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Sometimes the price of destiny is higher than anyone imagined....Dark Magic, Hidden DestinyFor three centuries a divine prophecy and a line of warrior queens protected Skala. But the people grew complacent and Erius, a usurper king, claimed his young half sister’s throne.Now plague and drought stalk the land, war with Skala’s ancient rival Plenimar drains the country’s lifeblood, and to be born female into the royal line has become a death sentence as the king fights to ensure the succession of his only heir, a son. For King Erius the greatest threat comes from his own line — and from Illior’s faithful, who spread the Oracle’s words to a doubting populace.As noblewomen young and old perish mysteriously, the king’s nephew — his sister’s only child — grows toward manhood. But unbeknownst to the king or the boy, strange, haunted Tobin is the princess’s daughter, given male form by a dark magic to protect her until she can claim her rightful destiny.Only Tobin’s noble father, two wizards of Illior, and an outlawed forest witch know the truth. Only they can protect young Tobin from a king’s wrath, a mother’s madness, and the terrifying rage of her brother’s demon spirit, determined to avenge his brutal murder....
A young royal, hidden in plain sight through dark magic, must navigate a treacherous court to survive a usurper king's purge of female heirs. Tobin, raised as a boy to escape the king's murderous paranoia, struggles with a fractured identity and the haunting presence of a murdered twin brother. As the kingdom of Skala suffers under the weight of war and plague, Tobin's protectors—a small circle of wizards and outcasts—work to keep the secret of her true gender from the throne. The narrative follows Tobin’s development from a sheltered, confused youth into a figure of political and magical significance, constrained by the rigid gender expectations of a patriarchal monarchy.
This work is characterized by its intricate approach to gender identity and political maneuvering within a high fantasy setting. The premise suggests a focus on the psychological toll of living a double life while under constant threat of discovery. Readers often note the deliberate pacing, which prioritizes character development and the slow revelation of the kingdom's dark history. The narrative structure emphasizes the weight of destiny and the moral complexities faced by those who use forbidden magic to alter the course of a royal succession.
Page Count:
448
Publication Date:
2001-07-16
Publisher:
Voyager
ISBN-10:
0007113072
ISBN-13:
9780007113071
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