Queen of Swords » (Reprint)

Sara Donati is the pen name of Rosina Lippi. She lives with her husband, daughter, and various pets in an area between the Cascade Mountains and the Puget Sound.

The powerful fourth book in the Bonner family saga. With impressive comparisons to mega-bestselling authors like Diana Gabaldon, Sara Donati delivers sweeping historical fiction at its very best. QUEEN OF SWORDS is perhaps her most powerfully realized work to date. In the previous books in the series, the Bonner family, residing in the wilds of early nineteenth century upstate New York, has faced many challenges. This latest installment in the series is reminiscent of the great tradition of classic romantic epics that made Colleen McCullough, James Michener, and John Jakes international bestsellers.

Publishers Weekly

The fourth in Donati's popular Wilderness series (Into The Wilderness, etc.) takes the Scott family on a perilous journey to New Orleans on the eve of one of the War of 1812's climactic battles. The action begins with the dramatic rescue of Jennet Scott from captivity in the French Antilles. Her saviors include her husband, Luke, a prominent Montreal merchant, and Luke's Mohawk half-sister, Hannah, a physician. Jennet had given birth to a son, Nathaniel, during her captivity and enlisted Honor Poiterin, a shady Creole merchant, to smuggle him to safety. The Scotts trek to New Orleans after discovering Poiterin and his grandmother have taken the child there and are claiming him as their own. In a city surrounded by two opposing armies, the Scotts find an ally in Ben Savard, the well-connected half-brother of a plantation owner. Out of a surfeit of characters (there are over 30 "primary characters" listed at the book's beginning), Hannah is the star surviving two brushes with death, saving countless lives and still finding time to fall in love. The conclusion is predictable and the pacing uneven, but fans of epic historical adventures will be captivated by the exotic setting and intriguing story line. (Oct. 31) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.