Tempests and Slaughter (the Numair Chronicles, Book One)

This is another excellent book by Tamora Pierce in the same world as her Lioness series, although set mostly in Carthak rather than Tortall. It focuses on the boy mage who would grow up to be Numair Salmadin, a prominent character in the Immortals series. It's a little spooky to know that one of his friends is the future emperor he has to help overthrow, but as with all the Pierce books, the story really grabs you. She's filling in a bit of the history that was hinted at in previous books. Pierce always has characters with morals and all the usual complexities. I'll be looking forward to adding this book to my collection when it comes out in paper. (I read the library's copy. Twice.)