"No Escape from a Wicked Woman"

Riain Cree had a happy childhood with 22 brothers and sisters and he being the youngest.. At an early age, he was kidnapped by a man named Olan Hesar, a Viragonian. Hesar was planning an invasion against the country of which Riain's father, Aiden Cree, was King. Hesar stole Riain in hopes of holding him as a hostage. During a battle between the Northwinds and Hesar, the Prince of the Northwinds was able to snatch Riain from the ship and bring him back to their Keep to question.

The Northwinds found out who Riain really was and knew there was a long search going on by Riain's father, who was someone to be feared as he would bring the soldiers of Chale and Oceania upon them and they could not withstand such a battle. They nursed Riain back to health and Gunter De Viennes, the Prince of the Northwinds, had his men return Riain to his home. But not before Suzanna fell in love with Riain and vowed he would be hers.

Suzanna, who was not a nice person and was really quite ugly, had nursed Riain back to health. While doing so, she gave him a drink of tenerse and milk that was a strong aphrodisiac that gave him an arousal so intense he could not help what he had done. Suzanna had claimed Riain for her own as they had both been virgins before this moment. Her father was devastated at the news and encouraged the Prince of the Northwinds to send Riain back. When Riain was taken away to be returned to his homeland, Suzanna went mad and her father put her in an asylum. She screamed from the balcony, a curse that she would never let Riain marry another or ever leave her.

Riain's mother, Christina Cree, and his father had arranged a marriage for Riain with Miyoshi Shimota, the Emperor's third daughter. She wanted no trouble to come to the two but she did not know that Miyoshi was deeply in love with Raven Saur, Captain of the Guard in her father's army. When Suzanna heard of the marriage arrangement, she broke out of the sanatarium where she was kept, made a pact with the devil Raphian, and swore death the Miyoshi and all who went near her beloved Riain. This leads the story on many different pathways as Riain tries to elude Suzanna's clutches.

Riain is taken through different time zones and he becomes a Reaper, one who can turn himself into a wolf, a raven, and even a horse that flies. All this to escape the horrible Suzanna who has vowed her soul to the devil for his help.

This story of Riain's adventures in different worlds, with different potions and poisons that he is given, his body changes and the people he meets, is certainly one that keeps the reader wanting for more. There is a series of Wind Legend books and each one will be extremely interesting to read. For a fiction novel, this is one of my favorites and my hat is off to the imagination of the author.

Reviewed by Shirley Alguire
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted November 11, 2002

Also in ebook format - ISBN: 1592790062

Summary

An Insane Woman's Obsession:

Riain Cree, handsome young prince of Chale, has caught the eye of Suzanna de Viennes, a woman old enough to be his mother. Despite Suzanna's every effort, Riain will never return the wild affections of the witch.

Suzanna vows to let nothing come between her and the man she has staked claim to as her own. With the help of the demon Raphian, the Destroyer of Men's Souls, she intends to bring Riain to her and keep him there forever, even if it means taking his life in the bargain.

Maeve, a mysterious sorceress who has fallen deeply in love with the young prince, has saved Riain's life many times over. Will she be able to keep him out of Suzanna's clutches or will she lose him to the dark forces of the Abyss?

An intriguing tale of obsession, lust, and love striving to break free of an evil intent on crushing it.