The mage's daughter : [a novel of the Nine Kingdoms

Lynn Kurland’s trilogy of love, intrigue, and fantastic destiny continues as a female mercenary fights for her life, her future, and the one man who can save her... Darkness in the kingdom...Neroche is under assault by a magic that has stripped its king of his powers and unleashed nightmarish creatures in a war of evil in which Morgan of Melksham is fighting for her life. Recovering from a near-fatal attack, Morgan realizes that she must decide between two fates: that of being a simple shieldmaiden or accepting her heritage as an elven princess. If only she could ignore that she was the daughter of the perilous black mage of Ceangail... Magic in the blood... Duty bound to aid his king, Miach of Neroche is torn between what his responsibilities demand and what his heart desires. He is willing to risk his life to rescue Morgan from the darkness that haunts her, but he must do so at the peril of his realm. Forced to choose between love and the burden of his mantle, Miach sets out on his most deadly quest ever.

In the kingdom of Neroche, nightmarish creatures have been unleashed as weapons in a war of evil. Morgan the mercenary, daughter of a treacherous black mage, must fight against them-as well as for her very life. Miach of Neroche would risk his own life to save Morgan's, but he must do so at the peril of the realm, forcing dangerous choices in the deadliest of quests.

Kristin Ramsdell - Library Journal

The poisonous magic that began its insidious attack on the kingdom of Neroche in Star of the Morning, the first book in Kurland's Nine Kingdoms trilogy, is growing stronger. Shieldmaiden Morgan of Melksham struggles to recover from a near miss with death and come to terms with her unexpected-and unwanted-magical heritage, and Archmage Miach of Neroche is hard-pressed to keep the evil at bay long enough to find its source and the means to destroy it. Powerful magic, ancient spells, old enmities, and dangerous secrets underpin the intricate plot of this engrossing, lyrically descriptive tale that contrasts hideous evil with tender, heart-wrenching love, tempers it with gentle humor, and serves it up with an adventurous flair. Although Miach and Morgan make progress in their quest to dispel the evil, it is the depth of their love-the romantic scenes are magical-that is the highlight of this exceptionally well-done novel. However, as part of a series and with too many threads left unresolved, the story might disappoint some readers who would prefer that it stand on its own. Kurland is a multipublished author in various romance subgenres.

In the kingdom of Neroche, nightmarish creatures have been unleashed as weapons in a war of evil. Morgan the mercenary, daughter of a treacherous black mage, must fight against them--as well as for her very life. Miach of Neroche would risk his own life to save Morgan's, but he must do so at the peril of the realm, forcing dangerous choices in the deadliest of quests.--From www.amazon.com The kingdom of Neroche is under attack by a mysterious magic, and as shieldmaiden Morgan of Melksham recovers from a near-fatal wound, she realizes that she must accept her true destiny as an elven princess and daughter of a black mage