Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful debut
Review: Deborah Hale is a greatly loved author of historical romance with a huge following of fans. I couldn't wait to read her first fantasy novel, as I have loved her previous books, and I was not about to miss this one, which I enjoyed immensely. If you're a fan of Deb Hale, don't miss this book, as she delivers a fast moving story full of adventure and romance. As always, her characters are genuine and interesting, and the story is full of atmosphere and neat twists, and at the same time it's a fresh and different style for her. If you haven't tried Deb Hale, this is a great time to start.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of action and romance
Review: I am a long time fantasy reader and I really enjoyed this book. Being more of a fantasy reader I enjoyed the action sequences best (the original escape through the woods and the final battle at the mines). I preferred the subtle romance scenes. This had the best hero I have seen in a long time. This is the best of the Luna books I have read so far!
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Read
Review: I enjoyed this book! The setting was pretty standard romantic fantasy fare; there was nothing too surprising or unusual. But I loved the characters, and I cared about their situation, and I always wanted to know what happened next!
The plot was a fairly typical heroic quest, but it kept me entertained, with plenty of action, adventure, and romance. I actually found Rath's emotional and spiritual journey to be just as interesting and compelling as the physical journey our two protagionists were taking. This book is a fun fantasy/romance/adventure novel, yes, but it is also ultimately a novel about faith -- the power of faith, living with faith, and finding faith -- not necessarily in God in the Christian sense (although strong parallels can be drawn between the Christian concept of God and the Giver of the novel), but in the idea that there is a benevolent spiritual force at work in the universe, and in the transformative power it can have in your life if you let it. Interesting.
Also, it was just plain fun. Lots of derring-do and so on. A good read, on whatever level you want to look at it!
Rating:
Summary: Not bad for a first Fantasy attempt
Review: I've been a huge fan of Deborah Hale's romances for quite some time, as well as an avid reader of the lighter forms of fantasy. This book highlights Hale's wonderful ability to create characters who are overall realistic, with just a hint of melodrama to elevate their plight to the level required for romantic fiction. Both the hero and heroine of the Wizard's Ward captured my interest and sympathy, right from the beginning. In addition, the elements of a midieval-type culture were obviously well-researched, just as they were in Elusive Bride and Border Bride--they were presented matter of factly and in appropriate detail, which lent the setting of the narrative a comforting degree of familiarity despite the fact that the story takes place in a completely different universe.However, the fantasy element is a bit weak, as is the plot. Maura learns of her destiny within the space of a few pages, right at the beginning of the book. We don't really get to see the opression of the Umbrians or the cruelty of the Han, and there's almost no time to learn about Maura herself before she goes tearing off on her quest. Maura's arsinal of magic seems pitifully small, judging by the number of times she resorts to the same four or five spells--in the follo-up story, due out sometime next year I hope to see a bit more diversity. That being said, the action scenes do get better as the novel progresses and there are several all-around great scenes--specifically I'm thinking of the chimoney clogging episode. If I were to offer one criticism overall, it would be that the entire story from start to finish could have used about seventy-odd more pages of detail, filling in the gaps in the narrative and acquainting the reader a bit better with the circumstances that serve as the background to the plot. Overall though, it's a fun read if one is willing to use one's imagination to fill in the gaps, and I would encourage fans of Hale's romances to give it a try. Don't expect hard-core fantasy though, or even something as detail and plot oriented as the Elizabeth Hayden series. Perhaps the second book will do more for the fantasy lovers.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad for a first Fantasy attempt
Review: I've been a huge fan of Deborah Hale's romances for quite some time, as well as an avid reader of the lighter forms of fantasy. This book highlights Hale's wonderful ability to create characters who are overall realistic, with just a hint of melodrama to elevate their plight to the level required for romantic fiction. Both the hero and heroine of the Wizard's Ward captured my interest and sympathy, right from the beginning. In addition, the elements of a midieval-type culture were obviously well-researched, just as they were in Elusive Bride and Border Bride--they were presented matter of factly and in appropriate detail, which lent the setting of the narrative a comforting degree of familiarity despite the fact that the story takes place in a completely different universe. However, the fantasy element is a bit weak, as is the plot. Maura learns of her destiny within the space of a few pages, right at the beginning of the book. We don't really get to see the opression of the Umbrians or the cruelty of the Han, and there's almost no time to learn about Maura herself before she goes tearing off on her quest. Maura's arsinal of magic seems pitifully small, judging by the number of times she resorts to the same four or five spells--in the follo-up story, due out sometime next year I hope to see a bit more diversity. That being said, the action scenes do get better as the novel progresses and there are several all-around great scenes--specifically I'm thinking of the chimoney clogging episode. If I were to offer one criticism overall, it would be that the entire story from start to finish could have used about seventy-odd more pages of detail, filling in the gaps in the narrative and acquainting the reader a bit better with the circumstances that serve as the background to the plot. Overall though, it's a fun read if one is willing to use one's imagination to fill in the gaps, and I would encourage fans of Hale's romances to give it a try. Don't expect hard-core fantasy though, or even something as detail and plot oriented as the Elizabeth Hayden series. Perhaps the second book will do more for the fantasy lovers.
