The Duke's Handmaid By Caprice Hokstad

The Duke's Handmaid was a pleasant surprise to me when I read it. Caprice Hokstad catches your attention immediately. The main character Kee loses her family to some murderous villians and is left all alone in the world. She is heartbroken. Kee meets Duke Vaugn and immediately falls in love with the man. She decides she wants to be his slave. She freely gives herself into slavery to Duke Vaugn. Duke Vaugn is second only to his slightly older twin brother as ruler. Thus Vaugn is the Duke instead of being the King. Duke Vaugn finds the men who kills Kee's family and they are executed. Duke Vaugn has to give his slaves away because his pregnant wife is jealous of the attention he gives to them. Duke Vaugn gives his slaves to his cousin who is planning on opening a bar. Terzak (Duke Vaugn's cousin)treats the slaves harshly and has sex with a few of the young woman and girls. He makes one of the girls pregnant and sends her to live with Kee locked in a dark house. Eventually, Kee finds her way back to Duke Vaugh, but she is near death. The Duke's handmaid is a fantasy story about slaves, loyalty, torture, passion, betrayal, and true love. The surprise ending will warm your heart and give you hope.

Caprice Hokstad's writing is smooth and easy to read. This book is part one of a three part ascendency trilogy fantasy series of books. Hokstad's writing style is smooth and easy to read. Her ideas are based upon the fantasy kingdom of Latoph. "Latoph is an enchanted kingdom introduced in The Duke’s Handmaid, a fantasy novel by Caprice Hokstad. Brimming with adventure, chivalry, and passion, Latoph is a place of beauty and justice, but it has its dark side as well. Rivalry, conspiracy, prejudice and enslavement wreak havoc on the otherwise idyllic existence of a dualistic society ruled by the same glorious dynasty for a millennium..."

Caprice was born in San Diego, California. She attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She currently lives in Southern California, sharing a mobile home with her husband, three children, varying numbers of pet rats, a leopard gecko, a tankful of guppies, a cat, and a dog. Caprice home-schools one of her children, writes SeaQuest fanfiction and sews musical theater and Renaissance costumes in her spare time. To check out her books you can go to her website. Latoph