A bang-up ending to the series, and a really fun read. I love how Bruchac effortlessly weaves smaller stories in and out of the larger narrative, and how he talks to us about why that matters in Native culture. It's a different relationship to story than I have ever understood before, and I am glad to gain the perspective. Lozen continues to be gruff and bad-ass, but it is delightful to see her also become centered in her family and her chosen community. I also very much love that there is redemption available for even the most hardened killers -- not structured religious redemption, just peace in the soul that one arrives at as an individual. I admire that Lozen is able to keep her vow not to deliberately kill a human being after her cleansing ceremony, but I do find it convenient that others are willing to do that work for her -- it works, but it dies not absolve the necessity of killing in order to create a harmonious community, and that's complicated. I suppose it ever will be. ( )