The Lord-Protector's Daughter
L. E. Modesitt
Tor. Nov 2008, $25.95
ISBN: 9780765321633

Since the vile Ifrits were defeated by Mykel and Rachyla, they and their descendents have ruled as the Lord Protector over Lanachrona and its neighbors. However, when leadership is past by hereditary, the Talent does not necessarily follow until one would be hard pressed to compare the current Lord Protector to Mykel.

Her father the Lord Protector plans for his daughter Mykella to marry a foreign royal in a political marriage. However, she wants much more than to be a pawn so she spends her time evaluating the accounts at the Finance Ministry where she notices a significant drop in tariff collections. She interviews traders, who insist they have paid more not less. She continues her investigation into the stolen gold, but soon some of the clerks she interrogated are murdered. Though fearing for her life and that of her loved ones, Mykella keeps digging trying to find proof for her father to take action.

This Corean investigative fantasy thriller is a terific sidebar tale that fans of the saga will enjoy and newcomers will find as an intriguing entry. The storyline is shorter than the usual L.E. Modesitt, Jr. tome, but is incredibly fast-paced and action-packed. The amateur sleuth inquiries by the courageous heroine make for an enjoyable refreshing novel.

Harriet Klausner