Title: Princes of Anfall
Author: Therese MacFarland
Genre: Fantasy
Published in October 2004 by Triskelion Publishing
IBSN: 1-932866-40-X
Lauren Emory has spent the last year of her life searching the countryside for her brother Tim. She left New York City in the Great Lands to come to Anfall in the hope of finding her only living relative. Tim came to Anfall five years ago and since Lauren has had no contact with him, she is worried that something has happened to him. Lauren is to the point of giving up any hope of actually finding Tim when she realizes that she is being tracked. She is able to avoid the man following her for a few days because of her ability to read minds, but then her luck runs out. In order to save herself, she attempts to subdue her attacker with magic, but her best efforts are dashed. The man pursuing Lauren rides in on a magnificent white stallion. If not for the fact that he has been following her, she would be impressed by his long golden hair and his piercing blue eyes.
Kasmarin is the Prince Adept of Anfall, brother to the King and the greatest wizard in the world. When Lauren realizes this, she is mortified that she tried to wield magic against him. Lauren is shocked when Kas informs her that she is to marry the King of Anfall. She has never even met the King and she has no plans on tying her life to someone that she does not know. Once she realizes that Kas knows her brother, Lauren agrees to go with Kas in search of her brother and then to meet the King. She does not plan to marry him, but she will do anything to save her brother. Her ability to read minds has interfered in forming any close relationships with men in the past and nothing has changed to make her think now would be any different. Attempts at dating were brief and very painful and she gave up any hope of finding a man she could trust years ago. While going to find her brother and rescue him from the evil clutches of the wizard Teren, Lauren realizes that her situation is hopeless. She is falling in love with the Kas, she has to rescue her brother, and she does not know how to get back home. Lauren does not see how her situation could get much worse.
Kasmarin’s people came to Anfall a thousand of years ago. They were the gifted of their land, but they were forced to flee to a new country to avoid persecution and death. There were only fifty total when they entered the new land, but they have multiplied and filled the land. Anfall is a safe haven for those tied to the Spirit. Over the years, their powers have diminished and the gifts have become increasingly rare. In an effort to have as many adepts in the royal family as possible, all males must mate with Great Lander females. To this end, Kas came in search of Lauren so that he could present her to the King, as the King’s wife. He has devoted his entire live to the people of Anfall. He has never questioned this devotion until he meets Lauren.
Even thought he knows that his purpose is to find Lauren and bring her safely to the King, he cannot deny her request to find her missing brother. Tim was a close friend of his and he knows that it is time to fight the evil Teren and destroy him once and for all or die trying. Kas is not used to women that do not defer to his royal background. Lauren does not hold back when she does not like something. She is very vocal in not taking any rudeness from Kas. He becomes smitten with how her eyes flash like emeralds when her temper is riled. Kas knows that he must teach Lauren to master her skill in using magic while they journey to where her brother is held. She is a vital part of being able to end Teren’s evil reign. Kas has the weight of the world resting on his shoulders. If he does not take Lauren back to be the Queen, then he feels like he has failed not only his brother and family, but also all of Anfall.
The Princes of Anfall by Therese MacFarland is an intricately written tale of how the present can right wrongs that were committed more than a thousand of years ago. Kas has to ability to see where his path is destined to go. He knows that he must defeat Teren once and for all. He is one of three brave men that must venture into the Forest of the Maiden and enlist her help. The only issue with entering the forest is that no one has ever entered and made it back out. Kas struggles with how Lauren fits into the picture and his feelings that are developing for her. The only thing that Lauren knows for sure is that she must save her brother from Teren. Everyday in Anfall brings a new experience. While Lauren does not have a problem with letting Kas know exactly what she is feeling, she is not exactly sure what she is going to be able to do about her feelings for him. Lauren comes to love and trust both Kas and the men traveling with them to save her brother.
Therese MacFarland is wonderfully gifted at creating a story that pulls you in and does not let go even after you are done reading the last page. The camaraderie that Kas and his men share spills over to include Lauren, not because she is to marry the King, but because that is the type of men they are. The secondary characters add a tremendous amount to this tale. Weaving past and present into one story and keeping all the facts and details straight make for a wonderful read. It is refreshing to read about a group of people that are so in tune with each other that they are not afraid to share their emotions, to laugh, to pray, and even to cry together. The fire that Lauren and Kas share is enough to scorch the pages, but is it hot enough to survive her engagement to Kas’s brother? If you want to know exactly who Lauren ends up with, if anyone, pick up a copy today from Triskelion Publishing. Just a little word of advice, if you are ever in the land of Anfall do not make the mistake of calling the hunk with the pointed ears an elf. It tends to rile them up a bit. The Princes of Anfall had me laughing out loud over and over again. If you like humor with your sizzle, then this is the book for you.
Yours Sincerely,
Annmarie
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