"Great reworking of the Excalibur myth with a female hero."

Brieana had saved the golden-haired Arthur one more time. She had dressed in the armor of the Black Knight to save him in battle. Now running from some warriors, Brieana saw a sword sticking out of a stone. With a mighty tug out came the sword. Handing it to Arthur she told him "You're the great warrior do something." As the warriors approached them they noticed the sword. Bowing down to Arthur, they cried "All Hail King Arthur, he has pulled out Excalibur." When Brieana tried to explain that she pulled the sword out, no one would listen and Arthur, liking the attention, didn't back her up. When Merlin appeared, Brieana tries to tell him she had pulled the sword out, but he explained that no one would let a girl be King. Feeling bad for the way he had used Brieana to get Arthur to be King, he calls for the Rock of Ages. When he appeared Merlin asked him to take Brieana and keep her until a man of equal strength, honesty, power, loyalty, and courage comes to release her. Brieana fell into a deep sleep and slowly became part of cold mountainside.

Kerian, Lord of Castle Mirage, is searching the dark mountains for a particular drack. It had slaughtered a few of his chums and he intends on making a pair of purple legging from the hide. After following the drack into a cave, Kerian hears a rumbling then a beautiful naked woman falls out of the side mountain. To save her life Kerian convinces the drack to fly them both back to the castle.

Back at the castle Kerian's stepmother Shala can sense the power of magic in Brieana and the necklace that Merlin had placed on Brieana. Shala is more determined to get rid of Kerian and with the necklace she would rule the land of Mirage.

Stephanie Burke has given a fresh look at Excalibur's legend. The idea of a woman pulling the sword out instead of Arthur was the hook that got me to read this intriguing tale. I loved the way Kerian was not intimated by Brian's strengths. The dracks as ice-breathing dragons were a great touch. This is a fantasy everyone should read as soon as possible. I was definitely left wants to read more about these great characters especially Tybo.

Sensuality: Rated NC-17 by the publisher. Oral sex.

Reviewed by Patricia McGrew
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted May 25, 2003

Summary

The Past...
Life just isn't fair! She was supposed to be the next Queen of the Britons when she retrieved Excalibur from the stone! Merlin knows the world isn't ready for a Queen, so to complete her destiny Brieana is placed under a sleep-spell. Only a noble knight, one equal to her in strength and courage, can awaken her.

The Present...
Chasing dracks is hard work. But nothing prepared Kerian, ruler of Mirage, for the greatest surprise of all...a sleeping, naked woman falling at his feet during a hunt. He soon learns that she is from another time; the world that she knew is gone and the world where she now lives is fraught with hidden dangers and perils.

The Future...
Brieana discovers that in order to fulfill her destiny, she must do more than fall in love with the most perfect man that she has ever seen. She must go on a quest to reclaim Excalibur and with Kerian's help, end the menace of evil that threatens their happiness.

Sexual Content: Hard R. Genre: time travel/fantasy.