R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on 11/4/2021 + 1438 more book reviews

Childhood can form the adult one becomes. So it is with Levana whose scars mar the woman.

Her older sister, Channary, beautiful and selfish, becomes queen when their parents are assassinated. Surrounding herself with luxury and suitors, she lives only for pleasure. And, she mocks and ridicules Levana, the ugly sister. To hide her true appearance, Levana must use glamours that all the aristocracy. No one must see her face. She falls in love with Evert, a handsome married guardsman. For this, too, Channary chastizes her, even more so when Levana marries him after his wife's death. Channary soon becomes pregnant and bears a child she names Selene.

Channary's reign is short because she contracts a rare disease and dies, leaving Levana to reign until Selene turns thirteen and can reign in her own right. Levana loves the country and the people and works hard to improve all Having manipulated Evert into marriage, she believes he loves her or will soon do so, but it is not to be for Evert's heart belongs to his dead wife. Even when Levana assumes a glamour mirroring the image of his former wife, he turns away, pouring his love on the daughter his wife left behind.

This is a sad, difficult story to read. I hated Levana for her cruelty and manipulation until the author divulged how she came to be scared. The scars she bore were more than skin deep because affected her mind and actions. When I learned the truth about Levana's childhood I pitied her.

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