Books|Reviews

The King of Anavrea

I’m extremely pleased and more than a little giddy to share the latest release from Rachel Rossano with you all today.

Not only is Rachel a friend, she is an incredibly talented writer who draws readers into her stories in such a way, you just can’t stop reading until you reach the end!

I went goofy for Rachel’s writing when I first read The Crown of Anavrea (The Theodoric Saga Book 1).

The King of Anavrea is book two in the series. If you enjoy reading about castles and knights and heroic characters, you definitely want to check out Rachel’s books. She skillfully weaves faith and fantasy together in such a compelling way.

Book Blurb –

A reluctant king, a blind queen, and a marriage that sparked a rebellion…

Ireic Theodoric, King of Anavrea, constantly battles with his council over who will run the country. When the council insists on a treaty with Sardmara, he agrees. However, the treaty quickly becomes an arranged marriage. Ireic offers up himself for the sake of Anavrea. But after he signs, no princess appears.

Lirth Parnan, only daughter of the king of Sardmara, survives alone in a cold, damp tower room. Baron Tor kidnapped her in an attempt to control her father. No one came to claim her. She suspects her father considers her flawed beyond use in his political games. After five years of waiting, her hope of rescue wanes with her health.

After Ireic fights his way into Lirth’s tower, he realizes the depths of her father’s deception. Instead of being an answer to his problems, Lirth creates new ones. The council will not accept her as queen, but Ireic has sworn an oath that he will marry her. His choice could cost him his throne, perhaps his life.

I literally couldn’t put the book down because I had to know what happened next! I won’t give away any spoilers, but I think the thing I loved the most about this book was the way Ireic treated Lirth. Although she wasn’t what he expected in bride, he stood by his oath and treated her with such kindness, respect, and dignity. Lirth is a very admirable character, not letting her blindness hold her back from her duties or desires.

Rachel shares an interview with Lirth below. I hope you enjoy getting to know this amazing girl…

Interview with Lirth Parnan Theodoric

How do you see the world?

I see the world through sound, touch, smell, and taste. Since I cannot use my eyes, I rely on the remaining senses a bit more than most who have the sense of sight. I find that others are surprised by how much I can observe by simply listening.

What is one secret no one knows about you?

When I was growing up, I loved to ride horses. The wind in my face, tearing through my hair, and the feeling as though I could fly. I miss that freedom. Now I must always ride with someone or guided by someone. No more gallops across open fields for me.

What do you want most in life?

I wish above all things to glorify my God. I refer to Him as the Kurios, which I have been told is a transliteration of the Greek word for Lord. I don’t know about how that works in your world. In mine, we just call Him the Kurios because that is how He is named in our sacred text, the Manuscripts.

Beyond that, I wish to love and be loved just like every other woman.

Do you think it’s true when you lack one “sense” another makes up for it. (Like sense of smell growing stronger when someone’s hearing abilities decrease)

Yes. I seem to discern smells and sounds better than most. I am not sure if the sense is actually heightened or I simply pay closer attention to it because I lack the ability to use my eyes. Many people just don’t focus on the other senses. I taught one of my bodyguards how to detect who was coming by the rhythm of their stride. He caught on quickly enough that I doubt I am the only one gifted with the ability.

If you had the gift of vision for five minutes, what would you want to see?

My husband, definitely. My husband is the first thing I would like to see. I want to watch the way his face moves when he talks, the way he holds himself when he walks, the expression in his eyes when he looks at me, and what his gestures are when he is speaking intently. There are limitations to what my fingers can “see.” Knowing the feel of him is very different from observing his movements, experiencing the colors and subtleties of his expressions. Yes, I would love to be able to see Ireic with my eyes.

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Don’t miss out on a great story! Check out The King of Anavrea today!

Author Bio –

Rachel Rossano is a happily married mother of three children. She spends her days teaching, mothering, and keeping the chaos at bay. After the little ones are in bed, she immerses herself in the fantasy worlds of her books. Tales of romance, adventure, and virtue set in a medieval fantasy world are her preference, but she also writes speculative fantasy and a bit of science fiction.