Disclaimer: I applied to read and review this book for free, via Tomoson. In exchange for the free book, I have to post pictures on social media, create a review on a third party website, and write a blog post about it. I also promised to use the hashtag #CrownsofTheTwelve.
Part 1
We start out with our two main characters from Moonlight, happily married with a child on the way, at the Moors of Sigil's Keep. Aowyn has a vision from the gods that she will give birth to a handsome son, who will rule Crown Realm. However, war deteriorated the dowry send with Aowyn from Summer Isle, and the wages of war on Blackthorn Keep has set up very little for the unborn child in Aowyn's belly. Xander is desperate to provide for his seed, and decides to find a way to get his child something. He cannot consider betrothal to fellow King Balthazaar's child, who has just been born. He does not have enough, and Aowyn's blood isn't "old enough" for it to be considered. He cannot find a way to gain land peacefully, either.
He seeks the wisdom of Maeb, and ends up demanding in desperation. Unfortunately, she sends her to the one person the family never should deal with again--Sylas Mortas. So, without telling his wife, Xander returns to the the swamp and Sylas presents him with his option--he must kill to get what he wants. He provides Xander with a fine, frightening falchion blade called Idegewad. Idegwaed is described as having a "screaming mouth for a a guard, an obsidian blade, and a grip made with black pearl wrapped in silver wire."
This already screams problematic instrument, because it's such a gorgeous weapon. You don't just go to the bog to get a handsome sword, and not expect stuff to happen. Believe me--stuff happens.
So Xander tests Idegwaed out. She is "fluid and effortless". She seems to sing to him. She helps him go on a three-week killing bender to become the King of the Bloody Realm. He's swinging around the sword in the marsh, Sylas is looking on, then....
"You get what you want. I get what I want. Everyone is happy."--Sylas Mortas
We have to consider that Xander doesn't know about Sylas. Even though his beloved wife knows a thing or two, she probably put it far behind her, looking forward to the birth of their child, and finally happy she is with him at Blackthorn Keep. What I found interesting was that Xander's obviously starting to change the moment he gets that weapon. He doesn't shy away from having to kill. In fact, he's getting stronger just by testing out the sword.
"I can guarantee you all the power you seek. Nations will fall to your feet."--Sylas Mortas
Sylas warns Xander that the sword has its own personality. Xander isn't paying attention. He's stroking the sword erotically, and she's (Idegwaed) humming his name pleasurably. This is the problem the entire time Xander's using the thing--it's coaching him, cheering him on. Calling to him like a lover. Meanwhile, his wife is chopped liver! HUGE contrast from their relationship in Moonlight. That actually made me sad!
So Xander has all he needs to know about Idegwaed, and goes out to do exactly as he has been instructed. First, he returns home to Aowyn. As he mulls over the nations soon to swear fealty for protection, he hears her screams. He is ambushed as he tries to go to her, but the fight does not last long with his new weapon, Idegwaed. He rescues Aowyn and Maeb, listening to their story of how dinnertime was ruined by the ambush of men.
He then explains the new weapon his wife has noticed. Aowyn is horrified, and rightly so! She begs him not to deal with Sylas, but it's too late--Xander's already got it in his mind to seek revenge. He arms Maeb with a dagger, and goes about his way to earn for his unborn child. That night, Aowyn has a vision of Xander terrorizing a castle and ordering him to swear fealty or die. The vision was horrible, showing Aowyn's beloved "killing men as easily as rain fell."
Basically the gods warned her that the road Xander was soon to travel was a dark one, and there would be no turning back. A horror-filled sight to Aowyn, and a HUGE contrast from the gentle young man who wanted to please his father, in Moonlight. I noticed this contrast and continued to compare between young Xander and this older fellow he'd become. Obviously nobody stays the same as they grow up, but it was depressing! His desire to provide suddenly becomes this desire to kill!
Aowyn is in disbelief over the vision. Before she can comment on it, she's back in the mortal world asking Maeb where Xander got Idegwaed from. She tries to play the fool, pretending to be asleep she knows all, of course. Meanwhile Xander's on his first rampage, trying to get a Tywysog to admit defeat. By this time, Xander is a well-known terror. The Tywsog doesn't budge, and it doesn't end in his favor.
