Alexandra M M itibaren 43124 Corcagnano PR, İtalya
This is an absolutely charming and remarkable book; mainstream fiction at its very best. At times, I would laugh out loud as I rapidly read the entire book at breakneck speed because with every page flip the story kept me engaged and wondering “what next?” Dylan is a likable single man; handsome and somewhat promiscuous, with a terrific job and a few staunch friends. He is foot-free and fancy-free with an aversion to, what he and his friends refer to as pre-fabs, a rather insulting and comical term for having a relationship with a person who already has a child or other dependent. Dylan is exceedingly good in his executive position in public relations. He can put the spin on any story with finesse. When an old ex-lover and her three-year-old daughter unexpectedly appear on his threshold late one night, Dylan’s world is shaken, as his eyes become open to new, exciting possibilities. However, when he suddenly becomes a pre-fab himself with sole custody of a winsome and precocious little girl-child, his world is changed forever. Dylan flounders in his new role occasionally, but, as the days become weeks, his desire to protect and love his new charge becomes more important to him than anything else in his life. Told with forthright style and candor but without much sentimentality, the narration ensnared my heart easily and put me fearlessly right there beside Dylan and little Spring, cheering them on and commiserating with them during times of trouble. This is a powerful story with a fabulous message of goodness and hope striving to survive and, yes, prosper even during times of forlorn sadness and despair that threatens to overwhelm even the strongest of psyches. Basically, though, it is a refreshing testament to the importance of love and the connections we make. Laurie-J reviewer for Night Owl Reviews
** spoiler alert ** Setting: Fells; Demonai Camp; Marisa Pines Camp; Oden’s Ford; Cathedral Temple: Theme: factions; destiny; what is the future; how to pull factions together; wher love might fit into polictics Characters: Princess Raisa aka Briar Rose aka Raisa ana’Marianna aka Rebecca Morley aka Gray Wolf Queen of the Fells: escaped her kidnappers; holed up in Tamron, expection Byrne to show up; Amon’s father shows up – they are heading for marisa Pines camp – but are ambushed – loosing first the guard, then Amon’s father; Raisa shot with a poison arrow, and on deaths’ door – and Han finds her (having seeing the chase/fight), killing the army guard’s incognito sent to assassinate her, and then Han picks her up and is trying to get her to the camp… but she’s dying, and with only a little knowledge of magical healing,l using his demon lord amulet, Hans connects with her intimately and takes on a good portion of her poison, starting her healing… and barely makes it to camp with her… Raisa’s time throughout the book is for her to decide how much she willing to sacrifice. She wants Hans, but knows she cannot have a wizard; the wolf queens meet with the ghostly wolf-form queens of the past (with Hanalea pushing her to accept / fight for love)… she has to figure out how influence her enemies, to get them to work together, keep the balance. Corporal Amon Byrne: head of Raisa’s guard – magically tied to Raisa, never to be her lover or husband but her guard and best friend… he gets engaged – he has an obligation to marry and produce more Byrne’s to be future queen’s guards… they reunite, reconnect, and though jealous, Raisa gives her blessing to his marriage – and he is determined to keep her safe. Han Alister aka Demon King aka Hunts Alone – poor Han… after rescueng Raisa, almost losing his own life as he didn’t know how to use magic for healing, but more deeply connected to Raisa than ever, he learns that she is the princess – and feels betrayed… but in part because of his commitment made to the clan to educate him at Oden, in part because of loyalty and love for Raisa/Rebecca, he agrees to help her take her throne back; ex street king , he retakes the title in his efforts to spy and use the contacts to learn more from the backstreets of what’s going on… he has Raisa appoint him onto the Wizard’s Council; he shadows Raisa… Crow aka Demon King aka Alger Waterlow / Haalea the Warrior Queen: tells Han he is the Demon King – that he put his soul into the amulet that han now wears; he seems a bit less to be using Han and more partnering with him – until he gets mad when Han brings Dancer (a Bayar descendant) to the alter world, and Han stays away from him. And he finally decides he wants to marry Raisa… Averill Lightfoot, Lord Demonai: Raisa’s father – Demonia and Spiritclan, her mother’s consort, more or less discarded by Marianna as Bayar begins to control her; he uses his influence to plot and put his daughter Raisa on the throne… Queen Marianna aka Marianna ana’Lissa: depressed after Raisa left – when she was instrumental in trying to force Raisa into marriage with Bayar… she named Mellony as her successor if she dies and Raisa does not return… after she got a letter from Raisa telling her that she is at Oden, Marianna is found dead, having apparently fallen from her balcony – probably pushed, but no proof. Lord Bayar / Micah Bayer / Fiona Bayer: hmmm what is Micah’s story – he did save Raisa’s life twice… though he did kidnap her to take her back to the Fells; he seems to be trying to keep his father happy without giving up too much of himself – when Raisa tells him someday he will have to choose between his father and her, he replies he has (her?); he seemed to be courting 13 year old Mellony when though she was to be on throne, but ignores her once Raisa returns – and manages to convince Raisa to allow him to court her. Fiona suggesting she wants to hook up with Han to make a deal. Father Bayar sees his plans fall away with Raisa’s return (and 2 more assassination attempts that failed), and though we’re sure he is plotting, not sure what. Mellony: 13 years old; beautiful; tall; like her mother more than her sister ever was; enjoyed being the center of attention; loves parties and shopping just like mom; enjoyed Micah’s attention, and open for further manipulation… Speaker Jemson: oversees Marianna’s funeral and Raisa’s coronation Elena Demonai: Averill’s mother, Raisai’s grandmother, Demonai higher upper Hayden Fire Dancer: Willo’s son; his biological father is Lord Bayar, who raped his mother… he is at peace with his wizardy talents (that the SpiritClan hates)… and is combining it with the SpiritClan’s abilitiy to make magic charms… makes armor for Raisa, charms for han’s people, and finally a ring for han to give to Raisa like the ring Crow gave to Hanalai… Reid Nightwalker Demonai: head of the demonai warriors; a player; exchanged kisses with Briar Rose and is Raisa’s primary suitor now (though still taking it on the side) Night Bird: Reid’s Demonai squeeze (she was once Han/Hunts Alone’s squeeze, but she shifted alliances to get herself on the Demonai guard) – but she is getting to be her own person, and is disagreeing with Reid. Cat aka Catarina: Han’s ex-squeeze, street lord in her own right, great with knives, trained a year at Oden, Han’s right hand woman and Raisa’s guard (as her chambermaid) Willo: Dancer’s mother; spiritclan healer; Montaigne: ruler of neighboring kingdom; killed own brother (as told Raisa he would do the year before on her Sweet Sixteen), wants an alliance/marriage with Raisa – she tells him an outright no, another enemy… Summary: Raisa survives numerous assassination attempts (all from Bayars?)… and with pomp and power, goes to her mother’s funeral, and claims her right to be queen… she then spends her time trying to unite the sections (wizards / nobility / SpiritClan / commoners)… she gives aid to the poor, she is cleaning the river by relocating the refugees camping and dumping into it, she is discontinuing the mercenary soldiers of the army in favor of training fellow Fells people… while trying to reconcile her feelings for Han (even suggesting they become lovers to continue even after she marries for politics… hmmmm At end, after midnight of partying after coronation, 2 of his street gang find 2 wizards with throats slashed, amulets taken, and Demon King’s symbol painted in blood on them – someone is framing Han… his two believe it is him, but the smear the symbol to protect him… Bayar’s doing?