Karen Hancock Shadow over Kiriath

Shadow over Kiriath

Karen Hancock

Bethany House, Nov 2005, $13.99

ISBN: 0764227963

The king of Kiriath, Abramm Kalladorne, knows that though he has defeated several foes, the invincible Black Moon army of Esurhmarches towards his country crushing the feeble opposition along the way. Esurh plans to control all land that touches the Sea of Sharss including Kiriath. To Esurh, Abramm will always remain the "White Pretender" slave who fought in their arenas at one time. Abramm also has internal dissension fostered by the still popular Mataio religious order, whose insurgency failed, but remain openly defiant and objects to his rule.

Abramm accepts a marriage of alliance with the ruling family of nearby Chesedh; he will wed Princess Briellen, but Abramm is more attracted to her younger sister Lady Madeleine, who feels the same way as he does. If they go down that path they will fail their respective nations at a time when their enemies near.

The third epic tale in the award winning Legends of the Guardian-King saga, SHADOW OVER KIRIATH, is a fantastic allegorical fantasy that contains several major subplots that tie back to the main superb story line. Though he has defeated his internal opponents such as his brother (who sold him into slavery) and the Mataio order, both and others remain a threat to his reign and to his country. Those machinations pale alongside of the coming invaders as even the monarch has doubts that Eidon will save his people from slavery. He also ponders how to marry the woman who stirs his blood without alienating Chesedh or Eidon. Karen Hancock provides a powerful stand alone epic tale that is excellent as a stand alone, but is incredible when read back to back to back with its predecessors (see LIGHT OF EIDON and THE SHADOW WITHIN).

Harriet Klausner