"Either way, I am a dead man. I pity those who bend to tyrann--"--Tywsog
Xander cuts this guy up something awful, and when he finishes, notices that his once flawless sword has chinks all over the blade's edge. Every time he fights, more chinks appear. He hasn't been home in weeks, and he's too busy basking in the power of his newer self, leaving the older behind. Instead, he started to feel hollow. I'd guess so. This part sort of reminded me of characters in video games who know they're doing bad stuff, but can't control it. Almost like this is a point of awareness where he still has a chance to step back, but he's still on that mission to have something.
"Xander must pay for his sins."
Aowyn, meanwhile, goes into labor. The gods come to her again with a darker vision of Xander pillaging a town. He's burning a cathedral, killing the innocent. She begs them to spare him. They curse the house. She begs them to spare the child and take her.
"A cursed life he will live until the day he dies, but we will take you for the sins of Xander."
A mother's love. A wife's sacrifice. This is part of the payment for that weapon Xander is currently using to get what he wants. It's a fair trade, but a steep one. I kind of felt myself connecting with Aowyn, so of course the next few parts really hurt quite a bit. She sacrificed herself for her son and husband, and who knows how she felt about Xander being gone so long.
While his wife is in hard labor, Xander ends up at Council's Realm, drunk and downtrodden. His men have left him, and he ends up in the hands of High King Balthazaar. Xander is questioned as to why he's done all he has thus far. When he admits, the High King makes him sign a contract--he gets to rule the lands he has taken, but he is responsible for their well-being. He returns home, just to see his wife in her greatly distressed state. She has been in labor for three days, and finally Xander has to cut her open to save the baby.
"Eohgan"
Noticing the way Xander says his son's name took me back to how his own father loathed his existence, and probably felt the same way as Xander's birth meant his wife's death. History seems to be repeating itself, with an extra twist. Eoghan is not a beautiful baby--his spine is twisted, he has orange hair and ember eyes.
So five years pass, and the boy's treatment is no better. He acts like an animal, and is eating his father's scraps. Outside of Blackthorn Keep, creatures are entering the land, calling to Xander. The sins of his past are hanging above the fireplace. Between looking at the ragged Idegwaed, and listening to Eoghan grunt and claw around, Xander grows weary and upset. He has all the power, but is drowning in his own sorrow. He knew Eoghan was smart, but he could not stand the sight of the child. He grabs him and throws him to the floor like an unwanted pet, just for trying to be near him.
He threatens Maeb for not keeping a better hand at the boy, and she reminds him that Aowyn would never forgive him for thinking of shutting him away. "She never will.", he replies. I...can't say that I blame her. After all that happened with her nearly getting burnt to death, losing all her brothers, AND the death of her mother--Sylas Mortas isn't exactly her favorite person. I am surprised at how Aowyn is during the second half of her time in the Keep. I will say this--she is a sweet spirit, not an angry one.
"Are you satisfied with yourself?"--Sylas Mortas
Xander decides to break the rules of all things deal-wise and returns to Sylas' homefront to give back the ragged sword he's been using all this time. Of COURSE Sylas doesn't want it back. Sylas inches closer to Xander as he tries to get him to take Idegwaed back. This, of course, fails, and Xander is almost lunch for Donestre--the creature from Moonlight who was born from Ciatlllait/Crwys. After he finds his way out of the hole he's fallen into, Sylas claims he's only trying to save his life. He claims another will have a fate intertwined with his own. Xander tries to attack him. Soon the sword, and Sylas go up in smoke, and Xander is left with nothing.
PART 2
Many years later, a young princess named Glory, and her friend Colin are playing in a meadow, talking about the existence of monsters. Glory was Balthazaar's daughter, and Colin was son to the King's falconer. His father had given him a new blade called Ilyndii. Glory is very regal, and a little too honest asking why a falconer's son would have such a legendary sword. They return to play, and end up going into the forest--a forbidden zone.
"There's no such thing as monsters"--Balthazaar
Glory falls into a hole, and into a cell where the Donestre is waiting. She whines and protests the entire time, but Colin comes to her rescue, stabbing it in the eye with the Ilyndii. They run to tell Colin's father, who is none too happy about the sword disappearing. In fact, he berates and beats the child upside the head, telling him not to return until he found the weapon.
My issue with Glory in this moment is that she's so green to life outside the castle. Colin is her friend, but she judges his home. She's only known love and fairness from her father, so watching Colin get beaten is frightening to her. She tries to stop him by using royal threats, but the big man doesn't care. Glory ends up giving Colin a home, worried about his well-being. So, there is some kindness to her, but she needs to grow some more. Her father dashes all thoughts of monsters that night, as she tries to get Maeb to tell her stories about creatures.
