Like Wind on a Dry Branch

Like Wind on a Dry Branch opens in a time of plague and turmoil. Rieta Tristi is an enchanting widow who finds herself at the mercy of a malicious nobleman, whose dying wish is to have her entombed beside his corpse. The plague has taken her husband, slave traders have taken her young child, and her own life is now at risk. The premise is dark, but an unexpected visit from the empire's outcast prince changes everything.The series is most engaging when Rieta's resolve pushes back against her circumstances. The plague-torn empire gives the story historical texture, and the emerging alliance with the outcast prince adds intrigue. The tone is serious and emotionally charged.The weaknesses are a bleak, menacing premise and a very long run that can drag. Readers who enjoy dark historical romance with political stakes will find much to admire. Those wanting light romance may find it heavy, though the heroine's strength holds the story together.