I had read the first part of this series a couple years ago (Star of the Morning), and had long wanted to finish off the trilogy. While the first novel of the three is definitely the best, this one has some good things to say about it as well.
The background story for those who haven't read the first book: Morgan is a fierce mercenary and master swordswoman, one of the only women who have such skill with a blade. Her foster father, Nicholas, asks her to deliver a special blade to another kingdom, and even though it is magic, she cannot refuse the person who has given her so much. So she goes and meets adventure in the form of nasty shadow creatures and an archmage in disguise. This archmage is trying to find the one person who can wield a very powerful sword, which may just save his kingdom from an evil black mage bent on destroying him. But he got way more than he bargained for when he meets Morgan, and cannot help himself as he falls for her. Suddenly everything has a new perspective he didn't see coming.
So that is a little taste of book one. This novel is a compelling second part to the Nine Kingdoms trilogy, and it focused a great deal more on the romance between Miach the archmage and Morgan the mercenary. Miach helps her to uncover the past that had been uncovered for so long, but once it began to come to light terrified her to no end. He also offers up a future where he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. But the peril that is plaguing the Nine Kingdoms is getting worse and Miach must find a way to protect his realm and those he loves. But Morgan will not be left at home while he tries to shoulder this burden on himself. And perhaps she may be the only one who can truly stop the evil that threatens them.
A very quick read (I finished it in a day), and very entertaining. Lots of mushy stuff, but everything entirely innocent. No R rated stuff here. But lots of magic, which I enjoyed. Morgan is a bit too doe-eyed in this volume, which she certainly wasn't hardly at all in book one, but it was still entertaining to read nevertheless.
About the author: Lynn Kurland is a best-selling American author of historical, time travel, and fantasy romance novels. Her novels have appeared on the The New York Times Bestseller List, USAToday Bestseller List, The New York Times Extended Bestseller List, the Amazon Top 100, and the Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks, and B. Dalton Bestsellers lists. She has won three RITA awards and was a finalist for a fourth. She was born in Hawaii and is a classically trained musician as well. She plays the cello. To date, she has written 31 novels. There are currently 6 books that are set in the Nine Kingdoms.
If you like this, you may also like: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede, and The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce
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