ImaJinn, Feb 2003, 14.50
ISBN: 1893896919
In 1812, King Nicholas Rostov of Laurentia visits neighboring Jehanna to form an alliance with King Iman Hadar against Napoleon. However, Hadar claims neutrality and refuses to join the fight against the French Emperor. That night the slave Sera comes to Nicholas' room and saves His Highness' life when the assassins of the Brotherhood, abetted by Hadar, try to kill him.
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Nicholas takes Sera home with him and rewards her by elevating her status to that of a lady in his court. However, Sera is not just a former slave as she is a Princess in the magical mountainous kingdom of Arkadia. She is on a quest in the Outlander world to find the stolen HEART OF FIRE ruby that hides her kingdom from the outsiders. With Napoleon breathing nearby, Hadar not neutral, the Brotherhood trying to complete its assassination, and an evil being seeking Sera, her own personal magic geometrically grows out of control with only her love for Nicholas keeping it in line.
HEART OF FIRE is an exciting historical fantasy romance that combines the intrigue between and within the small European kingdoms during Napoleon's eastern front with the enchantment of a Brigadoon like duchy. The story line is loaded with action that embellishes the reader's feelings that they are part of the magic. The lead couple is a delightful pairing as only love can control her magic. Though the bad guys seem to lack any redeeming quality and appear almost exchangeable in personality, fans of nineteenth century magical tales will want to find this ruby of a tale that spellbinds the reader from start to finish.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner