"An exciting fantasy romance"
Relatively new Chadyk Commander Rathyn watches his soldiers
battle the Syrithians when a woman appears and disrobes.
She is obviously a Syrithian enchantress and though he
knows he should capture her, Rathyn is frozen by her beauty
and the desire that wracks his body. When she sees him
finally approach, the woman changes into a steed and flees. Not long afterward, Rathyn meets with the Syrithian Council
in an attempt to secure a peace between the two people.
However, his predecessor Marcus the Butcher left a legacy
of deceit and murder so that no one trusts the Chadyk. The
Queen Mariah is the enchantress he met at the rim of the
battlefield and based on her seer rejects Rathyn's
overture. The Syrithians attack and Mariah among others is
captured. As Rathyn and Mariah come into constant contact,
they fall in love. Are their feelings stronger than the
distrust and hatred their followers feel and can their love
ultimately end the belligerence between the races
especially when his role in the Chadyk Empire changes? This is an exhilarating romance that skillfully entwines
some fantasy and science fiction elements into the plot.
The story line is loaded with action yet insures that the
two species seem genuine so that readers can accept the
racial relations or lack thereof. The cast brings the tale
to life as prejudices on both sides make the forbidden love
between the lead protagonists seem deadly and treasonous.
Fans of the three sub-genres will want to read this
enchanting treat. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted January 31, 2003
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