Chains of Fate

**To avoid spoiling the story for those who have not yet read the first book, some characters shall remain nameless in this review.** Chains of Fate picks up Thomazine's story where The Moon in the Water left off. Desperate with grief over the death of her beloved, Thomazine is manipulated into marrying Sir Dominic Drakelon and she bears him his son and heir. When she discovers her husband deceived her over her beloved's fate, she leaves her husband and newborn child behind and begins the long trek to her great-aunt's home along the Scottish border. She expects the journey to last several weeks, but a country torn by the Civil War between Charles I and the Parliamentarians leads to danger and numerous delays and she arrives many months later - and not everyone welcomes her with open arms. Thomazine will not give up faith that she will convince her beloved she was not faithless, but when she finally appears to have succeeded a country and people at war with themselves takes its toll, and threatens time and again to separate the two lovers forever. That's really all I'm going to tell you. This was a very absorbing novel and one that was very difficult to put down. A nice treat seeing this type of story set among the countryside and the gentry instead of the King and his Court and it's intrigues. While told in the first person narrative (one I don't normally care for), the author did a fine job putting Thomazine into the thick of things, and when she couldn't she was able to deftly recount what was happening "off-scene" without dragging things on to the point of boredom, as I've seen a lot of recently with some of our current historical fiction authors. All in all a very engaging read packed with plentiful history, deceit and betrayal along with a pair of star crossed lovers that you will keep you on the edge of your seat rooting for until the very very end. Will they live happily ever after or will the scheming, despicable, evil witch Meraud win in the end? Can you tell I hated Meraud with a passion? Will Thomazine be able to build a relationship with her young son raised by his father to hate the mother who abandoned him? You know what I say, read it for yourself, and I'm now off to start the last book in the trilogy, Alethea. This one tells the story of next generation of the Heron family and is set during the rein of Charles II and Restoration England.

But with the ending of the first book, I don't imagine you could resist. I couldn't. I searched for years before I finally acquired my copy of this book, and it was well worth the wait! Belle manages to follow up The Moon in the Water with a sequel that is just as good of a read as its predecessor. The history and the plot were just as captivating for me as the first book, and, of course, there's the same cast of wonderful characters -- plus a few more you meet along the way. She stays very true to her characters and follows through with a satisfying and endearing conclusion to this part of the story. At times I missed the appearance of Frances Heron, but the book kept my attention anyway. I stayed up all night reading this one -- I really couldn't put it down.

"The Chains of Fate" is a most worthy sequel to "The Moon in the Water." Rarely do I read a sequel that is as good or better than the first book. "The Chains of Fate" was awesome. I first read this book 17 years ago. I bet I have read and re-read this trilogy by Ms. Belle a hundred times. In fact my sister and I discussed reading the trilogy this summer along with all of our friends who have also read them. If you love English History, and an inveigling tale, then read this book and trilogy. Ms. Belle is truly a great wordsmith.