Book Review: This Dangerous Magic

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

This Dangerous Magic     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Jayel Wylie
Class/Genre:   Romance   Historical
Sonnet, Sep 2002, $6.99

In 1172, Malinda Brinlow becomes a favorite of Queen Eleanor of Aquitane. However, the impish Malinda, who has faery ancestry, foolishly turns herself invisible to spy on her Majesty. Knowing the trouble Malinda can get into especially with the Queen suspecting she is a witch, her parents send her home accompanied by mercenary Tarquin FitzBruel as her protector.

Tarquin and Malinda have had visions of each other and quickly fall in love. However, though she is a sorceress, he believes what his mother has told him since birth that he is a demon that no human or partial mortal could love. Tarquin has lived up to his mother’s expectations, as violence is his sole companion. As war threatens to engulf them, his beloved must persuade Tarquin that his mother was the demon for her unkindness towards him because Malinda believes that she can only love someone with a pure soul.

THIS DANGEROUS MAGIC, the sequel to the delightful A FALCON'S HEART, continues the medieval sorceress tales with the story of the daughter of the debut novel’s lead couple, who appear in this book too. The plot uses fantasy elements to add depth and intrigue to the twelfth century romance. Malinda behaves more like a modern day teen, as she is unable to heed the obvious advice of her mother until she meets her beloved. Tarquin is an interesting soul who is a classic example of the Pygmalion Effect having attained the level of humanity that his mother barraged into his head. Fans of medieval fantasy romance will enjoy Jayel Wylie’s enchanting novel.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner