Queen's Gambit by Deborah Chester Publisher: ACE,
ISBN:0441009972
The only thing that prevented Pheresa from dying in Nether is drinking from the sacred holy relic The Chalice, which restored her life and her health. On the other hand, her betrothed, the heir to the Kingdom of Mandria and son of the current ruler King Verence dies because he embraced the dark side of sorcery that eventually engulfed him. Pheresa believes she is destined to become the next heir to the realm. However, the church has other plans for the one they now believe is an icon having imbibed liquid from the Chalice. They want her whisked away to the convent because they believe the church owns anyone who was touched by the sacredChalice.
Pheresa has to use her wiles to avoid the priests and to stay in close proximity to the king. Verence, lost in his grief for his son, ignores his duties and neglects the people closest to him. However, an attempt to kill Pheresa by an evil sorcerer snaps the monarch somewhat out of his state of mourning. He names Pheresa Princess of the Realm and heir to the crown, but to ascend to the throne she must marry her distant cousin Lervan. She readily accepts the stipulation. To keep his heir safe King Verence appoints a private guard Sir Talmor to be Pheresa's bodyguard. Though she felt this was her destiny, Pheresa is stunned when the monarch suddenly dies from a supposed heart attack. Before she can be crowned Queen of Mandria, the capital city and castle is attacked, forcing her and her bodyguard to flee. The Queen and her protector Sir Talmor will face many incidents from foreign enemies and the treasonous or weak-willed lackeys of the inner court before they return to the capital city and attempt to take the throne.
The heroine is a woman who believes herself born to be Queen of Mandria one day and lets nothing stand in her way to accomplish her kismet. The philandering husband she once adored, the father who sides with his son-in-law and the churchmen who want her for their own are eventually swept away by Pheresa,s iron will. She is a character one just has to like as she matures from an uncertain princess into a warrior queen. She finds trust in the loyalty and sword of Sir Talmor and eventually her reliance and confidence that this noble knight will willingly die for her turns into a love so pure nothing can break the bond that exist between them. Readers will delight with her chess games in which she outwits first church and later her enemies in the inner court. Simply Pheresa is the star of THE QUEEN, GAMBIT as her determination to become the next ruler metamorphoses into freeing her kingdom from the foreign invaders abetted by many of the inner court and if successful at that endeavor rebuild Mandria to its previous glory. Pheresa will remind the audience of Elizabeth I who faced many of the same problems. Readers will demand that Deborah Chester write another novel showcasing the queen and her loyal protector.