This story is set in autumn, 1448 at England’s Applewood horse fair in Wessex. The midnight peace is shattered when monastic knights invade the camp to reclaim a treasured chalice stolen by a Gypsy. The attack sets in motion a string of deadly pursuits, a mystery murder, and a political crisis involving the most prominent bishop in England.
In the center of the chaos, the beautiful half-Gypsy, Kadriya, yearns for true love. Raised by English nobility, she has passed the threshold of womanhood. Spurned for her mixed blood, she is now twenty and longs for acceptance. With one foot planted firmly in each of her ethnic shorelines, Kadriya struggles to find her place in the world. Teraf, an impetuous Gypsy tribal king of surpassing charm, proposes she choose her Romani legacy. When Kadriya accepts, she starts a wild journey that challenges her loyalties and tests her courage.
This historical adventure unfolds when Kadriya arrives at the horse fair, where Teraf will announce their betrothal. Kadriya stands at his side, basking in the warmth of her realized dream.
The dream becomes a nightmare, though, when Teraf is accused of stealing an emerald chalice and a powerful knight, John Wynter, delivers her fiancé to the gallows. Sir John hates foreigners, but it is this man alone who holds the key to Kadriya’s freedom. His bigotry blinds him, and if this fierce knight cannot regain his vision, he may fail in his duty. This adventure is as tantalizing as the arousing love story within for, in a single bell’s toll, their life and happiness rest on finding the power of love—and one elusive chalice.
I liked this story, the setting with the Gypsies was a little something different from what I have read before. I liked Kadriya and her struggle with her being mixed blood. She was beautiful and kind hearted but her chances of having love, marriage and her own family were slim to none. Until Teraf, King of the Gypsies wanted to her as his Queen. Its just too bad for her that on the day their engagement was announced, Teraf is accused of stealing an emerald chalice. The celebration is disrupted by a powerful knight, John Wynter, who wants to deliver her fiancé to the gallows. He hates foreigners, he hates Gypsies and his bigrotry runs deep. The hate/liking between Kadriya and John was really well done. The mystery of finding out the true character of Teraf also, well done. There were several things going on at once. Like the promo on Amazon says " The attack sets in motion a string of deadly pursuits, a mystery murder, and a political crisis involving the most prominent bishop in England." That was a very good description of everything that was going on. Oh and the romance too.
I really liked this ebook cover picture, thought it was well done. Goodreads has the same book with a different cover shown. I like this one better.
I really liked this ebook cover picture, thought it was well done. Goodreads has the same book with a different cover shown. I like this one better.
I received a copy of this book FREE in exchange for an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment