Lord of the White Hell: Book One [Paperback]

Kiram Kir-Zaki may be considered a mechanist prodigy among his own people, but when he becomes the first Haldiim ever admitted to the prestigious Sagrada Academy, he is thrown into a world where power, superstition and swordplay outweigh even the most scholarly of achievements.But when the intimidation from his Cadeleonian classmates turns bloody, Kiram unexpectedly finds himself befriended by Javier Tornesal, the leader of a group of cardsharps, duelists and lotharios who call themselves Hellions.However Javier is a dangerous friend to have. Wielder of the White Hell and sole heir of a dukedom, he is surrounded by rumors of forbidden seductions, murder and damnation. His enemies are many and any one of his secrets could not only end his life but Kiram's as well."You want me to room with one of these hell-branded men? A descendant of the Tornesal line?”"You don't have much choice,” Scholar Blasio admitted at last. "The other upperclassmen have refused to room with a Haldiim. They have no objection to you schooling here, but sleeping in thesame room, when their souls are unprotected, is out of the question.However, since Javier's spiritual state is already& compromised, he risks nothing in sharing a room with you.”Kiram wanted to demand what exactly it was that these people imagined he was going to do to them in their sleep butthen his thoughts stopped short as he registered the name Javier and remembered the dark, sardonic eyes of the rider."Javier? The man with the white stallion?”"Yes, Javier Tornesal, duke of Rauma. He will be your upperclassman.”An intricate world, well-integrated social issues, believable sexual encounters, and an interesting mystery make this dense, languorous tale appealing for any fan of romantic fantasy. Publishers WeeklyLushly detailed, with believable, fully developed characters, this fantasy with homoerotic overtones is reminiscent of Mercedes Lackey's Vanyel novels anlÓ+