cover image The Warrior

The Warrior

Judith E. French, . . Leisure, $6.99 (358pp) ISBN 978-0-8439-5395-4

Set in the fourth century B.C., French's third installment in her historical trilogy (after The Barbarian and The Conqueror ) features the dashing son of Alexander the Great. In Alexandria, Egypt, where the younger Alexander is getting ready for his nuptials with princess Mereret, the daughter of king Ptolemy, Alexander meets the slave girl Kiara, a mysterious green-eyed beauty. Despite a mutual attraction that's both sensual and credible, Alexander continues to prepare for the upcoming royal wedding ceremony. When unforeseen circumstances force Alexander to rely on Kiara to save his life, the plot takes a suspenseful turn as the pair seek to elude their pursuers. Adding further depth is an intriguing subplot involving Alexander's mother, Roxanne, and his stepfather, Kayan, who must face their own challenges. The highly unusual setting and smoothly flowing prose help make this a superior novel of historical romance. (Dec.)