Destiny's Star

Destiny's Star is a fantastic, richly-detailed, exhilarating, and satisfying conclusion to Elizabeth Vaughan's second fantasy trilogy. Not only are the characters complex and flawed and compelling, the world of the Plains is rich and beautiful, the emotions portrayed true to heart, and the dialogue set forth credible and entertaining. Most important to me as a fantasy fan, however, is that the legends and the customs and the practices and the beliefs of the tribes on the Plains are so incredibly interesting, yet so incredibly believable, because they clearly flow from the landscape and the hardships that the tribes face. Sometimes it makes me sad that Ms. Vaughan's books have been marketed and shelved as Paranormal Romances. Although I understand the marketing demographics of that decision by the publisher and the romance scenes are as strong as any, I feel bad that the readers of more conventional fantasy adventures will never get the chance to discover one of the best, most richly detailed, and most internally consistent and rewarding fantasy worlds ever constructed, bar none. (That's right, Tolkien fans, I said "bar none.")

Elizabeth Vaughan keeps getting better and better as a writer. I was drawn in from the first book she wrote--Warprize, and I have read every one since. I had thought White Star was the best in this particular series (loved the cover, especially), but Destiny's Star tops it. My favorite character is Ezren.

Ezren Silvertongue the Storyteller knows he owes his life to take charge warrior Lady Bethral, who fell from the sky only to save him from certain death. He also knows he loves her, but conceals his feelings from his lady as he believes he is undeserving of his warrior; partly because he cannot control the wild magic that flows within him. When the wild magic explodes, Bethral makes Ezren, accompanied by her relocation magic travel to the isolated plains. However, the Warrior-Priests attack the pair with plans to sacrifice Storyteller and regain the wild magic. However, Bethral and some local warriors defend Ezren to insure evil practitioners do not obtain his magic. Fans of Elizabeth Vaughan will relish Destiny's Star as the author deftly combines her two fantasy sagas by having support Star players fight for their lives on the plains of the Warlands. The lead pair shows they can be stars of their own tale even if it is in another land as the kick butt female warrior and the mage carrier fall in love while helping the Plains' people. Fans will relish this strong romantic quest fantasy as the action never slows down while the Plains come alive with ironically death in the aptly titled Destiny's Star. Harriet Klausner

This was a wonderful conclusion to Elizabeth Vaughan's new trilogy. It was also a much-appreciated return to the story line of her Warlord/Warprize trilogy. I had wanted to find out more about the warrior priests, and here Vaughan has begun to answer many of my questions as she both concludes Bethral's and Ezren's tale and returns to Xy and the Plains. And, I look forward to her next book--the story of Heath of Xy and Atira of the Plains.