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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9781416520962
ISBN number: 1416520961
Label: Baen
Manufacturer: Baen
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 768
Printing Date: November 28, 2006
Publishing house: Baen
Sale Popularity Level: 365751
Studio: Baen
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England in the sixteenth century: a nation at a fatal fork in time, leading to two possible futures forseen by the Sidhe of Elfhame Avalon. Either an evil queen will join forces with the Inquisition and rule with a blood-spattered iron hand, threatening humans and elves alike¿or a benevolent, red-haired queen named Elizabeth will rule wisely and well. But the evil Unseleighe Sidhe, who feed on human suffering and dark emotions, are determined that the little girl Elizabeth shall never grow up to take the throne. Opposing them are the good Sidhe of elfland, who have so far managed to protect the young girl. Denoriel had foiled one endeavor to kidnap both Elizabeth and her half-brother and replace them with changelings, almost at the cost of his own life. But a few years have passed, and Denoriel has healed and returned to guard the young princess, now all of eight years old, secure in the knowledge that his enemy Vidal, leader of the evil Unseleighe, is dead, killed with an iron bolt fired from a primitive gun. Unfortunately, he is wrong: Vidal¿s armour was far stronger than any of the good elves realized. Though the wound was deep and Vidal was forced to bide his time in his own slow healing, his recovery is complete, his determination to hurl England into a new dark age is as strong as ever, and he has set in motion a plan to achieve this end of which Denoriel and his comrades are dangerously unaware. . . .
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Rated by buyers 
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A fun series of historical fanatasy about Queen Elizabeth I. History with a classic fantasy twist including Elves, magic, evil and romance. This is a must read for any true fantasy fan.
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Ill Met by Moonlight (2005) is the second novel in the Scepter'd Isle series, following This Scepter'd Isle. In the previous volume, the child Elizabeth was born of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII. When the child was presented to the court, Harry Fitzhugh was transfixed by her semblance. Surely this child would become the red-haired queen that he had seen within the Great Lens in Underhill. He decided to present her with his cold iron cross to protect her from the Unseleighe.
Denoriel Silverhair and his sister Aleneil kept close watch on the child and foiled one endeavor by Pasgen, their Unseleighe half-brother, to replace her with a changeling. Then Prince Vidal Dhu, with his consort Aurilia, led the subsequent attack. The Unseleighe attacked the child in her quarters, but Denoriel and his fellow protectors were already in the rooms and prepared for the intruders.
In this novel, Pasgen subdues an imp who carries a summons from Prince Vidal Dhu. But how has the creature found him? Under questioning, the imp coughs up a Token made from Pasgen's flesh. Temporarily ignoring the summons, Pasgen hurries to find Rhoslyn and tell her of his discovery.
After finding Rhoslyn at the Empty House, Pasgen discovers that his mother had provided a Token from each of them to Vidal Dhu at the time of their birth. The Prince probably still has one for Rhoslyn, but may not know where it is. Pasgen leaves his Token with his sister to investigate and hurries off to answer the summons.
Vidal Dhu has spent the previous four years being treated for iron poisoning. Some of his healers have died while taking the poison from his body. Now the Unseleighe Prince has mostly recovered from his injuries and thinks to take back his place in court.
During the past two years, Oberon forced Pasgen to take responsibility for the Unseleighe Court after several raids against the humans. Pasgen definitely hasn't liked having these responsibilities, but he has managed to control most of the monsters in his charge. Now that Vidal is back, Pasgen wants to position him firmly as the ruler, so that Pasgen himself can do something else -- anything else -- other than continue in charge of these unruly Unseleighe.
Vidal Dhu isn't aware of just how long he has been gone and just how weak he is. However, Pasgen acts timid and subservient to bolster Vidal's reputation in the Unseleighe Court. Some times Rhoslyn has to remind him not to strike down Vidal, but Pasgen gradually removes himself from the court.
Rhoslyn is pleased that Pasgen is no longer trying to kill Elizabeth. She would rather join the Seleighe Court than continue to treat with Prince Vidal and has gradually weaned herself from dependence on the Unseleighe habit of feeding on pain and suffering. Yet she is unsure of her reception and believes Pasgen would prefer to remain in the Unseleighe Lands.
Denoriel has also been undergoing treatment for the last four years. He almost burned out his magical power by channeling lightning in the mortal realms. He still has only weak magical abilities, but can do passive magic such as gating. Now he is ready to return to the mortal realms to resume his relationship with Elizabeth.
In this story, Pasgen is not longer trying to abduct or kill Elizabeth and believes that over time the succession problem will resolve itself. Since Prince Vidal is still insisting of taking Elizabeth out of the picture, however, Pasgen starts looking into ways of discrediting her. Still, he takes an unhurried approach and spends much more time doing other things, such as studying the mists of the Unformed Lands.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth is upset with Lord Denno and still believes that he is lying about Harry being alive. Denoriel takes some chances to let Elizabeth meet Harry in the mortal realms and almost gets Elizabeth caught by Mary and her retinue. Afterward, Elizabeth becomes more cooperative, especially after being allowed into Underhill.
This story covers the latter years of Henry VIII's reign through his wedding to Catherine Parr. As usual, King Henry is having problems with the Scots and the French and spends a great deal of effort keeping them apart from each other. He has a temporary alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor, but that turns out badly. Of course, Vidal Dhu is trying to stir up conflicts wherever he can.
Highly recommended for Lackey and Gellis fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of the Tudor monarchy, English politics and the precocious brilliance of young Elizabeth within the fantastic context of sidhe magics.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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Mercedes Lackey is second to only to MZB in her writing. She caputers your imagination and holds it for the entire book! When your done, you want the subsequent one!
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Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis' ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT is for avid fans of fantasy and tells of an aging king and a struggle for a throne. Elfland becomes involved in human endeavors in this thriller.
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Others might find it long and slow. I am into 16th C England and loved the book.
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