The Rogue Prince is the fourth of the Lords of the Var series by Michelle M Pillow. Albeit slightly out of order, I have read and loved every single one of them. The Rogue Prince is no exception to the high standard set by the previous three. All of them are simply fabulous and a must read, particularly for sci-fi and/or futuristic romance fans. I cannot wait for the next in the series, Jarek’s story, and I would love for the author to write their children’s stories, also. I am soon going to read the two linked series, Dragon Lords and Galaxy Playmates, and if they are anything like these, I will not be able to put them down.

The Var are a Cat-Shifting race. They have recently made peace with their long time enemies, the Draig, who are Dragon Shifters. The planet has long been split in rule where the Var reign the South and the Draig the North.

King Kirill has been the leader in making peace with the Draig, though he has not been on the throne for long. The brothers are split as to whether peace with the Draig is a good thing or not. Having been at battle for so many years, some of the brothers know no other way of life and also do not trust the Draig. With the Treaty in place, they must work towards peace, and mostly they are managing.

Jasmine St Claire has been married for four years to a rich doctor, a leader and respected man in his field. She appears to be happily married, though insipid and dim. Contrary to appearances, she is neither happily married nor unintelligent. In fact, she does everything for her husband from the housework to writing his speeches. She has a heart condition for which she takes a pill every day and she is also allergic to the laser in medical booths. Her life is far from an easy one. Coping with a physically and verbally abusive husband is difficult, but she feels dead on the inside, experiencing no happiness, nor joy, nor attraction, nor desire: only fear and apprehension.

Seeing the perfect opportunity, Jasmine makes a break for it. Her plan is to barter for a safe transport off the planet with the Var Ambassadors. After being turned down, she resigns herself to being stuck with her husband until another opportunity arises. The conversation she overhears between her husband and another doctor sends her hurrying back the way she came, hiding in the Ambassador’s craft until out in space. Determined never to be under the thumb of another man, to have her freedom, she is unprepared for her growing feelings for the Ambassador. She is also worried about her health.

She hasn’t been feeling too well since first seeing Ambassador Reid, all nauseous and fluttery. She’s also had a strange, well – leaking, down there. When will she find out what she has been feeling is attraction? How will she cope with her growing attraction to Reid, along with her desire never to be controlled by a man again? What did she overhear – and what is its importance?

Prince Reid is not looking to settle down. Though happy for his brothers, he has no intention of following in their footsteps and life mating to one woman. He is a firm believer in his deceased father’s teachings in this respect. Why limit yourself to one fruit, when there are so many ripe for the picking? Besides, being Var, his sexual appetite is insatiable, particularly since he doesn’t drink Nef, which dampens the Var’s ardors. No one woman would be able to cope with his stamina. Having enjoyed himself with a bevy of female beauties at the Playmate Mansion, he is now to commemorate the memory of a good scientist who was killed while ridding his planet, Qurilixen, of biological warfare. After giving his short, fairly simplistic ‘speech’, he is approached at the loading dock by Jasmine. Absolutely sure she is approaching him in pursuit of carnal pleasures, he is disbelieving when she instead asks for safe passage off the planet in return for a medical booth. Even upon hearing this, he puts his own spin on her request, but regretfully turns her down.

Completely surprised to find she has snuck aboard, he is insanely jealous when first believing she has sought her pleasures with someone else on the craft. This should have been his second sign that what he has been feeling towards her is different to what he has felt towards other women. His first should have been his inability to get her off his mind during the night after refusing her. How will Reid cope with his strange, new growing feelings for Jasmine? Will he want to protect her from all who would harm her – could he do so? Is his life to follow a path he had been determined not to take?

The Rogue Prince is a fabulous story that contains some sensitive and potentially offensive situations, including but not limited to adultery, which actually fit the storyline and added to its appeal. Whilst ordinarily I would stay far away from adultery in a romance, in this story all is not as it seems. Besides which, Jasmine’s finding happiness outside of a violent and abusive relationship is something that I was rooting for. Prince Reid is at first a man who believes his sexual prowess to be so powerful there does not exist a woman who is un-attracted to him and unwilling to fall into his bed. His brothers and sisters-in-law are waiting for him to fall, wanting to see him swallow all the teasing he had plagued them with for life mating.

The road to happiness is not a smooth one. There is danger to Jasmine, misunderstandings and old intentions hampering the way. A number of twists in the plot keep the reader involved, intrigued and wondering as to what is going to happen next. It is brilliant catching up with the previous characters, whom, I was happy to see, everything was going well for.

Jasmine and Reid’s story is less heavy on romance than the previous tales, but no less enjoyable or touching. It makes a great addition to this wonderful series, which I shall surely read again. Most highly recommended, particularly to futuristic romance fans.

Reviewed By Elizabeth
© October 2005