The Princes of Anfall [Paperback]

In AD 846 those gifted with magic found themselves feared and persecuted. With the likelihood of further deaths amongst their kind they appealed to the Spirit to guide them to a safe haven. Thus Anfall was created, a world misted in time where wizards and witches could live without fear, practicing their gifts and nurturing the talents of their children. Hundreds of years later the number of those able to wield magic has declined and Anfall is threatened by the evil wizard Teren. Even the powerful magic of Prince Adept Kasmárin (Kas) fails to banish him whilst Teren holds the legendary Anthla-ma; the ancient sceptre of Anfall.

With magical Adepts scarce, Kas looks to the Old Land (Earth) for a potential wife for his brother, King Lucenor (Luke). Finding Lauren an acceptable match; he's sure that as soon as she meets his handsome brother, she'll realise the feelings she harbours for Kas are just a reaction to the magic that ripples between them. Lauren has been in Anfall for a year, searching for her missing twin brother Tim. Unfortunately Tim has been captured by Teren and if she wants the help of Kas and his warriors, she has to agree to at least entertain the thought of Luke as a potential husband. The problem; the moment Lauren laid eyes on Kas she fell in love with him. Kas himself is deeply attracted to Lauren; however as she grows in her own magical powers, he becomes more convinced she should marry his brother and produce a talented child. He's pretty much in denial over his feelings for Lauren throughout this book, even when they become intimate.

Ciar Cullen has created a magical world which captures the reader immediately. From the first time they meet Lauren and Kas appear ideally suited; however fate conspires against their match. Not only does Kas believe the woman he loves should marry Luke; the Maiden (aka Alyssa) a powerful witch cursed over one thousand years ago by Teren foresees that Lauren will marry the king.

This is a great fantasy romance and I hope CC has produced the start of a new series set in Anfall; after all Luke and the youngest brother Sennsárin (Senn) definitely warrant their own stories. These characters and several others are all well developed and likeable, with plenty of subplots revolving around them; including the history between Alyssa and Teren, the parentage of Palin (an Adept warrior) and Tim's rescue plus his relationship with Jenna (Kas's sister). With its energetic story line and great characters, "The Princes of Anfall" is a richly drawn fantasy romance and a book not to be missed by fans of this genre.