Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Publisher: Behler Publications
Release Date: December 2004
ISBN: 0974896241
Awards:  
Format Reviewed: Paperback
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Genre:  Fantasy
Reviewed: 2004
Reviewer: Nancy Mehl
Reviewer Notes:  Explicit (some sexual themes may be disturbing to certain readers)
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Empress of Clouds
By Diana Hignutt

    Prince Kelvris has no intention of allowing his cousin, Princess Tolian, to ascend to the Warrior’s Throne of Lorm. The Druids, in a battle with a mighty and evil demon, changed Tolian, who used to be male, into the Moon Goddess. In an attempt to remove Tolian from her rightful inheritance, Kelvris has entered into a dangerous liaison with the faerie warlord, Dowbreth. Tolian’s Druid wife, Brythia, is celebrating Solstice at Hyge Bryth, a Druid temple nestled inside the Haunted Mountains. But Brythia has another reason for her visit. She wants to study the original manuscript of Brythic’s Druidic Prophecy. The Prophecy has predicted every major historical event since it was written a thousand years ago – except one. Brythia is driven to understand why the prophecy seems to have failed. When she finds what she is looking for, she understands that her beloved Tolian is in great danger. She must warn her – but she is locked inside the temple library and is unable to leave until the appointed time. She can only hope that Tolian will still be alive when she is finally released. In the meantime, Kelvris and Dowbreth launch their malicious plan. Dowbreth captures Tolian and rides away with her, intending to take her to Faerie, his world. If he succeeds, Tolian will have no way to escape. She will be lost to her people, to her wife, to their child, and to her destiny. Brythia is finally freed from Hyge Bryth and takes off after Dowbreth and Tolian with the Moonsword, a powerful weapon that Tolian has left behind. With Brythia ride three others, all professing to be Tolian’s friends – but one is in league with the enemy. Brythia must fight fear, treachery, magic, and an unbelievable evil in an attempt to rescue the Moon Goddess and return her to her people.

    In this second novel in her series, (Moonsword is the first), Diana Hignutt creates a world of magic and fantasy with great skill and incredible imagery. Her characters are rich, vibrant and bold and her plot is compelling. Empress of Clouds is a wonderful example of well-written fantasy that supersedes genre and crosses over into fascinating literature.

   Highest recommendation