This short story follows the villains of the Elandrian series, Arius and Arriana, as they search for a mysterious crystal and have to survive the booby traps of an ancient cave to retrieve it.

There wasn’t much to the story other than getting past the booby traps, and showing how heartless and power-hungry Arius and Arriana can be. I would have liked a longer story with more meat on it. For instance, how did they know which was the right cave to search? The story begins just outside the cave, and we never get to see the actual search.
The booby traps were cool, and I liked the drama as the mercenaries try to find a way past them. I wish there were more magical barriers though, and more puzzles. I really love puzzles and codes, and it would have been so much more dramatic if there had been more obstacles.

Overall, a good short story, but not amazing. It’s a fun little addition to the series.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.