The Warslayer [Mass Market Paperback]

The story is as follows: Glory MacArdle is a former Olympic quality gymnast-turned-actress. She's a TV actress, sort of a Xena set in the Elizabethan era, and she's good at what she does. But she was picked more for her gymnastic ability than for her acting, and she wonders why people are making such a big deal of her, right before the Allimir mistake _her_ for her character. Once taken from her familiar surroundings, Glory has a choice; she can go back home, and doom the Allimir to lingering death, or she can fight, even though she's not really competent. (The Allimir have no other options; it's her or no one at all.) It's a fairly standard "mistaken identity" ploy, but Ms. Edghill renders it much better than average because of the witty dialogue, strong characterization, pop culture references, and Glory's search for meaning.

One other reviewer said he found none of that. Funny, I remember a dream sequence where Glory was facing her idealized self -- and the idealized self told her she was doing fine, and on the right road. And I remember a whole lot of other stuff, where Glory tells the remaining Allimir about how she's not really competent to fight -- but then, realizing how incompetent the rest of them are, chooses to stay and fight _for_ them. That shows strength of character; she could have just gone home.

Another reviewer was rather upset that Ms. Edghill had written this book, rather than another "Sword of Maiden's Tears" novel. Considering how well this novel was written, I don't understand that. This is not filler; it _is_ light, but it's not total fluff, and it does have a moral. The bad guys lose, and the good guys win, despite the heroine's lack of belief in herself. What's wrong with that?

I think it's a triumph, mostly because it _is_ a departure. And although this book could have been straight satire, and I'd have enjoyed it immensely due to Ms. Edghill's writing skills, I'm glad she didn't choose to do that. Instead, she went for a real plot, with real, identifiable goals, and managed to get me to empathize with a young, thin, glamorous woman (when I'm anything but these things) because of Glory's search for inner meaning as well as her place in the world.

Because Glory tries so hard to help the Allimir, even though she knows she's not competent, and because the plot is so well-executed by Ms. Edghill, I'd give this book at least four stars. I'd give it four and a half, if there was a way to do that, because it is very deftly done, and more to the point, it shows how someone _can_ rise to the occasion -- with just the right impetus.

As for the sequel possibilities, it might be nice to see; if "Xena: Warrior Princess" can spin off all sorts of stuff, why can't Rosemary Edghill?

And the episode guide at the end was a very nice addition, too. Gave me some extra chuckles, and that's always welcome.

This book is a quick read. I bought it at dinner time and was finished that night. It was a pleasant evening's escape.