Incorporating faerie and Arthurian legend with the intrigue at the end of Queen Mary’s reign, add in biblical references to angels and vengeance for the church, the reformation versus the inquisition and a desperate quest to reach Queen Mary before Convergence and you have a hint at the elements Navarre has woven together in creating this fantasy.
As if the political intrigue, superstitions and the time-sensitive mission weren’t enough; magic and mayhem are constantly stepping into the forefront as Rhiannon’s sister Morrigan seeks to disrupt the mission and uses every power at her disposal to thwart Rhiannon: even spoiling her first taste of love and desire.

The attraction between Rhiannon the half-faerie princess and Beltran with unusual ties to Uriel and his commitment to the Pope and the inquisition to roust out heretics is denied and fought by both. While their interior voices narrate the confusion, desperation and longing, the magnetic pull of one body to another is undeniable and detailed in every encounter. Lushly phrased and drawn specifically to place the reader in the middle of the story, the author has managed to define a world and setting that feels real and tangible, and the historic details of space, clothing and speech further ground the edges in an easy to imagine reality.

Beltran is haunted by his failure to join the priesthood, and conflict arises between his oath to serve the Pope and his desire for Rhiannon. Rhiannon has always been “different” and feels even more so in England, her desire for Beltran is an unknown and confusing. The slow pace as the two work through their own questions and baggage, and take tentative steps forward and back while constantly finding themselves closer together is all the more sensual for the delays.

This is a great start to a richly detailed and crafted fantasy, with elements that manage to add some fairy to history, and ground fairy in a world that is known from school days. Navarre has managed to weave multiple elements into a story that will transport, entertain and enchant.

I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review for the Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
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