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With the throne of Lystra
vacant after the murder of its ruler, Surchatain Cedric,
Commander Ares is appointed Co-Regent (along with Counselor
Carmine) and swears to uphold seven-year-old Henry's claim to
his father's title. Unfortunately, because Cedric
himself had usurped the throne, there are other claimants
jockeying for a chance to reign over the prosperous Lystra.
One potential claimant is Ares, who rejects any suggestion
that he seize power for himself as the last blood heir of
the legendary Surchatain Roman. Ares and Carmine must
deal justly with the pretenders while grooming young Henry for
his future responsibilities.
Laden with scheming and
Machiavellian manipulation, ARES OF WESTFORD is a detailed,
deeply-layered account of court intrigue worthy of the Medici.
Young Henry's half-sister, the spoiled, haughty Chataine
Renee, keeps the castle in an uproar as she plans her wedding
to Counselor Carmine. Ares' wife, Nicole, heroine of the
first volume of The Latter Annals of Lystra, must cope with
the machinations of a rival for her husband's affection as
well as with Renee's sudden cold shoulder treatment of her.
Magnus of Scylla, Renee's former husband, is stirring trouble
up as he gathers his army on the Lystran border, in breach of
a previous treaty between the two provinces. Meanwhile,
Chatain Henry shows signs of his late father's imperiousness,
which must be nipped in the bud if he is to be the leader his
guardians would wish.
ARES OF WESTFORD is a
remarkable continuation of NICOLE OF PRIE MER, Robin Hardy's
latest foray into the Annals of Lystra. Her grasp of
Renaissance history is masterfully adapted in this hybrid of
fantasy and inspirational fiction. Ms. Hardy skilfully
blends the two as her characters grapple with issues of
conscience and of court. Ares' strength is profound as
he turns seemingly unsolvable problems over to God and directs
his attention toward matters that are within his expertise to
address. Nicole follows his example, trying not to fret
over her inability to conceive, and recognizing her husband's
integrity as he refuses to compromise his word and attempt to
reclaim the crown of Lystra.
Lystra itself is a character
in this richly detailed novel. From the intricate rank
structure and social protocol to matters of dress,
entertainment, and currency, Robin Hardy gifts her readers
with a fully-developed fictional world that is completely
believable and flawlessly thought out. The inclusion of
a detailed glossary (with pronunciation also indicated) is a
priceless gift to readers who may be a bit confused about
Lystran politics and characters past and present.
ARES OF WESTFORD is a
memorable book with an equally memorable hero. Readers
will applaud Ares' courage and conviction of character, his
devotion to a wife deemed inferior by some courtiers because
of her humble birth, and his dedication to the well-being of a
pint-sized rival to the throne that might have been his.
The good news is that there is at least one more book in this
series: PRISONERS OF HOPE is due out in October 2005.
Meanwhile, readers new to Lystra can take advantage of 20th
anniversary reissues of previous books, including CHATAINE'S
GUARDIAN, the story that began the series. Robin Hardy
is an author who, once discovered, becomes a firm favorite,
and ARES OF WESTFORD is certain to win her new fans.
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