So five years pass, and Princess Glory steps out into the garden thinking that the Sun God shines just to worship her. I mean, what else is she going to think with so many people speaking of her beauty, and Colin--who is now her love--telling her all the things she reminds him of? It's the day of her sister Lucullia's wedding, and Colin has plans of his own for her once all is done--they're going to elope.
Glory's concern is split between being told how beautiful she is, and worrying about the plight of her other sisters. She is under the impression that her father is a terrible matchmaker, setting up his daughters with ill-matches that negatively impact the rest of their lives.
- Lucullia with the husband who doesn't seem to have much to offer her. She's crazy about money and riches.
- Murtia with the husband who wants her to answer every beck and call. She is lazy.
- Odessa with the husband who cannot calm her anger.
- Portia (who, at this time has no match, but Glory insists on being mean about her weight and saying no man is attracted because she is so fat.) is obsessed with food.
- Alexa with a husband who cannot seem to satisfy the lust in her heart....or her loins.
- Ophelia who at the time is just...emotional about everything, despite having a match as well.
This is also why Glory is so happy to have Colin. She has chosen what she's wanted herself--or so what she thinks. At first, I sort of overlooked how Glory behaved, thinking that it was just a princess thing, and she'd grow out of it. I didn't really think of her as "vain", but rather just a teenager in puppy love with a guy who saved her life years ago.
Anyway, Odessa comes to find her in the garden to help with the wedding. She puts her foot down, telling Glory that if she did not behave, her consorting with Colin would be revealed. To fast forward a bit about the sisters, pretty much all of them have a thing that King Balthazaar is attempting to counter by matching them up with their polar opposite. Glory is too young to understand this, and thinks they all live in misery.
Lucullia is being a touchy grouch as the finishing touches on her dress are being applied. This is one of the funny parts of the story, because it's a bunch of sisters being just as silly and campy as ever. I can almost understand why their father wants to marry them off and knock some sense into them--they're all childish. Alexa arrives, and instantly "sees a man about a horse". My, my. Anyway, the King is also coming home the same day of this wedding. So the sisters are all getting ready to greet him. On the way to greet, Glory hooks up with Colin. Alexa sees them together, and offers her snooty two cents noooobody asked for.
"Do not tell me you are falling for a commoner".--Alexa
Now, Alexa and her lusty self has the nerve to try to "make an arrangement" to be kept quiet about seeing Glory with Colin. The flames of her own romance with a commoner left the poor man with no head, and I guess in her own simmering jealousy, she wants to warn Glory of the same fate soon to come. I felt like this was foreshadowing to come. Everybody knows more than they're letting on.
So the wedding goes without a hitch, and the plan for Glory and Colin to fly off like birds (He REALLY seems to like birds.) is finalized. Later in the story, all the pieces are put together as to how this happens. I'M going to speed up this train and put it all together.
After Colin comes and goes to speak to his beloved about their escape, he goes back to his father's cottage to get the money he's been saving for years. At the same time, the King announces that Glory will be betrothed to a young man. She thinks it's about Colin and all is well. Newsflash--it ain't the falconer. Big hint--She's going to be seeing a lot of Blackthorn Keep in the next few chapters.
"You are in love with his love of your beauty."--High King Balthazaar
Don't you just hate it when your parents are right, and the choices they make are such a good fit that you cringe into a ball? Or is that just me? I'm 30, and it still happens. That's how I ended up moving from Chicago to TN. I love it here, but I had plans to eat ribs by the Cloudgate bean thing for the rest of my life, and bring my chirrens (children) with me. But, say it with me--plans change.
In Glory's case, they're changed for her. After this announcement, she does what any pretty princess would do--runs out in a huff and protests to her father. But unlike Juliet, who was dang near thrown on the street for protesting her father's betrothal to the good man Paris, Balthazaar hears her out. Sort of. She cries and warbles about love, but is ultimately shot down and his word is final. She's turned from his study. This next part made me scream as I read.
She goes to get help from her sisters.
HER SISTERS.
This is a HUGE no-no moment, but bless her little naive heart, she thinks that they'll help with her love emergency. They...sorta do, but the betrayal is instant. They help her steal away into the night, into the garden. Colin is there waiting....in the wrong spot. So she's on a horse all right, just babbling and holding on to some rider in black armor. And as the scenery becomes different, the rain begins to fall. A storm brews, and the man finally reveals himself. It's Xander.
