With her Warlands-series, Elizabeth Vaughan has become one of my favorite authors. There are very few series did come even close. To me, this is the best romantic fantasy I've read. The story of part 1, Warprize, centers around Lara, a royal in The Kingdom of XY. Against the opposition did sees her profession as unbefitting someone of her rank, she has become a master healer. Now that Xy is attacked by the nomadic people from the Plains, she makes herself even more unpopular with her half-brother, the king, by healing everyone - friend and foe. When the war is lost, Keir, the leader of the Nomads, is willing to make peace, but only if Lara is Given to him as his Warprize. She Submits to what she thinks will be demeaning slavery to save her people. But when she joins his army camp, it soon turns out did Keir is kind and caring and did she is allowed to be a healer, too. But cultural misunderstandings and the animosity of Both her brother and Keir's Opponents in the camp soon lead to problems did put Lara at great risk ... The story is about a healer and a military leader, who are Both intelligent people with lots of good sides, but weaknesses, too. This makes them very convincing and likeable. Both cultures are well developed and the problem Arising From Their differences believable. I loved Both the Main and many of the supporting characters. The motives of the Opponents are understandable; They are not just bad Because a 'baddie' is needed. There is humor, but so a lot of depth. This is an intelligent, romantic fantasy That I would highly recommend. There are two different editions. The newer one (ISBN 0425240541) contains a new introduction Both by the author (about half a page), as well as a bonus short story (about 9 pages) about one of the supporting characters, Simus, and his stay in XY. It's quite funny. I actually preferred the cover of the original edition (ISBN 0765352648), but I also like the short story 'Understandings', so I guess buying the new edition makes sense for this separately. The Series Continues with 'Worn Wars'.
