Having felt that had not been much help when her sister Persy saved young Victoria, Pen Leland is anxious to make up for lost time in learning how to use magic so she travels to Ireland with her former teacher, Ally and Ally's husband to continue her studies. She studies with Ally's father-in-law, a well-know teacher, when Ally becomes too ill with her pregnancy to continue.Out walking, she meets Lady Keating who takes an immediate interest in the young woman. Unbeknown to Pen, Lady Keating has a plan for her and asks her son, Niall Keating, to court Pen. Pen feels the need to keep her magic a secret, not knowing that Lady Keating is a powerful Sorceress.Even with the distractions of romance, concern for her friend, animosity from fellow (male) students and magical creatures in the wine cellar, Pen finds her magic use growing stronger. She feels truly at home in Ireland. Lady Keating is a fascinating villain. Beautiful and smart and strong, she believes she is doing what is best for her family and her Goddess throughout. Pen grows up here and learns more lessons than magic. Niall, too, grows from a boy in his mother's shadow to a man. It's a good story - well plotted and easy to read. After Persy and Pen Leland save Princess Victoria, Pen feels guilty for not being able to help much in the rescue because she spent too much time on the delights of the Season and not enough time studying magic. Pen resolves study harder and heads off to Ireland to stay with her former governess Ally and Ally's new husband and professor father. Ireland proves to be cold and unfriendly at first. Because Ally is in an "interesting" condition and feeling unwell, Pen attends lessons with Dr. Carrighar, Ally's father-in-law, and the young gentlemen he teaches. The gentlemen resent Pen's presence and feel she is inferior because she's a woman. When the beautiful Lady Keating takes Pen under her wing, Pen is delighted to have a friend and a mother figure to help her navigate Irish Society. Lady Keating has an extremely handsome eligible son Niall who also takes a special interest in Pen. Lady Keating also seems to take an unusual interest in Niall and Pen. Pen enjoys visiting with the Keatings, especially Niall, but she wonders whether his flirtation is serious and how serious she wants him to be. As Lady Keating takes more of an interest in Pen and reveals her own magical secret, Pen is excited to learn more about the ancient Celtic magic that runs in Lady Keating's family and discovers Ireland suits her more than she ever dreamed. However, Lady Keating has a dark secret and requires more from Pen than she is willing to give. Magic is more present is this novel in new and different ways. Celtic mythology enters into the story and the characters accept magic in ways that are hard for me to accept, but that doesn't affect the writing or the story in any way. This is a suspenseful page turner. I couldn't put it down, I was so worried about Pen and how she would handle the situations she was placed in and the climax of the story had me breathless waiting to find out how it could possibly end happily. The images of Ireland and Irish magic are so well-described that anyone who is unfamiliar with them can easily form a mental picture of Pen's new life. Best of all, I think there's possibility for another sequel starring a new generation!