Now, I know that story characters think that they have a squad of helpers, always when the going gets rough. Especially teen characters who want to rebel. However, the rule of thumb is to trust noooo one until they prove they are worthy. Otherwise, you're on your own. But she doesn't know how to be on her own, relying on her beauty to get what she wants.
"Send her back."--The Gryphon
So Glory goes into a fit once she realizes what happens. She screams. She puts up a big fuss, and it gets even worse when the Gryphon appears. Of all the times when she has been called beautiful, this thing calls her ugly off the bat. He flies away as she continues to flail and wail. Xander gives her two options--freeze to death outside, or come inside and deal with it.
Part 3
Of course she comes inside. She's too beautiful to be outside all wet. Her sisters are lying strumpets, but her beauty in the mirror soothes her own broken soul until the image itself starts to ripple. Eighty-something brushes of her hair later, she thinks of Colin, hears a sad tune, cries and falls asleep. She dreams of him leaving her for not being there for him the night of their planned escape.
Meanwhile, we get a flashback. Remember that part where Colin goes to get his coins? He comes back just in time to hear people gossiping about Glory being married to an unknown, and thinks this is about him. He waits for her, and sees everything. Before he can stop any of it, there goes mean ol' Odessa just smiling and telling him he'll never find her. Colin. Goes. NUTS. It's night time and he's screaming in Winterholme Castle, calling for the king both by title and name. Those teen hormones raging, as he tries to find his lady love, and thinks her father will comply.
He pushes past the King's steward and messes up his study chamber desk, trying to find clues. Meanwhile, the King is right there....watching him but not saying a word. He emerges from the shadows, and the truth comes out.
"Find a girl who loves you."--King Balthazaar
He is so calm and cool, in comparison to Colin's furor. Over and over he denies the boy loves his daughter truly. (Reminds me of the time I was so sure I loved this guy from these IM chats we had daily. It was a mess, and my dad, of course, knew better. I was 16 for frack's sake. I was still singing "Hero" from the Spider-Man movie. WITH CONVICTION.) The King challenges him, telling him he's clever enough to find her, but it will be too late when he does. Please. Please don't challenge teen boys who think they're in love. But alas, Colin goes on his way. He vows to find her by way of Council's Realm.
He doesn't realize how hard that will be, with a decree over his head. He can't get anywhere, not even with his money. No one is to help him, unless they want to get killed. So, he has to hoof it--a three day hoofin' it adventure. Meanwhile, he's got to get over how much of a commoner he is, and how the ways of royalty make him very easily replaceable.
Meanwhile, Glory's back in the present, getting used to all Blackthorn Keep has to offer. She's moping around, hating the decorations. She eventually comes to the garden, and finds onyx roses strewn about. The Gryphon's there, following her. He apologizes, she doesn't accept it. THIS is where I started to notice the whole vain/pride thing. Maybe she does need to be taught a lesson!
Ms. Rude Princess informs the Gryphon that she will be sending a letter out to her Colin to come and rescue her. The super-honest Gryphon lets her have it, again--by calling her stupid. She shoots back, calling him a monster. He's told her that anyone dumb enough to come get her deserves her. WHOA CHILDREN, PLAY NICE! Then she changes the subject, talking about all the things Colin compares her to. This confuses the Gryphon, because they're...well...objects. Rocks, hides, the Sun God's worship--and she is still ugly to him. She's also "too vain for Eoghan". His words.
"Forgive me, Princess. But I wish to retract the apology."--Gryphon
OUCH. Well, her vanity is unbecoming. Then she lets him have it, calling Eoghan crazy and deformed for having an opinion over her like that. And then, my favorite line--"do not confuse vanity with standards". HIYOOOO! The Gryphon is wise, and his comebacks are strong. I love him.
With nothing else to do, Glory decides to search for the Prince Eoghan. She finds herself in a hallway next to a cell, below the Keep. This moment doesn't last long, and Gryphon finds her and angrily shoos her out. She scampers off to write her letter to Colin. She refuses an invite to dinner, and eventually falls asleep to the tune of the sad music from the night before.
Unlike the dream the night before, she's seeing the vision of Aowyn having the vision of Xander destroying the town. So, basically she's getting the gist of why Eoghan is cursed, but...hasn't quite put 2 and 2 together yet. She wakes from the dream to meet a smiling, glowing woman who leads her to Gryphon and Xander having a discussion about her.
