Jaki Demarest, The Cardinal’s Heir

The Cardinal's Heir

Jaki Demarest

Medallion Press, Nov 2004, $6.99, 360 pp.

ISBN 1932815104

His loyalty was to France and he protected her from her enemies but Cardinal Richelieu made many enemies in his use of power. Although a trusted advisor to King Louis XIII, the monarch chafed under the Cardinal's rule. At a soir e, Richelieu takes ill and his base-born niece who he married to the Comte de Palais knows he was poisoned; even with all her magical powers, the Sorceress Francoise knows her uncle has only hours to live. He hands over the reigns of the Cardinal's Eye to his niece with the king's consent.

When he dies, an anguished Francoise promises to avenge her uncle's murder; as a spymaster and a powerful shapeshifting sorceress she has the power to do it. While searching through her uncle's papers, she notices that a group of men, including her horrible husband and her best friend, belong to a group in which the last survivor gains the valuable jewel the Heart of Flame. Needing to protect her friend, Francoise investigates the deaths and becomes, almost against her will, romantically involved with the Comte de Traville who helps her in her quest which involves a sorcerer almost as powerful as Francoise and just as dangerous.

Fans of Judith Tarr are going to love THE CARDINAL'S HEIR, rich in historical detail and full of non-stop drama. The romance between Francoise and Jean starts off slowly so it feels believable and becomes something so beautiful that readers will root for the star-crossed lovers who used to be enemies. Jaki Demarest is a talented storyteller who weaves magic into the storyline so that it doesn't overwhelm the readers. This is a fantastic work of romantic fantasy.

Harriet Klausner