Red River: Vol. 8

by Chie Shinohara

Synopsis
Prince Kail, a young warrior and sorcerer and Yuri, a modern-day teen, where thrown together when evil Queen Nakia drew Yuri across time and space into the ancient Hittite Empire. When it is the season of the North Star, Prince Kail has the power to send Yuri home. But the evil queen's plan to murder them both -- and their growing feelings for one another -- keep getting in the way!

Ramses, the renowned Egyptian commander, helps Yuri find her way back to Hattusa, but on her return, she finds tragedy has wracked the Hittite royal family. As a result of Nakia's manipulations, Kail's ascension to the throne is by no means guaranteed. Plus, someone has been impersonating Yuri in her absence and dragging down her reputation among the Hittites!

Review
This is still a fascinating story, especially this volume, which didn't have much in the way of "romance." First, Yuri finds her way back from the massacre, just in time to avert a war between Egypt and the Hittite empire. However, just when Yuri proved that it was not the Egyptians who attacked them, the other "sole survivor" was murdered by Nakia's lackey, Urhi, conveniently. Now, I really have to seriously start questioning things. Why does no one ever see through the queen? Even if they don't, this incident should have opened up a lot of questions, but in the story, it was just brushed aside. This is highly unlikely. If someone had set up "hit men" to murder a prince, they surely would have investigated everyone possibly involved to the fullest. Especially since it's been established that the Hittite empire is extremely just, and no one is above the law. And who possibly had the motive and the ability? The queen. But no, it doesn't happen the logical way, and Nakia lives to create more conflict for the main characters.

Also in the volume, Ramses is introduced, aka Ramses the Great. While this is fascinating, it's also about twenty years too early, according to history. He wasn't even alive at this point in time. Clearly, the author has done her research, why would she mess this up? Or did she just add him in to create more conflict? Anyway, he soon develops a crush on Yuri, who spurns him, but he doesn't take no for an answer. He also recognizes her potential greatness as a queen.

So then, a plague hits Hattusa, killing the king, and the crown prince becomes king. There is a fight over who will be the next crown prince, as the natural choice is Kail, but Nakia wants her son to be named. It seems to me that there shouldn't be a fight at all, as Juda is too young, and no one would agree to a child being crown prince when there are better, older, choices.

Finally, Nakia steals the "house of rest" idea, and sets some up during the plague to improve her reputation, and by extension, her son's. She is also behind a false Ishtar, who is out to ruin Ishtar's reputation, and by extension, Kail's. It seems really weird to me, this false Ishtar thing. I feel like there should be some easy way to counteract it, like Kail coming out and publicly disavowing her as Ishtar and his concubine. But no, Yuri has to deal with it herself, for some reason.

One thing I did find rather nice, was how Kail was hinting to Yuri that he might be jealous of Ramses giving her gifts, and he also brings up the time she spent with the Prince of Darkness. But instead of freaking out, she maturely shows him the clay tablet with a heart drawn on it that he gave her. She showed him that unlike the prince's black stone that she wears on a necklace in plain view, she keeps her most important treasures where no one can see. It was nice not to have the characters freak out over something unimportant.

Final thought: I'll keep reading.