Masques

"Disguise your passion in masque; when the dance ends, peril begins."

It's nearly fourteen years since the Norsunder War ended on Sartorias-deles. But peacetime still has surprises for The Trouble With Kings' second gen, especially those with high ambitions.

Sky Szinzar, Princess of Ralanor Veleth, has loyally insisted on the betrothal she made to Lexan Glenereth, a landless boy with no prospects, made when they were kids. Her peers utterly scorn a "betrothal" she formed at age twelve-a scorn led by sarcastic Prince Garian-Rafael.

Now it's fourteen years later, and Sky is finally holding her coming-of-age ball, which is spectacularly ruined by her abduction. On horseback. Right off the ballroom floor . . . by the prince she hates most. A wager or a lark?

When courtship between him and her and him (or is that him and him and her?) wears the guise of high politics, the dance soon gets wild.

This cozy romantic fantasy comedy of manners stands alone.