The Huntress
It is the year 1585, and a prophecy has foretold the coming of a Daughter of the Earth, the soon-to-be leader of the Silver Rose coven: a young girl whose powers are so astounding she could usurp the Dark Queen herself, Catherine de Medici. The young girl is identified as Megaera. Megaera’s father, Martin Le Loup, desperate to protect and keep his daughter away from this legacy, spirits her away and keeps her in hiding. He is also an agent for Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster.
Catriona O’Hanlon, a fiery pagan Irishwoman accused of practicing witchcraft and cast out by her own people, is known as the Huntress. Ariane, the Lady of Faire Isle, asks Catriona to locate the girl and bring her to the Faire Isle to keep her away from the clutches of the Dark Queen and the coven of the Silver Rose, who would exploit her mystic abilities by using her in a plot against Queen Elizabeth I. Although Cat and Martin are at odds with each other, they are drawn to one another and ultimately fall in love.
The Huntress is the fourth instalment in the Dark Queen series. The stories are a charming blend of history, the supernatural, romance, deception, and conspiracy. The saga involves the Cheney sisters, women with unusual powers who live under the threat of being accused of and persecuted for witchcraft.
Even though I did not read the first three novels, I was able to follow the story well enough. The plot was intricate and the characters captivating, but I recommend that readers follow the series from the first book in order to get the full benefit of the series and previous storylines.
