Title: Red River #10
Author: Chie Shinohara
Publisher: Viz
ISBN: 1421501953
Journeying back to the Hittie Empire for more adventures, we find Yuri and Prince Juda trying to stop an assassination attempt on the King. Learning that the Dowager Queen has delivered jars of poisoned wine to the King while Kail’s insignia on them, Yuri is determined to foil the nefarious plot. With Juda’s assistance, they destroy the wine, but they fail to protect the King from a killer’s knife when he leaves his chamber for a moment! Framed for the murder, Yuri is forced to flee to Alinna for protection. With Juda under the spell of the black water, it seems that Yuri is really in dire straights this time. How will Kail save his beloved?
While there are times that I’d like to slap Yuri for being so stupid, this is still one of my favorite "fluff" series. I love the setting, and it’s rather fun watching the Queen’s plans for Yuri’s extermination unfold. With this volume, we are given a tiny glimpse into Nakia’s past. After Babylonia’s defeat to the Hitties, Nakia is given to the hated Hittie king as his new bride. Vowing to have her blood rule over the Hitties, she can’t rest until Juda is crowned king!
Grade: B