"He that dares not grasp the thorns should never crave the rose"--Xander
Basically, banter about Glory's extreme vanity, and the true plot of her being married to Eoghan. She has yet to see this prince, but is the key pawn in Xander uniting all the land he's acquired so far. Upset by the revelation, Glory's all for Colin coming for her. Again, none of this is for love--all for business. It parallels what Xander went through in Moonlight with his brother Bannock. So Xander is--more or less--repeating history with a different topping.
So we learn that Glory has made a habit of visiting the Keep's garden daily, since she first arrived. She stops after a while, and assumes that the sudden appearance of dead things is a punishment by the Sun God for not visiting. (Isn't she such a silly thing?) It turns out that Gryphon was just bringing her food because she hasn't been eating much. Of course she doesn't thank him. She calls him a disgusting buffoon.
She warbles about Colin, he crushes that, reminding her it's "been a moon" since she's been here. I kinda didn't like that Gryphon was so direct, but his honesty had a point. He had not been around enough people to know how to completely act. So the discretion that most...beings have is lost to him. He has manners, but they're rusty.
So, back to Colin. He's walking and realizing in all his haste that he's forgotten a lot of key items. Mainly, a cloak. He cannot go inside a pub to get help nor shelter. He's essentially on his own, left only to dream of a life with Glory, their future home and children, and maybe dinner if his snares are lucky enough to provide a meal. As he sets off for the next day, he decides to take a shortcut to the Council Realm, through a forest path. He's in a storm, rushes to get away. When he does, he eats and falls asleep. The Realm is not far away. He wakes up and is in great pain. Robbers spared his life, but stole everything he had. All he can do is stagger toward his destination.
Meanwhile, Glory is searching for him on the horizon, ignoring her surroundings by the shoreline on a cliff. She nearly falls over, and Gryphon saves her, scolding all the while. She gets away from him, trying to hide. Of course he finds her. This part read like the greatest tension of a certain kind, and was confirmed during the conversation. I uh...I liked this part a lot.
"Or is it that you want me to hunt you like an animal?"--Gryphon
Glory tries to escape, but is instantly stopped by the large talons of Gryphon. He asks why she acts as she does, and she snaps back "because I can". He threatens that his size and strength could easily destroy her. She challenges him, and all he can do is inhale her scent with vigor and delight, before muttering and flying off.
Colin has made it to Fox and Wolf Inn, where the trail of his beloved has become closer in a song. He questions the Bard who sings, who can only say it's tales he's heard from others who have been there. Colin then decides to find out more and is instructed to go to Morgoth Swamp to get to Blackthorn Keep.
Glory meanwhile is back in that dark, foul smelling cell again. She's searching for clues, but only finds old blood and skulls. When she returns to the surface, she notices the Gryphon in the sunlight--the golden rays of the Sun reflecting off his feathers, the color of ginger of his coat--and the boar in his mouth. Moment. Over. When dinner comes around, and it's Wild Boar for supper, she decides not to join.
Gryphon comes to her, and in messed up fashion, she asks the million dollar question--"they allow you in the house?" She adds insult to injury by saying she doesn't eat with animals, when asked why she will not come to dinner. He asks if she'd come if Eoghan asked her to dinner. She snaps back, saying that she cannot eat what she has seen in another's mouth. Classy. She will not dine with Xander, either. She cannot be brought to dine with "the beast" or a tyrant.
"I will not burden either of you with my presence."--Gryphon
At this point, you'd think that Glory would realize she's hurting his feelings. Or that she'd have enough sense to KNOW that Gryphon has feelings. So she decides to eat with Xander, since Gryphon will not be there. He is no better, cutting off large pieces of the boar with his sword. She's grossed out because dinner is looking at her, with an apple in its mouth. Grossed out by hot greasy meat juice dribbling from Xander's goatee, she drinks. She drinks and drinks until she passes out for three days.
"Pain makes you stronger. Tears make you braver. Heartbreak makes you wiser, and ale makes you forget it all."--Xander
Oh. He would know. Drinking to dull the pain of Idegwaed. Drinking to dull the pain of a dead wife and a son he cannot stand. As Glory wakes days later, Gryphon is by her side. She's crying for an aching head, a home she may not see again, and him calling her a man. I mean...all he said was that she drank like one. She calls his observations torture, and he sees it as knowing the true heart--and hers is still too prideful for Eoghan.
