DEEP MAGIC

Author: Joy Nash ISBN: 0505527162 1/2008 PARANORMAL Publisher: DORCHESTER
Time Period: Ancient/Celtic

The Druids of Avalon Hidden away on a misty isle, steeped in the teachings of The Lady, they used enchantment to stem the tide of the invaders while battling a still darker enemy. Chalybs It was the Roman word for bright iron, and Marcus had long been struggling to forge of it a mighty weapon. Though his workmanship surpassed all others, the right combination of heat and force eluded him... until a familiar silver-haired beauty appeared beside his anvil. Gwendolyn was trained in the way of Light, but she harbored other secrets besides that of the magical shining sword. Her lithe body aroused in him a white-hot fire, a need fanned ever higher by her nearness. Though he could not help remembering the golden glow of a wolf's eyes when he looked in her hypnotic gaze, he knew he must surrender body and soul to her mysterious powers, for only with Gwen guiding this hammer could they create.. Deep Magic.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Joy Nash delivers another compelling paranormal romance in DEEP MAGIC, her third book set in Roman-era Britain. CELTIC FIRE was the first and my favorite, then the well-regarded THE GRAIL KING, and now DEEP MAGIC. Nash's command of the period and her fantasy world-building as she creates the prequel to Arthurian legend is impressive. She draws the reader in with compelling plotting and historical detail. I completely love the setting! As usual, I find her characters the weak spot, but I am always interested and entertained by her books regardless.

In THE GRAIL KING, we thought for much of the book that Gwen was a villain, only to discover she was imprisoned and someone was pretending to be her. Marcus, who was a child in CELTIC FIRE, saved her. More than a year later, they can't get each other out of their minds though they've had no contact since. Gwen, a Druid shape-shifter, is struggling to contain her wolf and fight her destiny of keeping Avalon behind the mists. Marcus, a Roman blacksmith, is working on a new iron technology. The situation in Avalon is reaching the danger point because there is a new sorcerer in town, so Gwen goes to the non-magical Marcus to get help. Their longings for each other make it impossible to stay apart, but what if Gwen's wolf attacks or kills Marcus? And what about the man Gwen has left behind? Read DEEP MAGIC to find out what happens!

Heather Hiestand