Title: The Gift Of Elan
Author: Vivi Anna
Published in 2004 by eXtasy Books
Genre: Fantasy Romance
ISBN: 1-55410-109-3
Life blossoms all around the town of Terfertill, and many there believe it is because of a gift that was given to them long ago in the form of an infant girl. While the rest of the Empress’ lands wither and slowly die, flowers blossom by the touch of Violet de Vie Donne. Believing she is nothing special, she is content to live her life healing those around her, making the gardens flourish, and helping the women of the town bring new life to the world. But the man who took her in as a baby is fearful. The woman with this ability to make things fertile and grow, the one with the gift of Elan, is destined to be Empress. He knows the Empress Delphine would rather kill than see another on her throne.
The gift of Elan has faded from the hands of the corrupted Empress, but she does not let her power over the people fade with it. She rules the land with a threatening fist. Any who dare oppose her end up dead. But now the fact that her power has left her cannot be ignored. She decides she should choose some ninny of a girl to marry her son, so she can maintain the throne as the puppet master to a new Empress. Prince Jovan thwarts these plans when he discovers Violet and swears none other will be his bride.
Now both need to be strong to avert disaster as the Empress plots for blood. Will their love be the birth of new life in the kingdom? Or will it mean their death?
The Gift of Elan by Vivi Anna is a delightful tale, full of suspense and magic. The crowning jewel of the story is the villain though. I have never seen a more powerfully wicked woman portrayed in a story. She is delightfully evil to the core, and a worthy foil for the hero and heroine.
The Gift of Elan is part of a series of books based on tarot cards being released by eXstasy Books. I thought that the use of the tarot card “The Empress” as a structure for the story was inventive and interesting, and I would be interested to see Vivi Anna tackle another interpretation of a tarot card. If you are reading the books in the Tarot Card series, don’t miss this one. It is an original and entertaining read.
Yours for good romance,
Emma
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