Elizabeth Vaughan

The final one to date in the tale of Lara, Queen of Xy and Warprize of Keir of the Firelanders. Couldn't wait to read this, and it didn't disappoint.

Keir and Lara finally get to the Heart of the Plains, where she has to be accepted as Warprize by the Council of Elders. Yet more twists and turns before this next chapter in their lives comes to a satisfying, if bloody, conclusion.

The genre is romantic fantasy, and a warprize is ...but I can't tell you without spoiling the story for you !

This is a tightly crafted beautiful piece of story telling, reminiscent of Anne McCaffrey's Dragonsong novels and Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series. The clash of cultures that arises when the Firelanders - tent living, horse riding so called barbarians - conquer the old established Kingdom of Xy is comprehensively examined, with Lara, the Daughter of the Blood as the courageous heroine.

Continuing the tale of Lara, Queen of Xy and Warprize of Keir the Warlord. Sometimes in a series the story can falter after the first initial impact, but this second book keeps up the interest and the suspense.

As the Warprize learns more of her adopted people, over and over again she has to question the foundations of her beliefs and attitudes. Only the strength of her bond with the Warlord keeps her, and them safe.

The detail, of the healing, the customs and ritual, is so well thought through and fascinating. Can't wait for the next one in the Chronicles of the Warlands.