Heart Thief By Robin D. Owens

This book on of my all time favorites. In fact its truly what got me hooked into this style of book. It’s a complex telling of how Ruis Elder, introduced to readers in Heart Mate as a thief with no flair, finds his path in a world where he is the ultimate opposite. He does not just have flair, but in fact completely negates it. In a world were flair is used for every, even such a simple thing as opening doors, a person with his abilities would be completely handicapped. Ruis is brought before the First Family council on charges of theft. While he waits his trial he meets Ailim D’SilverFir who is going before the council to ask for a loan to pay off her family large debt. Her abilities as a flair ability as a telempathic which she use as a SupremeJudge for Druida. Her ability laterally allows her to feel emotion and experiences from everyone around her. So for her Ruis Nullness is a gift a tranquility. This brief tranquility enders Ruis to Ailim, and opens the doors for a more in-depth relationship. And luckily Ruis Uncle failed in calling for a death sentence for crimes that appear to have circumstance evidence. In fact Crone D’Vine, a powerful prophetess, warns the council that “Not everything is predetermined in this matter, but be assured by seeking to punish Ruis, you will turn the river of Destiny to flood yourselves.” But prejudice against Ruis prevails and the council banished him. On the way to the gate, the guardsmen are prevented from treating Ruis violently when Ailim steps into the situation using the power of her position to see that fairness is given. Outside the gate D’Ashe gives Ruis a Fam, named Samba, and gilt. Ailim also comes to express how Ruis affects her and how she feels about the verdict given. Ruis is so better and disturbed by his longing to be with her. Ruis sneaks back into the city and relocates to the Nuada’s Sword, the ship that relocated the colonist to the planet and has since been abandoned. The ship accepts Ruis as Captain and Ruis spends his energy repairing the ship. As he continues to repair the ship and court Ailim by helping her with his Nullness his bitterness and anger begin to abate. Ailim is also having her own issues with an overbearing family and a neighbor trying to sabotage here family residence. As the story unfolds Ruis and Ailim discover that Ruis uncle is a common enemy out to destroy both of them. It isn’t until Ruis is captured in the city and again brought before the council for his death sentence that Ailim is given an opportunity to speak for Ruis. But by speaking she is striped of her positions as judge and her title as head of her family. Before Ruis can be killed, a poor soul sets a fire spell on the council. Ruis rushes to save the members by sacrificing himself. His Nullness depresses the flair fire. He survives and the council is called to defend itself against the extreme charges Ailim brought before it. Just is finally serves, when prejudice is addressed and rights are truly given to Ruis. I love this story because of the complexity of the characters and the core concept of equality. Ruis and Ailim are so in love almost from the begging.

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