by Paula Volsky
First published 2001
The republic of Vonahr has abandoned magic for modern civilization. Now an army of fanatics masses at the borders, ready to conquer the world. Vonahr's leaders know of only one weapon that might stop the invasion: the ultimate Sentient Fire, a miraculous flame that obeys its creator's commands. This magical weapon belongs to a brilliant savant in the neutral kingdom of Low Hetz, but the kingdom's mad king refuses to share the secret. The government sends Luzelle Devaire, a beautiful adventurer, to seduce the king and steal the formula. But first she must gain an audience with him. To do that, Luzelle must survive the Grand Ellipse, a grueling test that will push her endurance, cleverness, and courage to their limits. As enemy forces close in on her homeland, Luzelle faces a deadly competition where failure means not just her own death, but the conquest of the free world.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, quest
Setting: Low Hetz, Vonahr
Period: 19th-century
672 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Spectra