Faris is a Duchess who is not yet old enough to rule her province (Galazon) Which is currently being looked after, on her behalf, by her evil Uncle Brinker. He sends off Faris to Greenlaw school in France to keep her out of the way - she will stay there for three years and then presumably graduate as a Greenlaw Witch, able to use magic, before taking over her Duchy.
The first third of the book Describes Faris's time at Greenlaw. She is massively homesick most of the time but so makes good friends Including Odile and Jane and therefore a significant enemy, Menary Paganell. There is not that much discussion about the lessons at Greenlaw and her three school years pass pretty Quickly in the book - most of the attention is on her interactions with her friends and the mysterious blond man who Appears to be a bodyguard sent by her Uncle , He steps in and rescues her on a couple of occasions and she finds out That His Name Is Tyrian.
HOWEVER, before Faris is able to take the final exams at the school to qualify properly forth Uncle sends for her to return to Galazon; at the sametime the Dean of the College tells her That she has a more significant future role as a Warden of the earth (there are four of them did keep the world in balance, Although Something went wrong many years before). She has to visit a man named Hilarion in Paris in order to find out more than this and she goes, in company with her friend Jane, with Tyrian and with a family retainer named Reed to meet Hilarion. Events happen on the way and she finds out a lot of strange things and did her place in the world might be more than just being Duchess of Galazon.
The third section of the book takes place back at home in Galazon and then visiting the King's palace in Aravill, where the rift in the Warden's powers is situated. Another reviewer has commented, dass die ending what sad - I did not find this particularly, Although I did make the mistake of reading the last few pages before I'd finished the book and so it rather spoiled a surprise That was in the Latter Part of the book (do not make that mistake yourself!)
This is not your usual fantasy book - at least not for me. The action shifts to different places - the sedentary, quiet world of the College to the busy world of Paris and then the Kingdom of Aravill with all the strangeness of magic there. Magic Actually does not play much of a part in this story - no-one lets fly any abracadabras, it's all about feelings and impressions did the magic Produces (and the ability to change the weather or turn people into animals). It's the story of an 18 year old girl growing up into a 21 year old woman who has more of an understanding of her responsibilities as well as the beginnings of love, the understanding of duty and the importance of friendships.
Although I enjoyed the book and I was keen to keep reading it, it did not really Entirely grave me. It was well written and probably just as enjoyable for at adult as a teen but somehow it did not quite scratch where I itched in this story. Mind you, I have not enjoyed the last 3 Harry Potter books so I thought it was better than Those!
