The Childless King The Legacy of Leonesse Book #1
Fantasy, Romance, Romantic Fantasy
Independently Published
Sept 26, 2022
Kindle
359
Amazon
Newly-widowered Vicomte Alexander is preparing to marry a woman he doesn't know. Nerise Fairchild is carrying Alexander's child, taken from his wife's body when she is killed as the enemy firebombs the city and placed in Nerise's through alchemical magic so it may survive. The mourning vicomte must find the girl and marry her before the child is born so he can claim it as his heir. He sends his best friend, priest-turned-mercenary, Ellis Redhu, to escort the girl back to the capitol city where the wedding will take place. There's only one flaw in his plan: On the return journey, between braving the oncoming winter weather and attacks by invading Nords with their own magical devices, Ellis and Nerise fall in love.
Review by Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
This was an amazing book and one that I didn’t want to end. Two young men meet, Alexander the eldest son of the Vicomte and Ellis Redhe who is being trained to join the Order of St. Eglantine. Ellis has been assigned as Alexander’s mentor. Ellis was 14 and Alec 8 when they first met and they formed a friendship that would last for years.
When war broke out between the kingdom of Leone and the kingdom of Nesse, Alec was sent home to be with his family and Ellis took his vows and joined the Order of Eglantine sent to fight in the name of the Gods. Ellis and Alec considered themselves best friends but lie and their different stations separated them for years.
Alec was forced by his father to marry and produce an heir and after meeting and refusing over thirty women presented to him it was the very last one Arabella who caught his eye. Alec didn’t want to marry and surprise, surprise neither did Arabella which was one of the things that drew them to each other. Alec finally found love but year after year he and Arabella failed to produce an heir. Because of this he was called the “childless prince”.
While Alex found love and his place in life Ellis finally had enough fighting trying to come to terms with a teaching that says to uphold and respect life while at the same time sending him out to kill. After one tragic battle Ellis decided to leave the Order and this time when he killed, he would be paid for it. Unfortunately, Ellis became a mercenary and no longer resembled the young man who took vows and fought for the Gods.
Alec lived a happy life with the wife he loves and after years of trying she became pregnant. While this should have been a happy time the Nords attacked. Arabella became one of the victims of this attack and her injury jeopardized her and her unborn child. The official alchemist decided to use one of his inventions, one that can take the child and transfer it into another woman and the only one available was his assistant Nerise.
When Alec discovered his child was still alive there was only one person, he trusted to find Nerise and bring her back and that was Ellis. Ellis still cares for his old friend and takes on the mission, a mission that would take months, months that brought the two close together till they fell in love with no hope for a future.
So much happens and I have to fight myself not to give spoilers away but I would love to share everything. This is the first book in a series I can’t wait to continue reading. Amazing characters, romance, surprises and moments of real sadness.
