This is a continuation of the first book in the series where the hero, Mark Young, has pretty much come to terms with being treated as an adult. The line between right and wrong, good and evil is a bit less clear and the challenges come from choice rather than the situation. Some readers may think this story similar to Harry Potter too, but that thinking is stretching it a bit unless you think all schools of magi c are Hogwarts with another name. Besides, Harry never was very good with a sword. The notion of Magi is based on the Wise Men that bore gifts to the Christ Child. They represent the practitioners of the Zoroastrian religion of which there are many myths and legends about their deeds involving astrology, astronomy, healing, charity and knowledge of the spiritual world. The Magi of this series are derived from those Magi plus the swordsmanship, garb, horsemanship and other aspects of the Magi from the movies The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. Their religious views are influenced by Old Testament Judaism, without the blood sacrifices, which produces a character type not often seen in fantasy fiction: the warrior monk/cleric. The entire series is based on the question: What if it were possible to learn the powers of all the Biblical prophets; what would that school be like?