Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: Warprize
Author: Elizabeth Vaughan
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN: 0-765-35264-8
Release Date: June 2005
Genre/Sub-genre: Futuristic
Year/Setting: The future
Series: First book of a trilogy
Overall rating: 4.0
Sexual content rating: Sensual
Elizabeth's Website:
www.warprize.com
What path should a woman follow – the path to which she was born or the path laid out by her heart? Xylara, Daughter of Xy, was born to royalty. From an early age, she began to know her own mind and followed her heart to become a healer instead of the path laid out for her by her father the king. After the death of her father, her brother becomes king and fights her desire to be a healer even when their country needed her most, during their fight with a neighboring country.
When it becomes obvious that through her brother’s mismanagement, the country Xy is not strong enough to win the battle, negotiations for peace ensue. Xylara is surprised to learn that she is to be included in the negotiations, not as a participant but as a "warprize" being given to the conquering warlord. Xylara’s love of her country is so strong and her "healing" nature so prevalent, that she agrees to submit to the agreement in order to gain freedom for her people.
After her transfer to the camp of the "Firelanders", Xylara soon realizes that there is more to this new people than she thought and the politics in her own country are not exactly honest. As she comes to grips with this realization, the Warlord views Xylara in a whole new way and she is unsure now as to her future. Can Xylara mend the hearts of her people and keep them safe while the feelings in her heart for the Warlord become stronger?
I have to admit that I normally have difficulty creating a futuristic romance within my mind. While I love to let my imagination roam, I am a realist at heart and going into the future is a bit tough. The first couple of chapters were tough reading because I had to create the scenes within my mind. Also, a few of the battle descriptions got a bit graphic in the beginning of the book. In particular, the first few pages were a bit gory (only these first few pages so were a bit bloody and it doesn’t last). However, Elizabeth Vaughan does a fantastic job of assisting with the creation of the world of Xy through her word pictures. Very quickly, I forgot that I was in the "future" and became wrapped up in the characters lives. By the third chapter, I was hooked. For all those stories that kept you up until 2 a.m., this one will be added to that list. You will just have to know how "Lara" fared.
Warprize will be highly applauded by those who love the futuristic bent. By those who are more hesitant, I recommend you give this book a shot anyway. The adventure is worth the read.
Lori
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