WHEN THE KING COMES HOME

New fantasy from the author of A College of Magicks (1994). In the middle-European kingdom of Lidia, ruled by the prince-bishop during the incapacity of old, ailing King Corin, young Hail Rosamer travels to the city Aravis to be apprentice in the great artist Madame Carriera’s atelier. During her studies, Hail becomes fascinated by the artist Maspero, who lived two centuries ago in the time of the still-revered Good King Julian. Then, falsely accused by a jealous rival, with no ready means of proving her innocence, Hail flees towards home. On the road she meets a strange figure, confused and starving yet richly dressed—and bearing an uncanny resemblance to Good King Julian! The prince-bishop’s priest-wizard, Rigo, removes a spell from the man—and he turns out to be Istvan Forest, Julian’s champion. Istvan pleads for an exorcism, knowing that the body’s previous owner’s soul has been ejected in order to insert Istvan’s. Why? Well, red-haired necromancer Dalet, working for Red Ned, a rival to the throne, attempted to recall Julian—he would be subject to her control—planning to seize the throne on a wave of popular acclaim. But Dalet brought back the wrong man. The prince-bishop wants the matter kept under wraps, so Istvan flees with Hail intending to prevent Dalet from bringing Julian back. Hail, meanwhile, becomes convinced that Maspero and his works are the key to the entire situation.

Beautifully rendered, if ultimately promising more than it delivers: still, fantasy of a high order.