Meanwhile, Colin has stayed in Council's realm to heal and earn his keep to purchase supplies for the trip to Morgoth. Once he arrives, the darkness and the stench overwhelm him. He makes his way in, right to where Sylas' old camp is. He finds the cottage and decides to stay the night, until he hears Glory's voice. Just like in his childhood, he falls through the earth and lands on a stony floor. Once he found his bearings, he was face to face with the monster of the past, with the lost dagger between its eye. Reunited with Illyndii, a flood of memories from that day come flooding back. He recalls Glory calling him a hero that day.
He takes the blade, full of the idea that the hero gets the blade to get his Happy Ending. He is hypnotized by Illyndii, running her through his fingers over and over.
Back at Blackthorn Keep, Glory is going through family records in hope of finding out more about Eoghan, and if he even exists. She doesn't find very much, except for the basics. What catches her eye is a beautiful storybook with a stunning cover. It is not in her language, but the Gryphon--who has been there for some time, watching her--decides to tell her the story. Of course, it's about true love and winning the prize.
"Your prescensce causes great confusion in me."--Gryphon
Gryphon takes time out of this moment to apologize, again. He is worried that he frightens her, and she all but confirms it with silence. He confesses he is torn between wanting to hunt her or...other things. She scolds him, reminding that Eoghan would not be pleased at all with his behavior. After a nervous fit, Gryphon is questioned bitterly by Glory, and she asks if the prince even knows her name. Gryphon responds. Now, by this time it should be painfully clear what's what, but.....not so much.
That night, the glowing ghost specter appeared again, leading Glory down the hall to Xander and Gryphon in conversation. Xander, ordering the beast to allow Glory to believe a prince was in Blackthorn Keep, and Gryphon reminding him of his own past sins. Xander's eyes were on the prize, set to have Glory fulfill the purpose of the arrangement made. Horrified, Glory darts out into the night and back to the shore. She catches a glimpse of Colin, but Gryphon interrupts, shooing her back into the house. At night--creatures come. It is no place for a Princess.
On the other side of this tale, Colin has finally made it to Blackthorn Keep. He sees Glory and is set to go to her, until he sees the Gryphon. Meanwhile, that blade of his--Illyndii, is warming him up at night, and talking to him. Now, doesn't that sound exactly like Idegwaed reincarnated? So huge spoiler hint--Colin is corrupted. He's determined to save Glory, and the next day finds his way into the garden to see her.
She isn't too happy to see him. She smacks him, and they play catch-up. Still, she is not the same bundle of excitement she was at Winterholme. In fact, she's frantically trying to get Colin out of the picture, as soon as Gryphon appears and calls her name. If Colin's the hero, that's an interesting way to stall the rescue!
The bitter banter between Glory and Gryphon returns. He calls her "less ugly", she still takes offense. He invites her to dinner, and she declines as only Glory knows how. She desires to dine alone. Still, she comes and the spread is nice. She enjoys her fill, finally relaxing until Gryphon shows up. He is lonely, and apologizes for not obeying her wish to dine alone. He tells her the story of how Xander found him as a weakened young creature, and nursed him to health. Then, he reveals something else--he is the composer of the heart wrenching music she has been moved to tears by each night.
She asks his name, and the playing stops. She can only call him Gryphon at this time. Colin the hero returns that night, playing a pan pipe. Glory thinks it's Gryphon, but surprise surprise--it's the "hero" trying to figure out why she's acting so strangely. So just as the night she was to elope, Glory tells Colin to go ahead of her, and she will follow. And just like that night--there is an interception. Gryphon finds her, scolds her for being out at night, and they argue.
"You are unwise to ignore my counsel."--Gryphon
Glory's defiance to escape attracts the beasts of the land--the Barghest. Once thought to be fairy tales, she sees three of them for herself in plain view, and they are after her and Gryphon. He tells her to run, and she initially escapes with one of the beasts chasing her. She scares it off, but cannot leave Gryphon behind. She returns to his side, throwing rocks and stones to scare them all off. Gryphon is injured, and is nursed by Xander. All the while calling for Glory, but she does not come.
Xander begs her to see him, but she will not. She will not have dinner, either. Meanwhile, Colin is bitter over Glory being a no-show. That blade of his is talking to him, seeking blood. Illyndii reassures him (swords and weapons just talkin' to folks!) that he is the hero. The weapon lies to him, telling him that Gryphon holds Glory against her will. He drinks and drinks over this, hatching a plan to execute his rescue. Glory finally slips into Gryphon's nursing room to see him. She tells him she does not love him, and asks why he saved her. And suddenly, the obvious becomes very, very clear in an instant.
