"Robin D. Owens has "Flair"!!"

I enjoy 'offworld tales' but so often end slightly disappointed because the writer lack two things important to crafting a wonderful tale: voice and imagery. For most writers these two traits of a good writer develop as they grow with each novel. But often, the fortunate are naturally gifted with this. And one of those is Robin D. Owens. She has a strong voice and is endowed with magical imagery. Owens paints a special world, grounds is solidly because of her logic and imagery. End result is one very SPECIAL work, especially when you consider this a first novel!

In her tale of the world of Celta, a settlement by Earth space explorers, it is ruled by the thirteen royal houses of the twenty-five first families that settled this new planet. They had left Earth, because they were different, they were gifted with "Flair" meaning they are witches and warlocks. They are various powers and these have been developed over the centuries, and like no stronger than in Rand Ash, now called T' Ash. At six years old, his family is destroyed in a fire set by a rival house intent to destroy the whole house of Ash. But he escaped, watching his two older brothers, father and mother die as his world goes up in flames. He escapes to Downwind, a slums of Celta, but as a grown man he escaped the terrible life there, hunts down those who killed his family and rebuild the Great House of Ash. His vibrant magic centers around gems so he is a master jeweler. He and his Fam, familiar Zanth, a large tomcat that has magical powers and can talk telepathically to T'Ash are respected among the Great Houses for his skill as master craftsman, for his awesome Flair and his reputation for rising to slay those who destroyed his family. Only life is hollow for T'ash. He needs his HeartMate. People can marry on Celta as they please, but the ultimate in marriages is one with your HeartMate, a match to you in every way.

Using a scrying bowl and special dice, T'ash learns his HeartMate is a woman named Danith Mallow. She often comes to his jewelery store and makes small purchases. He is very pleased by what he can 'see' about this woman. However, Zanth has his own inspection before he concurs and begins turning up on her doorstep to see if this woman is worth of his FamMan. Zanth tells Danith is special, her Flair aura is pink, unheard of in the Ruling Houses of Celta and that she is destined to be a great animal healer and worthy to be FamWoman to his FamMan.

T'ash immediately tries to woo her in his inept fashion, showering her and her cat Pansy, who prefers to be called Princess, with jewels and flowers. Instead of winning his HeartMate he frightens her. She feels she is a nobody. Raised in orphanage, deemed to have no Flair, she is content/secure in her common world. Only T'ash is relentless, and changes her whole world. These changes are not welcomed, but fought against as she fears him and his powers overwhelming her. She cannot possible be the HeartMate to this powerful lord.

Owens creates a vivid world of Celta. She uses her "Flair" of imagery to bring the magical realm to you with gentle, strong and emotional characters. She takes the pagan roots of the Lord and Lady and brings them to her new world and remakes them into the foundation for the wonderful tale. Zanth is especially well done. The tomcat Fam that loves jewelery, is good at fighting and has his own way of doing things. You feel for poor Danith, her whole life nearly overwhelmed by this powerful lord, and yet you take T'Ash into your heart as well. A man with the ability to do anything he pleases, yet so inept in wooing the lady of his heart.

It just does not get any better than this. HEART THIEF, the sequel is out this month. A most impressive first novel that promises we shall see more of the talented author!

Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted April 14, 2003

Summary

2002 RITA Finalist

T'Ash rolled the divination dice. The spun and stopped: "Today you will meet your HeartMate."

T'Ash has avenged his dead family and carefully crafted his life. He knows Danith is his future and the future of his clan. Danith, an orphaned commoner, wants life easy too. But one look at T'Ash tells her that he's going to make her life quite difficult. She knows he is noble, powerful and dangerous. Not for her. Then there's the second prophecy: A woman surrounded by blasers, in peril...

Winner of the PEARL AWARD 2001 - Best Fantasy / Magical
Honorable Mention - Best Futuristic ~ Robin D. Owens - Best New Author