Sandy M’s review of Untouchable (Emperor’s Brides, Book 1) by Linda Winstead Jones
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 5 Aug 08
I rather enjoyed this book. Twin brothers, one dark and doing everything in his power to keep that darkness secreted from others, an interesting blue woman who was created only for a man’s pleasure, and everything’s thrown into chaos when the evil machinations of another brings forth that darkness. Well, it’s something different than from most everything I’ve ever read before!
Emperor Jahn has finally given in to his council’s nagging him to marry and beget an heir. He sends men to the farthest reaches of the land to bring to him women to choose for his bride. His brother, Prince Alix, is sent to escort the young woman who will give the emperor a much-needed alliance. Things do not go as planned for the prince. Not only does he head home with a bride to be, but also a Agnese woman, Sanura, who has been created and trained to pleasure the men who own her. Death is the penalty for any other man who touches her, and the blue paint she wears on her body is the telltale sign of that offense, all that is needed for her protectors to wield their swords.
During the return journey is when both Alix’s hidden darkness is forced to the fore by a lurking evil. He fails to protect his charge; she’s found murdered, his own dagger the weapon used. Sanura is also implicated and Alix’s dark self, Trystan, emerges to help them flee the death squad his soldiers have become. Though Alix is able to retain control of himself, there’s something about Sanura that moved him before these unfortunate events, he held himself back from her because she’s been given as a gift to his brother, but on the run with her their feelings begin to grow and his darkness once again claims control and is determined to have what has always been just out of his reach his entire life.
At first I wasn’t sure I was going to like this story. There are a lot of players until the real meat of it all comes along. Once that happens, however, things move at a good little clip. I really liked the times throughout the book when Alix has been quieted by Trystan and we learn all that he covets and what he’s going to do about it. Finally Sanura comes to realize the man she’s fallen in love with may never return, but she eases herself and her love under Trystan’s skin so that a new man eventually evolves.
My only disappointment was that when everyone is home again and all is revealed, including Tyrstan’s plans, I was a little disappointed in Emperor Jahn’s reaction to it all. This is his twin, so I expected much more from him, especially considering the depth of Trystan’s feelings over the years. Other than that, Ms. Winstead Jones has given us an intriguing story that’s so different from a lot of romance we read today. I’m looking forward to Jahn’s story in 22 Nights. After everything the entire cast went through to find him a bride, I’m curious to see who he actually chooses.
Grade: B+
Summary:
The Emperor of Columbyana is in need of a bride. Riders have been sent to the far corners of the kingdom to bring back six noble beauties for him to choose from. But none can compare to Sanura, an exotic slave with the power to see into men’s souls. To touch her is said to bring incredible pleasure – and certain death. Even for the emperor’s twin brother, Prince Alixandyr.
Alix is charged with bringing this rare creature back to the palace. A man possessed, he has wrestled the darkness inside him since birth. He cannot afford to desire Sanura, but the attraction between them is stronger than his darkest impulses. Even if it means his own destruction, he cannot allow the emperor to claim her.
Sanura is a proud woman of great power, reduced to a plaything fot the rakish emperor. She wants nothing more than her freedom – except perhaps Alix. He is a mystery, the first and only man whose true soul remains hidden from her. As their passion threatens to unleash the demons within Alix, Sanura must do all she can to save the man she loves and prevent him from committing an unforgiveable sin …
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
