This is actually the second book of the Lords of Avalon series. I enjoyed reading it that I had to search for the first book (Sword of Darkness), and which is now lying amidst my TBR pile.

Varian de Fey is a hitman for Merlin for countless centuries. He is raised with hatred and anger, and is able to walk between Camelot and Avalon. When Merlin informs him there is a traitor amongst them and shows him an image of Grail Knight Tarynice being dead; he decides to seek the truth and ensures that Grail Knight Tarynice didn't release the secret which involves the remaining five knights who each holds a clue to the sacred Grail. He then meets Merewyn and helps her, who has earlier made a deal with Narishka that made her a deformed hag for eternity.

Meanwhile, his mother, the evil Narishka and right hand of Morgen Le Fey, wants Varian to join their forces. He refuses and is captured by her where he is locked in the dungeon where he is tortured, but Narishka knows his weakness - pity, when he has once showered on Merewyn and decided to use Merewyn's charms to lure him (Narishka has to turn Merewyn into a beauty due to this plan).

Merewyn is delighted to be a beauty again, but she also understands that she will never get out of Narishka's evil grasp, thus she decides to flee Varian and leave with him. But there is nowhere for them to go, except Val Sans Retour (The Valley of No Return) and they have heard rumours that whoever goes to that path never returns, but they have no choice and that it is better than to stay in Narishka's territory. While they make their escape, they are accompanied by Blaise, who is able to turn into a dragon, and through this dangerous journey Merewyn and Varian began to fall in love.

Kinley MacGregor has weaved a great romance fantasy in this series, which is unlike her other historical romances, and I'm sure readers who love reading fantasy will enjoy this as well.