I thoroughly enjoyed reading “The Wayfarer’s Road” by Janie Franz. Jan-nell is a heroine who knows how to look out for herself and her outspoken daughter, Mira-nell. On their journey they meet Khrin, a nomatic bard, who reminds them how important companionship can be.
Khrin is attractive, kind, talented and attentive. I admit I was skeptical; I prefer my heroes to be predominantly alpha-male, and Khrin does not fit that description. I was pleasantly surprised to find it didn’t matter. Khrin wooed me with a charm all his own and, before I knew it, I was rooting for him.
I enjoyed the scenes where Jan-nell fought the innkeeper and other villains. She puts me in mind of a gentler Xina, Warrior Princess. Though she didn’t outwardly show her desire to have a man in her life, her silent reflections spoke volumes. Ms. Franz did a wonderful job at keeping them apart just long enough, and I applaud her timing.
For me, the only hiccup in the story was the number of times the characters laughed. Laughter is a wonderful thing, but the timing seemed awkward on several occasions. It wasn’t enough to take me completely out of the story, but I would have enjoyed it even more if two or three of those hadn’t been there.
Overall, I found the characters engaging and the story entertaining. If you enjoy romantic fantasy, you will enjoy “The Wayfarer’s Road”.