Damaru is one of the 'skytouched', one of the few who can affect reality and change matter by their thoughts. One day he finds a man in the swamp outside their village; the man has no idea who he is and is totally naked. Damaru's mother Kerin takes him in to care for him. She calls him Sais, or stranger.

As a 'skytouched', Damaru must travel to the City of Light to be tested by the Beloved Daughter, where if he is worthy, he will become a Consort. Sais is well enough to travel, but still has no idea who he is, and him and Kerin accompany Damaru to the journey. One of the priests on the way their helps Sias start to recover his memories, and as he realises what he was, he comes to learn that all is not what it seems on this world.

Thought that this was really good overall. Fenn has managed to mesh effectively a low technology world and religious system with a high technology race that act as gods to these people. The characters are engaging and the whole plot is well thought through. I like the way that she has picked up the themes from the first book in the series, even though it is on a different world. Looking forward to the next book now.