Two hundred years after the Raintree clan defeated them, the Ansara wizards are rising again to take on their bitterest foes. As king, it’s up to Dante Raintree to protect his clan, but his heart — and maybe his loyalties — may be fatally divided when Lorna Clay walks into his life. Suddenly fire, always his to control, defeats him, taking with it his livelihood. Unsure whether Lorna is to blame yet unable to walk away from her, Dante faces the fight of his lifetime, a fight even his strength and that of the Raintree clan may not be enough to win.

1st in the Raintree trilogy
Author: Linda Howard
ISBN: 0-373-61762-3 (Silhouette)
Finished: 3 August 2007
Who: Lorna Clay and Dante Raintree

I decided to try the Nocturne line after seeing so many reviews, from the Harlequin Reader Challenge, about the Raintree trilogy. I’m glad I did. I really enjoy the world that the authors created for the series. After reading Inferno, I immediately started Haunted and I will review it separately. This much I will say: I don’t think either book works as a stand-alone. The action in each book happens simultaneously and I don’t know yet — since I haven’t started the last book — how it will all come together in Book 3.

Interestingly, I wasn’t put off by Dante’s very underhanded treatment of Lorna through most of the book. I think it was because of the way the author handled her two leads. Dante is clearly not an ogre and Lorna is clearly not a wilting damsel-in-distress, though she does have a tendency to bolt. Even Lorna admits that Dante had good reason for his behavior, up to a point. Lorna was made to face her fears and overcome them, and embrace her talent. Besides, she got her revenge. 😀

I liked Lorna. She came across very realistic. Her insecurities; her justifiable anger at Dante, her spunk. Her wicked sense of payback. I hope she doesn’t forget about the coffee in the bedroom! I’m interested to see what part she plays, if any, in book three.

Favorite Quote:
“You’re the weirdo equivalent of the Hatfields and the McCoys?
— Lorna, regarding the Raintree and the Ansara

“What if a chicken-hauler has brake failure and flattens that little roller skate you call a car?”
— Lorna

Enjoyed it!