The Druids of Avalon Book II: Deep Magic by Joy Nash

Dorchester Publishing/Love Spell Books
Paranormal Romance/Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback
Rating: 4.5

Gwen is a Druidess sworn to protect the land of Avalon from all who would do them harm. Always longing to roam, this desire has grown worse ever since she was cursed by her cousin and imprisoned in her wolf form with Deep Magic – the power of the gods. Now a greater danger threatens Avalon and Gwen will do anything to protect the sacred isle, even delve once more into the forbidden Deep Magic.

Marcus Aquila hates magic after it nearly destroyed his family several years ago. His sister has been cursed with magic her whole life but now her visions are growing worse. As much as he despises magic, if that’s what it takes to ease his sister’s suffering, he’ll do it. Even if it means making a deal with the beautiful Druidess who has tempted him in his dreams ever since he rescued her from the curse imprisoning her in the body of a wolf.

Gwen and Marcus strike a dangerous bargain – she will teach his sister the spells necessary to ease her suffering and Marcus will use his black smith abilities to forge a very special sword of the rare bright iron. This sword, Exchalybur, will be cast using both Light Magic and the dangerously unpredictable Deep Magic, so powerful no one should ever try to wield it. Without it Avalon will fall. Soon however Marcus and Gwen discover that the strongest magic is their love for one another. But will even that be enough to thwart imminent danger?

I’ve been a fan of Joy Nash ever since I read Celtic Fire a few years ago and I was eager to read her latest book, Deep Magic. Everything I’ve come to expect from her stories is once again found here. Passionate love stories, powerful magic, danger and intrigue, wounded souls, redemption – Deep Magic has it all. Here Joy Nash even delves into the beginnings of another story I’ve always loved, that of Excalibur.

Gwen has been deeply scarred by her imprisonment (detailed in The Grail King) and has yet to recover. Deep Magic has a strong hold on her soul and even her beloved twin brother Rhys cannot help her resist the allure of such raw power, forbidden though it is. The only one who can help her is Marcus, though she does not understand their bond. Marcus cannot get Gwen out of his mind so when she suddenly appears at his door, he wonders if his dreams have been fulfilled, at the same time he fights the passion between them.

The villain Strabo is evil and cruel, warped by obsession and his own tampering with Deep Magic. His desire to conquer Avalon is very hazy in the beginning until his story begins to unfold, where we discover secrets that will change the way Gwen sees Deep Magic and its danger forever. His ties to the Druids are shocking to say the least and as I began to suspect the true nature of his role in the book, I could not put it down, waiting to see what surprise would next be revealed.

If you are a fan of powerful magic and compelling romance in your stories to read, then Deep Magic is a book for you. What’s even better is there is so much to tell about the Druids of Avalon, we can be guaranteed more stories set in this land of magic where blending cultures and beliefs is the norm.

©Kelley A. Hartsell, December 2007. All rights reserved.

href="http://community.eharlequin.com/category/tags/d2k-paranormal-junkies">The D2K Paranormal Junkies

~eHQ April 2008 Member of the Month~