Therese Nichols, Sunburst's Citadel

Sunburst's Citadel

Therese Nichols

Medallion, December 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 1932815619

Princess Shamsi was eleven years old when the massacre occurred. The Moghul Empire Overlord Prince Fazid desired Shamsi's mother, who was happily married to her father, the local ruler of Rajputana. When she was not handed over to him, he had his powerful army lay siege to the city before invading it. Anyone in his path was killed, but Prince Fazid failed to take his prize, as she and the others killed themselves in an inferno. Outraged at this final act of defiance, Fazid slaughtered many more residents, but missed Shamsi in his wrath. Instead, Gupta the thief found her amidst the ruins and took her with him.

Seven years later, Shamsi is a beautiful veiled dancer that every male covets. When the military advisor to the Moghul Emperor Lord Karim rescues her and her grandfather Gupta from a performance that turned ugly, he finds he desires her, and is shocked to learn she is a virgin. As he learns the truth about who she is, he believes they have no future together; besides her being Rajput and he Moghul; he led the military excursion that Fazid turned into atrocities, including the fiery deaths of her aristocratic family.

SUNBURST'S CITADEL is an exhilarating eleventh century (my guess based on the deep descriptions of the city) romance that will grip the audience from the onset when the preadolescent Shamsi finds the ash remains of her mom and other beloved family members. The tale never slows down as Karim finds he must choose between love and loyalty, though the insane Fazid makes it a bit easier to select, as the military expert refuses to allow history to repeat itself with his beloved. Therese Nichols provides a strong refreshing historical romance.