cover image Lord of Legends

Lord of Legends

Susan Krinard, . . HQN, $6.99 (400pp) ISBN 978-0-373-77365-7

Forced to take the shape of a man, a unicorn struggles to survive in late Victorian England in this involving but overwrought paranormal romance. American heiress Mariah Marron weds the earl of Donnington after a brief courtship. Unaware that her heritage is part supernatural, she has no idea the earl selected her for nefarious magical purposes. She soon discovers a half-naked man locked in a small cell on the earl’s estate and befriends him, naming him Ash and helping him learn to speak. Ash falls in love with Mariah, but as he regains his memories of being unicorn king Arion, he decides to betray her in order to return to his magical land. The story unfolds with twist after twist until the convoluted climax descends sharply into absurd melodrama. (Apr.)