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Gemma Ripley is the crown princess of Andvari, an intelligent and clever spy, and a very powerful mind magier; when Queen Maeven Morricone of Morta invokes an ancient ritual to force Gemma to marry her son Leonidas, Gemma needs all of these and more to deal with Leonidas and, at the same time, figure out who is stealing valuable tearstones.
Andvarti is a small kingdom, known for the gemstones it produces in great quantity. Gemma is convinced that Milo Morricone of Morta is stealing tearstones from the mines of Andvari and somehow making deadly weapons with them. Gemma has had a close encounter of the Milo kind and her hands bear the scars of that meeting. His hands bear scars as well. Gemma is a mind magier and sent his weapon back into him. He did not enjoy the experience. She also has personal history with Leonidas, Maeven's second son, dating back to when they were children. Not to mention the Ripley family blood shed by Morricones over the years.
All the kingdoms of the Buchovian continent gather regularly at The Summit, held in the city of Caldwell, which encompasses parts of three kingdoms: Andvari, Unger, and Morta. The Summit is for making trade deals, settling squabbles, and the like. The laws of the host country prevail for the duration and this year the host is Unger. Queen Maeven has a surprise for everyone; she proposes in front of everyone that her son Leonidas marry Gemma, thus ensuring peace. Gemma knows this is a trap of some kind. Maeven always plays the long game. When Gemma hesitates, Maeven invokes the Gauntlet. The Gauntlet is a series of three challenges designed to prove one's worth as a potential suitor. If Gemma and Leonidas accept, then if Leonidas passes the tests, he and Gemma will be engaged and eventually marry. If Leonidas fails any of the challenges, he dies. This gives Maeven pause. Leonidas steps up and accepts. The challenge proceeds. While this is going on, people in the Morta party are attacked with an obvious intent to kill. Gemma needs to know why this is happening and if it has any bearing on Milo's secret experiments.
I wanted to read this book because I've been reading Estep's Elemental Assassin series for years and thoroughly enjoy them. I was not disappointed. Gemma and Leonidas are complicated characters, as are all of the secondary characters surrounding them. Everyone has a back story; we learn more about some than others. The magical powers vary from person to person, which makes for some interesting combinations. Gemma's mother was a time magier, and Gemma has a very little bit of that. Leonidas is a mind magier, which enhances his connection with Gemma. The gargoyles and strix are a great vehicle for some humor and lightness. Figuring out who is attacking the Royals at the Summit is the mystery here, one I did not figure out until the very end. The romance is fairly standard fare. In terms of heat, much more Barbara Cartland than the Assassin series, this is OK. This is the second in the Gargoyle Queen series and I am going to find the first, CAPTURE THE CROWN. I need another book to read like I need another hole in my head (a direct quote from my mother) and still I want to read more Estep.
§ P.J Coldren: I have been reading and reviewing mystery fiction for over a quarter of a century and read broadly within just about all genres and sub-genres. I live in Northern lower Michigan with my spousal unit, one large cat, and two fairly small dogs.
Reviewed by P.J. Coldren, May 2022
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