Review: Warlock's Pawn
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 20, 2013
This book provided by the author  for an honest review.Warlock's Pawn  was a brilliant introduction to Tara Quan's Captive Fates series. It was an exquisite pairing of intrigue, fantasy, paranormal and erotic story elements.I was totally immersed in the captivating story of Alia and Duncan. At an early age, Alia is deposed by her cunning and ruthless father, the ruler of Dionia. Fast forward to adulthood and Alia's sister, Anora, is the ruling monarch of the country. To forge a political alliance with a rival kingdom, Anora agrees to marry Duncan, the warlock leader of the Helicons. But Anora rivals her father in cruelty and trickery.  After sating her lusty desires with Duncan, she viciously tortures and attempts to kill him. Alia, a powerful healer with the gift of prophecy, has foreseen Duncan's betrayal at the hands of her sister.  She uses her hidden ability and magic to save his life -- which leaves them irrevocably tied to one another.  In retaliation, Duncan wages war against Dionia and successfully usurps after five years, leaving him with the upper hand over Anora. He offers her little choice in serving as his consort while identifying Alia as his queen. The story that ensues is full of intriguing twists and turns that end with an unforeseen betrayal and an enduring love.I was first introduced to Quan's writing when I read Tower in the Woods which was a unique twist on a classic fairytale. But I was totally blown away by Warlock's Pawn because of the seamless integration of so many enjoyable story elements. There is something in this story for everyone. You have your intrigue because villains and subterfuge abound and there is never a dull moment in the story. You have your fantasy because it has an Arabian Nights feel, occurring in a fantastical desert land. You have your paranormal because Alia and Anora are fey and Duncan is a warlock and they all wield their individual brands of magic. And finally, you have your erotic because this story was full on steam. Sex was an integral element throughout this story. Not sex just for sex sake but well executed in a manner that made total and complete sense within the story. The story also included a light BDSM element for the readers who enjoy a bit of bite in their romance.The writing was exceptional, resulting in a story that contained a unique plot and a fluid pace. I truly enjoyed Warlock's Pawn and look forward to seeing what comes next.