Storm Prince
Storm Prince by Terri Lynn Wilhelm is the story of a silkie who comes
out of the sea and onto land in search of his brother.
Torcuil MacCodrum's father is sick. His last wish is to see his
eldest son once more. Torcuil is the second son and has strived for
his father's attention and praise all his life. Now, finally, he
has the chance to earn his father's respect and love.
On the spur of the moment Torcuil promises to find his brother, who has ventured above the sea to learn how the land folk live, and to return with him to his father's side.
With only old folk tales and some jewellery to sell Torcuil ventures onto land on the coast of Scotland. He soon discovers that he has not been told everything he needs to know, and the woman he was advised to visit in order to obtain clothes is no longer there.
Stranded and alone he is surprised by the arrival of a broonie, a magical being who offers advice, if not solutions for Torcuil's dilemma.
Meanwhile on the lonely road Lady Verity Alford and her father are being set upon by men whom Verity believes have been sent to assassinate her father. It is only with the timely help of Torcuil that he escapes with his life, and Verity with her virtue.
Torcuil's only clue to his brother's location is that he went to London. So when Verity offers to take him there in return for him acting as bodyguard for her father it seems like the ideal solution for all.
If only they could convince Philip Alford that he needs a bodyguard!
Soon Torcuil is on his way to London once more, and watched every step of the way by Verity, who is confused as to who this strange man is. But no more confused than Torcuil who begins to question the belief that all the land folk are dishonourable and a danger to his people.
Lady Verity is sure that someone is out to murder her father. She is equally sure that it is someone connected with her father's mining business. A business that seems destined to close if Philip Alford cannot convince the partners in the firm that there is copper in the mine. Philip is sure that the mine should stay open - not only is it still profitable but there would be devastating effects on the miners and there families should the mine be forced to close. But there are some people who, for their own reasons, want the mine closed, and Verity is convinced that it is one of these who is plotting her father's death.
Verity's only hope seems to be in the strange man who leapt from the night and stopped the attackers. But the longer Torcuil remains in her company, the more of a puzzle he seems. Some of the most everyday things confuse him like a child, while at other times he is amazingly adept. For instance while he can learn to ride in only a few hours, he fails to take heed to the warnings of riding too far on the first day.
Soon Torcuil comes face to face with London and realises that he is still in need of help in finding his missing brother. He decides he has no choice but to remain in the household of Verity and her father while they enlist the help of the Bow Street Runners, and all the females of the city who are eager to draw themselves to the attention of the handsome newcomer.
But even all the gossiping females cannot locate the lost heir and Torcuil is caught up in his other quest, constantly drawing closer and closer to Verity, knowing all the time that there is no way he can remain on land, and no way to take Verity beneath the waves with him.
With or without his brother he must return to his home and face his father and a life without the honourable woman he has come to love.
A delightful story that in places reads as though it were a sequel. If anyone knows if Eideard's story is available please let me know. If it is not then I have to say that there are several threads in this plot that should have been explained a little more.
I feel that Eideard's story should certainly have been told in a lot more detail than it was. If his story is available as a separate novel, fair enough. If not then there is a major part of the story lacking.
On a brighter note I found that I really enjoyed reading this novel. The characters were well portrayed and the assassination plot managed to keep me guessing.
I can only hope that there is more to this tale than there appears to be. Maybe it is just me, but I feel as if I have only read half of the story.
RATING : 
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Visit Terri Lynn Wilhelm's website.
Also by Terri Lynn Wilhelm : A Hidden Magic, Fool of Hearts and
Shadow Prince.