Catching up on the reviews of the many books I read while recovering from my operations last year.
This one is a classic ‘couldn’t put it down’, as I’ve come to expect from this author.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The queen of Verdane died in childbirth, delivering a stillborn daughter. It should all have ended there, but the crippled necromancer Barus breathed life into the infant and raised her as his own. Aster’s loving, innocent childhood is shattered when the Vicar of the Red Order, a man who holds Barus responsible for the death of his eldest son, comes hunting them.
Separated from her beloved father and forced to flee, Aster leads the hunters away to enable Barus to escape. And then she meets Joreh, the Vicar’s younger son, a man with a conscience and a true sense of justice. He abhors Aster for her ability to raise the dead, and the fact she was born dead herself, and yet he cannot condone the Order’s edict to execute her without trial.
And so begins a massive adventure that takes in magic, dragons, a quest through a dangerous forest, kingdoms at war and kingdoms trying to prevent war, a struggle for the crown of Verdane, and a highly complex relationship between Aster and Joreh. The pace leaves no room for a breath and Peach’s compelling cast, including the well-developed secondary characters, kept me reading well into the night.
Peach does not shy from the horrors of persecution and the violence of war, not to mention the schemes of rulers using innocents regardless of consequences, in this richly imagined world evoked by the author’s exquisite prose. I won’t expound on the ending, as that would be too easy to spoil for the reader, I just suggest that if you adore excellent world building, unusual quirky characters, magic, and a plot that while not overly complicated, is highly satisfying, you go ahead and read it.
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I loved this read. Congratulations to Diana on this fantastic review. Thanks for sharing, Deborah. Hugs 💕🙂
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As you can tell, I loved it too!
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Thank you for sharing your review, Deborah. Like you, I loved this book. Diana has a wonderful way of weaving fantasy into real life. Truly it is poetry in motion. 😊
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Diana certainly has a way of capturing the reader with both her engaging characters and her writing style ❤
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I really enjoyed this one, myself.
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Glad you enjoyed it too 😀
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A fabulous review for one of the best books I read in 2022!! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this one, Deborah. Congratulations to Diana!
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I would go with that – definitely up there with the best.
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Great review. Diana did a wonderful job with this one.
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I’ve only read two of Diana’s so far, and I’ve been blown away by the fantastic world building of both.
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Great review, Deborah. You hit all the reasons I loved this book.
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Ha! It doesn’t surprise me we loved the same aspects – it’s a great book.
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Great review for a great read!
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😁
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A terrific review, Deborah. I read and enjoyed the book as well and agree that folks should go ahead and read it.
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Thanks for dropping in to take a look, John.
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😊
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Thanks for sharing this, Deborah.
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My absolute pleasure
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I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve read by Diana to date, and this one was no exception. Absolutely terrific! Even the cover blew me away. Great review, Debby, from one fabulous fantasy writer to another! 😊❤️😊
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Thanks Marcia, and I totally agree about the cover, it really draws you in ❤
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Fantastic review Deb – especially coming from another great fantasy writer. High praise. I loved that book and I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Congrats again to Diana! Hugs xx
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I’m gald you enjoyed it too, Deb – I know fantasy is on the periphery of your reading choices, but some are just worth it!
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❤
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What a wonderful review, Deborah. I’m so late to get here, but get here I did, and now you’ve made my day. I’m grateful that you picked up the book and delighted that it gave you something to do while recuperating. Many many thanks for taking the time to write a review and share it. I hope your own projects are progressing well. Happy Writing!
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I’m glad you got here too, and you are very welcome, it was a great read.
As an author, I know how important reviews are, so will always write and post mine (it’s on Amazon and Goodreads as well), just as you and many of our mutual friends do. If only more readers understood and took the time!
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I’m sometimes surprised by authors who don’t post reviews. I love well-crafted, thoughtful reviews like yours, but I’ll take a short sentence too and smile away. 🙂
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Absolutely!
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A great book!!!! Fab review, thank you!!
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Thanks for dropping in to take a look
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[…] it during her promotional tour for her latest release The Necromancer’s Daughter, which I reviewed last week! The blurb sounded enticing, with Diana’s review highlighting the hilarity on […]
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