"Enchanting"
When it is discovered that the princess and heir of
Isavalta is a sorceress, the emperor and empress ask the
powerful sorcerer Avanasy to teach her how to use her
powers. Over the years the two become friends until a
political marriage is arranged to Kacha, the nephew of the
king of Hastinapura. The princess falls in love with him,
but Avanasy warns her that he is treacherous and not to be
trusted. His charge turns on him sending him into exile. When the two are wed, she doesn't realize that Kacha is
taking over her duties and replacing her loyal supporters
with his own people. Only when it is almost too late does
she see Kacha for what he is and flees the kingdom,
ordering a loyal retainer to find Avanasy and bring him to
her at a place she designates. When Avanasy hears her
summons, he is posing as a fisherman on Sand Island in
Wisconsin. He stands ready to return to his homeland to
help the empress defeat her enemies but he brings with him
Ingrid Loftfield, the woman he loves, the wife who will
sacrifice much to give her husband what he desires. This novel takes place twenty years before the events in A
SORCERER'S TREASON and it is just as good as its sequel.
Readers watch the empress grow wiser and stronger, willing
to admit she is wrong and take steps to rectify the
problems her emotional blindness brought about. Avanasy is
a true hero torn between duty and love while the mere
mortal Ingrid contains more inner strength than the two
sorceresses do. THE USURPER'S CROWN is an enchanting
reading experience. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted March 8, 2003
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