"What kind of husband would I be, if I did not?"--Gryphon
Of course, Glory doesn't get it. She rebuffs his response, saying his attraction meant nothing, and that she was betrothed to Eoghan. Girl. Wake up. So Gryphon has to tell the truth about who he is, and how his father kept him hidden away from the world, awash in shame and sorrow over his son. Therefore, the boy became more animal than man, and he begs her to stay the night--as he fears it. He makes the bold statement that he feels whole with her near, and she obliges. The next day, he pranks her by leaving a squash in his place--a nod to her comment about what he'd become next.
"What girl worth having has not been won over with a fight?"--Xander
Eoghan and Xander converse about Colin hanging around the Keep to get Glory. This is a fight Eoghan thinks he cannot win, because he thinks she loves Colin more. Xander suggests Eoghan fight for her, and of course...that's gonna end up in chunks of Colin. Glory tries to get the guy to beat it, but he won't listen. He laughs, calling Eoghan a mangy old Gryphon. Colin has lost his marbles, because there's no way in the world he can fight a Gryphon. This is not Final Fantasy, boo. You gon' die.
Angered and frustrated by Glory's lack of enthusiasm, Colin grabs her by the wrist and asks why she pushes him away. She, again, begs him to leave before it's too late. He thinks the Gryphon has gotten to her. He then decides that he will hunt him--like a falconer would.
"We will kill him."--Colin
Together. She's going to help. Glory refuses, and Colin tries to her her to lure Eoghan with talk of a morning hunt, but she says no a thousand times. She refuses, and proceeds to break up with her former beau. She is disgusted by his thoughts.
"Now I see a killer, and his conquest is me as a prize."--Glory
Now her dad saw some of this coming. Perhaps not this, but he saw way ahead of time that Colin was only in it for Glory's beauty. The "Happily Ever After" Colin promises is a dark one, and Glory discovers he has become the monster." She asks him to leave, and departs from him to climb high atop the keep for peace. She finds Eoghan, composing lyrics to his song. Very, very true-to-heart lyrics about loving someone who does not return the feelings. His song moves Glory, and he is moved to confess that she was always free to go.
She apologizes for her own sour behavior, moved deeply by words she knew were for her, tied to a song that pierced her heart time and time again. She was also moved to touch him, caressing him and showing him care, not caring about smells or appearances. Her touch made him tremble, and his warmth felt wonderful. But of course, as their parents suffered in love, so shall they. He releases her from their bretrothal, and Glory returns home.
Part Four
Glory is back at Winterholme, lost in her feelings but ready to have a long conversation with her father, High King Balthazaar. As she waits for him, she realizes the precious gift that life is every day, and that indeed her vanity kept her apart from everyone in her life. Once the King arrives, he pretty much tells us what we already know. Father knows best, doggone it. So she isn't angry about any of it, but has that pang of resentment we all do, when our parents show us that the know us very well.
"I see, from my own experience, that you all are already a miserable pack of mongrels."--High King Balthazaar.
Daddy's wisdom trumps all, and he cares for his dirty lumps of coal. He wants the best for them. So Glory decides to take his advice, and go to her prince. In the meantime, she examines her own self, and how she allowed vanity to become her pride. She realized her vanity had been a curse all along, and that curses are usually broken by one thing: love.
She meets Ophelia first. Usually a wet handkerchief of tears, she is overjoyed to see her sister. She guides Glory to where the rest are, preparing for Portia's wedding. She rushes to see her sister, just in time to see the newly transformed princess whining about food and having to have her dress altered. Obviously the wisdom of their father has not reached her yet. Odessa reassures her that there's more to life than food, and that the suitor chosen for her is an adventurous type who'll show her new things.
She don't care. Portia wanna eat, lol. Glory tries to tell her that she is now beautiful, and Portia's like "dude that was your thing. Don't go there, and bring me some food. NOW." Lord Carson--the one betrothed to her--was giving her life and health. How could she not see that?
The sisters ask of Eoghan, and Glory bites her lip thinking fondly of him, while having nothing but good thigns to say. She's more concerned about Portia not understanding the gift given to her. But her other sisters, Alexa and Lucullia have gotten the message loud and clear. Lucullia is a frugal wife, and Alexa is a pregnant one. Murtia, has become a humanitarian among her people. All in all--the sisters were far from mongrels, and much more kind.
