Title: An Exaltation of Larks
Author: Megan Hart
Genre: Fantasy
Published in June 2002 by Wings ePress, Inc.
IBSN: 1-59088-084-6
The imaginative and spoiled Perion is being courted by the kingdom's most eligible men. She sets her sights on one knight, Sir Barrett, only to have him spirited away by her Aunt. Plagued by a very greedy and designing Advisor named Roderick, she must undertake a journey that will allow her to find the love she seeks, but will also help to open her eyes to life in a way she has never seen it before. The road she must travel is dangerous and full of perils, and she is not very well equipped to handle them as yet. In order to retain her crown, she must marry within one year of her coronation, so she must find her love as quickly as possible. Cimmerian, in the land of Grimearth is her destination, for it is there that Magoth, her Aunt has told her she will find her knightt, Barrett. What will she find when she gets there? Will Barrett be alive and safe?
In Cimmerian there lives a Mage who has great power but no soul. His fortress is a dark and forbidding place and the rumours abound of the evil that goes on within its walls. What is generally known in the land is that the Mage, Mason, has had a curse over his head since he was a young man. Those who raised him were tired and old, and very resentful of the responsibility they had accepted long ago. Living with their curse has not been an easy thing, but there is a prophesy that one will come who will love him and be loved in return, and then the curse will be broken. When the new kitchen wench shows up, Mason is intrigued. She has no interest in him, and shows no fear of him. He doesn't understand fully, but stll he wonders if she is the woman of the prophesy. There is only one way to find out, he must give his heart and love and be loved in return. Can he do it? Is she the one?
Megan Hart's An Exhaltation of Larks is an excellent blend of magic and romance. The well defined characters let us really believe in the truth of the story. To be honest with you, I am NOT a fan of books written in the first person, but I found myself pulled in to this one and I couldn't get out! I really didn't want out either because the journey was far too exciting and interesting. An Exhaltation of Larks is a story of growing up and growing into responsibility. It is about learning to love and that takes a lot of work.
We also find out that Perion is not as spoiled one might think, and that she IS willing to work for the love on which she has her heart set. We also learn of Mason's character, and of all that has gone before. Through a maze of intrigue, danger, evil and redemption of a sort, we are never bored. There is never a dull moment, and throughout all we have a beautiful and well written story of love wanted, love betrayed, and love rediscovered. Definitely a 5 star read in fantasy alone, for the richness of the tale and its' characters is a pleasure in and of itself. An Exhaltation of Larks will not disappoint you!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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