cover image OUTLAW SWORD

OUTLAW SWORD

J. Ardian Lee, . . Ace, $14 (320pp) ISBN 978-0-441-00935-0

More historical romance than fantasy, this sequel to Lee's Son of the Sword (2001) offers time travel but little magic. Once again Dylan Matheson, modern-day karate teacher/ swordsman, ends up in the Scottish Highlands in the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie, a dirty, smelly, basic-necessities-only place. Dylan has left the defeated Rob Roy at Sherriffmuir, though his wounds still ache after a hasty trip back to the present for a patch-up job. Dylan goes to Edinburgh to track down his lover, Cait, and their young son whom he's never seen. Of course, a multitude of problems ensue. Dylan is now an outlaw in the eyes of the English because he fought on Rob Roy's side, while Cait has married since he saw her last. Furthermore, Cait's husband bears Dylan a grudge and is itching to kill him at first opportunity. The one fey element takes the form of Sinann the fairy, whose talents include time travel and the ability to pop buttons off the clothing of Dylan's adversaries. When he's not fighting, getting caught up in smuggling operations or hiding from the redcoats, Dylan finds time to raise sheep and bootleg his own whiskey. This story goes down like a historical romance, with a supernatural twist to appeal to fantasy readers, many of whom will likely feel cheated that the action is so commonplace. Lee puts her historical research to good use in the fight scenes, but, alas, there are too few of these. Agent, Russell Galen. (July 2)

FYI:J. Adrian Lee is the pseudonym for Julianne Lee.