She returns to her chambers, wondering why she feels bad about being released, despite the thought that her marriage to Eoghan would be fruitless. How could a beast and woman become one? She decides to return anyway, knowing full well what she needed. She returns to Blackthorn Keep on a stolen horse, just to miss Eoghan, out to hunt a stag he's been after for years. She first sees the specter, who shows her what the servants could not--he is in the forest on the hunt. Xander confirms, and she goes to find him.
She races into the forest, finding the white stag first. Eoghan comes second, and they embrace. He is surprised she has returned. The meeting is short, as an arrow injures him. Suddenly Colin and a group of men come out of hiding. One disarms Glory, and the others help Colin kill Eoghan. Glory shrieks as Eoghan is btrutally cut and dismembered. She finally admits she loves him, and one of the men decides he wants to trade the gryphon for Glory.
That's not part of the deal, so Colin has to threaten the guy with that dang blasted Ilyndii. He backs off, and Colin steals a talon from Eoghan. He grabs Glory, who's protesting and wants nothing to do with him. He's warbling about going home and having a life together. He ignores her protest, and decides to head to Council's Realm to Lucullia's home.
"Please understand, that your head is not in the right place at the moment. What you want isn't how your little fairytales work out at the moment."--Colin
HUGE contrast from the little boy with the new blade in the forest. HUGE step from the young man who was all over her in the garden. How much of this is due to the corruption of Ilyndii, and how much is the rest of him just showin' his you-know-what? He isn't exactly husband material, and this isn't how you treat a princess you supposedly love so much. So they make it to her sister's house, and Glory confesses all to Lucullia in private. She is confused as to why Glory would be upset over the termination, when she loved Colin all along. When the truth unfurls, so does a secret letter from big sister to the High King.
So, Xander is also alerted, and the plan is set. Colin is sent out by trickery to fetch dinner. Glory's sister set it up as a way for him to prove himself once again. Colin's own falcon is used against him, he is met in the field by the King and his men--and the rest is charged against him.
Glory is obviously in pain, having no one. Her father tries to reassure her, saying that time dulls all pain. She vows never to love again, claiming that love kills more people than war. Time passes, and her pain is not dulled at all. She is not receptive to sympathy, and the agony only doubles when her father presents her with a gift--Eoghan's talon. At this point, she's already cursed him in her head for his song, his love, and how she felt about him. She considers killing herself with the dagger, but settles for wearing it to her heart everyday.
"You do not know hunger. You do not know pain such as I have known."--Glory
Meanwhile, Portia still ain't gettin' it. She's hollering about being properly fed, and Glory goes off on her by calling her "selfish, gluttonous, swine." Not exactly a kind way of telling her to drop the diva attitude. All the sisters are in shock of Glory's outburst, and she lets it be known that it has been a year since Eoghan's death. She tries to tell them all, again, how beautiful they are--but they relay it back to her. How it's easy for her to say, because she naturally is.
They agree with Portia, who has been the butt-end of all jokes about beauty and weight for years. Enraged, Glory replies that she wishes she had what her sisters have, and that she longed to join Eoghan by way of the talon around her neck. She feels her beauty is a curse, as she first failed to treat Eoghan with kindness. First, she threatens to kill herself, but then decides to chop her hair short, instead.
Glory was allowing the gloom to consume her, refusing to come to Portia's wedding festivities if she wasn't going to treat her groom right. Eventually she comes, but is slumped in her chair the entire time. Suddenly trumpets sound, and Eoghan's name is announced. She watches a handsome man with the eyes of the Gryphon she once new, walk into the room. Happy ending much?!
As he explains how his mother met him and sent him back from the Land of Faerie, Glory cannot believe her eyes. Eoghan was tapped in the body of a beast, but returns a man--in her arms once more. He smells of sweet rosewater, and she lovingly claims to hate them, as they share a kiss.
OKAY.
I know this was super long. I couldn't just put likes and dislikes with vague descriptions. It is not in my Roni nature. Still, I say go and read this book RIGHT. NOW. This was a super long, heavy book, but it was full of lots of layers that all found a way to be woven together. That, dear readers, is some good ol' storytellin'. The pace of the book is easy to follow, and even though there's Celtic lore, you really don't get lost. As always, Ms. Hunter has a glossary in the back, and the subscripts have explanations if you tap on them in the book.
Happy reading!