If you enjoy either fantasy/sci-fi, alternate history, or even both at the same time, then this book is perfect for you. The story takes place in the alternate history-American colonies where everyone is gifted at birth with a special and sometimes magical talent referred to as a "knack." All throughout the story there exists a struggle between those who freely use their knacks as natural gifts from God, and those who see the knacks as witchcraft that should be abolished: a continual struggle between the perceived notions of what is "good" and what is "evil."Orson Scott Card is a master at sci-fi, as seen from his "Ender's Game" series, and this series is no exception. The characters are fleshed out and believable, the dialogue is candid and thought provoking, and the entire series, this book included, is peppered with notable wise sayings and cameos from some of the most famous historical figures of the particular time period.While Card takes some liberty in placing a few characters from history a little closer to each other than factually possible, these instances are so minute as to be negligible, and besides, anything can happen in an alternate universe, right?If you decide to read this book, prepare to feel emotional connections with the well conceived characters, and the immersion that comes with a masterfully described universe.