This is the 2nd book in the Dr. Xenon Pearl series. Also known as Zee, he is a neurosurgeon in modern day South Florida. Of Russian Jewish heritage he was raised by a Chinese nanny, Tie Mei, after his mother died. His nanny taught him the martial arts she practiced.

In the last book, The Cutting Season Zee had a run in with the Russian mafia; gained a step mother and grown step sister who is a local police officer; found a girlfriend and almost lost her to a violent attack; lost his operating privileges at the hospital he worked at; became a suspect with the police for violent vigilante crimes.

There was a lot of action and change in Zee's life. Much of it is motivated by the appearance of Tie Mei's ghost. She prodded him into actions that started many of the events and had violent and serious consequences. She felt Zee was not being true to his training and his warrior past, by ignoring injustice and evil.

Zee alternated between following her violent advice and thinking that she was a figment of his obviously diseased mind. He began to also have visions and dreams of his past lives down the centuries. He and many of the people in his life form a cohort who are reborn together and take different roles with each life.

Book 2 is a much quieter book. The book is named for his new sword, forged for him by his girlfriend. In it Zee has to deal with the consequences of all the changes in his life. There is no slight of hand magic here where the consequences magically disappear. He also struggles with his inability to grow, and balance his life. He is gripped with the desire to cut.

Zee has to learn to be a team player, and practice humility and diplomacy to get his operating privileges back. Without them he is unable to balance his urges. He needs to heal as much as he needs to hurt.

Zee has to deal with the damage that was done to his girlfriend in the last book. She was mangled by the Russian Mob. It has left her unable to walk, and has changed their budding relationship. Zee feels guilty and responsible, but he also loves her. He pushes her and tries to cheer her with tales of a normal future. She is having trouble deciding who she wants to be, now that she can't walk, or work the forge. Their relationship deteriorates under the weight of Zee's penchant for violence, and her emotional turmoil.

Zee starts to spend more time with his police officer step sister as she tries to steer him back onto the straight and narrow. She wants him to see the danger and damage he causes as a vigilante, even if his cause is justice. Nothing can be proved about his actions, but the police know he was the one involved. His life and freedom are hanging by a thread.

Tie Mei's ghost has stopped appearing and now Zee misses her. He feels the need for guidance and help to calm him. The new business of this book is Zee's quest to find about her past, to find out what discipline of martial arts she came from, and to find a new teacher. He checks out local schools to see if anything they have can help him, but they aren't enough.

He digs up family history with his father and grandfather, and eventually tracks down another Chinese immigrant, Solomon Yu, who knew Tie Mei. The man has become a reptile wholesaler and uses his pharmaceutical training to research the properties of venom. He also is a master of the martial arts that Tie Mei taught.

The story heats up as Zee and Solomon begin to spend time together, and the present is determined by their shared past. Mayhem ensues and Zee is again the catalyst for violence and destruction.

The ending was not something I expected, and one of the most shocking I have read in years. Perhaps the quiet character study of the rest of the book actually magnifies his actions at the end. I am freaked. as in wanting to run away screaming. I can't imagine what will be next in the series, or if there can even be a next one. But if there is another book I will read it.

The book was written well, the characters are fabulous and developed so they seem like real people. The story built slowly and handled all the various threads and plot points well. There were again more details on martial arts, Chinese medicine, the natural drugs they develop, and philosophy of life. It is all worked in, and enhances the story, rather than being a lump that stops it. This book added information about reptiles, snakes and venom. Very interesting. ( )