Reviewer: Robyn Roberts
Title: Deep Magic - Sequel to The Grail King
Author: Joy Nash
Publisher: Love Spell
ISBN-10: 0-505-52716-2
Re-release Date: January 2008
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Romance
Year/Setting: Ancient Britain during the Roman occupation
Overall Rating: 4.5
Sexual Content Rating: Subtle/Sensual
Language (Profanity/Slang) Rating: Mild
Violent Content Rating: Minimal/Moderate
Joy's Website:
www.joynash.com
Gwendolyn has spent her life on the hidden island of Avalon. She is being taught the teachings of The Lady and will eventually be the Druid Priestess of the island. She longs to travel off the isle, like her twin brother Rhys. Gwendolyn holds a secret; she has used Dark Magic—even after being freed from the Dark Magic spell. She now finds herself more and more compelled to use Dark Magic to shift into a wolf. She’s afraid eventually, she may not shift back.
Knowing this, she decides to shift and find out why Roman soldiers are setting up camp so close to the mystic Isle. Her uncle is ill and she is holding the magic mist for him—the mist that hides the isle from outsiders. She decides to seek out the man who helped save her from the spell of Dark Magic. He haunts her dreams, but after a vision from The Lady, she knows Marcus must help her create a sword to protect Avalon.
Gwen has haunted Marcus since he watched her change from wolf to woman when he rescued her. He dreams of her every night and only thinks of her when he’s awake. But her life is on Avalon—home of the magical—and he isn’t magical. He abhors magic and knows he can’t be a part of her life. Why can’t his dreams agree with him?
Imagine his surprise when she arrives at his home to seek his help. She wants him to craft a sword of bright iron with her. He’s a renowned sword maker and she asks him to create this sword with her weaving magic spells around it. He believes it is only spells of Light, but she will also use the forbidden, Dark Magic in its creation. She believes The Lady has instructed her to do this joining of both powers to protect Avalon forever.
Spending time together day and night soon throws Gwen and Marcus together. The joining of their bodies mirrors the joining of their souls. Each of them knows their parting will be like removing an arm or leg, but they are drawn to each other. Will Gwen be able to fulfill her duty to Avalon and return? Or will the Dark Magic pull her away forever?
A story that blends so much of the Druid history and lore with British folklore it becomes impossible to see where one ends and the other begins. I have never looked at the Druids in the manner before. It was marvelously refreshing to have the natural blend of the two cultures. Even better than the blended folklore was the heart-stopping love story that unfolds. The passion Gwen and Marcus share is tempered by the parting they know must happen. It is so bittersweet that it just about breaks your heart. All you can do is hope that Gwen’s uncle will finally let Gwen leave the isle and her brother take over—as both have dreamed of for years.
As the mists keep thinning and Avalon is put more and more at risk, the fight to the death finish that pits Light against Dark will keep you spellbound. The ending was so tender and surprising, I cried for each of the characters. A book that will be found on many people’s keeper shelves.
Robyn
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