Reading The Shifter (Book One in the Healing Wars trilogy), I must say the concept of battle healing has never been explored so well as far as I know. I also love the setting: canals, seaside, lakes, water flowers, domed building, crocodiles... but I wonder if anyone managed to figure out what historical period this roughly parallels? I can't. The only two times technology is mentioned we get 1) ferry 2) rapier, which, considering their unusual weaponry (apart from swords), could mean anything. I don't even know what they use to light their dwellings, candles, magical lamps, gas, electricity, another kind of energy, oil, etc.
And action, so much action--delicious.