This book has romance, intrigue, and a twist in the plot--plenty of what a good fantasy epic needs. The characters, particularly Abramm the 'Guardian King' face plenty of inner conflicts as well as exterior ones, due to the religious nature of their society. Abramm is a follower of Tersius, who he believes to be the Son of Eidon (God). From his coronation to the events that follow he tries to follow his conscience and his God, even when what he believes is right conflicts with his own desires. He has plenty of problems to try to apply his faith too--an enemy that threatens his kingdom, to combat which he hopes to ally with a neighboring country through marriage. That means marrying their first daughter, however, and it is the second daughter that he is really attracted too. He hardly has time to realize this, however since a rival relgious group is plotting to have him overthrown--with the help of his own brother. Behind the scenes spiritual forces are manipulating events to bring about Abramm's demise--but Eidon has not left him defenseless, as he discover the ancient relics of his Kingdom have some mysterious powers to aid him against the enemy. But Abramm's idea of victory may not match Eidon's.
It had been a long time since I had read the preceding books, and I could have used a refresher before plunging into this installment of the series. There are many plots and subplots--which Hancock does a good job of weaving together--it's just a lot to keep track of in your mind. And some plots may appeal to the reader more than others. There seem to be two ends to the book--the second leading into the next book of the series which I will have to read to see how it all plays out. Fans of fantasy who like Christian themes woven into the story must read this series. The way that familiar beliefs and issues are skillfully recast into a fantasy world make for a fascinating read. ( )