“The Charmed Sphere”, ISBN 0-373-80203-X, was written by Catherine Asaro and published by Luna, an imprint of Harlequin Books in 2004. Asaro has published several other books with Luna, “The Misted Cliffs,” “The Fire Opal” and “The Dawn Star.”

         “The Charmed Sphere” is set in the fantasy kingdom of Aronsdale. In this kingdom mages rule alongside the monarch. In fact, it is traditional for the most powerful eligible mage to marry the king. That is the reason Della No-Cozen, Shape-Mage Mistress of Castle Suncroft is scouring the countryside. To find a budding mage to train who will also marry the heir of the throne. Chime appears to be that mage.

         Chime reluctantly accompanies Della back to Castle Suncroft and begins her training. Soon after, another mage is discovered and joins the lessons. The two girls struggle, each in different ways, to master the intricacies of using shapes and colors to produce spells. During that time, a long-lost heir is discovered, the kingdom is threatened by a growing evil in the north and Chime marries Muller, the disinherited heir.

         The rest of the story reveals the growing threat from an alliance with the bitter, grasping king to the north and a malignant and corrupted mage. This evil mage has apparently been brutally abused and tortured because of his powerful mage abilities. He lashes out at those he sees as responsible for his fate. The northern kingdom’s monarch uses this to set in motion a plan to conquer Aronsdale.

         Chime, Muller, Jarid, the returned heir and king, and Iris, the mage who found and later married him prepare to meet this growing menace. They attempt to uncover and defeat plots, both inside and outside the castle. This struggle is mirrored by their personal struggles to understand and control their individual powers. Each of them is powerful, but something about them is different and defies known and accepted information and practices. As they grapple with their inner battles, they secure a trust and alliance with each other that allows them to ultimately defeat the threat to themselves and Aronsdale.

         Because this fantasy world is radically different from our own reality, it may seem difficult to compare it to Christian norms. However, the emphasis on personal integrity and responsibility is compatible with Christian principles. There is little that is objectionable and much that is laudable in this story. The importance of compassion and forgiveness is emphasized, as is the need for seeking the motive underlying the action. The need for responsible development in the use of skills and talents is another important concept. The awareness and lessons learned about wielding magic are especially appropriate for a practicing Christian. One such lesson, that when a spell is used which causes pain or damage to another, the wielder is hurt in proportion to that damage, is a theme that runs throughout the entire book.

         The one possibly objectionable portion of the story is when Chime and Muller become physically intimate. While done tastefully, with nothing explicit written in any of the love scenes, this is a clear violation of the Christian command for purity in sexual matters. Within the context of the story, it must be admitted, this action is condemned as wrong by those in authority, if not by Chime and Muller.

         All in all, “The Charmed Sphere” is a fascinating, exhilarating adventure of love, intrigue and personal discovery. For the Christian who enjoys romance in fantasy lands, this book has much good to offer. Enjoy!