The music of the universe sings in timeless patterns within all things. If one can only find the stillness, then the beat becomes as recognizable as one's heart. Valeria knows the patterns of creation, being chosen by the White Gods as the only female Rider to be admitted to an all-male group. She is so chosen because she alone can open up to all of the possibilities of the dance. However, deep within her soul, Valeria also knows of the chaos, for she houses the "Song of Unmaking" within the deepest corner of her soul. It is an unlucky souvenir she picked up when helping save the Aurelian Empire. Now she must go through each day, trying to pick up the pieces without letting loose that which could break the entire world for all time. Now is the time when the Mountain's Call is summoning any and all with magical ability, from all the paths magic has inroads into, and Valeria is a key to unlock more than just the gates of time.

Kerrec, the man she loves and First Rider of the White Gods, has something of the unmaking inside him as well. The healing that Valeria painstakingly nurtured to knit his broken spirit has begun to unravel. Secrets from the past, darker still and though long buried, seek to destroy both the once-heir and all of Aurelia for the greed of one man and the hateful insanity of another. Sent to the mountain to see if the White Gods can heal him, he's a walking time bomb of destruction unless he can work through this nightmare on his own. When only love can mend and lend power to a worthy cause, Valeria and Kerrec will have to overcome their own demons and learn to reach out to each other, or the very gates of time may be open to chaos forever.

Caitlin Brennan has written another lyrical winner in her White Gods of the Mountain series. Long awaited, it does not fail to please and picks up where THE MOUNTAIN'S CALL left off. In fact, her latest offering is even more moving and exceptional than the first, and yet can stand on its own pages without having read the first one. Her characters sing and dance as they carry both the beauty of life and the cracks of imperfection inside them. Once again Ms. Brennan's love of horses shines through, giving this song all the flourish it needs to become a treasured series for all time. If you love adventure, romance, mystery, the beauty of life and/or anything to do with horses, this is indeed a treasure you won't put down. Highly recommended to put on your shelf to read again and again.