The High King’s Golden Tongue

With a characteristic blend of sweet romance and high fantasy, Less Than Three CEO Derr (the Lost Gods series) introduces the empire of Harken: nine kingdoms aggregated under Sarrica, the eponymous high king and a widower of four years. Since his husband’s death in the endless internecine wars, Sarrica’s court has schemed to make his next match. Their choice is Allen, prince of Gaulden and heir to a legendary diplomat, Queen Marren. The key to diplomatic success is mastery of languages, and Allen is fluent in 14. But Sarrica knows only the language of battle, and he turns Allen away in contempt. Driven first by dread of going home a failure, and gradually by a growing affection for the brusque, vulnerable king, Allen wields every tactic he can grasp, subtle and extreme alike, to win Sarrica’s trust. Endless descriptions of fashion and décor weigh the simple narrative down, but the characters are charming, and the small observations of court and courtiers are unerringly chosen. (Nov.)