The Night Bird

I started this at work (it was slow in ER) then liked it so much I spent most of the next day reading it. Allegro, the heroine is stolen from her homeland of Aronsdale by nomads who sell her at auction to Jazid warrior  and Prince Regent, Markus Onyx . She is just beginning to realize she has some skill with spells but it isn't until she puts out Marcus and his guards while singing to them that she begins to realize she has more power than she thought.

But in many ways it is the contrast between the nomadic way of life Markus must live and the more civilized way of life the woman of Arondale live that make this book. Marcus does love Allegra and tries in his own way to be sensitive but, although she starts to fall in love with him, she doesn't want to be forced against her will or be considered anything less than equal to men. This isn't how Markus sees things but he does realize her refusal to blindly agree with everything he says and to speak her own mind are important to him. He loves her so much he voluntarily makes her his wife rather than a pleasure girl, but given the chance she still escapes back to Arondale, taking the heir to the throne with her.

He comes after her defying his own generals to do so and putting his life at risk. He is captured and put in the dungeon. There's much more to this story but ultimately he has to give up power and risk death for Allegra while Allegra realizes she loves him and is wiling to share his captivity although not to live in a land where women are seen as less than human.

I like this book,.

Pat