"exciting fantasy"
Queen Cassiopeia and her councilor magician Solan rule the
kingdom of Acadia ignoring Princess Andromeda who unlike
her beautiful and power happy mother is shy and innocent.
She hopes for maternal approval when she proves the
research she does in the library can help rule the
country. Acadia's revenues come from taxes, trading and
the income from shipwrecks. Andromeda shows there are more
shipwrecks than ever before due to bad weather. She reports her findings to her mom and Solan but they
have a major crisis on their hands. A dragon has entered
the kingdom doing much damage; only a female virgin can
temporarily appease it. Andromeda is the next virgin to be
sacrificed. A champion who gets past the magical guards
placed around the country frees her; the princess forces
George to take her with him as he hunts the dragon. When
they meet with the dragon and his brother, they learn that
the dragon is under a spell to act like a monster in
Acadia. They plan, along with the princess, and her
champion to go back to Acadia and root out the evil that
is running the country. Mercedes Lackey has written another exciting fantasy
filled with action, humor, and intrigue with a protagonist
who knows her mother dislikes her but refuses to let the
lack of love turn her bitter. She is a strong woman who
will put her country before herself even if it means that
she is placing herself and her allies in danger. The two
dragons are just two of the stars of the novel with their
distinctive personalities and the way they get the
princess and the champion to fall in love with them
without even trying. This is a magical treat.
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted March 12, 2006
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted January 22, 2007
|
