"Regulus, the king star. Circling Jupiter, the king planet, like a crown. All of it inside the constellation of the lion. It signifies that a great king has been born in the land of the Jews."

What began as a quest through Arabian sands for a relic of legendary power, and heightened into a violent race for supremacy, now culminates in the search for a Savior in Royal Beauty by author Tracy Higley.

Like the books that precede it in The Incense Road trilogy, this book isn't a standalone. It turns its spotlight on Kamillah, an Egyptian princess and a woman of mystery, traveling with the young mage and the general who've vied for her affections. She's leery of a menacing power that she wields but that also keeps her enslaved, and her objective is to secure her freedom in Jerusalem, even if it will leave blood on her hands.

This leg of the journey doesn't have the Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark flavor that its related books have, and that's perfectly all right, since the story must shift to the true source and purpose of power. The book brings an interesting take on the age-old tale of the magi following a star to find a world ruler, and it rightly illustrates the danger of taking on such a mission under the nose of a sitting king. The human story continues here as well, baring the characters' needs for understanding and belonging. For love, in its various forms.

I'd recommend this trilogy to readers who'll appreciate adventure and intrigue woven with deep matters of the heart, as well as to anyone who'd like to experience this story in a broader context, beyond a baby in a manger. ( )