Book SummaryAlyse despises magic, even though she has the potential to become one of the most powerful archmages in generations, and can wield all seven kinds of magic. She vows to use only her healing magic.
But vows can be broken, and Alyse breaks hers when brigands attack Rill and his small group of retainers who captured her and are bring her back home to Caldon.
Her fortunes become worse when the battle leaves her stranded with Rill, who is seriously wounded and beyond her ability to heal. Alyse can’t go home even if she wanted to. So she forges onward into an unfamiliar land.
Where can she find refuge and who can she trust? And time is running out for Rill as his condition grows worse and worse each day. Can she find a healer who can wield magic powerful enough to save him before he dies? She fears she won’t.
Book Details
- Publisher : Castine Press (October 28, 2022)
- Genre: Fantasy
- Language : English
- Paperback : 178 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1735359289
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley,book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****
My Review
A Light in the Window is the second book in the Charm Wars Fantasy series. I liked how this book starts right up where the first book ended. Alyse and Kate are on the run to get away from Troy Estati who Alyse is being forced to marry. These two young women stand out in the rough world. They soon find themselves in a terrible circumstance and will depend on others and their own strength to get away.
I really liked how much action and character development there was for Alyse and Rill. Alyse is still my favorite character and I admire her fortitude against those pursuing the wrong things. The magic system is different in this series but it's not over the top. It is easy to follow the different magical people and their spells. I still dislike Troy and his mother. The Estati family is not my favorite except for Troy's sister. This book is shorter and reads more like a novella attached to a series. It was still enjoyable but I wanted more and look forward to book three.
~~3.5-4 Stars
Excerpt
Standing by the embedded ax, Rill shot an arrow at the lead brigand chasing the girls. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a group of outlaws had almost reached the woodpiles. He pivoted, releasing three swift arrows.
A mage cast a spell at them, but Troy countered it.
And then the brigands were too close for spell casting or arrows.
Rill backed into the space between the piles, dropping his longbow and drawing his sword with one hand and his dagger with the other.
Troy’s shout sounded behind him. “Here they come, Freya!
Yells and the clanging of steel on steel rose from beyond the charging brigands as Kate, Yall, Jade, and Magnus desperately fought a huge pack of bandits.
Rill didn’t hold out much hope for them, or for Troy, Freya, and himself. But an unexpected peace settled over him. As long as Alyse and Livia made it to safety, his death would be a small price to pay for keeping them alive.
And then Rill’s inner peace shattered when the outlaws arrived and surrounded the woodpiles.
A woman thrust a spear at him.
Rill banged it away with the flat of his blade, then thrust his sword into her belly.
Another brigand pressed in, stepping on the dead woman’s chest.
Rill cut him down too.
An angry voice rose above the shouts and clangs of steel on steel. “Alive! I want them all alive!”
The remaining bandits backed away from the entrance. Some disappeared, but many stood at either opening, weapons in hand, making it impossible for Rill, Troy, and Freya to escape.
Rill exchanged puzzled looks with Troy and Freya.
Suddenly wood from the split kindling pile toppled into the passageway. Rill jumped backward, mumbling a profanity. The brigands were shoving the kindling into the opening between the two piles. This was something Rill hadn’t anticipated. He traded anxious looks with Troy and Freya. “We gotta get outta here!”
More split logs landed between Troy and Freya. Troy slashed at an exposed arm. The blade cut all the way through. The victim screamed, “We’re hemmed in.”
More and more firewood came tumbling down while Rill slashed at exposed hands and arms that were shoving the kindling.
“Push from the middle!” a voice cried. “We’ll bury ’em under the wood.”
“Idiot!” another voice shouted. “Didn’t ya hear Palquo say he wants ’em alive? Push from the top and flush ’em out.”
Rill stepped back as several pieces of firewood fell on the spot he’d been occupying. He traded desperate looks with Troy and Freya. “We gotta make a run for it!”
Troy stepped back from a hail of kindling, almost tripping on wood scattered behind him. “How? We’re trapped in here.”
“We ain’t got no choice.”
“Running is suicide.”
“So is stayin’.”
Just then a voice said, “Are you sure he said we can do it?”
“Yeah,” another voice responded. “Palquo said he doesn’t care now if they’re half dead. He’ll still get his revenge.”
Hoots and hollers followed the words.
“Now,” the voice yelled, “all together . . . heave!”
Horror overwhelmed Rill. It was too late to run. And he was going to die.
Wood all along the pile began toppling over.
****Meet Author Dan Lutts****
Dan Lutts was brought up in Quincy, Massachusetts, and began addictively reading Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman comic books at an early age, much to his mother's distress. In junior high school, he switched to reading science fiction novels. While in high school and college, he wrote science fiction short stories.
Dan taught history and archaeology in high school for ten years. After being laid off because of budget cuts, he used his love of writing to retrain and became a software technical editor and writer. He worked for several computer companies, taught technical writing at the college level, and worked as a freelance writer.
Dan loves to read and has varied tastes, including Young Adult, historical fiction, mysteries, 18th-century sea epics, and history. He especially enjoys Young Adult fiction and decided to try his hand at it. Charm Wars, Dan’s first novel, is the result.
Dan lives in rural Maine with his wife, Lisa. When he’s not working or writing, Dan can be found reading, making and shooting medieval arrows with his longbow, or playing with his two cats—both rescue animals.
You can learn more about Dan and the world of Charm Wars at www.danlutts.com/.
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