Debut author Melinda Salisbury has built an authentic fantasy world in this first book in a trilogy. In the land of Lormere, Twylla is considered incredibly dangerous. A touch from her can kill a person because her body is covered in poison. The Queen uses Twylla to execute her victims, but she also has a greater purpose for her. Twylla has been chosen to marry the prince, since he has no sister to marry. In Lormere, they think nothing of using incest to keep bloodlines pure. But when Twylla falls in love with one of her guards, who is from neighbouring land Tregallia, she learns not only a great deal about his more enlightened world, but also about the flaws in her own beliefs.

With plenty of romance, an interesting concept and numerous plot twists, this is an engaging read.

Angela Crocombe