With the release of LOVE BEHIND THE THRONE, Narrisa Artan has returned to familiar ground. Last year's EMPIRE OF RUIN, the anti-imperial satire set in the early days of the Dominion, was, to say the least, a disappointment to Ms. Artan's fans. Rumor has it the book didn't go down very well with the ICI either (which perhaps explains why Ms. Artan took an unscheduled sabbatical, and had to cancel all book signings and media interviews).

A period piece set in the middle years of the Reign of Wisdom, the story centers around Lani Softhand, a lowborn chamber maid in the emperor's palace and her fiery, but doomed love affair with Lord Seraphel. Comfortable with period detail, Artan creates a romantic, believable world filled with intrigue, wonder, and not just a little danger. The book's plucky, gorgeous protagonist pulls the young emperor-to-be out of his academic nook, and into the sensual realm of the lowborn. If the premise is somewhat cliché, it is redeemed by the clever interweaving of real historic events with ficticious characters and plots.

If there is a flaw to the novel it is the perplexingly uneven tone. Multiple times we see glimpses of the cynical wit that suffused Artan's previous work, which suddenly veers away into trite sentimentality and patriotism. A good example is when young Lani uncovers what seems to be a plot by the ICI to brutally quash the lowborn spaceport workers' attempt to unionize. Clearly this mirrors the real Port Cassus Riots of 725 AE, but this "fictional" storyline is suddenly and nonsensically revealed to be a double ruse, wherein the virtuous ICI is actually protecting the ignorant port workers from the manipulations of an alien enemy. Relieved, Lani says, "Thank the Scions for the ICI. They truly are the guardians of the Dominion's moral center." A strangely political and patriotic statement for a torrid romance.

Yes, it is funny, that. And not what the masses call "ha-ha funny." But your humble reviewer will speculate no further, as it does not pay to speculate where even the fictional ICI is concerned.