I really think these books are the rice pudding of fantasy series, if we imagine all series to have their culinary counterparts. Some are teppanyaki restaurants, full of flash and sizzle, some are vegetarian heart-healthy brunch places, earnest and good for you, and then there's Yurt, and it's just so very comforting.

This was not my favourite of the series, mostly because I'm not enthusiastic about the introduction of a plausible (i.e. not the Queen) love interest in a series that has survived nicely without one.

That said, these books are little treats for me, and I shall keep devouring them, especially when I'm in the mood for some comfort (I began the series when my dog died unexpectedly, and it's remarkable how helpful these kind-hearted gentle stories were in getting me through the first weeks!) ( )