Can love and sacrifice conquer a curse?

When Felyn was a young, defenseless witch, she was cursed to live as a shapeshifter—a deadly panther. She might have been rescued and raised by a noble and powerful leader, but she lives in fear she will hurt those she loves in her animal form so each full moon she hides deep in the forest. But how can she refuse her adoptive father’s plea for an arranged marriage with a new ally? After all, it’s temporary and in name only…

Varz agrees to an arranged marriage reluctantly because he needs the military and diplomatic alliance. He has secrets and a growing power struggle back home. He’s relieved he need only marry the young witch for a year until he meets his bride. Felyn is beautiful and intelligent and not easy to ignore, but Varz is a man of his word. His vow to leave his bride untouched will be the hardest one he has had to keep.

Amazon / Paperback

Goodreads

Fly Girl’s Review:

I love this cover.  I wish the story gripped me as much as it did.  This fantasy is set in a an age where mankind is just beginning to end their hunter gatherer ways and build communities where they could farm and live in one place.  Nancy does a great job of creating a society with all the rules and politics.  Someone in this world is always trying to wrest power from someone else.

Felyn and Varz are caught in the middle of it all trying to accomplish something truly worthy…They are trying to maintain an alliance that will stop slavery.  Their marriage was supposed to secure the alliance but it seems to cause more damage to Varz’s community than it helps in some ways.  It gives a rival the ammo he needs to undermine Varz’s leadership in the community.  To Felyn’s credit, she overcomes many prejudices in the community. She offers friendship, healing, and strength to the community slowly.  Although she and Varz were never supposed to fall in love or consummate their marriage, they soon find themselves in over their heads and needing each other to survive.

Finally Felyn eventually breaks the curse and finds her HEA just as I like.  She writes a very dynamic world and story, but I feel there were too many obstacles for Felyn to overcome to get to her HEA.  Nancy kept us tied to each of them as she wrapped them up with bows, but it was bit tiring to get through.  I’m giving this a 4 of 5 because of that.  I will say it is an interesting read and if you love fantasy, this might be for you.

4 of 5 Propellers

To catch up on the series:

 

Connect with Nancy Holland

Amazon / Facebook / Goodreads / Website

ancy Holland recently began to live her dream as a full-time writer. After being a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® contest and publishing two short contemporary romances, she is thrilled to return to her first love and write fantasy novels for Tule Publishing. Despite dark pasts, heart-breaking betrayal, and a future that is always at risk, her fantasy heroes and heroines accomplish amazing feats of valor and magic to create a better world for everyone. More importantly, her characters refuse to give up on themselves, struggle to improve their lives, and learn to trust each other. After years spent studying and writing about words written long ago and far away, she loves to travel with her husband to explore the cities where she can feel the lived experience behind the words.  2010 RWA Golden Heart® finalist represented by the Greyhaus Agency.