A Sorceress of His Own by Dianne Duvall

Author: Dianne Duvall
Publisher: Self
Date of publication: June 2015

Since the day Lord Dillon earned his spurs, rumors of his savagery on the battlefield have preceded him into every room, stilling tongues and sparking fear. Weary of battle, he wishes only to find a woman he can wed who will approach him not with fear, but with the tenderness that has been absent from his life for so long. Yet only the wisewoman seems invariably at ease in his presence. Perhaps because she garners the same fear in others that he does himself.

For seven years, Alyssa has been by Lord Dillon's side, counseling him from the shadows, healing him with her hands, and staving off the worst of his loneliness while his fearsome reputation keeps others at bay. Blessed--or cursed--with gifts that label her a sorceress, she is forced to conceal her youth and the love she harbors for him beneath umbral robes that lead Dillon and his people to believe she is the same aged wisewoman who served his father.

All is revealed, however, and passions flare when an enemy threatens Dillon's life and Alyssa sacrifices everything to save him. When Dillon discovers that the wisewoman is far from elderly, he is instantly entranced. And, as he and Alyssa work together to defeat an enemy bent on destroying them both, Dillon will risk anything--even the wrath of his king--to be with her.

As you all know, I am a huge fan of Ms. Duvall's Immortal Guardians series.  Those books never cease to keep me entertained.  It is always scary beginning a new series by a beloved author, because what if I hate it?  Much to my great relief, this first book in her new Gifted Ones series, A Sorceress of His Own, did not disappoint.  I think I loved Alyssa and Dillon's story as much as I loved Rowland and Sarah in Darkness Dawns.

This series takes place in the late 1100s; years before her other series.  Alyssa is just 16 when she dons her grandmothers robes and assumes the role as seer for Lord Dillon.  Over the next 7 years, she keeps her identity hidden from him as her love for him grows.  Even with him thinking she is a very old woman, a deep friendship and loyalty grows between the two.  It is definitely a bonus for Dillon when he discovers that Alyssa is really young and beautiful.  He quickly falls for her.   The problem with this union is that Alyssa is not of royal blood, do the two can never marry.  In that time, those things mattered.  I was really rooting for these two to find a way to be together.

I loved Dillon's character.  Even before he knew who Alyssa really was, he tried to get the respect of his people for her. Even though she freely used her healing gifts to help others, they still scorned her and kept their distance thinking she was an evil old witch. Alyssa was an equally beloved character.  I loved her attitude of " a gift not used is a gift wasted".  The passion between the two was intense and lovely to watch.

If you are a fan of the Immortal guardians series, you should be excited to know that some familiar faces show up in this book. I won't say who, I'll let you be surprised. It is kind of cool to see favorite characters in their earlier beginnings.  I haven't seen a hint of who is next up in this series, but I can't wait to find out!