The Heart of Stars by Kate Forsyth

Genre: Fantasy; Witches, Magic, Dragons, Shapeshifters, Fae, Magical Folk, Time Travel, Rhiannon's Ride

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: With the leading clan bitterly split and the court torn apart, only fierce, half-human Rhiannon and her winged mare have any chance of rescuing Princess Olwynne and her twin brother. But what duty requires, the heart may regret… The Heart of Stars. An evil necromancer has kidnapped the royal twins, plotting to spill their blood for revenge, and to restore his own family to life. Chaos reigns in the capital, and Rhiannon finds herself burdened with a heavy charge: to save the one woman she hates above all others. It will not be easy to forgive or forget that Olwynne attempted to steal Rhiannon’s true love, the handsome apprentice-witch Lewen – especially since it seems that Olwynne may still be her rival for his affections. As the necromancer’s intrigues grow more desperate, Rhiannon fears that saving the princess could mean risking everything. Lewen, her mare, her freedom, and even her own life.

This is the final book in the Rhiannon's Ride series. Rhiannon has to go and save Olwynne the woman whom she hates and not only that but she has to go back in time to do it. With everything that is going on my heart went out to so many characters. My old favorite, Isabeau has her own hard choices and demons to fight. The story is all so well written. I did cry at some parts as not everyone gets a happy ending. I really could not put this book down until it was done. Kate Forsyth creates these beautifully complex worlds that suck you in. I love reading her writing and hope to see more about the world of Eileanan.

Publisher: ROC Fantasy

ISBN: 0451461444

Pages: 448

Series: Rhiannon’s Ride

Volume: 3

The Shining City by Kate Forsyth

Genre: Fantasy; Witches, Magic, Dragons, Shapeshifters, Fae, Magical Folk, Time Travel, Rhiannon's Ride

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Rhiannon, a wild and fierce half-human girl, tamed a winged horse to escape the vicious satyricorn tribe who raised her. In the human world, the handsome apprentice-witch Lewen has convinced her to stay with him and learn to use her strong magical talents. But before her training can commence, Rhiannon must answer for her past crime in…The Shining City. Imprisoned in Sorrowgate Tower, Rhiannon awaits trial for murder and treason. While her days are spent in anticipation of Lewen’s visits, her nights are haunted by the malevolent ghost of a dead queen, hungry to live again. But not many care to listen to the prophetic dreams of a girl who has already been convicted in most people’s mind. Then Lewen begins to cool toward her, and Rhiannon suspects one of the princesses has worked a spell to steal his heart. In a world filled with dark spirits and forbidden magic, conspiracy and intrigue, Rhiannon vows to win back her lover and escape once more, to save the land before it’s too late…

This is the second book in the Rhiannon's Ride. Rhiannon stays with Lewen and even goes to the Shining City and becomes imprisoned. So much happens that Rhiannon can’t see but yet does as she is not fooled by the courtly people. Danger is all around everywhere and you don’t know where it is really coming from. This is such a rich tale that is being woven together. I do not like Olwynne. But then I don’t think you are supposed to. But seeing all of my favorite old characters again was great. I enjoyed reading this story and can’t wait to see how everything will work itself out in the next book, The Heart of Stars.

Publisher: ROC Fantasy

ISBN: 0451460804

Pages: 544

Series: Rhiannon’s Ride

Volume: 2

The Tower of Ravens by Kate Forsyth

Genre: Fantasy; Witches, Magic, Dragons, Shapeshifters, Fae, Magical Folk, Time Travel, Rhiannon's Ride

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: One-Horn’s daughter is not like the others of her king. Born of a human father, she lacks the horns so prized by her people and is scorned even by her own mother. Her only chance for escape is to capture one of the legendary flying horses and ride it to freedom – if she can stay on its back long enough. And so this strange, feral girl begins a dangerous journey of love, death, and betrayal that will earn her a new name – Rhiannon, the rider no one can catch. Found wounded, she is rescued and taken to the home of Lewen, a young man just beginning to understand his own magical potential as an apprentice-witch. Rhiannon soon becomes fascinated with the human world…and Lewen. Together they travel through a land where the dead walk and ghosts haunt the living, a place where Rhiannon encounters dark forces that endanger all of Eileanan. But to save the land, she must convince Lewen and the other apprentice-witches to trust her word of the wild half-human girl…

This is the first book in a spin off series, Rhiannon's Ride, that takes place after the six book series The Witches of Eileanan. This is years later where the children of many of the characters are now young adults. Rhiannon is more of a wild girl then human. She is even skittish around people. But Lewen wins her over and they become friends. There is a lot that is going on during this story. The world of Eileanan has changed since last we have seen it. But it is still full of magic and mystery. I loved reading about this new character. She has a fire about her that Kate Forsyth’s other characters hadn't possessed in the other series. I loved reading this continuation of the world of Eileanan with a whole new main character. . I can't wait to read the next book in this series, The Shining City.

Publisher: ROC Fantasy

ISBN: 0451460324

Pages: 448

Series: Rhiannon’s Ride

Volume: 1