cover image King of the Isles

King of the Isles

Debbie Mazzuca. Kensington/Zebra, $6.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4201-1007-4

Mazzuca's third paranormal historical (after Lord of the Isles and Warrior of the Isles) is a shallow and at times confusing tale of the fae and the 17th-century Scottish highlands. Evangeline, the most powerful fae magician in the realm, is despised by her kind, including her own father, the cartoonishly villainous Morfessa. Lachlan MacLeod, the half-blooded highlander king of the Enchanted Isles, is outraged when rival King Magnus tries to force Lachlan into a marriage alliance. Though Lachlan and Evangeline are often at odds, he pretends she's his betrothed, but the suspicious Magnus insists on seeing them actually marry. After their rushed wedding, passion flares, and Lachlan's impetuous banishment of his wife over misunderstandings%E2%80%94not once but twice%E2%80%94are trivialized by their swift reconciliation. Meanwhile, Morfessa predictably schemes. The flat characters and skimpy plot will only appeal to fans of the earlier installments. Agent: The Knight Agency. (Jan.)