Devon’s review of Double Enchantment (Relics of Merlin, Book 2) by Kathryne Kennedy
Historical Paranormal Romance released by Love Spell 26 Aug 08

Earlier this year I read and greatly enjoyed Enchanting the Lady, the first in Kathryne Kennedy’s Relics of Merlin series. Luckily the follow-up, Double Enchantment, is quite strong as well. I feel corny saying this, but these books are enchanting. Set in a Victorian England full of magic, the setting is vivid and unusual, the characters interesting, and the romances are lovely. Romance readers who like fantasy should take notice.

Jasmina didn’t seem like she was going to be an appealing heroine at first. A member of the magically talented aristocracy, she firmly believes in her class’ superiority. Thus she is content to look after her self-absorbed and very flawed parents, to the extent of eschewing marriage. Although there are definite signs that her parents are screwed up (huge ones), she has never questioned her family’s priggish worldview. Until a spell goes awry and she gets involved with a hot stallion.

Sir Sterling Thorn is a stallion shapeshifter and baronet, a class despised as animals by the aristocracy. A disinherited elder son, struggling to start his own vineyard, Sterling would not have expected the beautiful Jas to take notice of him. But she does, to his delight. Unfortunately Jas is magical creation, quite the opposite of the icy, controlled, but real Jasmina. The two strike sparks off of each other from the get go, as they work together to figure out the mystery behind doppelganger Jas, which seems to have something to do with Sterling’s sister’s disappearance.

Jasmina turns out to be far more sympathetic than first expected, as she sheds her rigid façade. She is empowered and made vulnerable by her attraction to Sterling. Jasmina fears that it is really Jas that he loves. As an aside: is it just me, or do “Jasmina” and “Jas” sound a bit exotic and contemporary for the times? Don’t care for the name myself. Sterling was quite the dreamy hero—passionate, charming and protective. Despite the twin factor, it was always very clear that Sterling had distinct, separate feeling for two distinct, separate woman, and that his real feelings were for the real woman.

I really enjoy the milieu of this alternate Victorian England: the upper-class with their social events, the Underground with its black magic, and the sense of magic embuing everything. It’s great fun, and quite different from other “worlds” in paranormal romance. The plot is also interesting and original. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

Grade: A-

The Summary:

Lady Jasmina was in a world of trouble. A simple spell had gone disastrously haywire and now there was a woman running around London who looked exactly like her—a woman with no sense of propriety whatsoever. All Society was whispering, and a baronet she’d never met was suddenly acting like he knew her…in a most intimate way. To find her twin and set things right, they’d have to work together—braving the fog-shrouded streets, a mysterious group called the Brotherhood, and a passion stronger than any magic.

Read an excerpt here
Read Sandy’s review here