Tired of a world filled with violence, the women of the world decided it was time they try their hand at ruling…for surely they couldn’t do any worse than the men. Mira is called the Tarsheen, a descendent of the original women rulers. Men are now slaves, used for breeding and a little manual labor only. Visiting with a friend, Mira is dragged to a slave auction, something she abhors and spent a lifetime trying to abolish. Instead of remaining aloof as she planned, she finds herself in a bidding war with her rival, and ends up an owner of a new slave.

A life of a slave is brutal. Robert barley remembered what it was like to be free. Moved from one household to the next, he was repeatedly tortured and finally considered undesirable. His last chance is at the auction. If no one purchases him, the consequences would be death. The instant the woman walks into the room, Robert feels connected to her. And for the first time in a long time, hope brightens his world.

Mira is fascinated with her new slave, offering him a place within her household. The more time they spend together, the more attracted they become until love blossoms. Can Robert break a lifetime of conditioning and convince Mira that men are equal to women? For him to resurrect and remember the past is a crime punishable by death. Will Mira give into her desires and let go of her kingdom, or risk a lifetime without Robert? For in Mira’s world, there is no room for the love of a ruler and a slave. 

I loved how the story started out. All the characters are introduced and brought me right to the action. Curiosity kept me glued to the pages almost to the end. Elizabeth Stewart made both characters come alive with their insecurities and strength. I was a little disappointed to find all their time talking about the past or in bed. It seemed a lot of the story was more about the world, a very fascinating world by the way, and its problems, than the romance. I liked the overall tone of the book, and I would read another Elizabeth Stewart book in the future.

Reviewed By Stacey Brutger for The Road to Romance

November 20, 2005