Patricia Bray, Devlin’s Justice

Devlin's Justice

Patricia Bray

Bantam, April 2004, $6.50, 400 pp.

ISBN: 0553584774

King Olafur of Jorsk knows his grip on the kingdom is not solid so he asks the Empress of Selvaret to honor an old treaty with his country by sending soldiers to battle Jorsk's enemies. When the Ambassador of Selvaret arrives at court with his retinue, he tells the king that the Empress has sent men to Korinth in the eastern part of the Kingdom, to guard against enemy invasion. In return the king is to turn over Devlin of Duncaer to them. Olafur agrees knowing whatever they have in mind for the people's hero isn't good.

The King hands over Devlin to the Selvaret ambassador who in turn gives the people's hero to the Prince Consort Arnaud. Devlin is angered that his king betrayed him and knows that no matter how much he is tortured, the magical geas laid upon him won't let him betray Jorsk. When he is finally able to get free, he organizes a resistance to fight the Selvaret Protectorate who is deed if not in name already annexed one third of the kingdom.

The third installment in The Sword of Change series DEVLIN'S JUSTICE is an enthralling sword and sorcery series. The hero has grown throughout the three books from someone who was suicidal to a leader of men. There is a lot of action in this novel but Patricia Bray fully develops her prime characters, even many secondary players, so readers get a well rounded and satisfying novel. Devlin is such a fascinating and complex character that it would be a shame if his adventures came to an end even with this stirring fantasy.

Harriet Klausner