Lene Kaaberbøl starts off her Shamer Chronicles at a dead run. The story is told in first person by the titular character, Dina. She is not an outcast, as shamers are respected members of society who use their talents to perform essential services for the community, but no one wants to really be friends with a shamer (or her daughter who seems to have the same talent).
The story is packed with desperate situations and tense moments as Dina and her family get dragged into one man's mad quest for domination. Through all this, Dina must deal with her own insecurities and learn to use and control the unusual talent that is developing in her.
The story is well-told, and draws the reader into Dina's world. There is no fluff; every sentence is critical either to the plot or to character development. This book is a great start to a great series.