Ratings Overall: 10 Sensuality: 9 Paranormal Element: 9

This is an Official Review by a contemporary Romance Writer Official Reviewer

Review for Deep Magic
Author: Joy Nash
Date of Review: 12/31/07
Reviewed by: Leah

Reviewer Comments: Did you ever wonder how King Arthur’s magic sword Excalibur was made? Ms. Nash has created a story which answers that question in a compelling way. She combines historical elements with elements of fantasy to create a story that adds to the legend of King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake.

Gwen, the future Guardian of Avalon and descendant of the Lady, seeks a way in which to control the Deep Magic within her and to save the colony of Avalon from intruders. She must fight not only her own compulsions, but the magical ones that rule her. Her grandfather insists that she remain on the island when she only wants to travel. Her twin, Rhys, is ordered to travel the world seeking Druids who need to return to Avalon for testing and training. He wishes only to remain on the island. When Avalon comes under threat from the Roman soldiers residing near the magic shrouded island, Gwen leaves Avalon under the care of her brother to seek out a Roman man who can help her create a magical sword which will save them all.

Marcus Aquila is a Roman bladesmith. He works with iron and creates weapons for the Romans in the area. He has meet and befriended Rhys on Rhys’s many travels. Marcus fears magic and all those who possess it after witnessing the murder of his uncle and the attempted murder of his father. Despite this fear, when Rhys asks Marcus to help him save his sister from imprisonment within a Deep Magic spell, Marcus agrees. Marcus is astonished when he returns home and finds that he cannot forget the magical woman whom he rescued.

Gwen turns to Marcus when she needs help although she is reluctant to share how much his presence affects her and how much the Deep Magic resides within her. Marcus has seen Gwen transform from a wolf to a woman and feels compelled rather than repulsed by it. He is not sure why he is drawn towards a woman who represents all that he hates. These two characters must find a way to work together in order to save Avalon and along the way they learn quite a lot about each other and themselves.

Ms. Nash has created a wonderful story. I was engrossed from the first page and found the book hard to put down. The chemistry between her main characters is in evidence from the first and at times, I found myself wanting to skip ahead to the ending to see if they would work out their differences, but found the journey to the end so delightful that I refrained from doing so. I love the way in which Ms. Nash took the familiar image of the Lady of the Lake and of Excalibur and added a new perspective on the creation of the sword. Ms. Nash makes her readers wonder whether or not such people existed and how much magic they controlled. I cannot wait to read her other books in the series and look forward to more adventures from the Druids of Avalon.