Enchanting The Lady

Lady Felicity May Seymour became Duchess-of-Honor Stonehaven when her parents died. Her Uncle Oliver, a Viscount, and his wife Gertrude took her in and cared for her. Now, she has come of age to go through the test of entitlement in the Hall of Mages and to be presented at Buckingham Palace. She must show a suitably strong ability in magic if she is to keep her title.

Alas, her magic has always been elusive and though she sometimes feels that it is present within her, she cannot call it forth for use. Indeed, her cousin Ralph has regularly tormented her with his terrifying illusions yet her need to avenge herself has had to be carried out by non-magical means. The situation is even worse in that she is seemingly of such little note that she is nearly invisible to all of society and the servants, too.

On the momentous day, Felicity goes forth with little expectation from herself or her relatives. Sadly, her failure means that she is stripped of rank, lands, and title. The thought that her young cousin will likely wrest back to the family in his eventual testing what she has lost is of no comfort.

Shockingly, she manages to catch the eye of Sir Terence Blackwell, a lion shifter and Baronet. He serves the crown prince, Prince Albert. Shifters are immune to magic. Since this is a magic that is even stronger than that of the royals, these subjects are highly valued by those they serve, though they are feared by the aristocracy. This shifter is particularly talented in hunting down the items that cause the royal family such concern.

The Relics of Merlin are thirteen stones each enchanted with a different spell and each incredibly dangerous. It is a scent of relic magic that Sir Terence detects on Felicity when they first meet. But is she the wielder of such magic or the victim of it?

Ms Kennedy presents an alternate London in Victorian era. The addition of fascinatingly described magic told in wide-eyed wonder and a shifter romance to warm the heart makes this a thoroughly unique read. Usage of the London Underground as the subterranean refuge of the darker dangers in society was a stroke of genius. Tweaks of place names make them recognizable and fun.

Though the clues to the perpetrator of villainy was fairly clear from early on, our attention is caught even earlier and held completely. The designation of title and class by the level of magic evident in a person made for some very interesting reading. Issues of prejudice for being unable to use magic and the sense of inferiority attached was quite a twist on the lower classes from what we are familiar reading. The feelings of the hero needing to prove his worth to the heroine because of this inability and therefore lower status was affecting.

Terence is a delectable hero and readers will enjoy the inadvertent breaking through of his lion self in the various small ways. From the warm whuffing sounds of affection, to the gentle nudging caress of his head upon her, the beast side of him makes his fondness known well before the man side of him is ready to do so. He must continue in his suspicions and courts Felicity in order to track down the relic which he smells...or so he keeps telling himself. At the same time, he protects her from what he also recognizes as danger to her.

The fresh, unaware and honest personality that is Felicity is easy with which to find charm. Her underdog position in the story makes us want to cheer for her as she and her love fight the strange terrors that come to her in their various forms. Something wicked is clearly at work.

Supporting roles in friends and servants are well drawn and add some comedic moments to the story. Not to mention Daisy, the dragonette, a gift from the Baronet to help protect Felicity.

One would have liked to see more explanation to certain reasonings regarding the resolution of the tale, but overall this is a very diverting book. Readers will look forward to the tales that are sure to follow.

ENCHANTING THE LADY is a fine way to immerse yourself in a world of magical romance.

October 2007