Description
You are cordially invited to the Dragon Masquerade …
Del has two rules. One: stay away from royalty. Two: don’t fall in love.
The first – because Del is secretly a runaway princess. After the death of her sister at the hand of her boyfriend, Del flees her family, home and all the responsibilities that come with being the queendom’s new heir. With a magically constructed mirrorwoven face, Del is now unrecognisable, and disappears to the faraway opaline lagoon-city of Salato.
The second rule – because the enchantment hiding Del’s identity can only be unravelled by true love’s kiss. But that’s just fine. Del’s had enough of love anyway.
When Del breaks Rule One and becomes court bard to the newly widowed First of Salato, she is resolved to keep her head down. But Clara is naïve and trusts too easily, and soon Del finds herself having to guide Clara through the shoals of court life, somehow without revealing her own secret.
As Del grows closer to both Clara and Nasca, Clara’s brilliant, dangerous sister-in-law, it will only take a push to bring Del’s house of cards tumbling down.
Like, for example, breaking Rule Two.
Review
Del ran from her world and her new duty as heir to the kingdom of Gilnea. She couldn’t face a life in the place where her boyfriend killed her sister, the rightful heir, so she had her enchantress aunt change her appearance and made her escape.
Now in the powerful town of Salato, Del uses her incredible talent playing the lute to earn an income. But her brilliance is quickly noticed, and she is soon taken to the palace to be the royal musician. It doesn’t take long for her to develop feelings for Salato’s recently widowed ruler, Clara. But she also feels strongly for Nasca, who is Clara’s sister-in-law.
It soon becomes clear that Clara is out of her depth and being taken advantage of by many in the court and so, with Del’s understanding of court proceedings, she begins to guide her.
But is it love and ambition that is driving Nasca to try to usurp the throne, and gain Del’s love at the same time? She casts a spell to gain this power, but will true love be able to break it? And do Del and Clara even have a chance at love, or successfully leading their kingdoms properly in these troubled times, or maybe both?
This is a terrific and magical love story with a royal setting. With love, honour, betrayal, and the need for the masses to get involved in their politics to have their kingdom ruled properly and in everyone’s best interests.
With powerful young female lead characters showing true courage in order to attain the right outcomes, this is a wonderful story that is best suited to readers aged 13 years and older.