Rating:
Summary: Finally! Fantasy & Romance for Women
Review: I've long been a lover of fantasy novels and I'll admit to always harboring a desire to get to know the wizard/king/knight in shining armor better, so this book made my day! It was refreshing to be able to lose myself in the fantasy genre and still indulge that part of me that enjoys a good love story. This is a must read for people who enjoy both.
Rating:
Summary: Finally! Fantasy & Romance for Women
Review: I've long been a lover of fantasy novels and I'll admit to always harboring a desire to get to know the wizard/king/knight in shining armor better, so this book made my day! It was refreshing to be able to lose myself in the fantasy genre and still indulge that part of me that enjoys a good love story. This is a must read for people who enjoy both.
Rating: 
Summary: I didn't know that LUNA was a Harlequin imprint
Review: If I did, I certainly would have had a different set of expectations. As it stands - "The Wizard's Ward" is well in keeping with the Harlequin Romance tradition - silly, immature heroine shrilly opposes the stock alpha male hero until she falls into bed with him (I read way too many Harlequins in my not-so-distant past). The sex scenes, particularly in the final 5 pages are embarrassingly bad. The plot, and its conclusion - a recycled version of the traditional Arthurian "Return of the King" was telescoped from the first 20 pages. Unappealling characters make the journey very unworthwhile.
Rating: 
Summary: cute simple minded book
Review: ok the fantasy part of the book was pretty good, very simple bad guys and a very simple world construction but I could look past the flaw. What bothered me most about the book was the disgusting amount of foolish romance. Sure it is exciting to understand how the main characters are attracted to each other, but this book didn't know when to stop. (pages and pages of it) Maybe it was the combination of being written at a 6-8th grade level (simple and predictable) and wasted so much time repeating how they are torn not being able to touch each other or be with each other.
Otherwise I liked some of the concepts and some of the writing styles... it was a quick read and kept me entertained
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful romantic fantasy
Review: Once the Kingdom of Umbria was a peaceful pastoral place where magic healed and helped the people. Then the Han invaded Umbria, destroying its customs and culture, and forbidding magic to be practiced at all. Those who do use magic are shunned by people except when they are needed to heal a hurt. Maura Woodbury, the Enchantress of Windleford, is used to being ignored because she has the love of her mentor the wizard Langbard. One day the wizard tells his ward that she is the Destined Queen who will wake her future husband the Waiting King from his unnatural sleep and then he will deal with the army of occupation. Before she can adjust to her fate, an outlaw is in danger of being killed by the Han and using magic Maura rescues him. Langbard convinces Ratho accompany Maura to Prum where she will find a map that will lead her to the Waiting King. During the journey, Maura and Rath fall in love but there is nothing they can do about it because her destiny lies in a direction away from him. The Han are aware of their quest and send their most powerful mages and warriors to stop them. Deborah Hale has written a delightful, exciting and memorable romantic fantasy about a heroine who believes in all the old legends and a hero who believe only in himself. Together they make a powerful fighting force in their quest to rid their country of the conquerors who wish that the pages of THE WIZARD'S WARD. This fantastic novel will also appeal to fans of sword and sorcery novels. Harriet Klausner
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