Daughter of Prophecy

Setting her story in a ravaged America circa 2714, Bush conjures an involving, yet ultimately unsatisfying tale of tragic love, misplaced loyalty and lust for power. In this world, Lego blocks, discovered amidst rubble, inspire awe. Abelard Ridenau, charismatic king of Meriga (hint, hint) seeks to bring glory back to his country, waging a constant battle against Harleyriders, Mutens and enemies disguised as friends. At his side is Nydia Farhallen, a beautiful woman who, unbeknownst to most, holds the ability to use the fearsome and forbidden Magic that destroyed much of the world. Whether--and how--Nydia uses her talents will decide the course of the future. Daughter of Prophecy is primarily Nydia's story, and as such, it suffers from her bad character and her loyalty to an unsavory cause. Bush has also failed to delineate the inhabitants of her post-apocalyptic world; the dreaded Harleyriders (who do not ride Harleys), for example, never emerge from the background. And while Bush at times displays a vivid imagination, it is underutilized: too many pages pass without anything wondrous, and the most promising twists come only with the final chapters. Much hangs in the balance still at the book's conclusion. Presented as a stand-alone fantasy, Daughter of Prophecy is sufficiently intriguing to raise interest in subsequent works. (Mar.)