fantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsfantasy book review Sharon Lee and Steve Miller DuainfeyDuainfey by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller

I’ve heard that Duainfey contains disturbing sexual content. I mention that as a word of warning, in case you’re a reader who dislikes that sort of thing.

That said, I can’t speak to that personally. I didn’t get that far. Duainfey starts with an overly-confusing prologue set in the Fey realm. I was never quite sure what was actually going on in this scene. Then, the story shifts to the doings of a human family in Regency society. The plot is less confusing here, but this dialogue is just not for me. Here’s the heroine’s brother, upon being asked about a Fey lord’s hair color:

“Yellow, oh, aye,” Dickon returned slowly; “you might call it yellow — but not like yours, Lady Caro. And his eyes — you see I anticipate your next question! — you might say that his eyes are a pale brown. His coat — attend me now, Mother — was tawny, and his breeches rust colored, his boots polished so high I could see Ferdy reflected in them.”

Regency novels have never been my thing, so I can’t say for sure, but I’m wondering if this overly mannered speech is a convention of that genre. All I know for sure is that it’s driving me bonkers. On to the next book in my TBR pile!

Duainfey & Longeye — (2008-2009) Publisher: Faliance is a world where there is traffic and trade between humans and Fey, elflike beings who control powerful magic. Lord Altimere is powerful, both in influence and in magic. The former because he is the Queen’s most trusted advisor — and, if his plans succeed, her consort as well. The latter because of a secret. He has abducted a human, Rebecca Beauvelley, middle child of the Earl of Barimuir. Even overlooking her withered left arm, she is not a beauty in the sight of humans, but the Fey are attracted to the auras of humans, and Rebecca’s exceeds even the most comely of human auras by a factor of ten. An enchanted collar which Altimere has placed around her neck makes her unable to resist obeying his orders. And each time she has an affair, carefully arranged by Altimere, with one of the Fey, some of their magical power passes through her to Altimere. So it was until Altimere was absent from the court, and Lady Sian of Sea Edge, one of the Queen’s cousins, came for a visit, discovered that Rebecca was secretly a prisoner in her own mind, and freed her of Altimere’s compulsion. Unfortunately, even now that both the Queen and Lady Sian know of Lord Altimere’s plot, he may be too powerful for anything but a large number of other Fey, pooling their magical power, to bring to justice — and since getting Fey to act in concert is like herding cats, the Queen will need some time to cajole and persuade enough of her allies. Iin the meantime, Rebecca must be protected from Altimere — and from herself. She is determined to return home, which cannot yet be permitted. And if she cannot go home, she is even more determined to kill herself!

Sharon Lee & Steve Miller: Duainfey & Longeye Sharon Lee & Steve Miller: Duainfey & Longeye

Author

  • Kelly Lasiter

    KELLY LASITER, with us since July 2008, is a mild-mannered academic administrative assistant by day, but at night she rules over a private empire of tottering bookshelves. Kelly is most fond of fantasy set in a historical setting (a la Jo Graham) or in a setting that echoes a real historical period (a la George RR Martin and Jacqueline Carey). She also enjoys urban fantasy and its close cousin, paranormal romance, though she believes these subgenres’ recent burst in popularity has resulted in an excess of dreck. She is a sucker for pretty prose (she majored in English, after all) and mythological themes.

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