"Fantastic Fantasy romance"

King Richard of Valinor commits treachery by attacking Venya. Richard has the ruling monarch and his wife killed, but Sir Ewan and a few other leaders manage to rescue seven year old Prince Florien.

Eighteen years later, Princess Rose of Valinor escapes from her Uncle Richard. She seeks Florien as the only person who might keep her safe since she believes he would never sell her to his enemy her uncle. Rose meets Florien who rejects her contention that she is his enemy's niece, but takes her on his ship, the Quest.

Rose convinces Florien that she is who she claims to be because of her knowledge of the atrocities perpetrated on his people. He still reels from the crushing of his Fheara tribesmen by Richard while the Filidh mages have made their home on another island and want to forget their heritage. Rose tells him that the Fheara feel abandoned by him and the mages. Florien wonders if Rose is part of the prophecy to regain Venya; by marrying her can he regain what he lost as his people will no longer fight for him, but would rally around his courageous Rose who he loves.

This romantic fantasy contains magical elements that seem genuine and add depth especially an exciting Game of Kings contest that will remind fans of the wizards' fight in Disney's The Sword and the Stone. Fans will appreciate the strong female character, but also find fault with the obstinate Florien always insisting on going it alone. Well written so that the audiences of both genres will treasure, but the anticipated confrontation with the villain and the retaking back the Prince's lost land never happens.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted November 15, 2004

He was the hero of a hundred songs and stories, the sorcerer pirate whose name struck terror into every captain on the nine seas. Bold and dashing, wily and clever, the Prince of Venya was as deadly to his foes as he was to his followers. A single smile from him had the power to melt a woman's bones within her flesh. And he was her only hope...

Summary

Alone, desperate and fleeing for her life from her murderous uncle, Rose of Valinor seeks help from the one person who could outwit her uncle—the man he forced into exile, the legendary Prince of Venya. But the man Rose finds is nothing like the stories—rather than a chivalric ideal, the real Prince is cynical, hardened and cool—and refuses her plea.

Florian of Venya's one goal in life is to free his people from the despotic rule of the usurper King Richard—and he has no intention of letting Richard's niece distract him from his goal. Especially since he suspects her of being not only a madwoman, but a spy as well. But when they're forced to work together or risk being trapped by Richard, they're able to see beyond to the souls beneath—and find in each other a love neither believed possible...