The Sword Maiden - Softcover

Blacksmith Lachlann MacKerron has loved beautiful and wise Eva MacArthur, daughter of the clan chieftain, since they were children. What he doesn't know is that she loves him, too. Believing that a future for them is impossible, Lachlann leaves Scotland to fight with Joan of Arc in France. When he returns--bitter, disillusioned, scarred, and doubting his ability to craft the miraculous swords he once created--he learns that Eva is in desperate need of his help. Her father is dead, one brother imprisoned and another outlawed, and her home threatened by her evil fiancé's soldiers. Legend says Eva must save her beloved Innisfarna with the power of her sword, and only Lachlann can forge a Sword of Light. But beneath the surface of the warrior and the bladesmith lie a man and a woman, deeply in love and desperate to save their clan--and find a way to spend their lives together.

Medieval Scotland comes to life in this latest novel from Susan King. Descriptions of the Highland's hills and forests, lochs and isles, hamlets and citizens are rich with the color of a time long past. The story employs the magic of fairy lore, the power of legend, and the fascinating details of the ancient craft of bladesmithing in a plot driven by human greed and obsession. Expertly crafted and written, The Sword Maiden is King at her best. Don't miss it. --Lois Faye Dyer

Magic, myth, and history blend to perfection as master storyteller Susan King creates a tale that resonates with the pageantry and passion of the 15th century. On Beltane night, blacksmith Lachlann MacKerron and the laird's daughter, Eva MacArthur, pledge their love, even though they know the poor blacksmith can never wed the guardian of their island home. Shortly afterwards, Lachlann leaves for France to join the Scots guard and Eva is pledged to another, the ruthless Green Colin. Though she tries to hold off the wedding day, Colin will stop at nothing--he would murder and imprison her family to gain the power he desires. Held fast by his love for Eva, Lachlann returns from France to stand at her side and fight their common enemy to save their home and their love. Susan King lifts readers to new heights, enchanting them with tales of valor, magic, and passion that defies the evil in this world. You'll truly believe in the Sword of Light and know that love always triumphs over hate. Allow yourself to be awed by King's wizardry and swept away by her three dimensional characters in a story to rival the greatest legends. 4 1/2 stars --Kathe Robin, Romantic Times