An enticing rabbit hole you’ll be glad to dive into.
Fresh off her successes against the dark fays, Mara should be celebrating the victory over malicious King Bazra and taking some well-deserved time to connect with her betrothed. Instead, Mara is riddled with frustration over the loss of her magical powers and the chasm growing between herself and Arnesto. Waiting for the right time to talk out their problems becomes a back-burner issue when troubles from other realms become an immediate threat to the peace of humans, elves, and every being everywhere. Fissures are opening up in the streets of Valerra, the undead are trapped, and the future rests in the hands of an unfriendly ruler. As ever, Mara is first in line to help people, whether it’s her loved ones, strangers, or the unfortunate spirits unable to cross over to their final destination. Feeling crippled without her magical abilities and unsure how to proceed, she is issued an unambiguous directive: “You must help Arnestarious retrieve the red sword. It must not remain in this realm. Act with all due speed, Marigold, and be not afraid.” Finding her way through ancient legends, shocking family promises, bloodline revelations, and matters of the heart becomes essential to regaining her magic and defeating the evils threatening all the realms.
A snarky griffin, terrific sea monsters, and a generous, scholarly dragon are just a few of the dynamic supporting characters that make Lady Reaper take on a unique life of its own. Strong and tenacious, yet painfully afraid of spiders and personal conflict, Mara remains a relatable protagonist and admirable champion of the people. Besides her usual saving-the-world adventures, Mara confronts pervasive prejudices, unexpected social mores, and her own persistent stubborn streak. Well-established relationships that audiences have come to know and love in this series are reshaped and further defined in this inviting installment. One stand out gem throughout all of Toni Cabell’s novels is her accomplished manner of total reader immersion as she ushers audiences into otherworldly settings. Lady Reaper explores more of the lower realms, including the claustrophobic realm of the dead. Here, readers will be able to heartily visualize frightful monsters, masses of creepy-crawlies, and unfortunate spirits paralyzed by inertia to the point they become nothing more than unsettling giant boulders. The vivid world is replete with magic, mystery and complex characters, and the fast-paced plot is full of twists that fans of fantasy or fairy tales will obsess over. If you love getting lost in a brilliantly painted new world where friendship and loyalty dominate, Lady Reaper is an enticing rabbit hole you’ll be glad to dive into!
