As war and treachery loom, an ambitious man’s mission threatens to topple two dazzling realms and their formidable rulers: Catherine de Medici, the Dark Queen, and Ariane, the Lady of Faire Isle.

It is 1588, and as the Spanish Armada prepares to besiege England, Paris balances on the brink of revolution. To maintain her grip on the throne and on the dark magic that has become her obsession, Catherine de Medici turns to Louis Xavier, a ruthless corsair who was schooled in the dark arts and has mastered piracy along the Spanish main. But Louis’s basest instincts are held in check by the kindness of Lady Jane Danvers, a British exile whose innate sense of honor is but one facet of her complex and passionate nature.

On Faire Isle, Ariane Cheney, unaware of the escalating threat from the Dark Queen, struggles with the task of protecting the daughters of the earth and their vast store of ancient magical wisdom. Weak and desperate for an advantage, the ailing Catherine makes a devil’s bargain that will cast a shadow over all.

The story changes perspectives between many of the characters, good and bad alike. I sometimes don’t like that style, but actually enjoyed it in the case of this novel. The characters have many dimensions and this is part of what makes this novel so great. It is so often that you read a book with poor development in this area that it was nice to have some realistic characters.

It is also very suspenseful, but not wickedly so. You will feel good after the ending, and appreciate the way the characters grew throughout. Susan Carroll creates an exciting and realistic world with this novel, and I would highly recommend it. It kept me very engaged, but despite reading it quickly, the length felt satisfactory.

One more note; I absolutely loved the female characters in this book. They were very independent and courageous, which was refreshing.

 

My Gemstone Rating: