The Windrose Chronicles: vol. 5

Stranger at the Wedding

Plot

Kyra, six years after being disowned and leaving for the Citadel of Wizards to study, returns to her home in Angelshand in time for her sister Alix's wedding. At the Citadel, something was twisting her magic, portending evil, portending Alix's death on her wedding night. Kyra decides to return home, not for the ceremony, but to stop the wedding. As she interacts with her family, their servants, and Blore Spenson, her sister's fiancé, a series of flashbacks tells the story of Kyra's discovery, years ago, of her power. Under the tutelage of Tibbeth of Hale, a dog wizard, young Kyra learned that magic was not simply a part of her, it was her, a part of her she could never deny, not even for her family, who were dismayed and alarmed by her being mageborn. When Tibbeth was killed, and Kyra disowned, Kyra sought out the wizards of the Mages Yard in Angelshand to begin Council training. In the present, Kyra tries a myriad of things to delay the wedding, all the while working to figure out who or what is trying to kill Alix. Things take a turn for the worse when Alix disappears. Kyra, the Witchfinders on her tail, races to reach her sister before the enemy she cannot yet identify - who might be acting in revenge for Tibbeth's death years ago -strikes. Kyra's struggles in the past, to accept herself, and in the present with wizardry, love, and her family, are touchingly written. Kyra herself, red-haired, clumsy, tall, and truly outlandish, must have been a fun character to write.