"A delightful and whimsical fantasy romance"
Once the Kingdom of Umbria was a peaceful pastoral place
where magic healed and helped the people. Then the Han
invaded Umbria, destroying its customs and culture, and
forbidding magic to be practiced at all. Those who do use
magic are shunned by people except when they are needed to
heal a hurt. Maura Woodbury, the Enchantress of
Windleford, is used to being ignored because she has the
love of her mentor the wizard Langbard. One day the
wizard tells his ward that she is the Destined Queen who
will wake her future husband the Waiting King from his
unnatural sleep and then he will deal with the army of
occupation. Before she can adjust to her fate, an outlaw is in danger
of being killed by the Han and using magic Maura rescues
him. Langbard convinces Ratho accompany Maura to Prum
where she will find a map that will lead her to the
Waiting King. During the journey, Maura and Rath fall in
love but there is nothing they can do about it because her
destiny lies in a direction away from him. The Han are
aware of their quest and send their most powerful mages
and warriors to stop them. Deborah Hale has written a delightful, exciting and
memorable romantic fantasy about a heroine who believes in
all the old legends and a hero who believe only in
himself. Together they make a powerful fighting force in
their quest to rid their country of the conquerors who
wish that the pages of THE WIZARD'S WARD. This fantastic
novel will also appeal to fans of sword and sorcery novels. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted March 15, 2004
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