on his way back to the school where he is studying divination.The two are swept overboard in a terrible storm, and end up made slaves by the western empire, age-old enemies of the Thousand Islands Empire.They escape into adventures martial and magical until they and those they love are swept up in a war spanning two empires.With the aid of Sagacious Blade, both will learn the costs of power…