This book is the sequel to The Lady in Gil. In the first book, Prince Tigrallef used a holy artifact, the Lady in Gil, to obliterate the Sherkin Empire with a tsunami. He freed the conquered nations, but destroyed the artifact in the process. The book picks up the story six years later, when Prince Tig is living happily as the Custodian (Librarian) of the Temple-Palace Archives of Gil.
Operating the kingdom without the temple income and pilgrimage donations from the holy artifact has depleted the royal treasury. To solve this problem without resorting to Enron financial tactics, the King decides that little brother Tig needs to get married to the very, very rich and beatitudiously-endowed Princess Rinn.
This betrothal makes Tig the target of assassins, religious fanatics, power-crazed ministers, spies, foreign potentates, the palace guard, his bride's stable of lovers and an indestructible Ancient Evil.
On the way to the wedding, Tig, his bride-to-be and their retinue are kidnapped. To free them, Tig must chose between developing his magical potential (thereby losing his soul) or watching everyone he has ever loved die a most horrible death.
I liked this book. It would make a great Saturday afternoon movie at the Bijou. This book reminds me of the splendor of "Kismet" and the adventure of "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad."