The Healer's Choice

By: Kathryn Hinds

Narrated by: Elizabeth Wiley

In a land of subtle magics, a woman of peace must face the violence within her, and a man of war must learn that weapons will not give him the victory he desires.

Years ago, the Kel Nira gave up her name and all attachments to devote herself to her people. As Chief of the Healers’ Order, she has grounded her life in service, peace, and compassion. But now war has come to her country, and everything is changing.

When the invading army’s Lord Corvalen offers a treaty, it falls to the Kel Nira to decide whether her people will accept it or continue to fight. Yet even as she struggles to make the right choice, her own long-suppressed violent instincts are resurfacing, challenging everything she has believed about herself and her place in the world.

Nor is there peace for Corvalen, who finds himself falling in love with the Kel Nira and seduced by the subtle magics of the land she serves—the land he is sworn to conquer for his king.

©2015 Kathryn Hinds (P)2022 Arthur Hinds

A good start to a series

I knew the author briefly when she was alive and listening to this story I could see her reading it. The main character reminds me so much of her and her husband Arthur. They both care for those around themselves deeply as both healers and guardians.

Writing this review brings back the memories of her even though I only knew her a short time. I started this book and had set it aside after her death. I only picked it back up because I saw it on Audible. Listening to it and to Arthur singing in it brought back a lot of memories.

The story follows a people attacked for no reason at all other than to stroke some man’s desire for conquest because his seer told of his conquests as a child. Where have we seen this in our lives? I see where this story parallels many of the events taking place in the world today.

The author chose the term guardian instead of warrior to describe the protectors. This simple choice of word set everything into motion. I found it interesting right away how words were used to convey meanings weaving a much deeper meaning into this story. The conquerors always think they’re right and attempt to wash away the old. They fail to realize they never do and all we have to do is look around us to see the truth.

When all seemed lost the besieged heard the trees and listened. They proved time and again there is magic and yet they didn’t listen. How many times have all of us done the same thing?

This story was set to be the first in a series and I would like to see what notes were left behind to complete this series. I would like to see who prevails. The warrior or the guardian.

But...the story isn't over!

I read the book in print a few years ago but hearing read, or more appropriately, interpreted by Wiley, made all the difference. The nuances her voice added to the stoy catapulted the stoy off the pages and cemented it into my mind.
As the last chapter ended, the only thing that came to my mind was, "But the story isn't over!"
The old adage "Leave them wanting more." Must have been why Hinds left us all hanging. Now I am impatiently awaiting The Healers Resolve.

Excellent read!

beautifully detailed world that carrots you away and still touches the struggles we face. I loved the characters and they're conflict as it played out one step at a time.