The price of peace has always been high, as we Americans are learning even now. All through history humans have paid for peace with their blood and this wonderful work by Jennifer DiCamillo enthralls the reader with just such an example.
It's 13th century Wales and one evil woman, through conniving treachery, pits four clans against each other. On a day when the Rhyl and Axtyn clans appear to be on the verge of peace, Angharad of the Denbeigh clan, finds a way to turn that peace into a war. Though the Axtyn clan virtually annihilates the Rhyl clan, both Lairds are killed and the next generation must take over the reigns. With nearly all the men of the Rhyl clan dead, the wearily triumphant Axtyn's bring the surviving women and children in, merging them with their own tribe. Carys, daughter of the now deceased Laird of the Rhyl clan, finds herself in the middle of the intertwining tribes while on the outskirts, the still-alive Angharad stirs up more trouble with the other two surrounding tribes.
The romantic thread of the plot doesn't start until a third of the way into the story, but it is well worth the wait. In order to quell any uprising between the Axtyn and Flint clans, a brother of the new Laird of Axtyn must marry Carys. Though there is a mutual attraction sparking between Carys and Rob, there are many things, and people, keeping them apart.
There are a few awkward transitions, a few untimely colloquialisms and a few misstatements that confuse and distract however the depth of entertainment value make such mistakes trivial.
This author takes the road less traveled and just when the path of the plot appears obvious, she takes a different turn, keeping the reader turning the pages at a fast and furious pace. The characters are diverse and engaging and it is easy to care about, or hate them, as the author intended. Ms. DiCamillo shows great attention to detail, including in profusion those wonderful little nuances and every day occurrences that make each character, and each charter's life, unique. This is a fast paced, take-me-away delight.

Reviewed By: Donna Russo Morin
© March 2005