The Devil's Concubine

by Jaide Fox

By the time Princess Aliya had reached marriageable age, she was renowned far and wide as the fairest in the land. For not only was she fair of face and figure, but she had a voice so sweet it could... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1586087762
• ISBN13: 9781586087760
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: New Concepts Publishing
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

The Devil's Concubine

Princess Aliya is of marriageable age and for over a year now has been waiting to see whom her father, King Andor, will pick for her husband. Because she is said to be not only fair of face and figure but also warm of heart and voice there have been no end of suitors. Knowing she must marry for her father's gain, Aliya has patiently waited. Her father, unable to make a choice has decided to hold a contest on her birthday and the winner will get Aliya's hand in marriage. Every kingdom is allowed to send a champion, every kingdom except those of the shifters, known as the un-naturals. King Talin of the Golden Falcons knew about the contest and the slight to all the un-natural kingdoms. Infuriated by the slight, he decides to go to King Andor's castle and challenge him. Not that Talin wants a human bride or could even take one as queen, it is just the nature of the slight he feels should be avenged. Once he reaches the kingdom he chances to find Aliya and decides to steal her away and take her back to his kingdom. Aliya is not only terrified by Talin being an un-natural but things get worse when she finds out he has decided to take her as his concubine. Aliya sees this as a major slight to her station, while in Talin's eyes her station is as his second wife, just below his queen, a well-respected position for his clan. King Andor immediately declares war, but something is suspicious about it. Was the contest really for a husband for Aliya or was there another reason for gathering the best fighters together? Is Aliya's ideal of her father and his actions based on reality, or just something she has been lead to believe. Aliya and Talin need to find an understanding between their worlds and themselves if there is ever to be peace and love between them. The Devil's Concubine's plot falls somewhere in between fantasy and medieval historical. Princess Aliya's character has been a sheltered asset of her father's until this point in her life, but she is enough of her own person to know what she wants and is willing to fight for it once she gets the chance. King Talin's character is just what you would expect from a king in the medieval times, but when you throw in that his clan is that of people that shift into large golden falcons, it gives the story a very unique twist. I did find some of the wording extremely old fashioned and it surprised me when it turned up. While the underlying action of the characters was typical, the twist of putting in clans of shifters, gave the story just enough difference to stand out. If you love historicals you will enjoy The Devil's Concubine. Jo Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed