UNBETROTHED

Everyone in Giddel is bestowed a magical gift by the age of 5—but not Princess Beatriz.

When the whyzer tells Beatriz on her seventh birthday that she must one day enter the Valle de los Fantasmas to receive her gifting, she is pitied and regarded as useless. Now 17, her duty is to marry someone who will help protect her kingdom from their enemies, the Himzo. Desperate to receive her gift and marry whom she wants, she makes an oath with the Ancient One to enter the valley. Beatriz runs away with the help of her maid, Laude, and some other servants. But things don’t go according to plan, and she and Laude are left alone in the wilderness before being rescued by handsome Himzo merchant Zichri and his men. Overcoming her mistrust, Beatriz accepts Zichri’s offer of protection, and they journey to the valley together. But Beatriz and her new suitor hold secrets that threaten everyone’s happiness and safety. Although the beginning is slow, the pace of this story, set in a detailed, Latin-inflected world, picks up in the second half. It is overall a fun read for readers who like their fantasy mixed with a bit of romance. Beatriz’s character develops throughout, and she outgrows her initial pompous haughtiness; secondary characters are fleshed out. Beatriz and Zichri have dark hair and brown skin; other characters are diverse in appearance.

An enjoyable read.